Honest, field-minded reviews of outdoor and safety gear.
A GPS runs on batteries; a compass runs on the planet. When the electronics die or the sky closes in, a map and a good compass are what get you home — which is exactly why “map & compass, not just GPS” is one of the ten essentials. The Suunto MC-2 is the compass we recommend to hikers who want a real navigation instrument.
The Garmin Enduro 3 is a solar GPS watch with topographic maps, multi-band GPS, sapphire glass and a flashlight. It is rated at 120 hours of GPS tracking and 36 days as a watch, and comes in one large 51 mm size.
When your life is on the line in a remote place, you want the most dependable way to summon rescue, one with no monthly fee to lapse, no messaging to fumble, just a single button wired to the world’s government search-and-rescue satellites. That is exactly what a personal locator beacon is, and the ACR ResQLink…
If there is one device that has become the standard for calling for help in the backcountry, it is this one. The Garmin inReach Mini 2 packs global two-way satellite messaging and interactive SOS into something the size of a small stopwatch. Light enough that there is no excuse to leave it behind, capable enough…
Once you have learned real map-and-compass navigation, a basic fixed-declination compass starts to hold you back. The Suunto M-3 is the natural next compass: a precise baseplate model with adjustable declination and a globally balanced needle, built for the hiker who actually navigates rather than just checks which way is north. Our field rating ★★★★★4.7…
The Coros Apex 4 is a GPS watch with offline topo maps, dual-frequency GPS, a titanium bezel and sapphire glass. The 46 mm model tracks for about 65 hours on a charge. The screen is plain and it lacks smartwatch extras.
The Garmin inReach Messenger is a 4-ounce (114 g) two-way satellite communicator with SOS. It pairs with a phone app that sends each message by Wi-Fi, cell or satellite, and its battery lasts up to 28 days. A subscription is required.
Multi-band accuracy that holds in the worst terrain, a 3-inch (7.6 cm) screen, topo maps, and days of battery. Our field review of the Garmin GPSMAP 67, the flagship handheld GPS.
The honest starter compass: simple, accurate, and cheap enough to buy the day you decide to learn map and compass.
The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar is a rugged GPS watch with multi-band tracking, an altimeter, a compass and a flashlight. The 45 mm model runs up to 28 days as a watch and 40 hours of GPS. It has no maps, only breadcrumb navigation.
The Garmin GPSMAP 65s is a multi-band handheld GPS with a 2.6-inch (6.6 cm) screen, topo maps, a 3-axis compass and a barometric altimeter. It holds an accurate position in canyons and dense forest and runs up to 16 hours on two AA batteries.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 has accurate GPS, offline maps, a bright screen and satellite SOS from the wrist. Apple rates it at 50 hours of use and up to 45 hours of GPS in a new extended mode. It works only with an iPhone.
A rugged, waterproof handheld GPS that tracks your route and runs for weeks on two AA batteries. Our field review of the Garmin eTrex SE, the budget dedicated GPS.
The cheapest, lightest piece of safety gear you own may also be the one that saves your life. A whistle and a signal mirror weigh almost nothing, never need a battery or a subscription, and let you call for help when your voice is gone and your phone has no signal. Everyone who goes outdoors…
Preloaded color topo maps, a barometric altimeter, and a 3-axis compass in a rugged AA-powered unit with no subscription. Our field review of the Garmin eTrex 32x handheld GPS.
Once you hike beyond cell coverage, a whistle and a mirror can only reach as far as someone can see or hear you. A satellite messenger changes the equation entirely: it lets you send an SOS, and two-way messages, to search and rescue from almost anywhere on Earth. The SPOT X is an affordable, standalone…
