Handheld GPS Systems - Geocaching

Geocaching is an exciting new outdoor recreational activity that requires the use of handheld GPS systems.  Essentially, its a game of treasure hunting.  Someone hides the "cache", typically a container holding some item of interest and a log for keeping track of who has found said cache.

Once the cache has been hidden its coordinates are uploaded to a website whose purpose is listing caches, and prospective cache hunters can then download the coordinates and go in search of the hidden booty.  The reason you want a handheld is that many times the caches are hidden in hard to find, out of the way places where you can't take a vehicle.  For example, a rock climber may hide the cache in a crevice on the side of a cliff face.

There are now over a million caches known to be in existence and the number is growing every day.  If you love a good puzzle or mystery, and have a love of the outdoors this is really something you should try out!

Another interesting development are the wealth of sports applications that are now available from handheld GPS systems.  We've touched on hunting on the previous pages, but let's talk for a second about golf.

The Garmin Approach G5 GPS-Enabled Golf Handheld gives you green information on US Courses.  You are presented with a view of each hole that is reminiscent of popular video games, with water, sand, fairways, rough and green accurately depicted in a crisp display.  As you move around, the unit of course updates itself so that you are constantly presented with up to date yardage for club selection!

Other units are constantly coming out with apps for new sports.  For instance there are handheld GPS systems with apps for skiers and snowboarders which have maps of runs for popular ski resorts. 

There are apps for joggers and cyclists that report pace, calories burned, grade and distance!  The Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch is a very popular and highly rated model in this category.