Before you get your credit card out to purchase a new GPS unit, take a moment to think about what you are going to be using it for.

A GPS that is great for finding your way across the wilds of Alaska might not be the device you really need when you are in the car trying to locate the correct highway exit, or on the bicycle track attempting to improve your lap time.

Whether you are looking for an automobile GPS or one designed to make your favorite outdoor activity easier, safer and more rewarding, you will find a wide range of devices that fit the bill.

Check out all these ways you can use a GPS unit for specific applications:

1. In the Car: When you are on the road, your GPS can help you navigate through an unfamiliar city or alert you to traffic jams and accidents along your everyday route. Many in-car devices can be used when you are walking around town as well. The most useful models not only display maps but plan your route for you and then give you turn-by-turn spoken directions to your destination.
2. Motorcycles: There are several GPS units made especially for motorcyclists. These typically feature large buttons that are suitable for riders wearing gloves, and a Bluetooth headset that allows you to listen and speak to your device while riding. A motorcycle GPS can also be useful for keeping on the right track when you are driving a snowmobile or ATV.
3. Vehicle Tracking: Vehicle tracking systems have become quite popular in recent years. These devices are used by businesses to keep track of employees driving company vehicles, as well as by parents who want to know where their teenagers are.
4. Hiking: Whether you are trekking through the wilderness for several days or perhaps just out for a few hours of fresh air and exercise on a trail nearby, a handheld GPS is an indispensable piece of equipment. Some hikers like a unit that displays detailed topographical maps, while others are content with one that simply gives them their coordinates and tracks their movements. A device that gets good reception is important for all users, though.
5. Geocaching: To participate in this popular sport you need a sense of adventure, a love of the outdoors, and a GPS unit to help you locate hidden ‘treasure’. In most instances, devices that are designed for hikers and climbers work well for geocachers as well. Certain high-end models support virtual, or paperless, geocaching with cache descriptions, recent logs and more.
6. Hunting: There are a number of GPS devices specifically made for hunters. In addition to the usual features of a handheld GPS, they tend to be waterproof and have controls that can be operated with one hand. Some models allow members of a hunting party to communicate via two-way radio, and others connect to a dog tracker.
7. Cycling: Many of the GPS units for cyclists on the market can be mounted on the handlebars for easy access. When you are on your bike, you can also use a wrist-mounted runners’ GPS or even a model that attaches to your shoe. These little marvels don’t just help you find your way; you also get your speed and distance traveled, and some models include a heart rate monitor, a compass and an altimeter.
8. Running: Runners can keep tabs on their position while tracking their performance and monitoring their heart rate with a GPS the size of sports watch. The latest generation of runners’ GPS units are compact and stylish, and also let you download your stats wirelessly to your PC.
9. Golf: If you enjoy a round of golf you are spoilt for choice these days, with an impressive array of handheld GPS devices designed specifically to help you improve your game. Your unit will tell you the distance to any feature on the course so that you can make smart decisions about which club to use. The ideal golfing GPS device is small enough to fit in your pocket, and can map any golf course you choose.
10. Boating: A GPS chart plotter can be a vital piece of navigation equipment when you are out on the water. By combining GPS data with an electronic chart of the water, a chart plotter will help you find your way. Advanced models come with fish finders, as well as sounders that help you steer clear of underwater obstacles. Your marine GPS can also help you catch more fish by pinpointing your exact location. In addition, it can be invaluable in an emergency or bad weather.
11. Other Sports: GPS devices are used in a wide range of other sports and outdoor pursuits from skiing to dog sledding and camel racing, to hang gliding and ballooning. Whatever your favorite activity, you are bound to find a GPS unit that works for you and lets you make the most of your leisure time.