Which GPS is right for me?

Which one should I get?

These recommendations are from 2001 so don't put a lot of faith in them. Its still true that you can use a very basic GPSR to find a cache. In fact, on the rare instance that my daughter and I go caching, I still use the trusty old M315.

For geocaching, you really can't go wrong with the Magellan 315 (my personal choice). It holds enough waypoints and routes to keep track of even the most complicated geocache trip. The unit is highly customizable and even floats. (For how long, I don't know!) The biggest problem with the M315 is the user's manual. It really isn't worth the paper it is printed on. Luckily, the operation of the receiver is fairly intuitive, and there is lots of help available on the internet.

Another receiver that alot of people like to geocache with is the Garmin ETrex. I've never used one, but the reports I hear are quite favorable. It doesn't do auto-averaging (which is both good and bad!) or routes like the M315, but it has enough features to get the job done.

No matter what receiver you buy, there are a few basic things to look for:

A 12 parallel channel receiver. (Not the less expensive 12 channel "multiplexing" receivers.) This lets the receiver calculate your location quicker and seems (in my opinion only, no proof yet) to be a little more accurate.

Water resistant. Might seem obvious, but some tests have been done and a little water can ruin $150 real quick. ;)

Mapping functions really aren't necessary for geocaching. All you need is the distance and bearing to the cache. You can get a rough idea of the area by using the maps built into geocaching.com. If you use your GPS for more than caching, and can afford it, the Garmin GPS III+ is a really nice unit. Be careful though, the receiver and accessories can end up costing several hundred dollars.

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