Which GPS should you use when skiing?

Not all outdoor winter activities require a navigation system. Indeed, if you stay on the alpine ski slopes or if you practice cross-country skiing, there is little risk of getting lost, and having a map with the piste plan (on a mobile application or in paper version) is enough to find your way.

On the other hand, if you plan to go off-piste by doing freeriding, ski touring or even snowshoeing, the GPS can become very useful. It will be even more so if you do not know the ski area well or if the weather deteriorates and it becomes difficult to find any trace. Its functions notably allow you to prepare your routes with IGN maps and to find your way back to return to the resort if you got lost.

Of course, owning a GPS device or watch does not exempt you from taking the necessary precautions in the mountains : check the weather and avalanche risks, always inform at least one person of your outing and the areas where you plan to go off-piste skiing, and if in doubt, turn back.

Even before the step of ski rental, or going ski touring or freeride snowboarding in Arcs, in La Clusaz or in Val Thorens, you need a good hiking GPS when you ski.

GPS device for skiing: definition

An independent device, the navigation unit contains digital maps in memory. Battery-powered, its screen size offers appreciable reading comfort.

A GPS device provides access to several essential pieces of information, such as the weather or your current altitude thanks to an integrated altimeter.
Some models are also connected to a smartphone, so information is transmitted in real-time via a mobile application.

There are models of hiking GPS (also called ski GPS) equipped with a touch screen, or a joystick (less expensive).

In all cases, these devices are robust (although bulkier than a GPS integrated into a smartwatch), offering a high degree of shock resistance, as well as cold resistance.

Warning, if you don't know which GPS to use when skiing, be aware that some hiking GPS devices do not include a compass or IGN map (geographic data), which provide access to certain useful options, for example, photos of the planned route. This is an element to consider when making your purchase comparison.

Important features of a ski GPS

Many athletes use the same GPS for multiple outdoor activities: skiing, hiking or cycling, trail running...

However, given the changing weather conditions at high altitude, a good ski GPS must combine several essential features to allow any skier to go into the mountains with complete peace of mind.

Thus, in addition to digital mapping (IGN system), a good GPS to use when skiing will be a model equipped with vector mapping, which will facilitate map reading.

Next, a "Track Management" feature (or "trackback") which, as its name suggests, records the already covered route, can be very useful if one is lost and wishes to turn back.

The "Route Creation" function allows a skier to prepare their route using their ski GPS, or to choose routes already taken by other skiers using this option.

The LiveTrack function (on Garmin GPS devices) allows a skier to share the route they plan to take and their position in real-time with other users. Thus, with such a GPS model when skiing, one can know if a skier reaches their destination or if, on the contrary, they need to be rescued in case of a problem.

Finally, GPS devices should not be confused with smartphones that have a "hiking GPS" option. In addition to the classic functions of a smartphone, these devices can certainly fulfill the same functions as a GPS device. However, they are less robust than ski GPS devices (water resistance, cold resistance...), with lower battery life (which requires carrying a battery to recharge them).

To be sure of having quality equipment, choose from the best GPS devices among the brands Garmin, TwoNav, or Globe. As for the price, expect between 300 and 500 euros for powerful and complete models.

Do you prefer to have your GPS information on a watch and mobile application ? Good GPS watches for skiing must have the same mapping and geolocation features as the GPS devices described above.
A ski GPS watch must be able to withstand extreme weather conditions : silicone strap, anti-reflective screen and dark lighting function, water resistance, stainless steel, sapphire glass or polymer fiber casing, or even an oximeter function to detect avalanche risks.

Therefore, you must choose a model specifically designed for skiing, as there are many general-purpose GPS watches, or those designed for a particular sport (running and trail, diving, cycling, cardio training...).

Handy, with a wide choice of design and real-time data, GPS watches for skiing also have useful health and sport features (heart rate, blood oxygen saturation to measure blood acclimatization at high altitude, calories burned, elevation gain, barometer, compass, altimeter...). Some models have a function to make an SOS call.

Ski GPS watches nevertheless have the disadvantage of having a smaller screen than a GPS device, and having a more limited battery life.

The reference brands are watches designed by Garmin, Coros, or Suunto. For a mid-range model, prices are around 300-400 euros.