Best Travel GPS Trackers of 2020

People often want to "get lost" somewhere outside the city in order to be as far away from the annoying office as possible. But, in reality, this situation can instantly turn a relaxing journey into a true horror for each of its participants.

Fortunately, there is a specialized, comfortable, practical device with GPS that will always tell a person where one or another path leads, and help you get out of an unknown area. This article has collected the best travel GPS trackers.

Positioning

On the technology side, GPS is not entirely innovative. Currently, this technology is used in smartphones, drones and even popular skateboard models.

Despite this, the presence of a pocket GPS navigator is a huge advantage for tourism, because, in addition to the main functionality, they provide several auxiliary options that will be useful for tourists on any outdoor travel. These include sensors such as barometers, altimeters, Bluetooth technology, and even integrated compasses for orienteering aids.

It would be wrong if they said that phones or tablet PCs are completely ineffective in matters of navigation. In fact, in specific areas, such devices can help indicate the direction, but GPS trackers have a number of advantages that smartphones and tablets cannot provide.

For example, most low-cost devices are designed specifically for outdoor use, which means they are reliable, powerful, and ideal for mushroom pickers and hunting. In addition, they provide the best signal quality even in the most remote locations and often hold a charge for a long time.

This does not mean that it is necessary to throw away the good old compass or topographic map with improved technology. Any gadget can break, no matter to what extent it is technologically advanced, therefore, ideally, in addition to new innovations, it is necessary to take with you convenient analog-type navigation mechanisms that can help a person in any situation.

Either way, such budget devices are of great importance in unknown and remote areas. They are relatively easy to configure, charge quickly, and have an instinctively clear interface that even a beginner in tourism can understand.

Types of GPS trackers

• For auto;
• Software;
• Pocket.

For ardent mushroom pickers or fans of long walks, the most suitable will be a powerful gadget called a tourist GPS tracker.The device is purchased as a separate device, or installed as an application on a smartphone.

A device for tourists or mushroom pickers will help you instantly find the right direction, thanks to its own autonomy.

Each electronic device needs to be recharged if used for different needs. When you take a GPS tracker with you, you can talk on your smartphone at the same time without fear of draining the battery.

Quality devices need to keep a long way to the flash card so that if the need arises, you can return. Navigation gadgets can instantly plot the shortest routes and have a large number of roadmaps.

Everyone chooses a good GPS tracker for a tourist individually, but the manufacturer's guarantee obligations should always be taken into account. You can save money by installing a location-based app on your smartphone, but according to buyers, the pocket fishing model is a much better choice when it comes to a specific activity.

A mini travel tracking device should protect a person from dangers, show the right place. But the gadget may not have time to determine the desired object, and therefore it is always necessary to manage the situation, taking the pocket assistant as an additional device.

Which one is better to buy?

Today, the market for GPS trackers for tourists is very wide, so deciding how to choose the right device can be quite difficult. It will be wise to be guided by the selection mistakes that will be mentioned in this review. Be sure to check if certain options are available. For example, at the moment, the popularity of models that can record the distance traveled is growing. Therefore, finding your way back with such a gadget will be easy.

The most innovative and high-quality devices are equipped with a color screen on which maps can be displayed in three-dimensional standard (3D). Information about the height and depth of the surrounding area will be shown on the display. If the device is necessary for fishing, it will be advisable to pay attention to models that are protected from moisture.

When choosing a GPS tracker for travel, you need to take into account the presence / absence of a USB slot, which is required to expand the built-in memory using a flash drive. If there are not enough integrated maps, you can download new data to the flash card at any time.

Some of the models are distinguished by the presence of a specialized carbine, which is very important when conquering mountain slopes and climbing steep peaks.

Criteria for choosing a GPS tracker for a mushroom picker

For those who like to pick mushrooms, the developers have designed a number of types of gadgets to navigate the area. A lighthouse would be a sensible solution, as the tourist forest navigator will still be directed towards the big roads that are far from the walking mushroom picker on any hike. Models of such devices are often similar to key rings with a small screen.

