Category: Archived Products

Available during their laser rangefinder relationship with Callaway (branded as the Callaway RAZR), Nikon rolls on selling the COOLSHOT rangefinder on its own with slightly different white and blue design. The Nikon COOLSHOT is the smallest and lightest Nikon rangefinder, has 6x magnification and LED illumination, "First Target Priority" of previous Nikon rangefinders, and can pan for up to 8 seconds. The COOLSHOT was introduced at a price point quite a bit less than the original RAZR, which retailed at $349.95. Read more about the Nikon COOLSHOT golf laser rangefinder. Retail price: $279.99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the NIKON COOLSHOT 20 Amazon.com Check price now

The Bushnell Pro X7 JOLT rolls out in 2014 as the top-of-the-line tournament-legal laser rangefinder from Bushnell, replacing the Bushnell Pro 1M. The Bushnell X7 retains all the capabilities of the Pro 1M, and adds Bushnell's "JOLT" feature that provides vibrating bursts to indicate the X7 has locked onto a target. The Pro X7 offers the next generation E.S.P. that purports to provide yardages faster and more accurately than before. It remains the largest and heaviest laser rangefinder, with a steep price tag. But if you are looking for 7x magnification, this is the (only) way to go. More information is available in advance of our full Bushnell Pro X7 JOLT review. Retail price: $499.00 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Bushnell Pro X2 Amazon.com: Check price now

The Bushnell Pro X7 JOLT Slope takes its place in 2014 as the top-of-the-line laser rangefinder from Bushnell, replacing the Bushnell Pro 1M Slope. The Bushnell Pro X7 retains all the capabilities of the Pro 1M, and adds Bushnell's "JOLT" feature that provides vibrating bursts to indicate the X7 has locked onto a target. The Pro X7 Slope, of course, returns slope-adjusted distances, and offers the next generation E.S.P. that purports to provide yardages faster and more accurately than before. It remains the largest and heaviest laser rangefinder, with a price tag that will make some reconsider. But if you are looking for 7x magnification, this is the (only) way to go. Read more about the Bushnell Pro X7 JOLT Slope. Retail price: $599.00 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Bushnell Pro X2 Amazon.com: Check price now

The ECCO Street is actually the more premium of shoes compared to the ECCO Street Premiere (yes, curious), with the extra cost buying you an upgraded insole, camel leather uppers, and a more breathable lining. It's on the high side in price within our test, but those who are looking for a street shoe that brings comfort and quality to the course will want to check these out. Read on in our ECCO Street golf shoe review. Retail price: $170 Amazon.com: Check price now

The ECCO Street Premiere offers good looks and quality, though even as the entry "street" golf shoe from ECCO, competing spikeless shoes can be found for less. We don't have serious reservations, but those considering this shoe should also check out the ECCO Street, which adds a few improvements. Read more in our full ECCO Street Premiere golf shoe review. Retail price: $150 Amazon.com: Check price now

The latest entry in the four-wheeled push cart wars, the Caddytek CaddyCruiser ONE features ample storage space and an innovative front axle suspension that reduces the shock on your arms and shoulders as the cart dives over curbs and into gopher holes. The CaddyCruiser won’t win many style contests, but we like its performance and price. Retail price: $189.00 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Caddytek CaddyCruiser ONE V3

The Bushnell NEO-X adds a limited number of pre-mapped hazards (two per hole), putting it on par with the Expresso WR62 in terms of feature sets. Blocky styling is offset by reasonable pricing and nice user interface. Check out our detailed Bushnell NEO-X golf GPS watch review. Retail price: $199.95 Three year total cost: $199.95 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Bushnell NEO XS Watch Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

No, that's not a typo. SkyCaddie has entered the GPS watch game, and kept with the more-prevalent-than-should-be all-caps naming convention. Welcome the SkyCaddie WATCH. The WATCH provides the very basics, with distances to fixed front, center and back points, scoring, and other GPS watch functions. There aren't any features that differentiate it from other watches, which make it more challenging for us to swallow the annual fee for course updates. Read more in our detailed SkyCaddie WATCH review. Retail price: $199.95 Three year total cost: $249.90 Availability: Discontinued (though still available from some resellers); replaced by the SkyCaddie LINX watch Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

Leupold has historically offered golf laser rangefinders at the high end of the market. That changes with the Leupold PinCaddie, which at $315 retails as not just the least expensive Leupold, but one of the lower priced laser rangefinders in our tests. The PinCaddie has an LCD display and features Leupold's PinHunter technology (targets nearest object, though lacks ability to "lock" onto a prism), 6x magnification, and scanning mode. Read on for our detailed Leupold PinCaddie review. Retail price: $314.99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Leupold Pincaddie 2 Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

REVIEW (OVERALL RATING: 89; GRADE: B+). The Bushnell Tour v3 JOLT Slope builds upon the prior generation Bushnell Tour V2 Slope, with the same magnification (5x), range performance (5-1,000 yards) with accuracy to within 1 yard, and slope compensated distance information. The Tour v3 JOLT Slope Edition utilizes Bushnell’s new JOLT Technology, providing short bursts of vibration to reinforce that its PinSeeker technology has locked on to the distance. At $399, it is one of the least expensive golf laser devices that provides slope compensated distances tested. Retail: $399 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Bushnell Tour V4 Shift Amazon.com:Check price now

The Bushnell Tour v3 retains the same magnification (5x), range performance (5-1,000 yards), and accuracy (to 1 yard) as the previous generation Bushnell Tour V2, but adds Bushnell's JOLT Technology, providing short bursts of vibration to reinforce that its PinSeeker technology has locked on to the distance. At $299, the Bushnell Tour v3 is one of the least expensive laser rangefinders on the market. Read on our detailed Bushnell Tour v3 JOLT review. Retail: $299 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Bushnell Tour V4 Amazon.com: Check price now

