• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

TotalHiker

Your Hiking Guide

  • Apparel
  • Gear
  • Hikes
  • Info
Total Hiker > Hiking Gear > GPS > Smartphone vs Standalone GPS for Hiking – Which is Best?

Smartphone vs Standalone GPS for Hiking – Which is Best?

Smartphones have all but taken over the world, and as new tech becomes available, these gadgets have replaced the need for a wide variety of standalone gadgets.

Our phones nullify the need for music players and digital cameras (unless you’re a professional photographer of course), so it comes as no surprise that many outdoor enthusiast are considering their options as far as smartphone vs GPS for hiking is concerned.

Which device you end up using will greatly depend on what you use your GPS for. Sometimes, a smartphone’s navigation tools will suffice for getting you from point A to point B. But there are still some areas where smartphone capabilities aren’t a match for handheld GPS units.

Standalone GPS vs Smartphone: Weighing up your options

Handheld GPS units and smartphones both have their advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a quick rundown of each option’s strengths and weaknesses!

Smartphone GPS

Pros

  • Convenience is the smartphone’s main advantage. You probably have a smartphone already and you have it on you all the time, so it’s readily accessible when you need it.
  • Most smartphones have integrated GPS maps that can navigate you from point A to point B with ease. They also offer surprisingly good accuracy and most smartphone manufacturers are constantly refining their GPS tracking features.
  • In general, smartphones use international GPS that permits quicker satellite acquisition times, so you don’t need access to the internet to use navigation features on your phone.

Cons

  • Smartphones are like little computers in our pockets, and they weren’t exactly designed for rugged outdoor use, so they’re not as durable as handheld GPS devices.
  • A smartphone is nothing without power, and we know all too well that modern smartphones aren’t leading the race when it comes to battery life.
  Garmin Oregon vs Montana Comparison

Handheld GPS

Pros

  • Durability comes in as the most notable and apparent advantage of handheld GPS devices. Most hiking GPS devices are waterproof or splash-proof, so they’ll keep in performing even in poor weather conditions. A standalone GPS can also withstand manhandling on the trail.
  • Another great benefit of a handheld GPS is battery life. Most handheld GPS units have interchangeable batteries, so they’ll stick it out for much longer than a smartphone.

Cons

  • The only drawback that handheld GPS units have is the fact that they’re not loaded with numerous mapping apps that can be found on smartphones. You’ll probably be stuck with branded and expensive updates if you want to use maps other than the base and topo maps your device came out with.

Final thoughts

When it comes to smartphone vs GPS for hiking, it’s safe to say that both options are great if you’re looking for accurate directional data. Whether you use a standalone GPS or a smartphone’s built-in GPS features really depends on what your purpose for a GPS is.

You should be fine with a smartphone if you’re doing a day trek around town, but if you need something reliable and rugged that can withstand the elements of the great outdoors, the only viable option is a handheld GPS.

Matt

Matt Green, is an avid hiker and lover of the great outdoors. He is always planning his next big trip or hitting the trails for a solo hike.

He’s traveled extensively to many remote regions and has plenty of experience exploring various terrains, and stories to tell.

  What is the Best GPS Watch for Hiking in 2023?

Contents

  • 1 Standalone GPS vs Smartphone: Weighing up your options
    • 1.1 Smartphone GPS
    • 1.2 Handheld GPS
  • 2 Final thoughts

July 25, 2022

Footer

  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • About Total Hiker
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Cookie Policy
  • Sitemap

Copyright © 2023 Total Hiker

Affiliate Disclosure

We believe in being as transparent as possible when it comes to this site. With this in mind, please be aware that we may receive remuneration for some of the products we review on this site.

Total Hiker is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com (and other Amazon programs).

We will also list ads from time to time. You should be able to see these as text links or blocks of ads which have a small notation indicating “Ads by Google” or “AdChoices”.

Our mission is to help our visitors, but this is also very clearly a for-profit site and you should realize as much. We include only those products that we believe could benefit you, some of which we may get a commission if you purchase them. However, we also provide links on the site to information resources for which we receive no compensation.

If you have any questions whatsoever, please contact us using the "contact" option on the site menu and we will be happy to answer any questions.

Being Social

FaceBook

Twitter

Trademark Dislosure

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.

In addition, any other trademarks and logos we mention on this site are also the property of their respective owners.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
SAVE & ACCEPT