Explore further, train smarter and stay powered for adventure with our expert range of outdoor electronics at Wildfire Sports & Trek. From GPS watches and handheld GPS devices for navigation, to solar-powered gear to light up your camping tent, we stock high-performance tech from leading outdoor brands including Suunto, COROS, Polar and Garmin. Whether you're trail running, cycling, navigating remote terrain or camping off-grid, we have the outdoor electronics to keep you connected, informed and adventure-ready.

Outdoor GPS Watches For Trail Running, Training & Adventure

Train with precision and discover nature with confidence with COROS GPS watches, Polar GPS watches and Suunto GPS watches. GPS (Global Positioning System) watches provide continuous, real-time tracking of your location, which is critical for trekking, hiking, bushwalking and backcountry exploration - especially on technical terrain or in remote locations. Many modern GPS watches support uploading pre-planned routes and maps, and on-screen navigation cues such as turn-by-turn directions, breadcrumb trails or waypoint markers. This allows adventurers to follow a trail from the convenience of your wrist, without constantly referring to a phone or paper map.

Premium GPS watches from COROS, Polar and Suunto often include detailed topographical maps and offline maps without needing a smartphone or data connection. Environmental sensors help increase your understanding of your surroundings, with altimeters to track altitude, barometers to detect weather changes and digital compasses for directional guidance. Some GPS watches also increase your safety by offering back-to-start functionality - helping automatically guide you back to your starting point - a critical feature in the case of becoming lost or emergencies. 

GPS trekking watches pair this increased environmental awareness with fitness tracking and training benefits. Advanced running watches allow you to stay aware of your running metrics like cadence, stride length, pace and sleep monitoring for holistic health. Not only that, but many GPS sports watches allow you to know your heart better - providing personalised insight into your training load, recovery analysis and stress monitoring with intuitive features like heart rate variability (HRV) and resting heart rate measurements. Whether you're tackling mountain trails or preparing for your next ultramarathon, you'll find the GPS watch that’s built to keep pace with your goals at Wildfire Sports & Trek. 

Handheld GPS For Hiking, Camping & Exploration 

Handheld GPS devices are highly reliable tools for navigation, especially when camping or trekking in remote or rugged environments where smartphones may lose signal. They connect directly to satellite systems like GPS, GLONASS and Galileo, providing accurate location data even in dense bush, deep valleys or mountainous terrain. This makes them ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, professionals and rescue teams who need dependable positioning without relying on cellular networks.

Handheld GPS navigators often come preloaded with topographic maps and allow users to set waypoints, track routes and navigate offline. Their durability is another major strength - most are built to withstand harsh conditions with both impact-resistant and water-resistant handheld GPS available at Wildfire Sports & Trek. With a long battery life, they are well-suited for multi-day trips or emergency situations where power may be limited. Many handheld GPS units also include additional features like built-in digital compasses and barometers - tools that enhance navigation and help monitor environmental conditions.

When weighed up against smartphones, handheld GPS devices often offer superior accuracy, ruggedness and offline functionality, making them a dependable companion for serious outdoor navigation. Compared to GPS watches, handheld GPS navigation units generally offer more detailed mapping, greater screen visibility, longer battery life and more robust design. While GPS watches are a staple among the trail running and racing community, being more compact, convenient and offering activity tracking - a handheld GPS provides professional-grade navigation for multi-day expeditions. 

Satellite Communicators, EPIRBs & PLBs For Safety & Emergencies

To further enhance safety in remote areas, outdoor explorers often pair handheld GPS units with satellite communicators, which are life-saving in survival situations. Higher-end handheld GPS devices, such as advanced models available from Wildfire Sports & Trek, may include an integrated satellite communicator. Satellite communicators allow for two-way text messaging, real-time location sharing and SOS capabilities through global networks like Iridium. These are especially valuable in areas with no mobile phone coverage, giving adventurers a way to stay connected or call for help.

Alternatively, EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) are emergency beacons that transmit a distress signal directly to international search and rescue satellites, and are typically used for maritime safety on boats. In most Australian states, it is legally required that you carry an EPIRB if you're venturing more than 2 nautical miles (3.7km) from the coast - whether you're a recreational or professional boater. While they don’t offer messaging, they are incredibly robust rescue tools.

Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) function similarly to EPIRBs, but are designed for individual users rather than ships or vessels. Fitting into the palm of your hand, they offer a compact, reliable way to send a distress signal with GPS coordinates to emergency responders when triggered. However, while EPIRBs are designed to float and some models activate automatically upon contact with water, PLBs typically require manual activation and may not float, depending on the model. PLBs are intended to be worn on a life jacket or on your person and must be positioned above the water to reliably transmit a distress signal.

In Australia, PLBs are strongly recommended - and sometimes mandated - for backcountry and alpine expeditions, particularly in national parks and wilderness zones with no mobile coverage. Their presence can significantly reduce response times in life-threatening scenarios as a safety essential in remote trek zones like the South Coast Track in Tasmania or the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory. In Australia, EPIRBs must be registered to a specific vessel and PLBs must be registered to a specific person with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). 

Solar Power For Camping 

Solar power offers numerous benefits for camping, making it an increasingly popular choice among outdoor enthusiasts. One of the most significant advantages is its ability to provide clean, renewable energy without the need for fuel or noisy generators, allowing campers to enjoy the tranquility of nature. 