Though the golf GPS watch market is growing rapidly, we were surprised by IZZO stepping into the game with their spidey-looking IZZO Swami Watch. The watch includes distances to fixed points at the front, center and back of the green, and features auto hole advance, shot distance measurement, and a digital scorecard. The navigation needs some work and there is no way to save scores, but the IZZO Swami Watch is the least expensive golf GPS watch on the market, comes pre-loaded with courses and carries no subscription fees. Read more at our detailed IZZO Swami Watch review. Retail price: $149.99 Three-year total price: $149.99 Availability: Discontinued. The IZZO Swami line of watches was in effect replaced by the Callaway GPSync watch (produced by IZZO, manufactured by Callaway). Amazon.com: The model reviewed here was replaced by an updated IZZO Swami Watch.

The Bushnell 5x20 Golf Scope Rangefinder offers an alternative for players who don't want to shell out hundreds of dollars for a laser rangefinder. The Bushnell is marketed as "estimating distances to the flag from 50 to 200 yards/meters," and we appreciate this truth in advertising. In our tests we were able to keep accuracy within 10%, but at 200 yards, that's about a two club difference. It's extremely small, has 5x magnification, and doesn't require batteries, but limitations of targeting make the device, even at $25, desirable to only a specific set of players. And you'd better be playing on a course with 8-foot flagsticks. Read more in our full Bushnell 5x20 Golf Scope review. Availability: Discontinued. Thank goodness. Retail price: $24.95 Amazon.com Check price now

The Callaway RAZR Rangefinder (by Nikon) is the company's most compact rangefinder yet. The device features 6x magnification and provides distance readings to 600 yards in increments of 0.1 yards (though estimated +/-1 yard accuracy). The RAZR has a fully elastomer body design, and is waterproof to boot. Sounds great...but we found the RAZR lacked the sensitivity of competing devices, and the First Target Priority mode just isn't where it needs to be. Read our detailed Callaway RAZR rangefinder review. Retail price: $349.95 Availability: Discontinued (may still be found on Amazon). Replaced by the Nikon COOLSHOT. Amazon.com Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

If you're considering the Swingbyte mobile golf swing analysis device, we would simply say to keep your expectations in check. It's not a TrackMan, it's a tool that uses its position, information provided by the player, and a lot of math to calculate the data it provides. We had a lot of challenges with this device, from initial setup and syncing, to use at the range (it won't stay fixed in place on the club shaft), to the accuracy of the information it provides. We want the Swingbyte to succeed, but it has a long, long way to go. Read more at our detailed Swingbyte review. Retail price: $149.00 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Swingbyte 2

The hefty SkyCaddie Breeze starts from a base of providing distances to the front, center and back of the green only. Most users will opt for the advanced Feature Packs ($34.95 each) that provide advanced full hole and detailed green views. The display, course detail (when available) and setting options are top-notch, but annual fees increase the three-year cost to a level far beyond most of the competition. Retail price: $334.80 Three year total cost: $484.65 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the SkyCaddie TOUCH Amazon.com: Check price now

Covers the basics of satellite images and distances to targeted points, but has a terrible interface for tracking statistics. Adds features other apps don't have, but Viewti needs to fix the core functionality first. Price: $29.99 Download Viewti from iTunes

The latest entry in the four-wheeled push cart wars, the Caddytek CaddyCruiser ONE features ample storage space and an innovative front axle suspension that reduces the shock on your arms and shoulders as the cart dives over curbs and into gopher holes. The CaddyCruiser won’t win many style contests, but we like its performance and price. Retail price: $189.00 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Caddytek CaddyLite ONE. Amazon.com: Check price now

Bushnell jumps on the golf GPS watch bandwagon with their latest GPS device, the neo+ golf GPS watch. The Bushnell watch provides distances to the front, center and back of the green and also measures shot distances, but doesn’t provide distances to hazards, nor will it track scores. The blocky early 80s digital watch styling didn’t appeal to us, but the inexpensive price point certainly did. Read more in our detailed Bushnell neo+ golf GPS watch review. Retail price: $199.95 Three year total cost: $199.95 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Bushenll NEO-X watch

The Callaway upro mx+ presents a commendable feature set in a lightweight and slim form factor. The touchscreen takes some practice, but Callaway has built in other input tools (such as an optical navigation button) that make things easier. It's still missing shot tracking, which we consider to be a pretty basic feature, but an attractive price point that provides access to the entire course database (including top-of-the-line ProMode maps with satellite images) for no additional charge makes the upro mx+ a contender. Read our detailed Callaway upro mx+ review. Retail price: $249 Three year total cost: $249 Availability: Discontinued. No replacement product is planned. Unfortunately, Callaway has moved in a different direction and has de-prioritized golf GPS devices. A sad tale that started with a company, uPro, that held such potential and floundered and not died under Callaway ownership. It is unknown how long Callaway will continue to make their upro mx+ supporting website, Callaway uxplore, available, and we do not recommend purchase of this product. Amazon.com: Check price now

The Caddytek CaddyLite ONE provides good looks at a wallet-friendly price point. It unfolds easily and when you're finished with your round, collapses into a flat compact package. Compared to other carts, however, it doesn’t roll as smoothly through thick grass, and lacks much storage space. Still, it's a nice entry level cart at a nice price. Retail price: $169.00 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Caddytek CaddyLite EZ

