The Multitasker: Magellan Triton 2000 GPS

Unlike the Apple and Nokia phones, this multimedia device is built on a true GPS chassis. That has three big advantages:
1) It’s rugged and waterproof, as are the other Magellan and Garmin units here; 2) its primary goal is to find satellites, not phone or data signals, so testers saw faster acquisition times than with the other multitaskers; and 3) it runs on backpacker-friendly AAs, not short-range rechargeable batteries. The result? On one four-day trek, a tester used this single device for navigating tricky terrain, recording the sound of a thunderous waterfall, and snapping 2-megapixel photos. It also has a bright LED flashlight, a stylus to type field notes on the 2.7-inch touch screen, an earphone jack, and a place to clip a carabiner. The Triton comes with base maps of the U.S., and it supports more than a dozen mapping programs, including the shaded 1:24K topos from National Geographic ($100/region). Nitpick: The menus take time to master, so practice at home first. Reader service #105

• Street price $400
• Weight 7.9 oz.
• Battery 2 AAs
• Expandable memory Yes, SD
• Info magellangps.com