Satmap Active 10 review

No matter how advanced technology gets, there's still nothing to beat the combination of compass and Ordnance Survey map when in the great outdoors. British startup Satmap has recognised this and built OS maps into its handheld device, and the result is an impressive outdoors device.

The Satmap works with real 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 scale OS maps, and the difference this makes when you're out on the trail is remarkable. Planning routes is a breeze and, once you've locked on to a signal, the high-quality maps make it extremely easy to see where you are.

It's the largest of all the recreational GPS devices, but it's light and tough, with a cover to protect the screen and weatherproof rubber flaps covering all the ports - and its big buttons can be operated while wearing thick gloves. This is a device built for the great outdoors.

Inside, a 20-channel SiRFstarIII chip takes care of navigation duties, and a digital compass means you don't have to be moving to take accurate bearings. There's no barometric altimeter, but this is mitigated by the fact that it can calculate altitudes automatically from the contours on the OS map, which is more accurate than altitude taken via a GPS signal.

But it isn't entirely perfect. With no fitness functions, it isn't the all-rounder the Garmin Edge 705 is. Initial satellite lock is sluggish, too: in our tests, it averaged around three minutes, but we timed it once at six. The hard covering over the screen is reflective, so in bright conditions it's hard to see the screen.

And then there's the price. An OS major roads map is included in the base price, but in order to make the most of the Satmap you have to add mapping via SD card and it isn't cheap. The unit supplied to us had 1:25,000 coverage of the whole of Essex (£100); the whole UK at 1:50,000 costs £200.

But given that no other device can use OS maps like this, we still reckon the Satmap is worthy of recommendation. It's by far the best navigation tool in this test and its marriage of old and new technology makes it brilliantly easy to use.

Author: Jonathan Bray