Bushnell Backtrack GPS Navigation System Review
Active Gear Review is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Are you one of those people who tend to get lost while hiking, parking at the mall, or out camping in the backcountry? The Bushnell Backtrack GPS navigation system is a combination between a compass and a GPS that is a great piece of gear to have when hiking new trails or trying out new camp spots while backpacking. This does not replace a map, but we found it pretty handy while exploring new trails in the Colorado Backcountry. We even took it trail running as it fit nicely in the palm of our hand. The GPS doesn’t tell you how far you have gone, but it does let you know how far you are away from the waypoint that you set, as the crow flies. There are a total of 3 waypoints you can set with the Bushnell Backtrack GPS which we found to be plenty while hiking and backpacking. The casing on this compass is pretty sturdy as we dropped it by accident a few times and it barely had a scratch. It takes two AAA batteries and can last up to 21 hours, so you are typically pretty safe for a few days. We suggest bringing extra batteries if you have any question about how long it will last for safety concerns. The only pitfall our testers found in the Bushnell Backtrack GPS is that it does not load to the computer for all you techy people that like to track all of your routes. For the majority of us, this doesn’t pose much of a problem. For more information on the Backtrack GPS Navigation System and other Bushnell products, please visit www.bushnell.com or www.amazon.com/bushnell.
This tool is a great complement for today’s hunter. The only setback, from my experience, is that the arrow indicator does not precisely point you back to the waypoint. Nevertheless, the tool is still very useful in locating the waypoint by using the arrow as a general guide and as you come within 20-40 yards of the waypoint you can locate your exact position by reference to whether the yards are indicating that you are getting closer or further away. I used this tool in the following situations and was successfully able to navigate back to the waypoint each time: First, I used it to locate the property gate in wide open and unfamiliar country in the dark. (In retrospect, a traditional GPS with some topo maps loaded would have been better, but the fact that I was able to navigate the back roads in Wyoming, make a determination that I had just passed the access road, and back up to the access road to find the gate speaks volumes of how useful this small and hearty tool can be in a pinch). Next, I used the BackTrack to successfully navigate over a mile and half of semi dense forest to get back to pre determined point where the rest of my party would be waiting for me. Last, I used this device to assess how far the shot was (a reverse range finder), relocate the downed game, and finally to relocate my expensive equipment that I had left behind to retrieve the game. Bottom line, for today’s hunter this item is essential! Say goodbye to spending time leaving a breadcrumb trail of orange tape behind. Say goodbye to spending valuable pre sunrise minutes trying to follow bright eyes in the dark with a flashlight to find your tree stand. This is a must have.