If a person chooses a navigation tracker for a mushroom picker, then this implies the formation of the correct route for the mushroom picker, which makes it possible to control the entire distance covered. People who do not have special knowledge of the geography of the area can easily navigate by looking at such a gadget.

When choosing a travel device with a route recording function, it is necessary to pay due attention to the security of its shell, autonomy without changing the battery and the amount of memory.

In addition, the device replaces the latest version of the free Android phone app. These programs are distinguished by the number of options and capabilities.

Installing the application is very easy, you must first download and open it. Then the GPS mode is activated, after which the correct coordinates of the tourist are searched, immediately after the selection of the appropriate function in the menu.

Which company is better?

Top Manufacturer Garmin is the only corporation that continues to make extensive travel GPS trackers.Its main office is in the United States, but there is a separate office in Europe in the UK.

The key highlight of Garmin gadgets is the use of highly detailed topographic maps. The devices show every path, every elevation, every forest. In addition, most of the Garmin brand products boast an outdoor antenna, due to which there are no difficulties with signal reception, even in shallow caves.

Rating of quality GPS trackers

Going on a long hike, travelers try to take with them exclusively necessary things, often without thinking about the availability of specialized gadgets for navigating the terrain. Since technology does not stand still, it would be advisable to bring along such an innovative device as a pocket travel navigation tracker.

 

15th place: Garmin eTrex 10

A very undemanding device, the purchase of which must be taken into account only in case of insufficient funds for more expensive models. The picture is displayed here on a screen with a diagonal of 2.2 inches and a resolution of 128x240px. The display is one-color, which will cause particular difficulties when viewing the map.

But on the other hand, such a low-performance device operates on one set of batteries for a very long time. Its shell is protected from moisture, which should save the gadget even if it falls into a shallow river.

A total of 50 routes can be stored in the device memory. Each of them can contain, to the maximum extent, a thousand points. An important specificity of the device is GLONASS support.

The only regret is the lack of a slot for a flash drive, so it is impossible to upload auxiliary cards here. By the way, the integrated antenna makes itself felt - sometimes there are interruptions in signal transmission.

• Many routes can be recorded;
• Compact dimensions;
• Waterproof shell;
• Excellent indicators of autonomy;
• Identifies signals from GLONASS satellites.

• Integrated antenna;
• Single color screen;
• Insecure fixation.

The average price is 4,500 rubles.

 

14th place: AVEL DRC050G

It should be noted that this is a rare case when a device not manufactured by Garmin is included in the TOP of the best GPS trackers for tourists. The AVEL brand (also known as Avis) from China, of course, loses in most characteristics to the outstanding "US natives", but it is relatively budgetary. At the same time, it has sufficient protection against dust and moisture for fixation on a motorcycle or ATV, if a person is not engaged in profile extreme sports, of course.

The tracker receives power from the on-board network by means of a bracket and, when removed, automatically switches to an integrated battery. The 5-inch display is sharp and can be used with gloves.

On the performance side, it is a classic when it comes to goods from China. The device has a MSB2531 processor from MSTAR, 128 MB of RAM, Windows CE OS. Navitel and iGo come out of the box, you can download third-party software for working with topographic maps.

• Power supply by means of a bracket;
• Fairly robust enclosure with IPX4 protection;
• The ability to operate from an integrated battery.

• With out-of-the-box software, it functions exclusively on the road.

The average price is 10,000 rubles.

 

13th place: Garmin eTrex 20X

This model is a modified version of the eTrex 20. It is an even better pocket GPS tracker with more memory capacity and a screen with a resolution of 240x320px.

In addition to improving the readability of content in the sun, the gadget will not allow you to go astray due to a high sensitivity navigation receiver that supports WAAS, Hotfix, GLONASS and a standard world map.

The user is provided with 3.7GB of memory and a slot for a microSD flash drive, into which you can download various maps, up to TOPO 24K, Hunt View, City Navigator NT and Birdseye.

• Good uptime;
• Nimble search for satellites using Garmin position prediction technology, which speeds up cold starts;
• Dust- and moisture-proof shell.

• In the reviews, users note discomfort when using the display.

The average price is 13,500 rubles.

