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There are three primary options for off-road GPS navigation. eBay offers a wide selection of all three:
- In-car units
- Handhelds
- Watches
The key to knowing which navigation product to buy is based on how you plan to use it.
In-Car, Off-Road GPS Navigation
Garmin Overlander in-car, off-road GPS
If you drive an adventure rig and don’t do much hiking, then an in-car, off-road navigation GPS unit is your best bet. In-car units are large, have bright screens, and offer a wide variety of useful features for off-road adventures.
In-car units with relatively large screens allow you to see your route, elevation, and speed—all at once while driving. That’s helpful. eBay allows you to filter your product search by size, between 3.5 and 12 inches. If you want to see topographical maps with all the different geography, then color is the way to go.
If you know where you’re going, then smaller units can also work well.
The best in-car, off-road navi units come with a heavy-duty windshield mount and a cigarette-style DC cord (to charge while driving). They also offer a USB cord for firmware updates and charging at home.
The car-based Garmin Overlander tracks both on-road trips and off-pavement adventures using an impressive 6.95” screen. Key in-car features include:
- Voice activation
- Built-in barometer and compass
- The ability to tag camp spots or notable surroundings
- Indications of speed and elevation chart, as well as 4×4 trails and public land boundaries (perfect when off-grid camping on Bureau of Land Management terrain)
Garmin GPSMAP 66i
Hand-Held Of-Road GPS Units
If you roll on rubber but also love hiking, a handheld off-road navigation GPS unit may be the way to go. These products pack a lot of features into a small screen.
Handheld GPS products come with a windshield mount if you’re driving. But the unit can pop off easily to clip to your backpack when trekking on foot.
The Garmin GPSMAP 66i handheld off-road navigation unit blends the best attributes of an in-car unit and a small-screen GPS navigational wristwatch. The three-inch color display is easy to view when held in your hand. However, it needs to be mounted close to you when driving.
The GPSMPA 66i comes with these goodies:
- Tons of pre-loaded topographic maps for tracking your route
- A long-lasting battery (up to 200 hours in Expedition mode with 30-minute tracking).
- The ability for others to track your adventures for 30 minutes at a time
- Two-way messaging and emergency assistance via SOS button (applicable monthly service charges apply)
Garmin Foretrex 601
GPS-Enabled Wristwatch
Do you believe that less is more? Do you want to reduce the number of cables and devices on your dash? Then owning a GPS-enabled wristwatch could work well for your off-road adventures.
The Garmin Foretrex 601 is a powerful wrist-mounted GPS navigator with smart notifications. Users can navigate the world hands-free via its comprehensive navigation and tracking system.
This waterproof product has a two-inch screen that allows users to access maps, tracking logs, waypoints, and even a hunting and fishing calendar.
The Foretrex 601’s features work with GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellite systems to provide accurate positioning and to receive emails, texts and alerts. It also shows compass and elevation (monitoring ascents and descents).
The Garmin Foretrex 601 is built to military standards for thermal, shock and water performance. And it’s compatible with night-vision goggles.
Other Off-Road GPS Tips
We highlighted Garmin devices in this post. But you might also check out products from TomTom and Magellan. No matter what brand, it’s important to choose a GPS unit designed for on-road use and not for other activities, such as trail running.
Are you tempted to just use your smartphone for trips in your adventure rig? We don’t recommend that. Once you lose cell service with a phone, it’s no longer helpful. On the other hand, GPS units have built-in maps that allow you to use it whether in our out of service.
We always suggest having at least two forms of navigation as part of an off-road safety plan. If you’re traveling deep into remote areas, three different kinds of nav is not a bad idea.
See related post: “A Tablet Car Mount Creates a Powerful Digital Cockpit on Your Dashboard“
