The great communicator gets better in 2006, with a radio range extended to 14 miles. In case you missed the earlier versions, the Rino is a fully functioning GPS and a two-way radio in one unit. While hiking in the Grand Canyon, we could split up on a whim and still keep in touch via the radio. But that’s just for starters. A tiny personalizable icon and name appear on the onscreen map, indicating the coordinates of each radio, so you can easily find your friends having lunch on a distant promontory—or locate a missing partner. But make no mistake: This is a full-featured GPS, with a 12-channel WAAS-enabled receiver, barometric altimeter, and electronic compass.
Bonus: You get NOAA weather reports as well.
Bummer: The rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack is a bit bulky. 10 oz; www.garmin.com