Today, there are special devices that will not allow a person to get lost in travel. The navigator for a pedestrian, mushroom picker, tourist will become a reliable assistant in the campaign. How to choose this device, what parameters to consider, which manufacturer to give preference? Travel navigators do an excellent job of their direct duties: they help to navigate the terrain, indicate the real location of the person, the desired direction of movement. Navigators for the forest are a great gift for lovers of an active lifestyle.
How to choose a portable navigator
Mushroom pickers, fishermen, hikers, for greater confidence, will surely need satellite navigation. Modern devices guarantee trouble-free operation even in bad weather, in mountainous areas or in dense forests. The navigator for a pedestrian, mushroom picker, tourist will help you choose a knowledge of the basic requirements that the device must meet.
- The number of navigator points affects the duration of the track, that is, the path traveled by a person. Naturally, the more there are, the longer the device will remember the route. Even if you do not plan to use this function, it is useful to have it in the navigator. Setting labels will make it easier to navigate in a completely unfamiliar area, mark the places where you stayed or drove. Many generally prefer to save successful routes on a personal computer.
- The built-in memory primarily affects the number of cards that can be loaded. The amount of memory affects the usability of the device, that is, the ability to zoom. The question arises, which tourist navigator is better to buy - the answer is unequivocal - give preference to devices with a large amount of internal memory, or purchase an additional memory card.
- The battery life is a very important parameter, so you can not ignore it. It is difficult to imagine a person going for mushrooms for only thirty minutes, usually such trips drag out for a long time. Accordingly, the navigator for mushroom pickers should work for at least several hours. Sometimes in a campaign there are various unforeseen circumstances, so the discharge of the battery in an unfamiliar area can be very untimely and problematic. It is better to give preference to devices with the lowest possible power consumption and large battery capacity.
- Convenience, speed of scrolling a map or zooming out depends on the processor. Many correctly choose navigators with a higher clock frequency, because such devices load and work faster.
- Dimensions Which tourist navigator to choose, what should be the size of this device? Every traveler knows that extra grams cause inconvenience along the way. If you do not climb mountains, do not overcome tens of kilometers per day, you can ignore this parameter. Otherwise, experts recommend choosing small navigators that can easily fit in the palm of your hand.
- Strength characteristics are equally important. If you do not want to navigate the stars, choose a navigator with a housing made of reliable and shockproof material. Low-quality plastic may not break in time, leaving you in a rather difficult position. In addition, in the campaign there is always a chance to get in the rain. Moisture resistance is an important parameter of a tourist navigator, so you should not buy a device without moisture protection.
- The screen of your navigator should not be very small, otherwise instead of the necessary image you will see only incomprehensible glare.
The best models
How to choose a tourist navigator, of course, then we will consider popular models for ordinary walks or tourism.Today, navigators can easily replace ordinary paper maps, help to get out even of the most impenetrable thicket.
The Etrex series was appreciated by mushroom pickers, hunters, and ordinary tourists. All devices are very understandable, easy to operate, controlled by a special joystick located above the screen, as well as buttons located on the sides of the device.
Garmin GPSMAP 64ST is the best travel navigator. This device was liked by hiking enthusiasts for its vitality and functionality. In addition to the gadget itself, in the box you will find a cable for connecting to a PC, a carabiner for ease of use, a warranty card and an instruction manual. There are no accumulators and batteries. The navigator boasts a quality build. The case of the device, made of durable plastic, looks monolithic and weighty, characterized by moisture resistance and shock resistance. Management is carried out using convenient buttons located on the front panel. In addition, the gadget has a massive antenna, a port for connecting micro-USB and a connector for an additional antenna. By the way, the antenna recognizes signals from a large number of GPS satellites, as well as the Russian analogue of GLONAS.
The resolution of the 2.6-inch color display is small (160 by 240 pixels), which means that there is graininess, which, by the way, practically does not interfere with the work with the navigator. Thanks to the convenient backlight, you can work with the gadget in the dark. The software works stably, the built-in memory (8 GB) is enough to hold in the device not only a road map, but also other interesting places, it is possible to increase the volume by connecting external memory. Navigator 16 hours does not require recharging, it is easily synchronized with a smartphone and other devices.
