What would you recommend that is more rugged and is a little more reliable?

If you have a smart phone just use Google MyTracks. It essentially does the same thing and allows you to upload or e-mail your track anywhere. Check it Out and it is free

I’d recommend getting a SPOT. It’s rugged. It’s more reliable. I’ve had one for three years. This good device has three buttons. Two send your location and messages you pre-wrote to up to ten cell phones or e-mail @ddresses. The OK button sends your OK message, the Help button sends your request for your friends to lend a hand, and the Emergency button sends your location direct to 911/Search&Rescue. The SPOT has saved many people’s lives!
Check out my reviews and mentions of the SPOT at my paddling group’s website kayakyak.blogspot.com — search on SPOT to find the posts I’ve mentioned it.

We use SPOT devices all the time and love them. But this little AMOD device tracks up to once per second, creating an exact track of your route. SPOT gives waypoints along a route and has much different features built in. Different use scenario altogether.

Re the smartphone idea — yes, that works, too! This AMOD can be used for 24 hours straight (before a reset) and also has a loooong battery life for wilderness trips. It’s just a different and much simpler (and cheaper) solution.

All of these options are good and have their place.

Before I broke down and bought a real GPS watch for logging runs, I was using the Holux M-241 GPS Tracker. A single AA battery lasts > 18 hours. It works fine with Sanyo eneloop batteries. The small display is great to check coordinates, GPS-based compass, GPS-based elvevation, distance traveled, or distance from start.

We use the I-gotU GPS logger. It’s very small, waterproof, the batteries last for 48hrs or so, and the reception is pretty decent. It has only one button on it, and no display.

I have used the AMOD in multiple adventure races. I start it, put it in a waterproof bag, tuck it in the top of my pack and go. For events that prohibit the use of navigational GPS (AR and Orienteering) this is a light, legal option that allows you to do post event analysis or blogs. I’ve used mine for three years with no issues. If you set it to record one data point every six seconds, you can store 10 days worth of tracks.

I’ve been using Garmin 62s all summer long. Thanks to the ability to load custom maps, I was able to choose different return routes a couple times because of inexperienced hikers coming with me. It wasn’t easy to load the maps (you have to take the image of the park/trail, map it onto the terrain in Google Earth, save as .kml, and then hope the GPS doesn’t complain about it – like if the image is too large).

The unit’s pretty rugged, has good battery life, but can be bulky and slow in operation. I’ve used it for logging, navigation, and photo tagging. I wish there existed a smaller unit with a larger touchscreen utilizing Google Maps – because Google Maps is starting to have trails mapped. Smartphones need not apply with their poor battery life, the need to download map data, and fragility.

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