Although your smartphone can tell you your location on this planet, situations (lack of cellular connectivity, battery life etc) might force you to use handheld GPS devices., This is especially true for geocachers, cyclists, fishers, hunters and runners.

Garmin is the leading GPS maker.

The best handheld GPS: Garmin Oregon 600 (screen is readable in bright sunlight)

The best handheld GPS for extreme conditions: Garmin GPSMAP 62s (all weather use)

The best GPS app for your smartphone: Gaia GPS: Topo Maps and Trails (nned to spend on a dedicated machine)

GLONASS is the Russian-supported system of GPS. Its network of 24 satellites became publicly available in 2011. A GPS device’s ability to access both the GPS network (the 24 satellites placed into orbit by the US Department of Defense) and GLONASS network increase the odds, or the speed with which the device will be able to find the four satellites necessary to fix a 3D global position.