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Spent $200 on a GPS watch for backpacking and it barely lasted two seasons
I picked up a mid-range GPS watch two years ago thinking it would save me on long trips in the Cascades. The battery life was great at first, but after about 15 trips the screen started flickering in rain. Now it won't hold a charge past 4 hours, which is useless for anything beyond a day hike. The repair shop quoted me $150 to fix it, almost what I paid. Anyone else have luck with cheaper options like a basic compass and a paper map instead of these pricey gadgets?
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the_elliot1mo ago
Used to be all about gadgets but this kinda changed how I see it.
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the_taylor1mo ago
Man, I gotta admit I used to be one of those guys who swore by the gadgets. Thought I needed all the bells and whistles for tracking elevation and distance. But after watching my buddy navigate a foggy ridge with nothing but a cheap compass and a folded map while my fancy watch was dead, it really hit me. Now I still bring my phone as a backup, but for real navigation I've gone back to paper and a basic Silva compass. It never flickers in the rain, never needs a charge, and if I drop it in a creek I just shake it off. Saves me money and headaches.
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