The GolfBuddy Platinum is touted to have an improved screen with better touchscreen response over their earlier devices. Unfortunately, we didn’t see much of a change on either front. The device still has a nice set of features, and comes with a pre-loaded course database that achieved a perfect 100 on our course coverage test. But the high end price tag makes us wonder if you aren’t better off sticking with the prior generation GolfBuddy products. Read more in our GolfBuddy Platinum detailed review. Retail price: $399.99 Three year total cost: $399.99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the GolfBuddy PT4 Amazon.com: Check price now

The MOTOACTV is a beautiful thing, with a fantastic touchscreen, bright screen, and all kinds of fitness functionality, plus the ability to play your favorite MP3s…and it’s all available in a wristwatch. The hardware engineers deserve rich kudos. The software engineers…not so much. Numerous bugs, including in simple things such as adding up the scores, drove us batty. For now, the MOTOACTV Golf Edition is all hat, no cattle. Retail price: $299.99 plus $29.99 for watch strap (looks like strap is currently free) Three year total cost: $299.99 Availability: Discontinued. No replacement product.

The Garmin Approach S3 GPS golf watch builds upon its well-regarded predecessor, the Garmin Approach S1, by adding distances to layup points and customizable targets, a map of the shape of the green (with the ability to adjust the pin placement using the...wait for it…touchscreen), and scoring capability. We like the device, but have reservations about the lack of pre-mapped hazards and the high price. Read more at our detailed Garmin Approach S3 golf watch review. Retail price: $349.99 Three year total cost: $349.99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Garmin Approach S4 Watch Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

The Matrix SHOTMATE “speaks” distances at the push of a button. Approximately the size of a matchbook, and with a clip to attach to a cap, shirt or belt, it’s incredibly easy to use, and comes with courses preloaded. The trade off is that the SHOTMATE only provides distances to the center of the green, which may be sufficient for some, but alas, the distances to bunkers, creeks and trees are all too relevant to our game. Read on for our detailed Matrix SHOTMATE Voice review. Retail price: $149.99 Three year total cost: $149.99 Availability: Discontinued. No replacement product. We don't expect the company to reintroduce another GPS unit.

The GolfBuddy Voice tries to take voice-enabled golf GPS devices to the next level, but things don’t quite click as intended. The attempt to include a display seems misguided, as it’s too small to really be of use, and isn’t the whole point of a voice-enabled display to avoid having to look at a display? Adding distances to the near and far edges of the green is useful, but the method of accessing them is awkward. The device is too thick to look stylish when it’s clipped to the bill of a cap, so you’re left attaching it to your collar or belt. For now, we’re still unconvinced about the utility of voice for GPS devices. Retail price: $199.99 Three year total cost: $199.99 Availability: Replaced by the GolfBuddy VT3 Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

The Bushnell Pro 1M Slope Edition is Bushnell's top-of-the-line laser rangefinder, featuring 7x magnification. It's not only the largest and heaviest rangefinder on the market, it's also the most expensive rangefinder with slope readings. The new display helps in reading distances against dark backgrounds, but we were disappointed by the limited panning ability, and that the slope and adjusted distance readings don't display until after you are done firing the laser. Read our detailed Bushnell Pro 1M Slope review. Retail price: $599.00 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Bushnell Pro X7 Slope Amazon.com Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

An affordable entry into the golf GPS watch market, the Expresso WR62 shares enough of the same technology with the Bushnell neo+ golf GPS watch to be almost a fraternal twin. Both devices provide distances to fixed points at the front, center and back of the green, but the Expresso adds up to two hazards per hole. We aren’t enamored of the styling, but there’s no doubt that it’s one of the best values among available golf GPS watches. Read our detailed Expresso WR62 golf GPS watch review. Retail price: $179.95 Three year total cost: $179.95 Amazon.com: Check price now

Don't be fooled...the Bushnell Tour Z6 isn't just a little update of the previous Tour V2. The Tour Z6 introduces both new display technologies (also found on the new Pro 1M), technology to provide faster readings from 5-125 yards with ½ yard accuracy, and distances displayed down to 1/10th of a yard. It also features 6x magnification, though lacks the "automatic scan" mode found in earlier Bushnell devices (bummer). Check out our detailed Bushnell Tour Z6 review. Retail price: $399 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Bushnell Tour Z6 JOLT Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

The Bushnell Pro 1M is Bushnell's top-of-the-line non-slope laser rangefinder, featuring 7x magnification. It's not only the largest and heaviest rangefinder on the market, it's also one of most expensive rangefinders without slope information. The new "Vivid Display" technology helps in reading distances against dark backgrounds, but we were disappointed by the limited panning ability. Read our full Bushnell Pro 1M review. Retail price: $499.00 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Bushnell X7 JOLT Amazon.com Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

The Leupold GX-4i has an aluminum body, a red OLED readout, and provides distances adjusted for slope, temperature and altitude, and club recommendations. Enhancements in this model include faster distance readings and flagstick range to 400 yards at +/- six inches. That being said, we found that we liked its predecessor a bit better, both because of difficulties in locking on to flagsticks and because the rapidly blinking display when panning targets was distracting. Read on for our detailed Leupold GX-4i review. Retail: $624.99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Leupold GX-4i² Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

The Leupold GX-3i has a fancy aluminum body and a vivid red OLED readout, all in a great form factor. Enhancements in this model include more rapid distance readings and flagstick range to 400 yards at +/- six inches. While the device quickly provides distance while panning, we experienced difficulties in locking on to flagsticks and found the blinking distance readings to be distracting. Read on for our detailed Leupold GX-3i review. Retail price: $499.99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Leupold GX-3i² Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

The SkyCaddie SGXw's ability to determine any point on the course, pre-mapped targets, radiating yardage arcs, mapping of the entire green all add up to the most extensive mapping and distance information you can find in a golf GPS unit. The optical trackpad received mixed reviews from our staff (and there are still bugs to work out). It's a great device for data aficionados, but players will want to consider both the device size and hefty price tag before purchase. Read on for more details in our SkyCaddie SGXw review. Retail price: $399.95 Three year total cost: $549.80 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the SkyCaddie TOUCH Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

