A Checklist For Choosing The Perfect Geocaching GPS

1. How easy is it to see the information on the screen?

You want a reasonably sized screen, good contrast, and, especially for color screens, you want transreflective properties which makes it easier to read the screen in bright sunlight.

2. How quickly and accurately does the gps lock onto satellite signals?

Can you continue to receive guidance through tree cover, through the windscreen of your car, or while your gps is secured inside your travel pack or pocket? For this, you want your gps to have 12 parallel channels. You may need an external antenna although it's not always necessary.

You may want your gps to be WAAS-enabled, to pinpoint cache positions with more accuracy, again that's not always absolutely necessary. A compass will often help to pinpoint your cache when you're close. As may an altimeter, especially if the cache is at a higher or lower level than you.

3. How easy is it to make sense of the information you receive?

To easily understand the info so you can find caches and not get lost? You want your gps to, at the very least, mark cache locations and significant points along the way (waypoints, they are called) - as if you were laying a trail of breadcrumbs. You want to be able to store at least 500 waypoints. At the other end of the scale, you may find it a lot more useful to have detailed, 3D maps.

4. How comfortable is it to carry about with you?

You want your gps to be small and lightweight.

5. Is it waterproof?

You're very likely to get wet while out on your hunts. Plastic bags and boxes can give some protection, but you want the gps to be waterproof to start with.

6. Decent battery life? The longer the better. Because you obviously don't want your gps to die on you. When considering which gps to get, you will find you have to weigh up lightness, cost, convenience and battery-life. Here are some thoughts:

• If the gps you decide to go for is perfect in every way except that the battery appears to last just 6-7 hours, you'll usually find these are small, light, relatively inexpensive batteries. So it's easy to carry a spare set with you (of course you must correct me if you think I'm wrong).
• With some gps' you have the option to use a cigarette lighter power cable to charge up and save the battery.
• A solar charger may extend battery life while you are out and about.
• Very roughly speaking, the longer the gps' batteries last, the heavier the gps gets.

7. Is it rugged? It will encounter lots of knocks and falls.

8. Is it waterproof? At some point it will get wet.

With all that information to hand, you are well on your way to making the most of Geocaching and enjoying all of the benefits that it brings. Happy Geocaching!