One of my favorite things about Twitter is that it lets me really see how people are using GPS and what issues they’re having with it.  I can think of a lot of things that people might want to know, but, when it comes down to it, they’re better at telling me than I am with thinking it up.  After all, though I use GPS too, I use it in a pretty limited way (which is to say, I mostly use my GPS for directions).  But this technology is so far-reaching that it’s hard for me to think of what a kayaker or a hunter or a fisherman might want to know.  Also, since I spend so much time thinking, talking, and learning about GPS-sometimes it can be hard to tell the forest for the trees.  That’s why I like Twitter.  I can see what real people want to know, and help them out.  That inspired this new feature, which I like to call GPS Twansers (that’s Twitter Answers).  I’ll pick a question that someone posted out to the universe on Twitter and post my twanswer here.

GPS Twanswers #1 - Is there a Good GPS for Both On-Dash Car Navigation and Hiking?

The answer to the question is yes and no (helpful huh?).  If you specifically want to know whether there is some magical device that is little with a long battery life like a dedicated hiking GPS (say-the Garmin eTrex or Magellan Triton) with all the auto navigation features of the nüvi (darned umlaut!) then your answer is resoundingly no.

The two types of devices have different uses and so different features and abilities.  For hikers, small size, long battery life, and sensitivity are the most important features.  This means that hiking GPSs are small, compact, and don’t have a lot of battery-draining or weight-adding features.  For instance, you won’t get much noise out of a hiking GPS-so no turn-by-turn directions.  Alternatively, for a car GPS battery life takes a back seat since it’s usually plugged in, and size isn’t nearly so important because you want to be able to see it.  The two different uses work against each other.

However, if what you to ask is whether there is a device that will navigate for you on streets and also help you out in the woods, then the answer is yes!  There are lots of devices that support both trail and road maps and even have turn-by-turn directions (but not usually with sound-so you’ll have to look at it).  Here are some options for you, and all are available at www.locationstore.com.

Lowrance XOG Crossover - this is the closest thing to the magical car/hiking GPS.  It has fully functional automotive turn-by-turn navigation (with voice!) and can also do straight-line navigation for when you’re off road.  It’s rugged and weatherproof, so you won’t feel like you’re going to break it by tossing it in your backpack.  It also has some of the goodies that automotive GPS units (like the nüvi [darn umlaut!]) have-see MP3 play capability.  That said, it comes with a rechargeable battery, so it’s tough to charge out in the woods.  It also is a little big for hiking yet a little small for an in-car GPS.  However, it does mount on the dash for easy viewing.  If you’re more concerned about the street navigation than you are about the extra size and weight on the trail, then this may be the perfect thing for you.  The voice navigation alone puts it ahead.

DeLorme PN-40 - This one rivals the XOG for what I think you want.  It’s almost like a backwards XOG.  Instead of having a bigger form function that looks more like a car GPS, but also has hiking capability, it has a smaller form function that looks more like a hiking GPS but has auto capability.  Don’t get me wrong here, this is a serious hiking and outdoor GPS device.  It’s got tons of features for people who are really going to use it outside.  That said, it comes loaded with street maps (you don’t have to buy them separately), it will route you on streets and give you turn-by-turn directions (with a beep to let you know that a turn has come up), and you can buy a good mount to put it in your car.  The downside is that you’re supposed to plan your long car trips on your computer first, then download them to the PN-40.  It will route you across town or in-state on the fly, but works best when you sit down ahead of time at your computer and use the DeLorme software.  But if what you really want is something that will truly take the rough and tumble of an outdoor adventure, but also guide you on the streets with nothing extra to buy, this is a good choice.

Garmin Colorado 400t - This is much more of a hiking GPS, but in a pinch it will get you around the city too.  The Colorado series is pretty-much a dedicated outdoor GPS.  It is small, handheld, with topographic maps and tons of ways to share geopoints and caches with others.  It’s waterproof and generally is a fantastic device for anyone who is hiking, camping, kayaking, etc.  So, why am I listing it here?  Because it has an SD card slot where you can upload Garmin street-navigation maps.  Once these maps are on there, it will give you turn-by-turn street directions.  Sounds great right?  But it won’t talk to you (so you’ll have to look at the screen in the car) and it’s not that easy to mount on your dash.  It’s also really expensive.  This is a good device if you really want something to go hiking with, but also want to be able to find your way home.  It shouldn’t be your main auto-navigation aid though and you have to pay extra to get the street maps.

Garmin eTrex Legend HCx - My review of the eTrex Legend HCx is pretty similar to the Colorado in this instance (except that this is cheaper).  Like the Colorado, this is a dedicated outdoors GPS.  It is high-sensitivity and designed for hikers, kayakers, geocachers, etc.  It does that job really well.  Like the Colorado, it has an SD card slot into which you can add street maps.  It will then give you turn-by-turn directions (but not with voice assistance).  It’s also hard to mount in your car.

So, there’s you twanser.  There is no perfect GPS that has all of the on-road functionality with all of the hiking ability that you could ever need, but there are several good options that will do both things serviceably.  I hope this helps, and if anyone has questions or idea for a future column, send them to cara@locationstore.com.