Map options for a Garmin GPS Unit - GB

[@tombarrows5332]

Bit of a controversial question but with a Garmin GPS device costing north of £300, 1:25k mapping then another £300, in 2024 what's the benefit of these devices against just buying a phone and having access to more maps (including OS) and direct access to gpx routes etc? Basecamp is such a slow and dated software!

[@ukgpstraining]

To be honest, if you do low level walks 10 miles or less you will not go far wrong with using a phone to navigate with (as long as you have offline OS maps on it). But if you are heading into the hills, where battery life is key (especially at cooler temperatures), accuracy is also needed and a purpose built GPS unit that you can drop and push to it's maximum capability I believe a GPS is essential. Yes, for the low level short walker a GPS unit may not be essential, especially if they are on a budget, but there is a reason that most big hiking/ ultra events have a GPS unit on their kit list as mandatory. Fingers crossed you have seen some of our 'walk and talk' series of videos, in these I show to 'navigational experience' you get from a handheld, which is very different from that you get on a phone or a GPS watch. I hope this helps.