The Treo 700p is a perfect companion on outdoor adventures. The Treo has many features that make it the first piece of gear I pack when headed off the beaten path. In my opinion, anyone who is headed away from civilization should carry a cell phone in case of an emergency. While cellular service has not yet covered every inch of the globe, during my time outdoors I have very rarely been unable to get some sort of signal.

With the addition of a GPS receiver and mapping software, the Treo 700P becomes a very capable GPS system. While there are many GPS receivers and mapping applications available, I use the Seidio Navigator Bundle with TomTom Navigation 5. I chose the Seidio bundle because of its exceptional battery life. The Seidio receiver will operate continuously for 17 hours when fully charged. The Seidio receiver uses SIRF III technology which is the most advanced chipset available today. SIRF III technology allows the Seidio receiver to find satellites and map locations within 60 seconds. While this is not the best system for users who only want an in-car navigation system, it is the best I have found for both in-car and outdoor use. For users who want only an in-car navigation system, I suggest visiting the mtdn store to browse our large selection of in-car navigation systems.

In my opinion, TomTom Navigator is simply the best mapping software available today. TomTom has many features that have made it an industry leader in GPS solutions. TomTom maps are amongst the most current on the market. Navigator 5 is also capable of downloading weather information, which is very helpful when outdoors. One of my favorite features of TomTom Navigator 5 is the Points of Interest (POI) feature. With the POI feature, Navigator 5 displays POI’s such as hospitals, restaurants, camp grounds and many, many others. Probably Navigator’s most helpful feature is the ability to mark a location that is not listed on the map. For instance, when leaving your vehicle you can mark the position of your vehicle so if you become lost you can easily find your way back. The compass feature is also very helpful. As a road cyclist, this GPS system is extremely useful. A few years ago, I cycled from Charlotte, NC to Myrtle Beach, SC, about 180 miles. A GPS would have been incredibly useful in determining how far away I was from rendezvous points along the way. Knowing about local POI’s would have been very helpful, instead of leaving me to wonder if I was near a restroom. Believe me; you do not want to wonder about this when on a bike in the middle of nowhere. I can also use the GPS to track my distance and speed when cycling.

Being prepared for the weather changes is imperative when outdoors. While a GPS receiver and TomTom Navigator is the best option for getting the most updated weather information, there are many programs available that bring weather updates to your Treo. I have tried 4cast by ShSh software and found it to be an excellent option for weather information. 4Cast downloads weather information from Yahoo Weather for the upcoming 5 days. 4Cast provides very detailed weather information such as humidity, wind, barometer and much more. 4Cast also delivers satellite and radar images directly to your Treo. 4Cast updates automatically in the background so there is no need to wonder if the information is updated. 4Cast also works as a plug in for Zlauncher and 2Day.

While the Treo 700P’s 1.3mp camera is far from perfect, it does take decent pictures when outdoors. The trick to taking photos with the Treo is patience. To get the best results from the Treo’s camera, allow the light sensor a few seconds to adjust to the lighting conditions. If you snap a photo too quickly outdoors the photo may be washed out. On the other hand, if you wait 2-3 seconds before taking a photo color reproduction will be much truer. The picture to the right was taken with the Treo’s camera at Sunset Beach, NC. The photos of the Solio charger were also taken with the Treo. While a picture is worth a thousand words, a video with sound is priceless. The VGA quality video of the Treo is very grainy and jittery, but is a great way to record memorable moments.

When cycling long distances I have found the mp3 functionality of the Treo to be a life saver. Listening to music when cycling helps me to maintain my rhythm and helps me stay motivated. With the streaming capabilities of the Treo I never run out of music. The hybrid stereo headset that accompanies the Treo is adequate, but to truly enjoy your music I recommend upgrading to Etymotic ER-6 earbuds. The sound reproduction of the Etymotic ER-6 earbuds is outstanding. The ER-6 earbuds fit in the ear canal sealing it from outside noise. Because some may not like the in-ear system the ER-6 earbuds also come with foam ear pads allowing the ER-6 earbuds to fit like standard earbuds. For those who do not want the noise canceling attributes of the in-ear system the foam ear pads do allow some ambient noise to filter through. I found the foam ear pads valuable when road cycling because they allow me to hear approaching cars. If I have one complaint about these earbuds, it is the cord. Because the cord is so thin I am concerned that it may break. While the cord is thin, it is comparable to other earbuds. For more information about the Etymotic ER-6 earbuds, read my complete review.

