Finding the perfect gift for Father's Day can be a real challenge, especially if you've gone through the gifting staples of golf balls, ties, tools, action movies, and beer-of-the-month club through the years. If you're stuck for a great idea, a portable GPS navigation device can show your appreciation for dear ol' Dad.
The latest devices can help on daily commutes with real-time traffic data, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling, and smart points-of-interest features to locate the cheapest, nearby gas station. Dad can use the photo viewer to proudly show off the kids, and display pictures of his favorite dream machine, or even sports team in action. No doubt, he would enjoy his new navigation tool and travel companion, especially on long road trips.
Of course, choosing the right one can make or break the gift.
Fatherly GPS buying advice
In choosing a device, weigh your budget against your father's needs. There are many extra features available that may sound enticing, but in the long-run he would most appreciate an easy-to-use device—the performance attribute that is weighted most heavily throughout our testing.
Features to consider:
An important feature commonly referred to as "text to speech" translates map data by speaking street names. So, rather than simple "left" or "right" instruction, the device would say, "Turn right on Main Street."
Wide screens not only display more map area, but provide larger touch-screen buttons to ease data entry —particularly appreciated by users with large fingers.
Bluetooth-connectivity can enable hands-free cell phone operation and pair with a phone to deliver traffic and other data to capable devices. This can be a welcomed feature for a mobile business person, though it is typically available only on mid-level and premium devices.
Be wary that traffic features often require a monthly service and possibly an extra-cost receiver. So, bear in mind that this feature will cost him money to use. (The Navigon 5100 and 7100 include free traffic.)
We also caution against buying a model based on bargain pricing over our Ratings, as we have found few low-cost units to be good. That said, both Garmin and TomTom have entry-level units that have performed well in our tests and are available with a full range of features. Of particular interest, the current TomTom One series is being replaced by the new 130 and soon-to-arrive 330 lines, driving a price reduction on the One and One XL models. The new TomTom devices feature a completely redesigned body, a new integrated locking mount, and larger speaker. While the hardware has been updated, the software has the familiar TomTom interface—similar to that used on the well-rated One 3rd Edition.
Garmin will soon release new Nuvi "2x5" models that build on the strong Nuvi 200 series with the promise of swifter satellite acquisition times, shaded maps to indicate elevation, and ability to choose user-supplied pictures from the Garmin Connect Photos site to use for seeking landmarks. We have not tested these Garmin units yet, but we expect they may lead to deals on the current Nuvi 200 models.
Latest GPS Ratings
We have just updated our exhaustive GPS navigation device ratings, adding:
- Garmin Nuvi 5000
- Mio Moov 310
- Navigon 2100 max
- TomTom One 130, One 130S, Go 730T, Go 930T
These join the ratings of dozens of other GPS devices from Alpine, Cobra, Dash, Delphi, Garmin, HP, Harman Kardon, Jensen, LG, Lowrance, Magellan, Navigon, Panasonic, Pharos, Pioneer, Sony, and TomTom.
In the weeks ahead, we plan to purchase and evaluate devices from Garmin, Magellan, TomTom, and Uniden.
If you do buy a unit for Father's Day, take the time to set it up with your dad's home address, favorite points of interest, and family photos—if capable. After all, he likely assembled many toys for you through the years.
For more information on portable GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.
Also read "A car guy's Father's Day, parts 1 and 2."
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