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Handheld GPS Devices for Outdoor Navigation

Handheld GPS devices are the perfect companion for any outdoor adventure. Whether you’re geocaching, hiking, cycling, navigating in a car, or even out on the water, handheld GPS units are highly versatile, reliable, and easy to use. At ActiveGPS, we stock the latest handheld GPS devices from Garmin, trusted worldwide for accuracy and durability.

Our range of handheld GPS devices includes popular models such as the Garmin Montana and Garmin Oregon series. These GPS units are waterproof, built for tough environments, and feature bright colour touchscreen displays for easy navigation outdoors. We also offer a wide selection of genuine GPS accessories, detailed mapping solutions, and specialist marine charts to help you get the most from your device. For water-based use, you can also buy marine handheld GPS devices, ideal for boats, jet skis, or handheld navigation on the water.

If you need help choosing the best handheld GPS system for your needs - or you’re buying one as a gift - our friendly team is here to help. Browse the product pages below for detailed information, or call us on 01733 777623 (Monday to Friday, 9:30am–5:00pm). Outside these hours, please contact us online and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

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Deliveries

We offer UK, Europe and Worldwide deliveries. We despatch orders at 4:30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We need to receive your order on those days by 3:00pm. When possible we may despatch orders received after that time. No orders are despatched on Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holidays in England and Wales.

We offer FREE UK delivery on all orders of £50.00 or more, plus next working day and guaranteed Saturday delivery options. Click here for further info. All options also appear at the basket pages.

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Handheld GPS Buyer’s Guide

Garmin handheld GPS devices are the ideal companion for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you need to pinpoint your exact location on land or out on the water, a handheld GPS provides reliable positioning and navigation so you can explore with confidence and never lose your way.

Most handheld GPS units available from ActiveGPS.co.uk also support a wide range of Garmin mapping titles on SD or microSD card, allowing you to enhance on-screen detail with topographical, road, or marine mapping. This buyer’s guide will help you choose the best handheld GPS device for your needs.

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Usage: On Land or at Sea

Handheld GPS devices are designed either for land-based use or for marine navigation. Understanding how you plan to use your GPS will quickly narrow down your options.

Land-based handheld GPS units typically feature touchscreen displays, are fully waterproof, but do not float. Marine handheld GPS devices, however, are usually button-operated (rather than touchscreen) for reliable control in wet conditions, and some models - such as the Garmin GPSMAP 79s - are designed to float if dropped in water.

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Screen Size

Handheld GPS devices are available with a range of screen sizes. Larger models, such as the Garmin Montana 760i can also be used with street-level road maps like UK and Europe (sold separately) to provide in-car navigation when used with a Garmin Montana 700 series suction cup mount.

All Garmin Montana models support dual screen orientation, allowing you to view the display in portrait or landscape mode. Screen sizes range from 2.6 inches on the Garmin eTrex range, 3.5 inches on the Garmin GPSMAP H1i Plus, up to an impressive 5 inches on the Garmin Montana 710i and Montana 760i.

Most handheld GPS systems feature colour displays, while some specialist models use greyscale screens, such as the Garmin GPS 73 and Garmin Foretrex 701.

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GPS Antenna Types

If you plan to use your handheld GPS in dense woodland, deep valleys, or areas with limited satellite visibility, it is recommended to choose a device with a protruding external GPS antenna. External antennas typically provide stronger and more reliable satellite reception, helping to maintain accurate positioning in challenging environments.

For general outdoor use in open environments, a handheld GPS with a built-in internal antenna may be sufficient. However, models that support an external antenna still offer the benefit of enhanced signal performance when conditions become more demanding.

Certain models, such as the Garmin Montana 700i, 710i, 750i & 760i, also offer the option to connect a separately available Garmin Montana 710i / 760i External GPS & Iridium Antenna, allowing you to further improve satellite reception and communication reliability in remote or difficult terrain.

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Battery Life

Battery life is an important consideration when choosing a handheld GPS, particularly for longer outdoor activities. Models such as the Garmin eTrex 32x offer up to 25 hours of battery life when using standard AA batteries, making it a popular choice for extended hikes and multi-day trips where charging options may be limited.