 

12th place: Delorme inReach Explorer

This tracker, in spite of its own rather compact dimensions, is actually a full-fledged navigation device. This is a universal and all-season electronic type gadget aimed at experienced users who often find themselves in conditions far from the usual urban "comfort".

• Non-stop connection to the Iridium system;
• Color screen and virtual on-screen keyboard;
• Integrated compass, accelerometer and altimeter;
• Odometer and indication of travel information (period, maximum and average travel speed, distance);
• Navigation accuracy approx. 5 m.

• Not detected.

The average price is 25,000 rubles.

 

11th place: Garmin eTrex 30

GPS trackers for tourists are expensive. This model is located approximately on the border of the high and medium price category. At the same time, a person with an average income will be shocked by the price, because for the same price it is quite possible to find where it is profitable to buy a good phone.

One way or another, the phone is definitely not capable of working in navigator mode for more than a day, while a Garmin brand product can. In addition, there is no need to put it on charge - in the future you will need to change the batteries, and then continue your own trip.

The difference between this model and more budget trackers is that it was equipped with a magnetic type compass and a connector for a flash drive. The first greatly facilitates the designation, and the second makes it possible to download auxiliary maps.

There is also the possibility of exchanging information between gadgets, but it is unlikely that in Russia a traveler will find another fan of Garmin products nearby. It is also necessary to highlight the display with a diagonal of 2.2 inches. Unlike its predecessor, it became colored. The resolution is 176x220 px.

• Color display;
• 1.7GB ROM;
• There is a slot for a flash drive;
• There is a magnetic compass;
• Excellent autonomy.

• Integrated antenna;
• Involuntary pressing of the joystick in your pocket;
• Slow drawing of the map.

The average price is 17,000 rubles.

 

10th place: Garmin GPSMAP 64s

It is always a joy when a novelty is released with some interesting auxiliary options that are ready for immediate work straight from the factory. This model belongs to such gadgets, because it comes with a global standard map and a free subscription to Birdseye.

A tourist can easily get to any corner of the planet due to a high sensitivity navigation receiver that supports GLONASS and is equipped with a specialized antenna.

In addition, this tracker has 4GB of ROM, up to a quarter of a million pre-loaded caches from geocaching.com and a 3-axis compass combined with a barometric altimeter. It is for this reason that this gadget will become a good helper everywhere - both when traveling out of town and when walking along the streets of an unknown city.

• Flexible keys with excellent travel;
• High-quality and reliable miniUSB slot, which is important if you take into account charging the battery directly in the device;
• Lags nothing, even at the maximum detail settings;
• Smart "cold" start.

• The weight is a bit heavy;
• The dimensions are not as practical because of the peeking antenna;
• Low display resolution.

The average price is 20,000 rubles.

 

9th place: SPOT GEN3

Aimed at travelers and outdoor enthusiasts. The functional gadget offers a mutual connection with satellites and a number of modes of operation of the emergency navigation beacon.

• Exclusively satellite technology;
• Non-stop check;
• Global SOS option (one keystroke sends an SOS signal to the international organization center GEOS, the operator of which instantly sends an emergency alert with the detailed coordinates of the tourist to the nearby rescue service);
• The Check-in option allows you to instantly transfer information about geolocation and SMS to relatives and friends (maximum 10 addresses or numbers) from any corner of the world;
• The SPOT assist option allows you to send a distress call to a support team or a specific rescue team.

• Not detected.

The average price is 10,000 rubles.

 

8th place: Garmin inReach Explorer +

If a person often travels to unknown places, he should think about his own safety. Fortunately, this tracker model does an excellent job of protecting the tourist. This device is not only a tourist navigator, but also a two-way satellite warning system and an SOS signal transmission device.

Thanks to him, a tourist can share his own geolocation and send SMS, even when there is no cellular coverage area. And finally, the model comes with a huge number of topographic maps "out of the box", a digital compass, barometric altimeter and accelerograph, and the lithium battery guarantees approximately 100 hours of tracking and about a month in power saving mode.

• There are standard cards out of the box;
• Compatible with smartphones;
• Excellent battery;
• You can communicate with other users and specialized services.

• Doesn't support flash drives.

The average price is 26,500 rubles.