Portable solar panels from Knog make it easy to charge devices such as sports watches and GPS units, ensuring safety and comfort during extended stays off-grid. Solar setups for camping are typically lightweight and require minimal maintenance, offering a reliable and environmentally friendly power source. Water-resistant solar panels are able to tolerate the elements for peace of mind during your camping trip. 

For illuminating your campsite at night, solar lanterns from portable lighting specialists like Luco provide functionality and practicality. A solar camping light supports a sustainable and hassle-free outdoor experience. Their lightweight and versatile designs make them easy to pack, while many models offer features like adjustable brightness or motion sensors. Solar lights also reduce fire risk compared to open flames and provide reliable illumination for camping tents, trails and cooking areas. 

With solar power, you can even enjoy a warm shower post-hike. By harnessing the sun's energy to heat water, they eliminate the need for gas or electricity, making them ideal for remote camping and reducing environmental impact. Solar heated camp showers are lightweight and portable, often designed with collapsible bags, making setup easy and travel hassle-free. They help you stay clean and fresh while off-grid - improving hygiene while adding a little bit of luxury to the wilderness - while reducing your carbon footprint.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What Does It Mean If A Watch Has GPS?

A basic GPS watch can determine your location using signals from GPS only, or in advanced designs by accessing multiple global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) such as GPS (USA), GLONASS (Russia) and Galileo (EU) for increased positioning accuracy. GPS watches work nearly anywhere in the world - pinpointing exactly where you are on Earth without needing an internet connection or a paired phone. The main advantage of having GPS in a watch is precise location tracking, which is especially useful for outdoor activities like running, hiking, cycling or walking.

With GPS, your sports watch can accurately measure the distance you've travelled, your speed and your pace. This is much more accurate than using step counters or internal sensors alone. For example, if you're training for a marathon, a GPS-enabled watch can measure exactly how far and fast you've run, helping you track your progress over time.

GPS also enables navigation features. Some GPS trekking watches can display routes or maps, display the path you've taken, and even help guide you back to a starting point. This is particularly valuable when exploring unfamiliar areas or trails. Specific GPS watch models allow you to mark or save locations, like a campsite or trailhead, so you can return to them later.

However, these capabilities do come with a trade-off, being reduced battery life. When GPS is active, it uses more power than regular, daily use watch functions. Many sports watches have battery-saving modes that reduce how often the GPS signal is checked, which helps extend use during long adventures or workouts.

Importantly, GPS works independently of mobile networks, so you don’t need to be connected to Wi-Fi or have a mobile signal. This makes GPS watches ideal for backcountry or remote use where mobile coverage might be unavailable. If you're choosing a sports watch, GPS functionality is a valuable feature for fitness tracking, safety and exploration, whether you’re an elite athlete, everyday adventurer or someone who just enjoys spending time outdoors.

What Is The Difference Between A GPS Watch And A Smartwatch? 

A GPS watch and a smartwatch may look similar at a glance, but they serve different purposes and are built with distinct priorities in mind. The core difference lies in functionality focus - GPS watches are geared toward fitness, performance and navigation, while smartwatches are generally built for connectivity and lifestyle convenience.

A GPS watch is designed for athletes, outdoor adventurers and anyone who wants precise location tracking and performance metrics. Alongside built-in GPS, they typically feature a long battery life and a rugged construction. These multisports watches and running watches are made to withstand harsh environments, often featuring water-resistant, shockproof designs and sunlight-readable displays. Athletes benefit from specialised metrics such as pace, cadence, altitude and heart rate zones readings. GPS watches are optimised for running, cycling, swimming and hiking, and they usually prioritise data accuracy and durability over visually rich displays or app integration.

In contrast, a smartwatch is built to act as an extension of your smartphone. They often offer touchscreen displays, voice assistants and the ability to receive calls, texts, emails and utilise apps on your wrist. While most modern smartwatches include fitness tracking features like step counting, heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking, these are usually more generalised and less performance-focused than those on a GPS watch. In essence, if your primary concern is athletic performance, endurance and navigation, a GPS watch will be the better choice, whereas smartwatches focus on daily productivity and keeping you connected. 

Is It Worth Getting A Portable Solar Panel For Camping? 

For eco-conscious campers, a portable solar panel is a smart, sustainable investment. It reduces your reliance on disposable batteries and noisy, fuel-dependent generators, offering a clean, renewable source of energy -  particularly valuable in remote areas where access to power is limited or nonexistent.

Even minimalist or ultralight backpackers and campers can benefit from a small solar setup. A 10 - 20W panel, especially when paired with a compact power bank, is often enough to keep critical low-power devices charged - like your phone for emergency contact, a headlamp for night safety or a handheld GPS unit for navigation. 

For campers with moderate power needs - such as recharging drone or laptop batteries - a 100 - 200W solar panel offers more capacity. While it may not directly power energy-intensive devices like a camping fridge or electric cooker (depending on the watts-hour required to power the specific model and your usage), it can help recharge the portable power stations required to run them. If you're camping with family and managing multiple devices, portable solar panels with higher wattage ensure greater flexibility.

Performance and charging speeds will depend on factors like sun exposure, weather conditions and the quality of your solar panel. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels, for instance, offer improved output in less-than-ideal conditions.

Though the initial cost can be a consideration, the long-term benefits - improved safety, energy independence and a reduced environmental footprint - make portable solar panels well worth it for camping. They're space-efficient designs are especially valuable for multi-day hikes or any off-grid adventures where reliable power is critical.