How We Test

Our Philosophy Field-first and offline-first. We test what matters: navigation accuracy in hard environments, predictable endurance across modes and temperatures, and true data portability.

Test Environments

Forest canopy: dense singletrack with limited sky view to stress multipath and drift.
Canyon and urban canyon: tall walls/buildings to test signal blockage and alert reliability.
Mixed terrain: rolling routes with open sky segments to observe recovery and consistency.
Cold soak: overnight at low temperatures before long efforts to assess battery impact.

GNSS Accuracy Protocol

Modes: single-band, multiband, and multi-constellation permutations as available.
Metrics: time to first fix, mean track deviation from reference line, stationary drift, dropout count, and breadcrumb backtrack fidelity.
Reference: compare to curated baseline tracks and surveyed points where available.

Battery and Endurance

Trials: 24–120 hour continuous logging by mode (1s, smart), with/without maps and sensors.
Conditions: ambient 20°C control and cold-soak scenarios; we log discharge curves and standby drain.
Charging: record charge time and recovery behavior between efforts.

Navigation and Mapping

Offline setup: load and manage routes/POIs without network access.
On-route: turn/cue reliability, reroute behavior, elevation and course alerts, and breadcrumb usability.
Map quality: vector detail, contour readability, and rendering speed.

Safety and Reliability

Tests: fall detection simulation, SOS workflows (non-emergency), and emergency data display clarity.
Robustness: button tactility, glove/wet handling, water/shock resistance checks.

Data Portability

Exports: GPX/FIT/CSV availability, local backups, and file completeness.
Interop: sync and imports to major platforms (e.g., Strava, Komoot) and pro tools (e.g., QGIS) without mandatory subscriptions.

UX and Power Profiles

Setup: clarity of presets by activity and power modes.
On-device tips: safeguards that prevent misconfiguration before critical outings.
Sensors: pairing stability and data continuity.

Scoring and Weights Our default weighting prioritizes real-world outcomes:

GNSS accuracy and navigation: 35%
Battery endurance: 25%
Offline workflow: 20%
Data portability: 10%
Durability and ergonomics: 10% Weights may shift for role-specific guides (e.g., ultrarunning vs. SAR).

Reproducibility and Disclosure We publish firmware versions, settings, dates, and representative GPX logs. Any material changes trigger review updates.

Limitations Environmental variability and vendor updates can alter results. We test across conditions and note caveats where they exist.