Best Waterproof Handheld GPS of 2025

Alan Eaton Avatar
Alan Eaton
Last Updated: Jan 9, 2025

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A waterproof handheld GPS is a must-have for any outdoor enthusiast who wants to explore the wilderness with confidence. These devices are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, making them ideal for camping, hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities. They come with a range of features, including satellite tracking, maps, and navigation tools, which allow users to stay on track and find their way back to safety. Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or a casual weekend warrior, a waterproof handheld GPS is an essential tool that can help you navigate the great outdoors with ease.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Garmin eTrex Solar Cover #TOP 1
Garmin eTrex Solar
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Bushnell BackTrack Mini GPS Cover #TOP 2
Bushnell BackTrack Mini GPS
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Garmin GPSMAP 79s Handheld GPS Cover #TOP 3
Garmin GPSMAP 79s Handheld GPS
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 9 Waterproof Handheld GPS

Garmin eTrex Solar

010-02782-00
Black
Garmin eTrex Solar Cover
Garmin eTrex® Solar, GPS Handheld Navigator, Unlimited Battery Life, Water Resistant

The Garmin Solar GPS Navigator allows you to read the 2.2” display easily, even in bright sunlight. Enjoy unlimited battery life under sunny conditions or up to 200 hours without solar charging. Access multiple GPS frequencies for precise positioning. Use the Garmin Explore app on your smartphone for wireless updates, trip planning, weather information, and notifications. With cache updates from Geocaching Live, you can get descriptions, logs, and hints. This handheld GPS also features a digital compass for accurate headings and is water-resistant for hiking in any weather.

What We Like
Unlimited battery life
Multi-band GPS for accuracy
Pair with smartphone app
#TOP 2

Bushnell BackTrack Mini GPS

GPSBTM
Black and Orange
One Size
Bushnell BackTrack Mini GPS Cover
Bushnell BackTrack Mini GPS Navigation, Portable Waterproof GPS for Hiking Hunting and Backpacking

The Bushnell BackTrack Mini GPS is a must-have for outdoor adventurers. It uses GPS technology to capture your trip or waypoint so you can guide back to your starting position. The easy to read display and large glove-friendly buttons make the BackTrack Mini a great choice for backpacking, hunting, and camping. It also has Bluetooth to sync trips and waypoints to the Bushnell Connect app on your smartphone. The rechargeable battery lasts up to 35 hours and is waterproof to handle any environment.

What We Like
GPS navigation and waterproof
Easy to read display and large glove-friendly buttons
Bluetooth to sync trips and waypoints to the Bushnell Connect app
Rechargeable battery with up to 35 hours of life

Garmin GPSMAP 79s Handheld GPS

010-02635-00
White
No Size
Garmin GPSMAP 79s Handheld GPS Cover
Garmin GPSMAP 79s, Marine GPS Handheld with Worldwide Basemap, Rugged Design and Floats in Water

The Garmin GPSMAP 79s is a handheld GPS that is rugged, water-resistant, and floats in water. With its high-resolution color display and scratch-resistant, fogproof glass, you can easily track 10,000 waypoints, 250 routes, and 300 fit activities. It supports multiple satellite constellations for reliable tracking around the world and includes a worldwide basemap. The built-in 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass shows heading while standing still and the barometric altimeter tracks changes in pressure to pinpoint your precise altitude. The battery life can last up to 20 hours in GPS mode.

What We Like
Rugged, water-resistant, and floats in water
Supports multiple satellite constellations for reliable tracking around the world
Increased memory to save and track 10,000 waypoints, 250 routes, and 300 fit activities
#TOP 4

Garmin eTrex 10 Handheld GPS Navigator

010-00970-00
Yellow and black
Garmin eTrex 10 Handheld GPS Navigator Cover
Garmin 010-00970-00 eTrex 10 Worldwide Handheld GPS Navigator

The Garmin eTrex 10 Handheld GPS Navigator is a rugged and waterproof device with a 2.2 inch monochrome display. It is preloaded with a worldwide basemap and supports paperless geocaching and Garmin spine mounting accessories. It is powered by two AA batteries for up to 20 hours of use and can track more satellites than other GPS devices. It is great for cyclists, walkers, hikers, and off-roaders, but the contrast on the display is weak and the light can come on with a simple flick of the button.

What We Like
Rugged and waterproof
Preloaded with worldwide basemap
Supports paperless geocaching
Tracks more satellites than other GPS devices
Powered by two AA batteries for up to 20 hours of use
#TOP 5

Magellan Triton 1500 GPS

Magellan
980941-01-cr
Magellan Triton 1500 GPS Cover
Magellan Triton 1500 Waterproof Hiking GPS (Renewed)

The Magellan Triton GPS is a handheld device with a 2.7-inch full-color touch-screen for an interactive experience. You can view photos, listen to MP3 files, and audio books, making it a great entertainment tool. With an embedded speaker and microphone, it's easy to record audio files, helping you capture and remember important moments. Additionally, the built-in LED flashlight provides added safety and convenience during nighttime activities.