Excellent putting surface combined with useful training tools make this a quality product. At this price point, it would be nice if a ball return mechanism were provided. Retail price: $69.99 Amazon.com price: Check price now

The iPING is a fun and relatively inexpensive (at least for products in the pricey golf universe) way of analyzing the consistency of your putting stroke. The caveat is that it's currently only compatible with the iPhone 4/4S and iPod Touch (4th gen). Retail price (cradle): $29.99 Availability: Discontinued, though units may still be available at Amazon (see link below) Amazon.com price (cradle): Check price now

The SWAMI 3000 brings a number of significant improvements to the original SWAMI 1500, including course name displayed on screen, pre-loaded with over 19,000 courses. If you like bells and whistles, look elsewhere, but if an uncomplicated approach is more to your liking, the SWAMI 3000 is a nice simple unit in a lightweight and compact form factor. Read our detailed IZZO SWAMI 3000 review. Retail price: $99.99 Three year total cost: $139.98 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the IZZO SWAMI 4000. Amazon.com: Check price now

The GolfBuddy World is a nice combination of an intuitive user interface, quality graphics, a full set of features, exceptional course coverage with pre-mapped targets, and no annual or per-course fees. While users can use the touchscreen to target any point on the hole and receive distances both to that point and to the green, as well as select the flagstick location, touchscreen sensitivity fell short of our expectations. The screen isn't as bright as we would like, but hole and green graphic images are crisp. Though still not as well known as SkyCaddie and Garmin, GolfBuddy is making good progress. Read our full GolfBuddy World review. Retail price: $299 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the GolfBuddy PT4 Amazon.com: Check price now

The Callaway Diablo replaces the earlier generation LR550. It features 6x magnification and "First Target Priority" mode, is waterproof, and picks out targets at up to 550 yards. It does fine if you’re aiming at the flag portion of the flagstick, but struggles when you aim at the stick. Nonetheless, as the least expensive laser rangefinder in our tests, it scores big points in terms of value. Read more in our full Callaway Diablo Octane laser rangefinder review. Retail price: $299.99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by Callaway RAZR.

The Bushnell Hybrid features the great idea of combining a laser rangefinder and a GPS device into a single package. Evaluated from the GPS perspective (we have a separate review evaluating it from a laser rangefinder perspective), it's a bit light on features, is big and bulky, and costs a bundle. A fair attempt for a first generation product, but we're hoping that new versions will have better integration between the GPS and rangefinder functions. Read our detailed Bushnell Hybrid Golf GPS Device review. Retail price: $399 (down from $499 at introduction) Three year total cost: $399 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Bushnell Tour V4 Shift, plus the latest Bushnell GPS watch Amazon.com: Check price now

The Bushnell Hybrid is the first combination GPS and laser rangefinder on the market. Though the Hybird has only 5x magnification and no panning mode, the benefits of having a built-in GPS (with over 16,000 courses out of the box, and no yearly fees) is clear. Given the size and cost, however, users will likely not only be stacking the Hybrid up against the Bushnell Tour V2 and neo+ (which it essentially is), but also against separate dedicated laser and GPS devices. Read more at our detailed Bushnell Hybrid Laser GPS review. Retail price: $399.99 (down from $499 at introduction) Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Bushnell Tour V4 Shift, plus the latest Bushnell GPS watch Amazon.com: Check price now

The Celestron CoursePro Elite suffers from being a "tweener" - caught as neither a compact basic device nor a full featured top-end unit. Most consumers are likely to find a better fit elsewhere. The exception is that the CoursePro Elite may appeal strongly to those who enjoy customizing their own course maps or need a device that displays one of the whopping twelve different languages that the CoursePro Elite supports. Read our detailed Celestron CoursePro Elite review. Retail price: $149.95 Three year price: $182.84 Availability: Discontinued. No replacement product.

Just a bit thicker than standard watches, the S1 has an easy-to-use interface providing distances to the near, center and far edges of the green. While hazard distances aren't available, the S1 provides hole and par information, along with shot measuring capability. If you are looking for just the basics and don't mind wearing a watch while you play, or simply miss your Finnish Suunto G9, the S1 is the way to go! Read more at our detailed Garmin Approach S1 review. Retail price: $179.99 Three year total cost: $179.99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Garmin Approach S3 watch Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

With its "Plus" series, Bushnell joins the growing number of manufacturers offering golf GPS devices that come with courses pre-loaded, and, even better, requiring no membership fees for access to the course database. The neo+ is one of the simplest devices we tested, providing text distances to the front, center and back of the green and up to four other hazards/targets on each hole. If you are looking for ease of use, the neo+ ranks among the top devices. Read on at our detailed Bushnell neo+ review. Retail price: $149.99 Three year total cost: $149.99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Bushnell NEO XS Watch Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

The Bushnell Yardage Pro XGC+ has a good form factor and is quite light, with solid buttons, an intuitive menu and a color screen that works fine in different lighting conditions. Hole map usability is an issue - the device can move the target point you have selected on a whim, creating a maddening experience. Only green points and selected pre-mapped targets come installed - if you want the overhead hole maps, you’ll have to download individually (annual fee required). Read our detailed Bushnell Yardage Pro XGC+ review. Retail price: $299.99 Three-year total cost: $369.97 Availability: Discontinued. No handheld replacement, next nearest replacement is Bushnell NEO-X Watch

