One of the biggest challenges for solo travelers is making sure that you don't get lost and end up completely off track, and whether you are on a road trip or heading out into the wilderness on foot, a gadget that can help you get back safely is very useful. There are a range of different options available, with dedicated devices designed for particular navigation tasks through to those that can carry out a variety of functions.


Finding the right balance between cost and function is vital for any traveler, so here are some of the most popular gadgets that can help you with your navigation as you travel.

 

TomTom VIA 1505M World Traveler Edition

A massive plus point for many solo travelers on a road trip is that they don't have an unreliable travel companion offering terrible navigation advice, but this driving satnav unit is certainly one friend that is worth listening to. If you travel internationally on a regular basis, the World Traveler edition comes with a huge host of maps that are updated on a regular basis, which is helpful as it will use the most up to date road map to get you to your destination. The five inch screen is clear and easy to use, and for those traveling for enjoyment, there are also over seven million points of interest included on the maps from around the world.

 

Bushnell Backtrack Original G2 GPS Personal Locator And Digital Compass

While this device won't help you to find a location that you have never visited before, you can tag up to three locations in the device once you are there, and this can make it very easy to get back to the same spot.

The Bushnell Backtrack digital compass updates itself regularly from the satellites to offer a reliable indicator of direction, and has a large clear digital display with a back light, which can be particularly useful if it is getting dark. If you enjoy camping or are heading out on a loop hiking route that returns you to the same spot, then this can be a very useful piece of equipment.

 

Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Handheld GPS Navigator

This light GPS unit is designed for those who want to have a model that they can carry in a pocket and refer to throughout the day, and at just five ounces it certainly doesn't feel too heavy in your pocket. The Garmin Dakota 20 rugged waterproof case means that you can happily forget about it knowing that it isn't easily damaged, and this version has a color screen and is preloaded with a world map. It also has the facility to load more detailed maps if you require, while those who enjoy Geocaching as a hobby will find the sensitive GPS reception ideal when it comes to finding a particular set of coordinates.

 

Garmin Edge 810

This compact unit is a great GPS unit for cyclists, and once mounted on the handlebars it is very easy to use and presents all of the information that you might need in order to get to your destination. The Garmin Edge 810 unit not only provides street maps or location maps depending on whether you are cycling on the road or heading out for some mountain biking thrills, while also offering plenty of information about your trip. Information that can be displayed includes the distance traveled, the time you've been cycling and the elevation you have climbed, while it is also possible to have a heart rate monitor and speed sensor plugged in which is particularly useful if you are riding for fitness.

 

Apple Iphone 6

While there are plenty of gadgets available that can be very good when it comes to navigating from one location to the next, the Iphone 6, along with the majority of modern smartphones, is equipped with GPS functionality. There are an amazing range of applications that can be loaded on to the smartphone giving it a huge range of functionality. When this is combined with map applications such as Google Maps, the smartphone is a very competitive option if you have limited space and want one tool that can fulfill many roles in your equipment.