Our surveyors use them all the time, but they have a back pack receiver and hand held controls that look like something from StarTrek.
It has surprised me how much the simpler units have come down in price. Wouldn't replace my Silva Ranger compass for my field excursions, though, but it would be a cool supplement.
I'm being slowly but surely dragged grumbling and muttering into the ~ higher ~ technology age. sigh.
Well, the trouble with me is, a compass wouldn't do me a bit of good, because after a few loops and turns, I no longer know which direction 'camp' is. :~D I just have to stick to the trail and know where it's going.
I'm not well versed on the GPS unit, ecurbh is. But I'd like to be. What would be nice about it is if we have trouble and a horse or rider gets hurt, or if we come upon someone else up there who needs help, we can call someone and be able to give exact coordinates to where we are... OR, alternately, at least to the nearest intersection with a logging road, if we mark them with the numbers of all those logging roads. Without GPS, I'd just have to try to say "Well, we're on the Waddell Loop, about a ways past that turny part, before you get to that big white rock." Which isn't going to mean much to a guy on the phone.