If you're a lover of the outdoors - whether that means hiking, biking, or just wandering through old neighborhoods - you'll love the assistance provided by the Garmin Oregon 400T GPS receiver. Like its cousins in the company's Colorado line, you'll find it easy to use, easy to carry, and feature packed.

The 400T's screen is easy to read, even in bright sunlight. The 3-inch diagonal, 400 x 240 pixel resolution makes reading maps a breeze. And, thanks to the 2.3" x 4.5" x 1.4" case size (6.8oz, with batteries), you won't be tempted to leave it at home. Since the case is completely waterproof up to one meter (for up to 30 minutes submersion) you can walk through streams, in the rain, and other wet conditions without fear.

But, be prepared to spend some time learning this system. Unlike most auto GPS receivers, this unit has a fairly complex menu. Complex doesn't mean difficult, but the shortcuts you might expect on an auto PND aren't there. Fortunately, the layout is so logical and the touchscreen so responsive you'll have no trouble navigating your way through the many options.

It comes preloaded with tons of topo maps, 3-D environment views, and holds thousands of waypoints, routes, and tracks. Using the SD slot (inside the battery compartment) you can store many more. Those might include some of the hundreds of available inland lake or marine charts that include depth contours, boat ramps, and more useful information.

Out in the wilds, especially in the mountains, you'll also appreciate the built-in electronic compass and the barometric altimeter. At the same time, the 400T's ability to perform unit-to-unit wireless data sharing can really come in handy. Also, with built-in elevation data, an alarm clock, stopwatch, sunrise/sunset/moon phase data, you'll find your outdoor experience really enhanced by the Oregon.

Touch 'Map' on the screen and then zoom into a desired area. Or, pan, scroll, and touch a section, then tap to get additional information about your location. Editing (up to 1000) waypoints is simple with this unit. Take advantage of the 3-D view to get a better read on where you are and where you're going. It can help you judge the size of hills, distance to the next peak, and much more. With a 16-hour battery life you have plenty of juice for a full-day hike along any of 50 stored routes.

Unlike some other hand-held outdoor personal navigation devices, the Oregon 400T lets you setup and store individual profiles. Part of that ability includes selecting one of the device's pre-set modes for Recreational, Automotive, Marine, Fitness, or Geocaching (high-tech treasure hunts). Most buyers select this unit for hiking or biking, but it can work in many other scenarios with equal efficiency.

The screen is a bit small compared to units designed, say, for driving or fishing expeditions, as you would expect. But if you're out and about and find yourself temporarily in a car or boat, you won't need another GPS unit. And when it comes to geocaching there isn't any better model on the market. You can store cache descriptions, and location clues, get ratings of terrain, and much more that will make your treasure hunting maximum fun.

Check out the Oregon 400T today.