Purchasing the right handheld gps unit is all about understanding your needs. When my husband told he wanted to purchase one I did not understand why. Like most men he is not keen on asking for directions. So purchasing a GPS unit just did not seem like something he would do. However, he is been hiking with a group of friends for the last couple months. They have gone on several trips to our nearby mountains. When they are, hiking they usually split into groups of two or four people. He wanted to purchase a GPS unit as a safety measure. In reality I think he just wanted to purchase a new gadget.