7 Best GPS Receivers for Kayaking – Don’t Get Lost Out on the Water

This high-quality handheld GPS for kayaking from Garmin includes virtually all of the features you need to plan a complex paddling trip. The device comes pre-loaded with 100K TOPO maps for the US and surrounding waters, and Garmin’s BaseCamp software makes it easy to download additional maps to the unit’s 8 GB of internal memory. The GPS is also compatible with Bluetooth and ANT+, so you can easily add waypoints and track markings on the go from your smartphone.

The high-resolution screen is not huge, at 2.6 inches, but users found that it was more than sizable enough to read easily. They also appreciated the adjustable brightness, which made it possible to see detailed navigational information even in bright sunlight conditions.

Other useful features on this GPS include a 3-axis tilt compass, which you can use in lieu of a standard waterproof compass for navigating along a heading. The GPS also has a built-in barometer, which can be used to detect if storms are approaching. A helpful feature for the most rugged adventures is that this device uses both GPS and GLONASS satellite networks, so you’re likely to have coverage no matter where you go.

Users also appreciated that despite having all of these features, the GPS is designed to be user-friendly. They found that it was easy to track a kayaking route and to store waypoints along the way. Plus, with 10,000 custom waypoints and up to 200 stored routes, users noted that they never had to delete data in the middle of a paddling season.

In many ways, the eTrex 30 is a smaller version of the GPSMAP 64st handheld GPS for kayaking. It features the same 3-axis tilt compass and barometer, as well as has the ability to access both the GPS and GLONASS satellite networks. Plus, it can store up to 10,000 points and 200 saved GPS tracks.

Where the eTrex 30 reduces cost and size compared to its larger cousin is in the screen. The display is just 1.4 by 1.7 inches, which can be problematic for kayaking if you want to mount the unit on the front of your boat – to see map details, you’ll likely need to hold it up to your face. The GPS also places the buttons on the side and has fewer of them, which can make navigating through the menus on this device somewhat trickier than on the GPSMAP 64st.

In addition, the eTrex 30 has just 3.7 GB of internal memory, although most users didn’t find this to be a problem since it also has a microSD card slot for loading additional maps. The GPS is Bluetooth-compatible so you can share route data with your phone and is fully supported by Garmin’s BaseCamp software if you want to create custom map sets and route markers ahead of your trip.

The main downside to this GPS unit is that it doesn’t come with pre-loaded maps for the US, but rather a simple low-resolution base map for the entire world. This means that you’re likely to need to purchase the TOPO 100k or TOPO 24k map set separately.

This fishfinder GPS combination is designed for small boats like a kayak, with a 5-inch diagonal display that is easy to see when the unit is mounted on the front of your boat. Even better, the GPS unit comes with a mounting bracket to help you get started. The Helix 5 comes pre-loaded with charts for most US lakes and coverage for anywhere you could access along the US coast, which means that it’s good to go out of the box for most users. If you want to take this GPS further afield, there is a microSD card slot that allows you to add additional maps and waypoints.

Another feature specifically aimed at anglers who frequently paddle in the same area is Humminbird’s AutoChart Live. This uses the built-in sonar in the fishfinder as a mapping tool, recording the bottom hardness and vegetation – which affect where fish will be hiding. You can record for up to eight hours on a single battery.

One of the primary advantages of the large screen size on this GPS is that it is possible to show the fishfinder display and the map display side-by-side. That way, you can make sure you’re paddling in the right direction even while you’re keeping an eye out for potentially good fishing spots.

Note that some users did report issues with the construction of this GPS device. While the GPS is rated to IPX7, multiple users found that the plastic clips used to hold the battery in place would repeatedly fail, turning the unit off suddenly or preventing it from turning on at all.

This rugged and compact handheld GPS for kayaking is another great navigational tool from Garmin. The device is specifically tailored towards water navigation, since it is designed to float when dropped overboard. Another small but important advantage to this GPS is that it uses two AA batteries, which can easily be replaced at any time if you’re out for a longer trip.