What We Like
Full-color touch-screen
Entertainment features
Audio recording capability
LED flashlight for safety

Garmin GPSMAP 79sc Marine GPS Handheld

010-02635-02
Black
No Size
Garmin GPSMAP 79sc Marine GPS Handheld Cover
Garmin GPSMAP 79sc, Marine GPS Handheld Preloaded With BlueChart g3 Coastal Charts, Rugged Design and Floats in Water

The Garmin GPSMAP 79sc is a rugged, water-resistant handheld GPS with a high-resolution color display and scratch-resistant, fogproof glass. It features increased memory to save and track 10,000 waypoints, 250 routes, and 300 fit activities, and supports multiple satellite constellations for reliable tracking around the world. The device comes preloaded with BlueChart g3 coastal charts, has a built-in 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass, and a barometric altimeter that tracks changes in pressure to pinpoint your precise altitude. The battery life is up to 20 hours in GPS mode.

What We Like
Water-resistant, rugged design
Increased memory for saving and tracking waypoints, routes, and activities
Supports multiple satellite constellations for reliable tracking around the world
Comes preloaded with BlueChart g3 coastal charts
Built-in 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass and barometric altimeter
#TOP 7

Garmin eTrex SE Handheld GPS

010-02734-00+GRIT-MF
Black
Garmin eTrex SE Handheld GPS Cover
Garmin eTrex SE GPS Waterproof IPX7 Lightweight Compact Wireless Connectivity Hiking Handheld Navigator with Sunlight-Readable 2.2" Display & Gritr Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

The Garmin eTrex SE is an ideal companion for your outdoor adventures. Its 2.2-inch display is designed for easy readability, even in bright sunlight, ensuring you won’t miss important navigation details. You can enjoy extensive battery life, lasting up to 168 hours in standard mode, so you can explore without worrying about recharging. With multi-GNSS support, including GPS and GLONASS, you’ll benefit from precise navigation wherever your journey takes you. Plus, the waterproof design means you can tackle various weather conditions without hesitation, making this device reliable for any hiking trip.

What We Like
Long battery life
Waterproof design
Easy-to-read display
Precise navigation
#TOP 8

Garmin eTrex® SE GPS Handheld Navigator

010-02734-00
Black/Yellow
One Size
Garmin eTrex® SE GPS Handheld Navigator Cover
Garmin eTrex® SE GPS Handheld Navigator, Extra Battery Life, Wireless Connectivity, Multi-GNSS Support, Sunlight Readable Screen

This handheld GPS navigator by Garmin comes with a 2.2” high-resolution screen that is easy to read even in bright sunlight. It has long battery life of up to 168 hours in standard mode and up to 1,800 hours in expedition mode. The device supports multiple global navigation satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou and QZSS) to track in more challenging environments than GPS alone. You can pair it with the Garmin Explore app on your compatible smartphone for wireless software updates, trip planning, Active Weather, smart notifications and additional mapping. It also comes with a water-resistant design and digital compass.

What We Like
Long battery life
Easy to read screen
Supports multiple global navigation satellite systems
Water-resistant design
Digital compass for accurate heading

Garmin GPSMAP 67i

GPSMAP 67i
Black
Garmin GPSMAP 67i Cover
Garmin GPSMAP 67i Rugged Hiking GPS Premium Handheld inReach Satellite Technology, Two-Way Messaging, Interactive SOS, Mapping Bundle with Accessories

The Garmin Rugged Hiking GPS, also known as Garmin GPSMAP 67i, offers inReach Satellite Communication for two-way messaging, SOS alerts, and location sharing via global satellite network. It provides Multi-Band GNSS Support for precise navigation, altimeter, barometer, and compass sensors. Enjoy Satellite Imagery, Topo Maps, and seamless smartphone integration for trip planning. The bundle includes essential accessories for your outdoor adventures.

What We Like
Satellite Communication
Multi-Band GNSS Support
Satellite Imagery & Maps
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which handheld GPS is the most accurate?

The Garmin GPSMAP 66st is at the top of its class in terms of accuracy and reliability, earning it our top honors. It boasts a powerful quad-helix antenna and reliably connects to more satellite networks with greater accuracy than most other models.

2. What handheld GPS does the military use?

The AN/PSN-13 Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR; colloquially, "dagger") is a handheld GPS receiver used by the United States Department of Defense and select foreign military services.

3. What is the easiest GPS to use for hiking?

Overall the best basic and simple handheld GPS unit is the Garmin eTrek 32i. The best full featured GPS for Backpacking is the Garmin Montana 700i. The best combination of a PLB and Satellite Messenger hiking GPS unit is the Garmin InReach Mini.

Editor's Notes

During our waterproof handheld gp research, we found 16 waterproof handheld gp products and shortlisted 9 quality products. We collected and analyzed 31,745 customer reviews through our big data system to write the waterproof handheld gps list. We found that most customers choose waterproof handheld gps with an average price of $198.81.

The waterproof handheld gps are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of waterproof handheld gps, including Garmin, Bushnell, Magellan. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Alan Eaton Avatar

Alan Eaton is a seasoned writer whose expertise is in anything related to electronics, such as headphones, monitoring equipment, computer, and so on, built over a 15-year career in the technology industry. Working in the trade during his youth, he accumulated a great deal of knowledge about machinery.