Celestron TrekGuide

Inexpensive curiosity, excellent gadget on the field! Reliable readings make this device an excellent option at a bargain. Altimeter w/forecast, barometer, thermometer, compass, time/date, alarm, backlight.

I am always in the market for new things, IF they make the cut... The Celestron TrekGuide (model #48001) is a handheld device that shows altitude, barometric pressure, weather forecast, temperature, a digital compass, time, date, and an alarm clock with an LED backlight. It is available in several colors. I found it online for under thirty bucks, the deciding factor on my color choice. Anything I have found that's similar, be it a wristwatch or otherwise, costs $100 or more.

I tend to rely on mechanical gear, and typically only carry about three devices that rely on battery power when backpacking. This report is based upon two months of operation, and two backpacking trips; one weekend spent on the AT (Snicker's Gap->Washington Monument), and a five-day trip in Monongahela National Forest's Otter Creek Wilderness. 

Celestron backs the product with a 2-year warranty, I cannot comment on customer service, having only owned the device for a couple of months with no concerns. There is a great 40-page download pdf file instruction manual available online. I have found it is thorough, and easy to read. Included with the short velcro strap (see above), is a longer lanyard (see below). The lanyard has a quick release clip that appears to be sturdy. I have NOT used this lanyard, but its construction seems ok. 

On to its functions. The digital compass is user friendly to calibrate, and has so far appeared to be accurate. On both trips, I have frequently tested against my mechanical baseplate compass finding mostly complete accuracy. Like regular compasses, I sure wouldn't work on the hood of a car or take my bearing on a steel bridge... There is a programmable magnetic declination angle setting. The compass shows the 16 cardinal directions. The unit has a level bubble for accuracy. This gizmo is (of course) lazy side by side to a compass, I would never rely on this function unless in an emergency situation. 

The thermometer reads Fahrenheit and Celsius and also has appeared to be accurate comparing to a 30-year-old mercury filled thermometer. The specified temperature range is -4 to 140 F/-20 to 60 C.

The altimeter has been a little quirky at home, however proved to be very useful in the field. I tried to 'get lost' a couple of times, and using the altimeter with a topo map alone would work for someone in a jam. It too is easy to reset and adjust, with the ability to read meters or feet. The altimeter has a maximum reading as well. I live about 25 feet above sea level, and the TrekGuide will consistently adjust to a higher reading. It has always worked well above 200 feet. The specified range is  -400 to 9000 meters and -1312 to 29,528 feet.

Time/date/alarm: So far, so good! I am not typically a wristwatch person, so this is very nice, especially when referencing times on a map. The display shows time (with AM/PM), month, day, year, and alarm setting. The alarm is easy to use, and also works as designed. 

Barometer/Weather forecast: no notes in the field, both trips I experienced very high, consistent air pressure. At home, the barometer mirrors my two weather stations, as well as local web readings at the time. Once again, I wouldn't rely on a $30 device to predict weather, but so far has worked as designed. The icons that the unit displays are: sunny,  partly sunny, cloudy, cloudy/rain. The unit has several display choices: mbar/hPa, mmHG, or inHG. In addition to the regular setting, there is a sea level setting for reference/adjustment. It is easy to adjust as needed. The specified range is 900 to 1100 mbar/hPa, 675 to 825 mmHG, and 26.58 to 32.48 inHG.

The device has a three-second green backlight, that works well by pressing the level bubble. The TrekGuide can also be 'locked' by holding the level button for three seconds. 

I have scratched the plastic display cover, my fault for not being careful with my digital camera. It appears durable, but I wouldn't want to drop this on a rock, or in the water on purpose. The device is powered by two CR2032 batteries, very cheap and common. I cannot comment on battery life at this point.

Dimensions of the unit: LxHxW: 54x103x15mm or 2.1”x4.1”x0.6”

Weight: 70grams/2.5oz. 

As of this point, this is a great, cheap gadget! For the price, why not? Four stars for now, it's apples to oranges comparing this to an expensive similar product...

I’ve had it 10 years, beat the crud out of it, lost the manual and I can still use it and it still works. Not perfectly accurate but good within 100' elevation estimate or better if you calibrate (which is easy even with gloves). Great battery life.

I bought this Model 48006 over a decade ago because I did not want to spend a fortune and I was doing a lot of winter hiking so trail navigation spots were easier to find in deep snow once I knew I was within a few hundred feet of a given landmark. This has taken unbelievable beating and temperature extremes down to 50 below windchills and endless rain and heat. It is easy to use with gloves on.

I actually wrote this review, because I had not been hiking for a while due to an injury, and have long since lost the manual, and did not feel like fussing around on the Internet for a new manual. I was instantly able to remember how to set it and calibrated it is very intuitive. I have meant to review this for many years and I’m glad to see that it is still being sold by the manufacturer and a few others.

It includes lots of nice little features like a leveling bubble, and a light and a clock and alarm. It is incredibly miserly about batteries, I think I might have only changed the batteries once or twice in the last 10 years and it has run continuously.

Again, for less than $50, I don’t think you could find anything more durable and versatile with as many features. It is quite easy to calibrate if you start with an appropriate sea level barometric. Once you get to the trail head reset the altitude for the altitude of the trailhead and be sure that sea level is correct. It will be pretty reliable within 100 or so feet for the rest of the hike from my experience.

It has a nice feature of memory of maximum altitude as well. Just lots of little convenient features thrown in. The compass is quite reliable, and the thermometer is generally quite accurate.

Again, did I mention I’ve had it over 10 years and it is still perfectly good? The broken clip at the bottom I fixed with some gorilla tape as you see in the photo many years ago and it is still fine to hold with my carabiner. 

Background

I have bought several different altimeters including basic pneumatic ones. I have always kept my price tag under $100. For roughly $40 this one has way more features and reliability, combined which out stretches other items that are altimeters only and or equivalently priced that are only slightly more accurate.