A walking GPS is a great device to be able to get you from Point A to Point B no matter where you are traveling by foot. You can use it to give your morning run a new route, a way to walk around a crowded city without getting lost or to be able to travel to new locations across the country and always know where to find everything. Walking is a great form of exercise and when you can get turn by turn directions instead of pulling out a map, a walking GPS can be a tremendous help, too.
What a Walking GPS Is
A walking GPS is going to be a device that you use to get directions to anywhere that you want to go. It will use satellites to determine where you are. You can then type in a destination and it will give you exact directions on how to get there by means of walking. It is critical to have this so that you can determine every road you should be on without getting lost – no matter how well you may know the streets.
Some of the more advanced GPS devices will also give you other features. They will allow you to search for stores, restaurants, gas stations and many other things along your route so that you can stop for a cup of coffee, use the restroom or take some time to enjoy your vacation. It is like having a mini computer on your belt so that you can always know where all the good things are located.
Each of the units for GPS will be a little different but they all have the same general principle. It is a map system based on walking (as opposed to driving) which has all of the streets, avenues and boulevards of each town in the country programmed inside of it. Using a walking GPS will enable you to know which way to get everywhere so that you don’t end up on driving only highways or dead ends.
Entry Level Walking GPS
Garmin nüvi 1300LM 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Map Updates
The Benefits to a Walking GPS
There are a number of benefits to a walking GPS unit. Whether you are in a new town or a town you’ve known your whole life, there may be ways to get around that only your walking GPS will know. Many of the units have a detour feature that will allow you to customize a new route based on if traffic is too heavy or if it is blocked for a special event. You can then learn of new ways to get to your destination that you may have never even knew existed.
Walking is a way to stay physically fit and is also a very “green” way of transportation. It can save you a ton of money on gas and when you have a GPS for hiking, you can never use the excuse of you don’t know how to get anywhere by foot to get out of walking somewhere. You will always know exactly where to go. You can also use the walking GPS to tell you how long the trek is in miles and estimate how long it will take you to get there, based upon how fast you walk. You can then program in your travels and determine if you actually want to walk the route or if it would be better for you to take a car or a bus. Some of the more sophisticated units will also tell you how to get somewhere by car, too. Each walking GPS is a little different so you will need to determine which one fits your needs the best.
Mid-Range Walking GPS
Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS
Types of Walking GPS Units
There are many different types of walking GPS units that you can find on the market. It’s important to look for one that is comfortable for you to wear and contains all of the features that you want. There are many GPS portable devices that are waterproof and sweatproof, so that you never have to worry about the electronics becoming damaged.
When you are shopping for the GPS units to walk with, make sure that you look at several different brands. Garmin, Navman, Tom Tom and many other brands feature GPS walking units to help you with directions when you are on the go by foot. Each of them may be a little different, so you want to consider several different features, including:
- Belt strap
- Wrist strap
- Clip
- Size of screen
- Handheld
All of these features can make it a lot easier for you to take your unit on the go with you. Some of them are designed strictly for walking while others will allow you to use them in your car, too, which can make them more affordable when they have multiple uses. If you plan on jogging with the unit, you want to make sure that the unit is securely strapped to you so that it doesn’t fall – which will likely damage the unit completely.
The Ultimate Walking GPS
Garmin Oregon 550 3-Inch Handheld GPS Navigator with 3.2MP Digital Camera
As you look for the various units, you should always do some price comparisons. Not all of them will have the same features or the same prices. There are many websites out there that will allow you to compare the features side by side along with the prices. Once you determine which model you want, you can then be on the lookout for the best price on the market for your walking GPS.