A handheld altimeter is one of those must have items when adventuring out into the environment, whether you are hiking, running, biking or any outdoor adventure. Using one of these great devices will keep you on course and even perhaps save your life if you get stuck in an area that is not well known to you.

Some of the great features of a handheld altimeter include an altimeter. With an altimeter you’ll be able to determine your current altitude. By knowing this information you can be sure of how high or low you are which could help guide you back to camp or in the case of flying where you are relative to the ground. It’s a useful feature for many outdoor activities.

A handheld altimeter may also include a barometer which will tell you what is happening with the atmospheric pressure. If you are armed with this information, especially if you’re hiking in unknown terrain, you will ensure that you don’t get caught in quickly changing weather conditions. Bad weather conditions can mean the difference between survival or not in an environment that is changing rapidly.

Of course, a good handheld altimeter will also have some form of compass, whether digital or analog. Not much needs to be said about a compass except that knowing where you are and where you need to go can will make your outdoor experience that much more enjoyable, once again especially if you are in unknown terrain. Unlike advanced features, like below GPS, a compass will work fine even in cloudy conditions. The trick is to know where you started from in order to know which to head or head back.

Some of the most advanced types of a handheld altimeter will include a GPS function. These electronic GPSs are great because they take the guess work out of your specific location. The thing to keep in mind, though, is that some GPSs do not work well in cloudy conditions. The reason is that the clouds obscure the information coming from the satellites above the world. Sometimes if you wait long enough you’ll be able to get a signal and then be able to proceed with your travels.

A really good handheld altimeter will also have features such as backlight for dim conditions and also a clock with alarm. A backlight is important in case you get stuck in a situation during the night time. There have been many hikers who have been stuck in overnight conditions and wished that they were able to read their devices at night. A clock will give you some perspective of how long you’ve been hiking which could help you navigate back to safety or know how much longer to your destination.

Whether you buy a basic handheld altimeter or an advanced one, check to see how the device is clipped to your clothing. It should be attached to your clothes very securely in order to not be lost while you are out on your adventure. Remember that a handheld altimeter can really be the difference between safety and survival.