The best handheld GPS to navigate anywhere in the world

Think of something you’d use a GPS device for — the Garmin Montana 700i is probably awesome at that. It’s the best handheld GPS for people who want one device for hiking, off-roading, and driving across the country. You can save money with the Montana 700, which doesn’t have inReach satellite communication, or spend more for the Montana 750i and its built-in camera, but the Montana 700i is probably going to hit the sweet spot for most people in search of adventure or off-grid navigation.

Garmin built the Montana series of GPS devices to meet the U.S. military’s standards for temperature, impact, water, and vibration resistance. Inside the beefy housing is an incredible amount of technology. Garmin loads topographic and bird’s-eye satellite views covering North America out of the box, and you can add more maps as you travel. Public land layers can come in handy when you’re in the backcountry and need to steer clear of private land. If its navigational prowess isn’t enough, you can pair it with your phone to stay connected and monitor the weather, or link a smart collar to track your dog off-leash.

As good as this tech is, it’s not for everyone. First of all, there’s no need to pay this much if you aren’t going to take advantage of all the Montana 700i’s features. There are much more affordable ways to accomplish basic navigation on this list. Second, the touchscreen is big and beautiful, but there are times when physical buttons are preferable. I’ve seen cases of people having trouble with the touchscreen in extremely hard rain, so that might be something to consider. Otherwise, this thing is a beast and it’ll probably be the only GPS you need.

The Garmin Foretrex 601 can be used as a handheld GPS or you can mount it to your wrist, plate carrier, or the shoulder straps of your pack. It’s the most old-school option here and represents an easy-to-learn option for service members who need the basics without a bunch of expensive add-ons.

One of our writers used the Foretrex for several weeks at the Marine Corps’ Integrated Training Exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms and found it to be a worthwhile piece of gear. It can do all the things you probably need from a GPS, including navigating to waypoints using MGRS or latitude and longitude, estimating distance, and predicting sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset. In a military environment, you’ll also appreciate the impressive battery life and compatibility with night vision devices.

The downsides of this budget GPS unit come from cost-cutting. It can handle life in the field, but it won’t necessarily be pretty. Expect dings and scratches, especially on the screen. You might want to invest in a protective case. It’s not as precise as an issued GPS, doesn’t display time in seconds, and — while there is a compass — the lack of a sighting mechanism makes it difficult to get an accurate azimuth. If you’re already using a compass map, this is a serious asset. If you want a do-it-all solution, spend a little more on one of our other picks.

Sometimes the Garmin GPSMAP 65s gets passed over for more flashy or more affordable options, but it’s one of the best values in the handheld GPS market and it’s incredibly well-suited to life in the military. What it lacks in bells and whistles it more than makes up for in precision, durability, and ease of use. Being relatively easy on the wallet is a nice perk, too.

Right off the bat, you’ll notice that the screen is much smaller than the one on the Montana 700-series units. That’s partially because this device is smaller overall, but it’s also because the GPSMAP 65s makes room for physical buttons. This makes the GPSMAP65s a little more durable and easier to use in harsh environments. Even though it doesn’t max out the price range, Garmin touts this as its most precise GPS unit yet. It can access satellites from four different networks simultaneously to provide accurate location data even in challenging terrain like urban areas, canyons, and dense forests. That doesn’t make a real-world difference for casual hikers, but in a military setting, it could give you a meaningful edge.

The features and interface of this handheld GPS will feel boiled down compared to something like the Montana 700i, but it has everything most people need. Given the accuracy advantage and physical buttons, it might be even better for use in the military. The fact that it takes two AA batteries also makes replacements readily available for those of you looking for a worst-case scenario navigation option.

Don’t sell onX Hunt short just because it’s an app rather than a standalone GPS device. This is one of the most powerful hunting tools on the market, and it could very well revolutionize the way you take care of business year-round.

When you head out the door to scout a new area or set up for an early morning of hunting, you can use GPS imaging to see a bird’s-eye view of the land around you like you would using any number of navigational aids. The onX Hunt app can overlay boundaries to show which land is private and which is public. In the case of private land, it can even show you who owns it and help you get in touch with them to ask permission to hunt on their land. Want more? This app can show you where certain tree and crop species are found to help you identify the places game animals might be.

Of course, it also offers the usual topographic overlays, route planning, weather forecasting, and waypoint sharing. It does involve a monthly fee that goes up significantly if you want to use this app in more than one state, but you don’t have to buy a new device and you can access more detailed maps on your computer for more detailed planning. There’s a lot to take in, so take advantage of the free seven-day trial to see what the fuss is all about.

It’s easy to see why the Garmin inReach Mini gained such rapid popularity, and the second iteration is even better. This handheld GPS unit is light and compact, making it perfect for backpackers and hikers who keep an eye on every ounce. What it lacks in visual detail it makes up for in portability, ease of use, and double-duty as a satellite communicator.

Compared to the original inReach Mini, the inReach Mini 2 has longer battery life, a USB-C port instead of Micro-USB, storage for 1,000 waypoints instead of 500, TracBack routing to return to your starting point, compatibility with the Garmin Explore app, and access to more satellite networks. While its predecessor relied solely on the GPS network, the new inReach Mini 2 can also tap into the Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou networks to keep you on track in more places around the globe.

There’s a lot to love about the inReach Mini 2. One consequence of its tiny size is a simple black-and-white display that’s less than one-inch square. It can give you accurate point-to-point directions, but you won’t be able to access topographic maps without pairing it to your phone and using the Garmin Explore app. The satellite communication function is a huge asset to have outside of cellular service, but it does require a paid subscription. If you’re a serious backpacker, the pros will outweigh the cons and this is almost definitely the GPS for you.