TRENDY GADGET

Are you planning on spending time in the great outdoors this winter? Rather than lug around a bulky GPS device to help you navigate while hiking, biking, fishing, climbing or hunting, consider a sleeker option. High-tech watchmaker Suunto has just unveiled the X10 ($599), billed as the smallest and lightest wrist-mounted GPS unit on the market.
 
Recently awarded a “Best of Adventure Gear” 2009 nod from National Geographic Adventure Magazine, this outdoor hands-free tool is compatible with mapping services such as Google Earth (export your journey and view it with 3D satellite imagery) and National Geographic TOPO, which also lets you download a predetermined route from a PC to the X10 via USB before setting out to your destination. The GPS unit will show direction, altitude, speed, barometer pressure, remaining distance (to destination or preselected waypoints), distance traveled and estimated time of arrival.

When it’s time to call it a day, a “Find Home” option will guide you back to your starting point, while “Track Back” takes you back through each waypoint. The X10 can store up to 50 routes or 500 waypoints. Available in two colors, the X10 also tells time, of course, and offers a stopwatch, thermometer, and digital compass.