If you’re going hiking, you may have been told that using a GPS is helpful. A GPS, or Global Positioning System, will help keep you on track and get you back on track if you get turned around in the woods.
However, there are different types of GPS units. For instance, there are car or navigational GPS for driving on city and rural roads.
Many people think it might be OK to use a car GPS for hiking, which might be true in some cases. So, today, we’ll answer whether you can use a car GPS for hiking.
Can You Use a Car GPS for Hiking?
The answer is not very straightforward because using a car GPS for hiking depends on the type of GPS unit.
For instance, if you use a traditional navigational GPS design for driving on normal roads, you will most likely not be able to use it for hiking. This is because a GPS designed for cars will only have maps loaded onto it for this purpose.
The maps will be for roads, whether in rural or urban areas. However, most of these navigational GPS units designed for cars will not have detailed hiking or local topography maps. So, let’s discuss why a car GPS might not be your best choice for hiking.
The Detail and Types of Maps
As mentioned above, one problem with a GPS unit designed for cars is that the maps will not be suitable for hiking through rough terrain. Those maps are generally for urban and rural roads.
These GPS units don’t have the maps or details you need for hiking through the woods or over mountains.
However, there are some higher-end units where you may be able to download and install additional maps, although these will be more expensive. At this point, you should consider getting a specialized handheld GPS just for hiking.
Driving vs. Pedestrian Modes
Another thing that may prevent you from using a GPS design for cars for hiking is that many of them only come with driving modes. This means that they function when you are traveling at more moderate speeds.
Many of them will not function or find your location, especially in the direction you are traveling if you are walking at slow speeds. However, some GPS units come with a pedestrian function. To activate the pedestrian function, go into your settings and then choose this function.
This will allow you to use the GPS unit for walking rather than driving. However, if we’re talking about a standard GPS unit designed for cars, this still does not account for the fact that the maps are not intended for hiking through mountainous or wooded areas.
Battery Life
The battery life in a car’s GPS is generally very short, which might prevent you from using it for hiking. However, the simple fact is that when you use a GPS in your car, you most likely have it plugged into the power port, keeping it powered without worrying about battery life.
Most units come with a small battery as a backup, but they usually last two to three hours at the very most. Unfortunately, three-hour battery life is not suitable for hiking. Therefore, if you want to use a GPS designed for cars for hiking, you will need to look for a unit with good battery life.
Portability
The other thing that may prevent you from using a car GPS for hiking is that generally, they aren’t very portable. They are usually bulky and have suction cups to attach to your dashboard or windshield.
They usually don’t have anything that allows you to carry them, such as wrist straps. They’re not very comfortable to hold, unlike a handheld GPS designed for hiking.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that GPS units designed for cars are not ideal for hiking in more than one way. If you want to use a GPS for hiking, then it is strongly recommended that you get a handheld GPS designed explicitly for this purpose.