How to select a handheld GPS

For a last-minute gift idea, especially if your special someone likes the outdoors or travel, consider a handheld GPS unit, the super-compass for hikers, backpackers, bicyclists, anglers and travelers.

What - GPS stands for global positioning system. A GPS unit communicates with a community of satellites to calibrate your location and destination.

How much -Generally $50 to $600 at most sports and outdoor stores. Department stores sell them, too. Beginners should consider visiting a specialty outdoors store where the staff is more likely to be capable of matching you with an appropriate device. The most basic GPS may already be in your mobile phone, but apps can cost extra, while a dedicated GPS doesn't require a subscription for basic uses.

Range of capability - Lower price models tell you where you are and point to your destination. The more detailed GPS, the higher the price. Your needs - If you're a Saturday morning hiker who just wants to avoid getting lost on a winding trail, any GPS will do.

What to buy - Until you know your stuff, stick to the brand names. Garmin is the best reviewed with the largest variety of models. If you like tough hikes into the outback and spend time on canoes, kayaks and bushwhacking, take it up a couple of notches to systems over $200 that include maps and triangulation of satellite signals.

Bells and whistles - Scrolling comes in handy when following a long trek that won't fit on your screen. Consider a GPS that has topographical maps for wild countries. Then you have high-definition screens, space-age compasses, multi-channel satellite tracking, trip planning, removable storage, bright screens for use at night, digital cameras and so forth.

GPS games - A global game has emerged called geocaching. Geocaching is like a global treasure hunt. Hikers, hiking clubs and others leave memorabilia in transparent Tupperware-type containers. Because GPS doesn't yet pinpoint locations, following coordinates gets you to within a few yards or feet of your goal. Find the box, leave a note, or a trinket; take something out only if you leave something, enter your visit into a log book and leave the container for others.