The gadget lover’s guide to the great outdoors

July 29, 2010 - 12:00 pm

As summer holidays approach and the great outdoors beckons, we look at the best gadgets to get you out and about and back to nature.

Walking in the woods, climbing hills and negotiating winding country roads can be invigorating and inspiring…but not if you’re worried you’ll lose your way!  A Sat Nav device can negate such a stressful situation and they’re cheaper and more accessible than ever before.

Serious explorers who love getting off the beaten track can invest in an ordinance survey-enabled sat nav while those happy to amble along footpaths can use a car sat nav or even one built into a smart phone.

Off roader

Geo caching provides a ready-made treasure hunt where you use a sat nav to locate a pre-buried box and with thousands of geocaches around the globe, you’re never far from adventure- check out our guide!  Or, how about grabbing a real metal detector and search out some long-lost treasures…or cans?

Bird song is one of life’s little pleasures so why not head out on your walk with a pair of binoculars?  Photo fanatics can even invest in a pair with in-built digital camera. 

Natural Tweeting

Failing that set up camp and capture some animals with your standard digital camera. Pack plenty of memory cards- you never know how long you’ll have to wait for that perfect shot- and remember patience is a virtue!  Check out some applications for your smart phone too; there are some great guides helping you to spot and identify various birds and animals.

Trekked up a steep hill and want to see how far you’ve walked?  Pedometers are a cheap way of giving yourself a digital pat on the back and some even show how many calories you’ve burnt off.   A Nike + sport kit can take the concept one step further and even hook up to your iPod to track your workout progress using a chip that fits in your trainers. 

Finally, out for a hard day’s trek or camping in the wilderness?  You’ll need a handy gadget to recharge the batteries in your various gizmos.  Solar chargers have come a long way and there are a number of chic and cheap lightweight offerings on the market that fit in your pocket.

Enjoy the outdoors! Any tricks or pieces of kit you couldn’t live without?  Let us know!