TOOLBOX

Micro GPS Shoot Out

I don’t ask for directions. There, I said it. And my girlfriend has a better sense of direction than I do. There, I said that too. I need GPS. That’s where these babies come in — each represents a different approach to an always-on-you GPS solution. —Bob Scott

Suunto X9

$700, suunto.com

A technological tour-de-force (and priced accordingly), this huge but comfy GPS watch also includes the usual Suunto complement of outdoor gizmos: barometer/altimeter, compass, and thermometer. Well-integrated GPS receiver can automatically set and correct the time, set compass declination, and reduce altitude/ba-rometer ambiguities. A necessarily terse user interface demands practice before you head out. Power and antenna constraints translate to a relatively long GPS acquisition time, but that’s a good excuse for a quick drink on the trail. A serial interface cradle lets you type in waypoints and routes on a PC, but doesn’t support data import from other programs.

DeLorme Blue
Logger
$180, delorme.com/bluelogger

Garmin Geko 201

^{$150, garmin.com/products/geko201} Not much bigger than a fun-size candy bar, this receiver doesn’t have a display, so you’ll Simple, tiny, and runs 12 hours need a Bluetooth-ready laptop or PDA with on two AAA batteries. No maps, mapping software to make a complete naviga-but it supports upload/download tion setup. But the eight-hour rechargeable of waypoints and routes with an battery and wireless connection lets you optional serial cable. Supports throw it on the dash without dangling wires. NMEA and the faster Garmin Uniquely, it can also operate as a standalone interface standards. Cheap, fast, track logger, automatically storing thousands and reliable. Loaded with lithium of position and speed data points for later batteries, it’s my choice for the wireless download. Use it to track the roving gadget bag. of everything from balloons to your cat. Supports the NMEA data exchange standard for easy interfacing.