GPS tech (Garmin, Hammerhead, Wahoo, RWGPS, etc)

Any reason why you don't want to use your phone? Press record in Strava and then put it in a pocket that isn't too deeply buried.

Great and highly reasonable question! Couple reasons - first, my phone is old and slowly dying so having Strava etc running in the background can be flaky. No plans to upgrade until it actually dies and/or Apple brings out a new iPhone SE

Secondly, there’s times when I like to head out without a phone so not keen to tie myself to that. I often walk with my phone on me but buried on silent just as a backup so I can enjoy it without the lure of the screen, too.

Maybe one of the Garmin 's' suffix watches? 265s is the current version. I think some of the older ones were slightly smaller. My other half is small (5'/153cm) with matching small wrists and wears a 255s all the time.

I think some of the Venu/'fashion' ones might seem smaller because of the styling. Places like Currys often display models which can be useful for trying out on your wrist.

Or you could get something without a display. Many years ago I had a GPS logger that I'd turn on and then it would log a point a second which I could later process however I wanted. Something like https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006718848923.html

Etrex 20, Etrex 30 x, or any in the Etrex range

I use Eneloop rechargables, two sets give a weeks or so usage

etc

@jellybaby those GPS loggers look interesting - will do some digging

@freezing77 I’ve had a play around with older Etrex ones before but never figured out how to record an activity like on a bike computer - any ideas?

With Garmins you literally turn them on and it's recording a track. Plug it into a computer and dump the tracks off it.

ve had a play around with older Etrex ones before but never figured out how to record an activity like on a bike computer - any ideas?

they automatically record when on

check the track manager

those GPS loggers look interesting

I used to use one when taking pictures so I could assign locations based on the GPS track.

Paid about £30 ten years ago so would guess they should be pretty cheap.

Generally works fine but without a screen you're not quite sure what's happening whilst it's try to acquire a signal.

You don't need the phone screen on to record a walk. I use RWGPS and it can sit silently in a pocket. It'll sync automatically to Strava or Garmin or whatever too. When you take pictures with the phone you can geotag them too

Seems a bit pointless buying another bit of electronics if what you have will work. On the other hand, having some redundancy if you're roughing it and/or need more battery life, waterproof kit, etc, then an etrex will do what you want.