The Garmin eTrex 10 is the cheapest navigator with a simple black and white 2.2-inch LCD. Since this model does not have sensory support, control is carried out using the joystick. The image on the screen is perceived well regardless of the illumination of the area. Dimensions allow you to carry the navigator in your pocket, and the recesses and bulges on the case greatly facilitate the use. Accidental release into the water will not affect the quality of work. It is also worth noting the exceptional strength of the product, its resistance to shock, ubiquitous dust and dirt.
Such, at first glance, a completely ordinary navigator boasts quite a long work (at least 25-30 hours). Working with GPS and GLONAS offers the opportunity to travel without fear of getting lost. By the way, the Russian system usually finds a location faster than the world. The disadvantages of the navigator are minor: low screen resolution, lack of lock.
The review will be continued by the improved Garmin eTrex 20, which replaced the budget eTrex 10 in the market. The gadget is compact in size, the case has rubber inserts, the necessary attachments for fastening, and rather large buttons that facilitate operation. This model interacts with GPS and GLONAS, is produced with the already integrated package of maps "Roads of Russia", which is an additional plus. Information is displayed on a color screen, thanks to the use of 65 thousand colors, the picture is natural. The presence of internal memory (1.7 GB), part of which is already filled with useful information, will significantly increase the efficiency of the device. Etrex is the best navigator for the forest in the middle price category. Such a device will be able to capture and capture the signal even in the most difficult conditions.
The rating will continue with the Garmin eTrex 30x. This model represents the next generation of navigators, it costs slightly more than the previous device. Whether such a price is justified, we consider by comparing the tourist navigators of this manufacturer. The diagonal of the color display is the same - equal to 2.2 inches. Thanks to the special IPX7 system, the device is completely waterproof. The experiments that were conducted with the navigator confirmed this statement.Even after twenty minutes in the water, the device continued to work. In addition, a fall on a hard surface also did not disable it.
The navigator is equipped with an altimeter measuring height; the lunar calendar available in the device will give you information about sunrise or sunset. Naturally, the device supports all cards, it is possible to transfer information to other similar devices. Sensitivity to satellites - excellent, the device will quickly determine the location.
Installing cards is not difficult. Charge enough for 25 hours. By inserting lithium batteries, you will extend your battery life even further. The uniqueness of this model in the possibility of use by motorists. Even the longest journey with such an instrument will become pleasant and easy.
The Garmin Dakota 20 is a compact navigation device. A small gadget feels equally good in male and female hands. The sensor occupies almost the entire front of the device, there is only one button designed to turn on / off, change the backlight. Naturally, there is a mount for the strap. The battery is isolated from water and dust by a special cover and a thin rubber band located around the perimeter. Unlike eTrex, which last up to 30 hours, Dakota will last no more than 12. Another disadvantage of this model is the poor screen backlight, the inability to use it with a laptop as a signal reception.
A well-known Chinese company is known for the production of navigation equipment. The line of navigators is represented by four devices: nava 200, nava 300, nava 400 and nava 600. These devices are designed not only to obtain the necessary cartographic data, but also to carry out various measurements. The scope of navigators is extensive: from tourism to agricultural and forestry applications. Such devices have a good price, decent functionality.
The nava 200 is a compact device with a sensitive GPS receiver and a loaded world map. The case reliably protects the device from water, dust, shock. Thanks to the rubber pads, the navigator is easy to hold in your hands, which is especially valuable in rainy weather. The small size allows you to carry the device in your pocket or belt. By the way, the kit has a special carry strap. The interface is clear and simple, the control is carried out with a minimum of buttons. Routing can be done automatically. The device is easily synchronized with other devices. Charging the navigator is enough for 15 hours.
We will complete the rating with the nava 600 inexpensive tourist navigator. This full-featured model copes with all the tasks that high-quality navigators are designed to perform. The device is equipped with a color display that guarantees excellent picture quality. This device can be used regardless of the time of day, the resolution is 240x320, stores up to 50 tracks and 5 thousand points in memory. The navigator is equipped with an electronic compass, calculator, thermometer and altimeter, has a hunting and fishing calendar, and provides information about the moon and the sun. The device is not afraid of drops, high humidity, dust and dirt. Light weight and dimensions allow you to carry the navigator in your pocket, on a belt or on the neck.
Probably there is no such tourist who would not be afraid to get lost. Paper maps and compasses are slowly fading, giving way to more advanced gadgets. Modern nava or eTrex will solve any problem on the ground: from determining the location to calculating the direction of movement. These devices work long enough, equipped with many additional features.
