9 reasons not to buy a hiking GPS if you are a beginner

A few days ago, a friend asked me what my next article was about. I say to him, "the x reasons not to buy a hiking GPS when you're a beginner." He said, " is there a GPS for hiking ? ". (edit: in his defense, the article was originally written in 2011 :) )

Indeed it does exist, there are now hiking GPS'S everywhere. GPS is trendy. But it is both a formidable and a dangerous tool. Why dangerous?

Imagine those airline pilots only learn to take off and land with Autopilot? What would happen if it failed? How could they land safely without learning to land manually?

Would it occur to you teach a child to type on a computer keyboard before teaching him to write with a pen? I hope not…

So here are some reasons not to buy a GPS if you are a beginner. Or at least not to buy one until you know your way around using natural markers, a map, and a compass.

9 reasons not to buy a GPS until you know how to orient yourself without

1. You will learn to read the terrain and orient yourself. If you are new to orientation and are using a GPS, you will not necessarily learn how to read the terrain, follow the trail markers, estimate your walking speed (useful in case of fog for example) and use the terrain clues. Maybe you won't even know what a cairn is for! Knowing how to read the terrain is not just for your friends to see, it's essential for your safety - even if you use a GPS.

2. You will learn how to use a map. If you start by using a GPS before using a map, you may not be able to read a map properly and orient yourself with it. It takes theoretical knowledge, but also a lot of practice – especially to read a map and spot what you see in the field. Why learn to read a map if you have a GPS? Point 4 is a sufficient reason. If you don't know where to find hiking maps, read this.

3. You will learn how to use a compass and an altimeter. Even if some GPS systems integrate these functions, it is essential to know how to use a compass (and possibly an altimeter) to orient yourself. Know indicate north is not enough :). These are basic tools and are much more reliable than GPS. You won't necessarily learn to use it properly if you start by buying a GPS. Or maybe you will once you get lost after your GPS stops working.

4. A GPS could break down. A GPS has limited range. A GPS may not be accurate and may not work (deep valley, dense forest...). If you rely on your GPS and it stops working, what do you do? Maybe you're being careful and took a compass and a map just in case. It's a pity you don't know how to use it... you now have the answer to your question: "What's the point of knowing how to use a map and compass when you have a GPS ? ".

5. A map, a compass, (an altimeter) and a good command of the orientation are sufficient for the majority of the hikes. GPS is often a useless gadget, which complicates things, misleads people and prevents many people from improving their orientation. Attention, for some hikes and in some conditions, GPS is essential – but this is rarely the case on well-marked paths for example.

6. Knowing how to orient yourself with a map and Compass makes it easier to use a GPS-not really the other way around. Once you know how to orient yourself in the field using a map, a compass and possibly an altimeter, it helps a lot to understand and use a GPS intelligently. It's easy to get your head on the screen and walk around foolishly by following the information that the GPS says, but that's exactly how people get lost. Sometimes a simple glance at the map or compass would have made some hikers aware of a big mistake.

7. GPS is a complex tool. On paper, it seems simple to use but in practice, it is totally different. A good command of the concepts of orientation, knowing how the GPS works and all its limitations are necessary to be able to interpret what it indicates. There are different ways to use GPS while hiking. It is easy to follow blindly what it displays, but much more difficult to be critical of this information. That's why so many hikers don't use it properly.

8. You'll save money. Of course, a hiking GPS is an additional (not insignificant) cost. If you don't really need it, don't buy it and you'll save money. You can even invest This "saved" money in a lighter rucksack, tent or sleeping bag. This is one of the strategies that can save you from making a rookie mistake that I describe in this article.

9. You will not weigh down your backpack. A GPS is an additional item to be carried. In my opinion, GPS cannot replace a "reliable" guidance system, it can only complement it. I advise you to always have at least one map and compass when you carry a GPS. So the weight of the GPS is always extra because it doesn't replace anything.

Exceptions and some tips to finish

The title of this article is deliberately provocative. There are cases where a GPS is extremely useful or even indispensable – even if you are a beginner.

I know someone who even got lost trying to make a hike with a map and a compass when it was more than strongly recommended to use a GPS. And that person... is me.

I advise you to use a GPS only when using other tools is painful or difficult or is essential for your safety. On the other hand, always find out where you are on your paper card and in the field when you use it – to know your position if it stops working.

When you are a beginner, it can be reassuring to have a GPS for orientation but I advise against it unless you are going on "committed" hikes. First, learn the theoretical basis of orientation. Then practice! Start by doing it on paths or in places you know well. Take a map, see what's around you, take azimuths, triangulate, count your steps, etc.

Good orientation requires a lot of practice and is a never-ending learning process. Even after dozens of orienteering races, I feel that I am continuing to improve by taking into account new elements or refining my orienteering techniques for example.

So prove yourself in the field, compass, and card in hand, and if you can't resist, give yourself a GPS once you're an orientation guru. I repeat one last time: always take a map and a compass (and possibly an altimeter) when hiking with a GPS.

Do not hesitate to give your opinion in the comments, bearing in mind that the article is intended to make you think, especially with regard to the promises of GPS vendors/manufacturers for outdoor activities: "you will not get lost anymore ! ".