I am very good at reading hiking maps but it is sure as HELL easier to use the handheld GPS. and having both when you are hiking ain't a bad idea. But if it is good enough for the special forces anywhere in the world, it is good enough for me cause it has brought me out of the bush many times. And you put new batteries in them, that is how it works or bring some with ya. You could also lose your paper map also or burn it up in a campfire or have a bear eat it ... yada yada. Hitting a little button works kinda nice I think and I tend to go places most won't when I go fishin, it comes with me, along with a .44 mag