Geocaching is the hot new sport for anyone with a yen for adventure. An updated version of the old treasure hunt, geocaching replaces yellowed, hand-drawn pirate maps with sleek, portable, handheld GPS devices like the Garmin GPSMAP 60 CS Portable Handheld Outdoor GPS (shown). Instead of hunting for Spanish doubloons on deserted islands, you trek through urban jungles or into the backwoods in search of hidden caches. Geocaching won’t make you rich, but it will enrich your leisure time. It’s a great sport for singles, couples, teens and families and a fun way to get some healthy exercise.  

It’s easy to get started with geocaching. All you need is a portable GPS unit. Look for these features when purchasing a GPS device for geocaching:

• You’ll be carrying the GPS unit while hiking, so look for a model that is lightweight and compact. You want something that is easy to carry in the palm of your hand because you’ll be checking the readout constantly as you hike. Some models come with a wrist strap.
• A unit with a long battery life lets you stay on the hunt longer. You won’t have to worry about loosing juice mid-hunt if you plan a day searching for caches out in the country or want to hop from site to site around town. A long battery life also allows you to track down those special hard-to-find caches hidden deep in remote sites.
• Look for a unit with a high waypoint storage which will allow you to store more cache locations.
• Good screen readability is important. The unit’s screen should be easy to read in bright daylight. A backlit screen for night viewing allows you to keep caching through dusk and into the night.
• Geocaching is an outdoor sport so choosing a waterproof GPS just makes sense. You want your unit to work in all kinds of weather. Some caches may be hidden near or under water (creeks and rivers make great cache sites).

You don’t need anything fancy. ActionGPS has a great selection of good, refurbished handheld GPS units at great prices. (Check out the Garmin Etrex Legend Handheld Outdoor GPS Receiver. Factory refurbished, it’s on clearance for an incredible price of just $84.95. A perfect start-up model.)