Callaway's top-of-the-line rangefinder features rapid line-of-sight and slope-adjusted distance readings, 6x magnification, and exceptional performance in picking out flagsticks at a distance. It's in the middle of the pack of our cost comparison, but worthy of your consideration. Retail price: $429.95 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Nikon COOLSHOT AS. Amazon.com price: Check price now

A bit bulky and with a lack of storage space, the Bag Boy Automatic doesn't distinguish itself from the rest of the pack. It is easily unfolded, but unless that's your top priority, you will likely find better value elsewhere. Retail price: $199.95 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Bag Boy Quad

Plum Caddy features extremely rudimentary hole graphics, along with scoring (but only if you mark each shot location) and statistics. The app has limited course coverage (and when a course is available, there is often mapping of only one or just a few holes) and is riddled with bugs. And without a tool to map a course, players can’t even add to the sparse course coverage. Plum Caddy has been sold to a new owner by the developer (we know who got the short end of the stick in this deal!), and until our review of the next release, we recommend that players look elsewhere. Availability: No longer available from the iTunes Store

The Laser Link Red Hot is a pistol-styled laser rangefinder that can target any object on the golf course (unlike Laser Link's QuickShot, which can only target flagsticks with reflective prisms). We liked the Red Hot's point-and-shoot design and its vibrate mode, which vibrates the device when it has locked on to a target. Our concern about the Red Hot arose from the difficulty in getting a confident reading on targets without prisms at longer distances - a problem that was exacerbated by the lack of any magnification in the viewfinder. Check out our detailed Laser Link Red Hot review for more. Retail price: $389 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Laser Link Red Hot 2. Amazon.com: Check price now

The most simple laser rangefinder in our tests, the Laser Link QuickShot only works for reading distances to flagsticks with reflective prisms. While the QuickShot’s lack of versatility is a bit of a non-starter for us, players who appreciate the pistol-shaped form factor and frequently play on a course equipped with reflective prism flagsticks may be drawn to this device. Read our detailed Laser Link QuickShot review for more. Retail price: $289 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Laser Link QuickShot 2.0 Amazon.com: Check price now

6x magnification, panning mode to continuously update target distances, and an exceptional ability to pick out flagsticks not enough for you? The Leupold GX-2 provides not only the slope compensated distance to a target, but will even provide club selection based on temperature and altitude. The GX-2 features improved performance in fog and rain, and the ability to lock onto prisms on flagsticks. You can't go wrong with this device. Read our detailed Leupold GX-2 review Retail price: $400.00 Amazon.com price: Check price and buy now

Leupold has topped our list with past devices, and they stay there with their latest release, the GX-1. The smallest laser rangefinder in our test features 6x magnification, panning mode to continuously update target distances, solid ability to pick out flagsticks at long distances, and even a setting to change the cross-hair in the viewfinder. Improvements include enhanced performance in foggy conditions and on flagsticks with reflective prisms. See our detailed Leupold GX-1 review. Retail price: $375 Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

Satellite images, distances to the center of the green and mapped targets, scoring and statistics. What’s not to like about TeeToGreen Lite? Well, an incredibly bizarre interface that makes it confusing to start a round. Oh, and the app is limited to only the first 5 holes of play. Want to play 6 through 18? You’ll have to pony up for TeeToGreen Pro. This app is good only if you are considering purchase of the full app, otherwise you’ll want to look elsewhere. Download TeeToGreen Golf Lite from iTunes

We enjoyed the satellite images and marked hazards of GolfGPS Pro, but only for its 30-day trial. The free app is limited to merely a scorecard and statistics tracking, though with charts and graphs for those who enjoy some nicely presented data. If you’re looking for more, you’ll need to upgrade to the GolfGPS Pro paid version. Download Golf GPS Pro from iTunes

Golf GPS is an ad-supported app that determines player position (be it on or off a course) and displays radiating circles on a satellite image at distances of 50-300 yards in 50 yard increments. Users can drop pins on their location that will then display distances to that point. The app has no knowledge of the course or any particular hole, which can be disconcerting during play, and there is no ability to record score or statistics. Limited in use, our bet is that most players want additional features included. Download Golf GPS from iTunes

Swing by Swing is a very straightforward app that features satellite images, with the ability to determine distances to any point selected, and the distance from that point to the center of the green. Users can’t zoom or pan, and there is no scorecard or statistics tracking included (that functionality is available for purchase, however). Swing by Swing gets the job done with limited bugs and course coverage is reasonable, but the lack of features makes it difficult to recommend. Price: Free for GPS use; $11.99 for scorecard functionality Download Swing by Swing from iTunes

The ad-supported iYardage possesses most of the functions a user would want in an app – full hole graphics, hole par and handicap, zooming ability, distances to any target and from the target to the center of the green, and radiating circles around the green at 50 yard intervals. A scorecard and stats tracking is included in this very complete package. To date, there are extremely few courses mapped (mostly Australian courses), and if you need to map a course yourself, it will take approximately an hour on your computer. However, we weren’t even able to get the file to iYardage staff for use. Download iYardage from iTunes

myCaddie Pro provides satellite images, zooming ability, and distances to any point selected. Users can track score and statistics, though the app lacks hole handicap and par information. myCaddie lacks the polish of most paid apps, but it is still is easy to navigate. myCaddie largely relies on users to map courses, and while its course database is larger than most of the other free competitors, the coverage still has a long way to go to compete with the top paid apps. If you need a course yourself, you should set aside approximately 30 minutes to map a course on your computer, after which the course mapping is available for immediate use. Download myCaddie Pro from iTunes

The Sonocaddie V500 brings you the latest features, including satellite images and video flyovers. But uneven implementation of certain interface elements left us disappointed. Combine that with overall poor image quality of satellite views, lack of ability to zoom, limited mapped points, and buggy software, and you’re left with a device that gets lost in the noise. Oh, and it finished last in our course coverage analysis at a mere 21% of courses available. Not compatible with Macs. Read our detailed Sonocaddie V500 review. Retail Price: $399 Three year total cost: $428.95 Availability: Discontinued. No replacement hardware. Sonocaddie appears to be shifting its business model to mobile apps.