 

7th place: Garmin Astro 320

This device looks like a kind of walkie talkie. But here two external antennas are used, one of which is allowed to be deactivated. The design made it possible not only to increase signal reception, but also to integrate support for EGNOS and WAAS.

The manufacturer says this model will show the tourist's geolocation wherever he is. The only exception is when the traveler has descended to great depths underground.

The gadget is equipped with a 2.6-inch screen with a resolution of 160x240px. Usually, such weak characteristics are chosen so that the cards are drawn quite quickly. In the reviews, users write that the time has come for the brand to switch to innovative technologies that will make it possible to improve image quality and extend battery life.

• There is a magnetic compass and a barograph;
• 2 hundreds of routes from 200 waypoints;
• 1.6GB ROM;
• Two very high quality antennas;
• Supports all innovative GPS technology.

• Low quality screen;
• Not compatible with mobile devices;
• Users note the high cost.

The average price is 64,500 rubles.

 

6th place: Garmin Oregon 600T

This model is a comfortable and high-quality GPS assistant with an instinctively clear shell. It uses GPS / GLONASS 2-spectral satellite designation and is equipped with a 3-axis compass, accelerograph and baric altimeter in addition to its usual functionality.

In addition, users can wirelessly share routes, tracks, waypoints, cache memory and their own maps using the Bluetooth option, and a lightweight power system with 2 AA batteries will not give an opportunity to get lost due to a dead tracker.

• Error-free designation of coordinates with a short search interval;
• For such a functional gadget, autonomy is kept at an excellent level;
• Incredible functionality;
• A clear interface in Russian, which is designed for multi-touch input;
• It functions both from batteries and accumulator batteries with the possibility of additional charging without removing.

• Not detected.

The average price is 17,000 rubles.

 

5th place: Garmin Foretrex 701

This tracker does not pretend to be a smartwatch - it is intentionally brutal and not at all for show. The model not only meets the requirements of the MIL-STD-810G standard: the content on the display can be read with night vision devices, and the marksman fans will appreciate the integrated ballistics calculator.

To check the coordinates, 3 satellite systems are used at once - not only the usual GPS and GLONASS, but also Galileo. The duration of work for such a practical size is great - about two days in GPS mode, about 7 days in UltraTrac mode (saving tracks with an increased time period for specifying coordinates). It should be noted that all this is provided by only 2 AAA batteries.

The model will be a good choice not only for tourists looking for a compact and high-quality tracker of this format, but also for fans of expensive military-style devices.

• Shock and water resistant according to NATO military standards;
• Great screen;
• It functions with three satellite systems at once;
• Compatible with phones;
• Supports the Jumpmaster software designed for skydivers.

• Dimensions and weight;
• The primitiveness of the route outline (the black-and-white screen with a low resolution makes itself felt).

The average price is 36,000 rubles.

 

4th place: Garmin Montana 680

The pocket tracker, which is comfortable to feel in the hand, is traditionally equipped with a small 4-inch screen. But, if we talk about the difference with most popular models, the pixel saturation is higher here - the screen resolution was reduced to 272x480px, and it is quite informative. Control is multitouch, and it is absolutely not necessary to take off gloves during work.

In terms of power, the tracker is as versatile as possible: it has an integrated battery that lasts 16 hours, there is a compartment for AA batteries and, in addition, it can be powered from USB or directly through 12 volts in the bracket for auto. In this regard, it is necessary to try to make such a model discharge.

• Various power and charging options;
• Satellite search speed and signal quality;
• Can work with custom maps;
• Build reliability and durability.

• Cost;
• Birdseye subscription must be renewed annually.

The average price is 46,000 rubles.

 

3rd place: Garmin Edge 1030

Special models for cyclists in the domestic market are provided only by this company. Equipped with a 3.5-inch display, it looks like a regular tourist model, but it also has a lot of "zest", especially for cyclists.

To build routes, the user can work with the Trendline system, which has information uploaded by other tourists; during collective hikes there is a connection between all the trackers of the group: for example, you can send an SMS to unsuccessful travel participants that the user has made a stop and is expecting them at a certain location.

