GPS Device for a Child

[+billandteduk]

We have been caching for many years, and started a new account when we started a family and now our children are used to a six or seven mile hike around the countryside "treasure hunting". My oldest, who is almost 7, wants to get more involved - looking at the hints etc. We have tried old phones, but the batteries don't last and we are having a "no phone" policy for the children until they are much older. Therefore I wanted to get him a used GPS device. 

 

The key features I am looking for are:

• Ability to see the full details of the cache, including hints
• Able to show maps. We are in the UK, so if we can load OS maps, that would be even better. 
• Something easy for a child to use. This probably means something with a good sized screen and easy to read text. 

 

Nice to have would be a way of viewing satellite images, and paperless geocaching - so he can log his finds even though the actual logging will be done by us. 

 

I presume it will be a Gamin of some kind, but having never used one, it isn't clear to me what would be the most suitable and there are many different devices of different generations available. 

 

Therefore I wonder if people could make a recommendation on a suitable GPS device based on their experience with them?

 

Many thanks.

[+hzoi]

At this point, it may be worth just getting an older phone, putting a geocaching app on it, and then linking the data to your phone. As long as it has data incoming, it can load maps and do the rest without needing a SIM card or phone plan.

 

Edit, you said you'd looked at this, and I skimmed past that part. For battery power, you can get a 3rd party battery pack. We have our daughter on an iPhone 5, I think, with a form-fitting battery pack. (And no SIM.)

 

But a used Garmin Oregon would be doable for this. Not the hugest screen in the world, a Montana would have a bigger display, but it's also chunky and more awkward for 7 year old hands.

Edited September 19 by hzoi

[+Atlas Cached]

Oregon 7x0 series was always the best bang for the buck. 

[+Viajero Perdido]

An old phone with no SIM card.  Remove all unnecessary apps.

 

Load a caching app that works well fully offline, eg Locus Map on Android, Cachly on iOS as particularly offline-happy examples.

 

Load maps and caches over WiFi (or cable, if you can disable WiFi somehow) at home, much as you would an old-skool Garmin.

 

Include a power bank and cable (modern equivalent to "spare batteries"), though the built-in battery should last longer without cell connection and many apps active.

 

PS, congrats on raising kids who are happy doing longish hikes in the countryside!  

PPS, satellite view probably won't be free, nor will the best software that includes it.

PPPS, on my recent trip to UK, I bought a chunk of OS maps (also not free), and was appalled at the quality compared to OSM, OpenStreetMap.  Check out OSM, which comes in many apps under various names.

PPPPS, a single app subscription with a cost (eg for stuff like satellite view), will cover any number of devices under the same account, eg including the kids.  So buy it once for yourself, and the kids get it for free.  You could even have multiple geo-accounts sharing a single Android account.

 

Edited September 20 by Viajero Perdido