I would purchase a GPS if I was an avid hiker or camped a lot, but I prefer relying on landmarks and things that don't require a lot of technology.

However, if you are lost, that GPS would probably be a life saver, assuming rescuers could get to you!

Landmarks do help, but you will still need a way to triangulate your position in relation to the landmarks. Some landmarks are very large, and if you don't know exactly where you are in relation to it you could have your position off by a mile or more. If you don't know exactly where you are, there is a big chance you could get yourself very lost, very quickly.

This is why I use GPS along with maps and compass. I can verify my location easily, as well as knowing where I am if the GPS gets broken, or even if the compass gets broken.

When it comes to critical life saving tasks, I recommend at least two and preferably three methods to do the job.

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Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

NRA Certified Instructor for Basic Handgun and Personal protection in the Home.
V.F.W. Life Member
NRA Member
U.S. Army Veteran

I have a Garmin 660 in my car, which I love. I may consider adding a hiking GPS to my survival kit if it is waterproof and I can figure out a reasonable way to extend the life of the batteries while in the wild, such as using some kind of solar charger.

When I was just a teen and venturing into the woods, there was no such thing as GPS. My uncle had a hunting camp that bordered 12,000 acres of state forest land. He taught me that if I every got disoriented up there, to find my way out, always travel downhill. When you get to a stream, follow it downstream. Eventually you will get out of the woods. I used that navigation method twice. Once it got me back to the fire trail that led back to the camp. The other time I ended up on the other side of the mountain, but it did bring me out to a road. I was 3 miles from camp and it was well past sunset when I got back but I didn't have to spend the night in the woods.

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And To The Republic For Which It Used To Stand

Specifically, which GPS brand/model would you recommend for a survival kit? I'm leaning towards the Garmin eTrex series.