The device can be synchronized with the advanced Varia bike headlights and is capable of automatically sending notifications to selected destinations in the event of a disaster, making it possible to connect heart rate and cadence scanners for cyclists. In addition, you can predict changing weather conditions. In case the traveler gets caught in the rain, there is no need to worry about the tracker, since its shell meets the requirements of the IPX7 standard.

The power source is a lithium-ion battery with an operating time of approximately 20 hours. If this is not enough, you can supplement it with an external battery, which is provided by the Garmin brand in the range of gadgets.

• Excellent functionality;
• GPS is aimed at cycling tourism;
• Teamwork;
• Excellent moisture protection.

• Not detected.

The average price is 38,500 rubles.

 

2nd place: Garmin Zumo 595

As it should be from Garmin, the tracker does not differ in budget cost, but the price matches the quality. The high-quality 5-inch screen makes it easy to view content in the sun, and its multi-touch capabilities can be used without removing your gloves.

If a tourist is tired of paved roads, then you can use the Garmin Adventurous Routing option to build a path along the nearest dirt roads that are not available on traditional automaps. If a tourist wants to record a video about a trip to memory, then you can use the compatibility with the proprietary VIRB camera to shoot a video on the tracker drive.

The casing is protected from dust and moisture, with a profile finish. It is resistant to drops, bumps and rain. Such a device will be an excellent solution for motorcycle tourism.

• Signal quality and ease of use;
• Supports compatibility with motorcycle fuel scanners;
• External battery module included.

• Mainly used for motorcycle tourism.

The average price is 60,000 rubles.

 

1st place: Garmin Monterra

Most users will say this tracker is unreasonably expensive. Even some Apple products are cheaper. But if the "apple" devices, first of all, are designed for fun, then this model of a tourist navigator, in theory, can save a person.

The developers have equipped their own "brainchild" with a moisture-resistant and impact-resistant shell. It should be noted that it is for this reason that even climbers choose the products of this company. If any problem suddenly arises, the tracker sends a distress signal to other people using a GSM unit.

For the first time ever, Garmin has not used a proprietary interface here, but the Android OS. At first it worked very unstable, but after the third update it got much better.

The tracker is equipped with a 4-inch LCD display with a resolution of 272x480px. This low value is chosen to ensure proper autonomy.

• There are Bluetooth and Wi-Fi units;
• It is allowed to put a flash drive;
• There is a ROM;
• 100% Android out of the box;
• Records multiple routes with 10 thousand points each.

• Three batteries are not enough for a long operating time;
• The display is sometimes activated in rain.

The average price is 62,500 rubles.

What to look for when buying a GPS tracker?

Experts first of all recommend that you familiarize yourself with the capabilities of the Internet resource used to indicate the user's geolocation. The fact is that the device itself cannot solve the difficulties with the designation of the coordinates of the tourist. Only a high-quality resource will make it possible to achieve the effective functioning of a tourist navigator.

The second thing you should pay attention to is the functionality of the device. The purchased gadget must have intuitive activation and configuration. If these options are not available, the user will have to activate individually. And for this purpose, at least, he needs to install the drivers and configure the device manually.

Since the tourist navigator is aimed at online determination of the geolocation where the user is located, it must have the following functionality:

1. Support for a number of cards out of the box;
2. Group a certain number of users into groups to designate them;
3. Show where the tourist is moving, the speed of movement and other indicators;
4. Turn on the listening mode of the environment.

If some of the options listed in the description above are not in the device, it will be advisable to think about the need to purchase it.

In addition, the tourist navigator must guarantee the ability to monitor from smartphones and alert about events using messages or letters to the mail. In addition, it must guarantee comfortable viewing of routes on the map and receiving reports in the form of tables for corporate users.

Innovative GPS trackers make it possible to change the observer's time zone, guarantee support for state languages ​​and multi-stage access to data.It's worth noting that some of the models are even supplemented with their own navigation resources. In this case, an activation guide password is attached to the device.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it should be noted that among the innovative travel navigators there are very high-quality solutions that can be entrusted not only with property, but also with the protection of loved ones. It is important not to be afraid, once "dig deeper" in the configurations, and the tracker will keep the tourist in the loop without fail.