With the release of the World Platinum, GolfBuddy joins the ranks of devices that offer full hole graphic layouts and the ability to target any point on the course for distance readings. The device is extremely easy to use and information is presented in a clear manner. And with lots of work on their course database, GolfBuddy how features exceptional course coverage in our tests. Check out our full GolfBuddy World Platinum review. Retail price: $399.99 Three year total cost: $399.99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the GolfBuddy Platinum

The good news is that New Trent quickly replaced our first unit, which was defective and we were unable to test. The bad news? Our replacement unit failed during testing as well. It seems that in this case, you get what you pay for. Retail price: $69.95 Amazon.com price: Check price now

Lightweight, but a bit underpowered, the Energizer AP1500 (iPower) doesn't quite do enough to distinguish itself from the field. If you can find it at a sweet price point, it's worth a look, but at MSRP there are better options. Retail price: $79.99 Amazon.com price: Check price now

Our editors either loved the Tekkeon MP1200 (myPower) or hated it. Black leatherette with white stitching will either strike you as elegant and refined or ridiculously hokie-looking. Quirky design that allows the Tekkeon to serve as an auxiliary power source for the iPhone (the Tekkeon will be drained before the iPhone's battery), but prevents the Tekkeon from actually charging the iPhone battery left us puzzled. Retail price: $79.95 Amazon.com price: Check price now

Feathery light and featuring a slender profile, the Mophie Juice Pack Air delivered a knockout combination of solid performance and a great form factor. The Juice Pack Air is the one battery extender that we would consider keeping on our iPhone all of the time. Retail price: $79.95 Amazon.com price: Check price now

The MiLi Power Pack was the workhorse among the iPhone battery extenders we tested, providing the most charging power. It's not going to win too many beauty contests, but it'll look a heckuva lot prettier when it saves you by having a reserve of juice available when you need it. Occasional charging bugs kept it from earning a higher grade. Retail price: $99.95 Amazon.com price: Check price now

The GolfLink iPhone app is a recent release from the online golf portal of the same name. While it seems with this introduction that GolfLink is trying to grow beyond being a mere content provider, the level of quality of the app tells us that this might just be, like Steve Jobs would say about the AppleTV, “a hobby.” Price: $9.99 Download Golflink from iTunes

Clicgear improves on an already excellent product with the Clicgear 3.0, providing a better brake mechanism and improved storage capacity. A great combination of snazzy styling and solid performance. We would definitely splurge on the optional ($9.99) shoe brush that attaches to the bottom of the cart – very handy! Retail price: $229 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by Clicgear 3.5+

Attractively priced and lightweight, but it suffers in feature set and build quality. It's best suited for the budget conscious or relatively infrequent users. Read more at our detailed Tour Trek Tahoe review. Retail price: $99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Tour Trek One Click 2.0

The Bushnell Pro 1600 Tournament Edition laser rangefinder provides an industry-best 7x magnification, excellent ability to find flagsticks and other targets, large field of view, rapid distance updates and crisp clear display. If you don't mind the size, the Bushnell 1600 product should definitely be on your short list. Check out our detailed Bushnell 1600 review. Retail price: $399.99 Availability: No longer available. Replaced by the Bushnell Pro 1M

The new Ping 4 Under is a great combination of all the basics at an extremely attractive price. Light on your your back and wallet, this is the bag of choice in the lightweight category. Retail price: $135 Amazon.com: Check price now Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Ping 4 Series.

A beautiful interface, the ability to determine distances to any point on the course, video flyover previews of each hole, and a new scoring/statistics module, all packaged into one of the lightest and smallest devices tested, make it tough to go wrong with the Callaway uPro. Add in a new aggressive price point, and the uPro is once again our undisputed leader of the pack for golf GPS devices. Retail price: $199.00 plus per course fees and $20 for Scoring Plus module Three year total cost: $269.00 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Callaway upro mx

It's the Hoofer you've known for years with a few new tweaks. Reliable and versatile, this bag straddles the line between lightweights and more full-featured carry bags and will appeal to a variety of players. Retail price: $189.99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the 2014 Ping Hoofer.

The Sun Mountain Speed Cart V2 is the deluxe version of the Speed Cart V1. We like the additional storage space, but the large size and equally large price tag temper our enthusiasm for the V2. Retail price: $269 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Sun Mountain Speed Cart V1 line

The Sun Mountain Micro Cart is the top-rated golf push cart in our test. One of the problems with push carts is that they can be so much of a hassle to load in your car and unfold at the course that they wind up gathering dust in the garage. Not so with the Micro Cart! It dazzled our reviewers with its compact shape when folded, light weight, and easy set-up. Check out our detailed Sun Mountain Micro Cart review. Retail price: $199 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Sun Mountain MC3 Micro-Cart

We definitely liked the sporty looks of the Clicgear 2.0 and its solid and stable feel on the course. Less appealing is the fact that when it's folded up, it isn't exactly small, which could be a problem if storage space is at a premium in your vehicle. Retail price: $199 Availability: Discontinued; replaced by the Clicgear 3.0

Covers the basics of satellite images and distances to targeted points, but has a terrible interface for tracking statistics. Adds features other apps don't have, but ViewTi 2010 needs to fix the core functionality first. Price: $29.99 Download ViewTi 2010 from iTunes

