A Game-Changing GPS Tracker with Infinite Battery and Precise Navigation

The love of exploring the great wilderness around the Pacific Northwest ingrained a passion for nature in me. Despite a strong sense of direction, GPS assistance becomes crucial when venturing deeper into unfamiliar terrains.

While smartphones offer GPS functionality, conserving their battery for photography and communication is essential. Though my wearables include GPS, their tiny screens are unsuitable for trekking through forests.

Specifically crafted for adventurous pursuits like hiking, camping, and geocaching, handheld GPS devices boast ample screens, robustness, and long-lasting power, ensuring durability even during accidental mishaps.

Discovering the Garmin eTrex Solar

Providing straightforward, accurate navigation, the eTrex Solar is an affordable option that fuels your journeys without needing to be tethered to a power cable.

Over recent months, I extensively utilized this device for hiking, trail rides, and treasure hunts in nature. This handheld marvel offers 200 hours of power on a full charge, and under bright sunlight conditions, it could theoretically run indefinitely. My testing didn’t involve extreme sunlight conditions, but it never required recharging, seeming to outlast even the longest escapades.

User-friendly with its monochrome screen, this GPS features five comfortably large buttons and a neck carrying loop. Along with a useful belt loop clip, the device is designed with a USB-C port safeguard against water, enhancing its water resistance to IPX7 standards.

From the main screen, access easy-to-use controls for tracking, navigation, solar status, and more. Customizable display metrics akin to Garmin’s sports watches provide options for viewing elevation, speed, distance, and other data that suit your needs. However, while it guides reliably to waypoints, it lacks turn-by-turn navigation and detailed maps.

Advanced Capabilities

With capability to handle 1,000 waypoints and 200 activities, it supports numerous global satellite systems including GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo, ensuring you remain on course. Integrate the Garmin Explore app for enhanced functionalities like weather updates and geocache management.

The Garmin Explore app further enables updates, cloud syncing, planning trips, and receiving notifications.

Considering Your Purchase Options

At a price point of $249, the eTrex Solar emerges as a perfect companion for outdoor enthusiasts aiming for reliability in remote locations. A non-solar variant is also available for $149.

Ideal for burgeon adventurers, the device supports engaging in geocaching, a delightful and educational pastime.