Satmap didn’t scrimp on the included accessories for Active 10 either. Inside the box you’ll find a lanyard, as well as a very nice carrying case that is perfect for the trail. Also in the box is a USB cable for connecting the Active 10 to your computer, 3 AAA batteries and a rechargeable battery pack. A car and wall charger, and every international adapter you could ever hope for, round out the charging options.
Speaking of batteries, I was very impressed with how long the Active 10 could operate while in the field. I used the device for more than 15 hours with the included rechargeable battery pack, and it was still going strong as I began to write this review. When used judiciously for backwoods navigation, and considering the various ways to charge the device, the Satnav should have no problems holding up for extended journeys away from home.
Overall performance on the Active 10 is fantastic. The first time I turned it on, it took longer than I expected to connect to the satellites, but it managed to lock on to every one of them, even under full tree cover. Subsequent uses of the device were much faster at connecting to the satellites, cutting the initial set-up down dramatically. I’m not sure where the performance gains come from, but I suspect that the first time out of the box, there was an initialization process that the Active 10 had to complete. Either way, the triangulation process was sped up nicely.
Once familiar with the device, I found the Active 10 extremely easy to use, and I was quickly using some of the higher-level navigational functions without even thinking about it. Setting waypoints was a breeze, and navigating to them was even easier. The electronic compass was useful in any number of circumstances, and the device is so quick to fire-up and begin using, that I could turn it off, and store it in the case, breaking it out only as needed.
If you couldn’t tell, I’m highly impressed with the Satmap Active 10 Trek. By itself, it is an excellent, easy to use GPS device with all the features you could ever hope for. Add in fantastic battery life and an easy to use interface, and you have a great navigational tool. Pair the device with the unparalleled National Geographic Maps, and you have a GPS unlike any other o the market. Those maps unlock a lot of potential for hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, and just about any other outdoor enthusiast. You can’t get the Nat Geo maps on any other handheld GPS device, and that puts the Active 10 in a class all it’s own. (MSRP: $369.99)
Related – Keys to Navigation
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