All the basic features of the Garmin Approach G5 in a slightly smaller (though still as rugged) body and at a lower price point. A solid device that warrants a look from anyone considering purchasing a golf GPS device. Read our detailed Garmin Approach G3 review. Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Garmin Approach G6 Retail price: $269.99 Three year total cost: $269.99 Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

Carved from a single block of aluminum, the GX-4 features a red OLED display that can easily be read against any background. In an interesting twist, the GX-4 comes with two swappable faceplates – one that provides slope-adjusted distance information and club recommendations(!), and a second that only provides line-of-sight distances (though ruled by the USGA as not legal for tournament play). The unit carries a steep price, but the traditional excellent Leupold performance on the course, portability and red OLED display make it one of the best options in its class. Read our detailed Leupold GX-4 review Retail price: $500 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Leupold GX-4i

Carved from a single block of aluminum, the GX-3 is Leupold's top-of the-line tournament-legal laser rangefinder, featuring a red OLED display that can easily be read against any background. While the unit carries a high price tag, the traditional excellent Leupold performance on the course, portability and red OLED display make the GX-3 one of the best options in its class. Read more at our detailed Leupold GX-3 review. Retail price: $400 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Leupold GX-3i

The SkyCaddie SGX has some of the latest features, including full hole graphic views and detailed green maps that show contours and false fronts. But course coverage for these new maps is still sparse, a user interface that feels overloaded (maybe it's time to move to a touchscreen?) and a steep price tag, keep the SGX from rising higher in our rankings. Read our detailed SkyCaddie SGX review. Retail price: $349.95 plus yearly fees Three year total cost: $499.80 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the SkyCaddie TOUCH Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

A comfortable device with bright color screen and excellent distance details around the green (with the optional $50 GoMode). A low price point makes the Go extremely competitive. Now about those scorecards and statistics... Retail price: $149.00 Three year total cost: $198.99 Availability: Discontinued; replaced by the Callaway upro mx

Our vote for best value in a golf GPS device, the Bushnell Neo (formerly iGolf Neo) provides simple functionality, but does it in a user-friendly design and at an extremely affordable price. Retail price: $149.99 Three year total cost: $254.96 Amazon.com price: Check price now Golfsmith price: Check price now

A very polished interface and a perfect score in our course coverage test are the strengths of the GolfLogix application. But lack of ability to control the view displayed and a steep price tag temper our enthusiasm. Price: Free 24-hour trial, $39.95 yearly thereafter Download GolfLogix from iTunes

The Golf Guru 4 aims to be jack of all trades, but ends up master of none. The release of the device seems premature, as course coverage for AerVu maps is poor and the software was tremendously buggy. Not compatible with Macs. Read our detailed Golf Guru 4 review. Availability: Discontinued. The company is no longer shipping golf GPS devices. We do not recommend purchase of the Golf Guru 4 from third party sources. Retail price: $399.95 plus per course fees Three year total cost: $509.95 Amazon.com: Check price now

Golfshot sets itself apart from competitors with its satellite images and exceptional user interface and statistics capabilities (viewable both on the iPhone and online). Without a doubt, this application holds a clear edge on all others. Price: $29.99 Download Golfshot from iTunes

The combination of terrible course coverage, lack of ability to determine distances to any point on the hole, and a pricey yearly subscription fee drop FlyCaddie quickly to the bottom of our rankings. Price: $34.99 per year Availability: FlyCaddie is no longer available on the iTunes Store

A great overview of holes, with all hazard distances viewable on the satellite image, solid statistics tracking and a sweet price point ($9.99!) make this application difficult to resist – just make sure the courses you play are available before purchasing. Price: $9.99 Availability: Discontinued. As of mid-2013 this app was no longer available in the iTunes App Store.

Satellite images and statistics tracking make ViewTi worth checking out. But the loading time required for each new view, combined with a confusing variation in hole orientations during play, kept us from rating it higher. Price: $28.99 Download ViewTi from iTunes

The Sun Mountain Superlight 3.5 delivers excellence at a reasonable price. Unlike the CEO of GM. Or Barry Zito. Or “Waterworld”. Retail Price: $169.99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Sun Mountain Three 5

While the Ping Hoofer Vantage provides solid performance, it doesn’t truly stand out in the crowded carry bag market. Ping traditionalists will still like the Hoofer Vantage, but the competition seems to have passed it by a bit. Better bags can be had at a lower price. Availability: Discontinued; replaced by the Ping Hoofer C-1

The OGIO Nexos has lots of gadgets and doodads, some of which are VERY cool. On the other hand, some of the inventions are ho-hum, and they all combine to make this the heaviest bag tested. Oh, and it's the most expensive one as well. Retail Price: $260 Availability: Discontinued; replaced by the OGIO Edge Stand Bag

Not bad, but it doesn’t make your heart go pitter pat either. Good beat, easy to dance to, I give it an 85. Retail price: $160 Availability: Discontinued; replaced by the Nike Extreme Sport Carry

Features speedy distance readings in 1/2 yard increments along with 6x magnification. While it can provide the line-of-sight distance along with the slope, elevation change to target and horizontal distance to the target, you will have to do some math in your head to determine the “play as” distance, unlike other devices that will do the work for you. Retail price: $429.95 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by Callaway iQ.

