Handheld GPS ideas/suggestions, please.

Within the next 6 months or so I want to purchase a hand-held GPS for hiking and such. Have experience with Garmin GPS for cars only. Also Iphone GPS but I want a designated GPS for hiking, kayak fishing, backwoods fishing, etc. I assume that I won’t need a compass as the GPS will also incorporate a compass or am I wrong? Haven’t looked at GPS units other than on-line yet. I’ve seen re-furbished GPS units; as a cheap guy I like that idea, but as a guy with terrible sense of direction I don’t like it. I want: Simplicity above all. Would like to pay less than $300. Don’t mind carrying extra batteries.