I have extensive experience with the Garmin etrex Vista in the Canadian bush where the nearest town is several hundred miles away. The Vista is very simple to use, gets a consistent signal in harsh conditions, and is very reliable. The only problem I ever had was the time/date function which I understand there is a fix for but haven't been able to find it.

There are many fine handheld GPS units out there. Check out their functions, and especially how easy they are to use before you buy one.

Wildbill51