The Sun Mountain Zero-G is pricey, but delivers excellence. Like a stay at the Ritz-Carlton. Or dinner at Nobu. Includes the nifty invention of a belt strap to distribute weight to the hips and legs and keep your back healthy. Let’s loop another 18! Retail price: $229.99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Sun Mountain Three 5 Zero-G Amazon.com price: Check price now

The Nike SasQuatch Tour Carry Bag looks very cool, so if style is of paramount importance in your bag-purchasing decision, you will like it a lot. But it struggles trying to be both a carry bag and a cart bag at the same time, and ultimately succeeds at neither. Some odd design elements left us scratching our heads. Retail price: $190 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Nike Performance Carry

Like its sister device, the GX-I, the Leupold GX-II is the smallest and lightest rangefinder tested and overall an exceptional device. It picks up flagsticks at a distance as well as any of the portable vertically-oriented rangefinders, and features respectable 6x viewfinder magnification, a scanning mode to continuously update distances while targeting objects, and even the option for the user to choose from a number of different crosshairs. Retail price: $499.99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Leupold GX-2

In addition to being both the smallest and lightest rangefinder tested, the Leupold GX-I is an exceptional device. It picks up flagsticks at a distance as well as any of the portable vertically-oriented rangefinders, and features respectable 6x viewfinder magnification, a scanning mode to continuously update distances while targeting objects, and even the option for the user to choose from a number of different crosshairs. Retail price: $374.99 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Leupld GX-1

Callaway's LR1200 rangefinder is a great device, with rapid distance readings (in 1/2 yard increments no less), an industry best 7x magnification, and good performance in picking out flagsticks at all approach distances. It's pricey, but worth a good long look Retail price: $499.99 Availability: Discontinued; replaced by the Callaway iQ

OnPar wasn't able to survive the ever-increasing competition in the golf GPS market, and the company went belly-up on July 31, 2011. For current owners, SkyCaddie had a trade-in offer to their SGX that was available until September 30, 2011. There is a lesson here (for which we paid $350): any time you buy a device from a startup there is the chance that the manufacturer won't be around next season. At least in this case use of the devices wasn't tied to an annual subscription, so owners can continue to use the device after the shutdown of the company. Retail Price: $349.00 Three year total cost: $349.00 Availability: Company went out of business on July 31, 2011

Intuitive touchscreen interface, the ability to determine the distance to any point on the hole, and ready to go out of the box (just add AA batteries). Recently added the ability to track statistics (although only for the round in progress, not for multiple rounds over time). Better course coverage would be the icing on the cake. Read our detailed Garmin Approach G5 review. Retail price: $349.99 Three year total cost: $349.99 Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

We like the concept of a basic, lightweight device that comes cheap and has low annual fees. But little functionality, coupled with numerous distance errors, keep the SWAMI at the bottom of our rankings. Not compatible with Macs. Read our detailed IZZO SWAMI 1500 review. Retail Price: $99.99 plus yearly fees Three year total cost: $129.96 Amazon.com: Check price now

The Bushnell 1600 Slope Edition provides 7x magnification and was at the head of the class in our tests in picking out targets at long distance. Sure it's bulky and the second most expensive device tested, but it performs so well that it still tops our rankings. Read our detailed review of the Bushnell 1600 Slope. Retail price: $499.00 Amazon.com price: Check price now

A low price point may not be enough to save the Opti-Logic. The lack of viewfinder magnification, inability to scan across objects, and bare bones feature set makes it tough for the Opti-Logic to keep up with the competition. Retail Price: $359.95 Amazon.com price: Check price now

The Opti-Logic can't quite keep up with the rest of the pack. While it does offer the lowest price of any device tested, the lack of any viewfinder magnification (ouch) or ability to scan across objects left most reviewers looking for more. Read our detailed Opti-Logic InSight GL review. Retail price: $329.95 Amazon.com: Check price now

The Titleist Premium Stand Bag delivers on all of the features a consumer would expect from a product with “premium” in its name. Those looking for lots of storage space (and not as concerned about weight) will love this bag. Retail price: $190 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Titleist Lightweight

From the best-known brand in rangefinders, the Bushnell Tour V2 offers solid performance in a portable package. Its 5x magnification and ability to target flagsticks at a distance trails the leaders, however. See our detailed Bushnell Tour V2 review for more. Retail price: $375.99 Amazon.com: Check price now

Once the top of the line in the SkyCaddie series, the SG5 shines with its easy-to-use interface and ability to customize how the map data is displayed. A new lower price makes the G5 affordable - but SkyCaddie lovers might want to check out the new SGX before purchasing. More... Retail price: $299.95 plus yearly fees Three year total cost: $419.80 Amazon.com: Check price now Golfsmith: Check price now

Overhead hole maps, friendly interface and lots of features will make this device appealing to many users. However, multiple bad experiences with significant distance errors make the V300 difficult to recommend whole-heartedly. Not compatible with Macs. Read our detailed Sonocaddie V300 review. Retail Price: $349 plus fees Three year total cost: $378.95 Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Sonocaddie V300+ (not reviewed)

It may be good enough for Peter Costis and Gary McCord’s moustache, but it’s not quite good enough for us. Achieves its goal of simplicity, and just about any course is available. But with few features, the value just doesn't seem to be there for this bulky device with a black and white screen. For those interested, Amazon is having a fire sale on these as GolfLogix has stopped production of the GPS-8 in favor of selling their new GolfLogix iPhone app. Retail price: $199.95 plus yearly fees Three year total cost: $289.80 Amazon.com price: Check price now

The Golf Guru Color Guru is rich in features but the design of the hardware, user interface and packaging all could use a lot of polish. It ranks highly with respect to the amount of data that users can add to existing course maps, but the interface to add this data is challenging for those who are not gadget-oriented. Retail price: $399.95 Three year total cost: $399.95 Availability: Discontinued; replaced by the Golf Guru 4

Courses come pre-loaded, so just charge the GolfBuddy and go. Simple to map out courses on your own or add targets to existing courses, which is a good thing as courses available often provide fewer marked obstacles than desired. Not compatible with Macs. Retail price: $289.99 Three year total cost: $289.99 Amazon.com price: Check price now