This is the tiny Ecco Tracker- and we liked it!

Who hasn’t searched up and down rows of cars in frustration at the airport or gotten lost walking around a new town? Well, there are some great little GPS devices that may save you from some serious headaches, especially important when you’re traveling with kids. The IDC Ecco Personal Pocket GPS Locator and Bushnell Backtrack Point-5 Personal GPS Locator are two very useful GPS trackers that will point you back to your original location and save you from getting lost.

The devices have highly sensitive GPS receivers and can store several starting locations, allowing you to find your way back even days later – and because of the small size, both are super easy to carry around (the Ecco can fit on your keychain, in fact).

For those parents with older children who want some freedom, using one of these is particularly reassuring. Give the Bushnell to your kids so they can wander down the beach or away from your campsite. They will be pointed back within several feet of your location.

One issue is that because these devices rely on satellites, tall buildings, trees and overhead obstructions may prevent the GPS service from working. But provided there is open sky, the trackers will be able to work where cell phones (which rely on cell towers) don’t. This can be particularly helpful for outdoor adventures, like hiking and camping.

For less than $70 and no additional fees, these little gadgets may be well worth the peace of mind.  The IDC Ecco Intelligent Digital Compass Personal Pocket GPS Locator can be found on Amazon for $58.95 and the Bushnell Backtrack Point-5 Personal GPS Locator (Gray) is sold for $72.52  (other versions are cheaper). You can also check out Target and Radio Shack stores for various models.

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Joy Ferguson has been a financial journalist for seven years in NYC. She lives in Fort Greene with her husband and two-year old son. Please contact her if you have a product you’d like reviewed.

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