The GPS comes only with a world basemap, which isn’t very useful for navigating. So, you’ll need to purchase additional maps for most uses – a microSD card slot allows you to add custom maps from Garmin’s BaseCamp software or to plug in BlueChart g2 preloaded map cards that cover most coastal areas and lakes. Note that the GPS has only 1.7 GB of internal memory, so you will need to largely rely on the microSD card slot for maps.

The screen on this GPS is quite small, so you’ll need to hold it up to read it rather than mount it on the front of your GPS. In addition, while users liked the navigational buttons on the top of the GPS, they noted that their placement makes it difficult to move through the mapping software without obscuring the screen with your hand.

That said, the GPS also has a few additional features that users appreciated. These included a 3-axis compass and a barometer for detecting oncoming storms. You can also load a massive 10,000 waypoints onto the GPS, so you’ll never lose track of a favorite spot.

This combination VHF radio and GPS is a great choice for ensuring your safety if you’re on a long-distance kayaking trip through open water, such as when sea kayaking. This device is the only GPS we reviewed that is rated to IPX8, an indicator of how rugged it is in any conditions.

This tracking device resembles a radio much more than a standard GPS unit thanks to the boxy shape and large antenna. The display is rather small and is not designed to display maps. Instead, it simply gives your coordinates and can be used for basic directional navigation to a waypoint. The GPS is capable of entering and saving up to 200 waypoints and 20 routes, so you’ll likely want to clear the memory cache after each trip.

One of the unique features of this device relative to other GPSs is that you can see what ships are around you. The Group Monitoring feature actually shows up to nine vessels, typically large boats, that are near your kayak. This can be extremely helpful if you ever do need to radio to a nearby ship for help or to let them know you are there.

In addition, the VHF functions of this GPS mean that you have access to NOAA’s maritime weather report and weather alert system. For longer trips with changing weather conditions, this kind of information can be invaluable.

This GPS watch for kayaking from Garmin offers a huge amount of helpful information in a relatively small display. In addition to showing your positions in coordinates, the GPS keeps track of your route. If you want to paddle back the way you came, the screen will display your route as dots and help you stay on course using the TracBack navigation feature. The GPS also features a three-axis compass and barometer, which can provide additional useful navigational and weather information.

The backlight on the Foretrex 401 is one of the features that helps to put it ahead of the competition. The backlight makes it easy to read the display even in the dark, and can be set to go out between 30 seconds and several minutes.

Importantly, users felt that the GPS watch is also comfortable to wear. While the elongated shape and large size relative to many wrists may be initially concerning, users found that the watch was overall comfortable and does not interfere with the paddling motion. However, this GPS will likely not be something that you wear when out of the kayak.

The GPS uses two AAA batteries, which means it’s easy to carry spares and to replace the batteries in the middle of a trip if needed. Plus, the Velcro strap is highly secure and won’t allow the watch to fall off into the water while you’re paddling.

This inexpensive GPS and fishfinder from Garmin is designed primarily as a sonar system, but can also be used as a backup navigational tool for kayaking anglers. The display is just large enough to see clearly when it is mounted on the front of your kayak – and a tilting and swiveling mount is included with the device. Note, however, that users found that the display was quite difficult to read in bright sunlight or when wearing sunglasses.

The navigational features are somewhat limited to waypoint navigation. You can see your position and the position of your waypoints as a route to follow, but there is no way to add base maps to this GPS so that you can get a sense of your surroundings. Some kayakers may appreciate the speed and time to destination displays, which give you a sense of how long your trip will take.

The sonar display indicates anything in the water and can be used to spot not only fish, but also bottom vegetation and soft spots that make good fish habitat. Overall, users were quite happy with the fishfinding capabilities of this device, and its depth range far exceeds the waters that most kayakers will be exploring – 1,600 feet in freshwater and 750 feet in saltwater.

Users also appreciated how simple and intuitive the device is to use. Most users reported being able to use the fishfinder and most essential navigation features without having to pore over the manual.