1mo ago

What's GPS Device to use for geocaching?

Im new to geocaching and use my phone to track location. But I see that Geocacher usually use a GPS Device. What’s a good product for beginners? If you would start the hobby now, what would you buy?

5 comments

There is no requirement to use a standalone, your phone GPS can be just as accurate as a dedicated handheld. Only benefit of a handheld is they can be more reliable at picking up weaker GPS fixes in trees/canyons and getting them faster when out of cell service (as your cellphone uses cell tower data to get a fix faster and more accurately). If your phone is working fine, no need to spend extra cash.
That said, basically any gps device that let's you program in or load waypoints from a computer/SD card, and has a decent user interface, will work. I still have an ancient, ancient garmin Dakota 20 that I'll break out of storage once in a while when I'm really getting out into the boonies, as much as it sucks to use its reliable asf.
I dont know if comments help, but id like a recommendation too.
I have a Garmin GPSmap 62s since forever and still use it for geocaching. If I had to choose a new device I'd probably go for the first device in the Garmin eTrex lineup with map support.
Thank you for pointing out the models, I’ll have a look at second hand devices…
Thank you. Great to read that a phone is enough. I read in another forum, that phones might not be accurate enough? Maybe I’ll get a GPS device second hand and test it one day…