if you love the outdoors, you most likely love hiking, canoeing and other fun outdoor activities. And while such a trip can be fun, it is important to remain safe whenever possible. This is especially true when exploring or traveling to new areas. Maps can be a great tool to ensure safety, but they can also be difficult to use. They maybe outdated or simply unavailable. Even a precise map requires extensive knowledge of how to track your location, otherwise you never know exactly where you are or the easiest route to take to return home or in case of emergency.

A great alternative to traditional maps is the Garmin eTrex Vista GPS, or simply the Garmin Vista GPS. The Garmin Vista GPS is a great tool for knowing your precise location in any wilderness environment. The strong satellite signal helps ensure a maintained satellite signal through heavy cloud cover, trees or tall buildings. Other key features of the Garmin Vista GPX include an electronic compass, allowing you to know your direction, and a barometric altimeter which displays your current altitude. Another important feature is that the Garmin Vista GPS is waterproof, helping relieve the stress of accidents on the water.

The Garmin Vista GPS comes preloaded with rivers, lakes, coastlines, cities, interstates and other major landmarks. This makes navigating the outdoors simple and easy. The pre-loaded maps can also be updated through a microSD card slot for use with microSD cards specially preloaded with MapSource data. Even street maps can be loaded, making the Garmin Vista GPS function closer to a traditional driving GPS.

Don’t be fooled, though. The Garmin Vista GPS is designed for the appreciator of the outdoors. An included hunting/fishing calendar, for example, lets the user know which game is in season. Sunrise and sunsets are pre-included to let the user know precisely how much daylight they have each day. The GPS also includes a geocaching mode, allowing treasure hunters to track and search items known as geocaches. And because the Garmin Vista GPS runs on AA batteries rather than a battery which must be charged, a user can simply replace the batteries rather than needing a power source by which to charge.

With these features and more, it is plain to see how the Garmin Vista GPS is an invaluable tool for hikers, boaters and other nature lovers. A combination of fun and practical tools allow the Garmin Vista GPS to function as a versatile tool for a variety of user needs.