There are portable GPS units for a variety of uses. The most popular, of course, is for use in cars, but you can also use portable GPS devices for use on the golf course, mountain climbing, boating, running, swimming, biking, motorcycle riding, and hiking. Do your homework and/or do your research, but here are the top 10 products you can buy for that special someone for Christmas in 2010.
gps for car
1.) Garmin Nuvi 855 – As far as car GPS goes, the Garmin Nuvi 855 is a top-of-the-line portable GPS device. Small, easy to use, and reliable without breaking the bank. You can pick them up for less than $125. This unit has a sleek, ultra-slim design that could easily fit in your pants pocket. It also includes voice recognition, which allows you to speak menu options and keep your eyes on the road.
2.) TomTom XXL 540M – The XXL 540M comes preloaded with maps for the US, Canada and Mexico and lifetime map updates, and also comes preloaded with over 7 million points of interest in over 60 categories of destination: gas stations, restaurants, hotels and ATMs. TomTom has the most accurate maps and with TomTom Map Share technology you can directly modify street names, street addresses, points of interest, road speeds and turn restrictions on your own device.
MotoGPS
1.) Garmin Zumo 660 – This motorcycle-friendly navigator was made to guide you on all your two-wheeled adventures. Whether you’re on a weekday trip across town or a weeklong trip to an annual rally with friends, the zmo 660 is ready to show you the way. The Zumo 660 motorcycle GPS navigator features 3D buildings, lane assist with junction display, and a 4.3-inch sunlight-readable, glove-friendly touchscreen. A motorcycle mount with hardware and a car mount are included, so your Zumo is ready to ride right out of the box.
2.) TomTom Rider 2 – Highly developed for riders by riders, The Rider is one of the best navigation devices for motorcycle use. Power up and out of the box. Simply mount the unit to your bike and you’re ready to hit the road. Turn-by-turn spoken directions guide you safely door-to-door to any address in the United States or Canada.
handheld gps
1.) Garmin Oregon 550T – The Navigator With Photographic Memory – The Oregon 550t combines rugged outdoor touchscreen navigation with a 3.2-megapixel digital camera. Add preloaded US topographic maps, along with high-sensitivity GPS, barometric altimeter, 3-axis electronic compass, and microSD card slot. The result? A versatile device that will make your biggest adventures even more memorable.
2.) Delorme Earthmate PN-60 – Includes:
– Intuitive icon-based user interface for easy device navigation
– Cutaway views of the elevation profile that mark the position of the user
– Sharing GPX files (waypoints, routes, tracks and geocaches) to SD card for easy and flexible archiving of collected GPS data
– Latest DeLorme power management system with ambient light sensor for optimal battery life
– 3.5 GB of Flash memory available to the user
Running GPS
1.) Garmin Forerunner 305 – Garmin’s release of this device is a huge achievement from a design and technology standpoint. This isn’t just marketing jargon; The Forerunner 305 is the most accurate and reliable wrist-mounted GPS tracking and performance tool we’ve ever tested. Yes, it’s that good. While no device this compact can do it all, the Garmin 305 pushes the boundaries of what’s possible when wearing a watch-like device.
2.) Garmin Forerunner 310XT – The 310XT is waterproof, so it’s totally possible to swim with it. The rugged Forerunner 310XT is the triathlete’s indispensable training tool: a GPS-enabled, swim-proof trainer that tracks bike and run data and sends it wirelessly to your computer. This multisport device has up to 20 hours of battery life, tracks distance, pace and heart rate (optional), and goes from wrist to bike in seconds.
Golf-GPS
1.) Sky Caddy SV 3.5 – The SkyCaddy SG3.5 gives you a panoramic view of the hole to propose critical distances you need to play with confidence and achieve lower scores. All the information you need is clearly presented on a glorious color display, powered by three triple A batteries, and users who join the member community can access up to 30,000 course maps.
2.) Callaway uPro Go – The Callaway uPro Go is a state-of-the-art, full-color GPS device, pre-loaded with over 18,000 courses across the US and Canada. Delivering lifelike detail with proprietary imaging processes and the ability to take up-to-the-minute measurements based on your actual location, the uPro Go offers the technology to change your game.