By comparison, the Garmin Montana 760i provides up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge, depending on usage, screen brightness, and GPS settings. Montana devices use a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, offering convenience for users who prefer USB charging and frequent use across multiple activities.

The Garmin GPSMAP H1i Plus handheld GPS also offers up to 48 hours of battery life on a single charge, making it suitable for both on-land and remote outdoor adventures while providing the added benefit of enhanced connectivity features.

In summary, AA battery-powered models are ideal for users who require maximum runtime and easy battery replacement in the field, while rechargeable Garmin Montana models suit those looking for a powerful, all-in-one handheld GPS with flexible charging options.

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Garmin TOPO Maps for Handheld GPS Devices

Heading into the mountains or countryside for hiking, walking, skiing, or climbing? Garmin TOPO maps provide detailed topographical information, including contours, elevation, and terrain features.

Available maps include:

‣Garmin TOPO Great Britain V3 PRO 1:25K
‣Garmin TOPO Great Britain V3 PRO 1:50K
‣Garmin TOPO Switzerland V2 PRO
‣Garmin TOPO Spain V7 PRO
‣Garmin TOPO France V7 PRO
‣Garmin TOPO Italy V6 PRO

Along with many otherGarmin TOPO map titles.

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Garmin GB Discoverer Maps for Handheld GPS Devices

Explore the British countryside with Ordnance Survey (OS) maps displayed directly on your compatible Garmin handheld GPS. GB Discoverer maps are available at a detailed 1:25K scale.

Coverage includes popular routes and regions such as Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path, Yorkshire Wolds Way and North Highlands, among many others.

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Garmin Street-Level Road Maps for Handheld GPS Devices

Turn your handheld GPS into a road navigation device with Garmin City Navigator street-level maps. Available regions include UK and Europe, Middle East and Northern Africa and North America.

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Garmin Marine Charts for Handheld GPS Devices

Navigate coastal and offshore waters with the Garmin BlueChart g3 range of marine charts, available on SD and microSD cards. View the Garmin BlueChart range.

Please note: Always check compatibility with your Garmin device before purchasing any Garmin map. Compatible devices are listed on each map product page, for example on the Garmin TOPO Great Britain V3 PRO 1:25K page under “What is the map compatible with?”. If you are unsure about compatibility, please contact us for advice.

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Do you own an older handheld GPS device? Looking for accessories?

As well as the latest handheld GPS devices and their accessories (see above), we also sell a vast selection of genuine parts for Garmin handheld units that have since been discontinued. Among the many systems we sell original parts for the Colorado and Dakota series, namely the Garmin Colorado 300, Garmin Dakota 10 and Garmin Dakota 20. From the Garmin eTrex series we sell accessories for the Garmin eTrex 10, Garmin eTrex 20, Garmin eTrex Touch 25, Garmin eTrex Legend Hx Garmin eTrex Legend HCx, Garmin eTrex Vista Cx and Garmin eTrex Vista HCx. The popular Garmin GPSMAP 60 series has parts and accessories for the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx. For the newer and full colour Garmin GPSMAP 62 series we sell accessories for the Garmin GPSMAP 62, Garmin GPSMAP 62s, Garmin GPSMAP 62sc and Garmin GPSMAP 62st. The larger screen Garmin GPSMAP 276Cx accessories. The Garmin Montana series features products/accessories including for the Garmin Montana 600, Garmin Montana 610, Garmin Montana 650, Garmin Montana 680 and Garmin Montana 680t. From the extremely popular Garmin Oregon series, we list and sell accessories for the following Oregon models; Garmin Oregon 200, Garmin Oregon 300, Garmin Oregon 400t, Garmin Oregon 450, Garmin Oregon 550, Garmin Oregon 600 and Garmin Oregon 650t.

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Why Buy from ActiveGPS?

We are official authorised Garmin Internet Retailers, offering genuine Garmin products, accessories, and maps. All our stock is purchased directly from assigned Garmin UK distributors - we do not source from the grey market and never sell counterfeit products.

When you buy from ActiveGPS.co.uk, you can be confident that you’ll receive full Garmin support and the peace of mind that comes with purchasing authentic, reliable products.

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This page was last reviewed on: 23rd January 2026