Having wandered deep into the woods, I turn to my wristwatch--not for the time but for directions. New electronic gear can ease your ventures, from tracking routes in the deep forest to keeping in touch with friends. More on these and other tech devices at usnews.com/davesdownload.

PURE DIGITAL POINT & SHOOT ($130). Digital video-making is simpler than ever with this push-button-easy device, aka the RCA Small Wonder. Software shrinks its videos for sending via E-mail. Just don't expect big-screen image quality.

SIDEKICK 3 ($300 with service plan). The T-Mobile device gains an MP3 player, high-speed Web browsing, expandable memory, and wireless headset connections. All this in a smaller, rounder package that, like its predecessors, focuses more on messaging than phoning. It retains its generous QWERTY keyboard, which makes it too bulky for pockets.

SUUNTO X9i WATCH ($500, suunto.com ). No two-way radio, but it's got perhaps the smallest GPS receiver sold, an altimeter, barometer, compass, and PC connectivity--if you can master its buttons and menus.

OLYMPUS 720SW ($400). Follow your kids under the waves and then continue snapping with this camera, which can capture serene scenes as deep as 10 feet down. The 7-megapixel digital cam can also withstand a 5-foot fall, in or out of water.

FLASHFLIGHT, JR. ($13, flashflight.com). Kids, join the after-dark Frisbee crowd with the soft-edged, 8 1/2-inch-diameter disk, lit by fiber optics and LEDs. The smaller Flashflight mini ($9) fits in a back pocket!