The Etymotic Earbuds comes with a case, but to really protect your earbuds from tangles and damage you can also checkout EarBuddy. The outer skin of the EarBuddy is constructed from ballistic nylon and the internal structure of the unit is made from high density plastic. The EarBuddy is the perfect case for protecting your earbuds while avoiding tangles, and easily attaches to any backpack or belt loop with the included key ring.

To charge the Treo outdoors, I use the Solio Universal Hybrid Charger. The Solio is a solar powered charger capable of charging many types of small electronics. The Solio Charger can either charge from an electrical outlet or from the sun. The charger fully charged in about 1.5 hours when plugged into an AC outlet and in about 3 hours when charging from solar power. A full charge was able to recharge my 700p from a complete drain to about 80% in about 2 hours. The Solio charger is available in 4 colors; white, black, pink and silver. When folded, the fan-shaped charger is quite compact and easy to stow. In order to use the Solio with a Treo, the purchase of an additional tip is required. While the Solio is expensive at $100.00 plus another $10.00 for the Treo tip, the charger comes with many tips and is a great for charging your Treo when electricity is inaccessible.

While the Treo is fairly durable, it can easily be damaged if not protected properly during outdoor fun. To protect my Treo in extreme conditions I rely on two products: the Innopocket Black Magnum case and a PDA case by Aquapac. The magnesium exterior of this case provides extreme protection from falls, scratches, and from being smashed. The neoprene lining also provides a very snug fit. While this case provides superb protection, the black paint does scratch easily revealing the bare metal. To be fair, I would rather the case be scratched than my Treo. I also had trouble pressing the red and green phone keys on my Treo 700P with the case closed. This is only a minor problem because the improved double hinge makes operating the Treo with the case open very easy. For more details about the Innopocket Magnesium Case read Derek Simmerman’s review.

The Aquapac is a waterproof case for PDAs, cell phones, and other small electronics. Aquapac makes many different sized cases for electronics, but for the Treo I chose the Classic PDA case. The Aquapac case easily accommodates both the Treo in the Magnesium case and the gps receiver. The Aquapac is made of a tinted blue plastic that is tear resistant. Besides being waterproof up to 30ft the Aquapac also floats. Designed to protect electronics from moisture, I found the case to be extremely useful in dry conditions, helping to keep sand and dirt away from my Treo. I also appreciate the ability to use the Treo without having to remove it from the case. This is extremely handy when I have grease covered hands from emergency bike repairs and need to phone ahead to the group. The included neck cord is very useful, keeping the Treo accessible at all times.

So, next time you are heading into the woods or on a cross country bike ride, take your Treo. The Treo is the ultimate all-in-one accessory for any outdoor activity. The Treo can easily replace much of your existing gear including a GPS, mp3 player, weather radio, and camera. With the addition of a GPS receiver and TomTom Navigator 5, the Treo can easily rival any GPS unit on the market today. With many mp3 players you are limited to how much music you can carry: not with the Treo. The Treo is capable of streaming music from the internet so, you never run out of music. A Treo with 4Cast installed is not only a wonderful alternative to carrying a weather radio, it may just be better. 4Cast is better because it is not only constantly updated with the most current weather conditions, it provides many extras like satellite images. While the camera/camcorder of the Treo is no a replacement for a digital SLR or other standalone digital camera, it does take decent photos. Finally, just remember to protect the Treo when outdoors with a hard case and waterproof pouch.

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Filed under: Editorials