Which GPS to buy?

“Which GPS do I want? Small, Light, Durable, Waterproof, Scratch resistant, Cheap. Will show distance, speed, and map my route so I can re-trace. Will use canoeing, trail running, hiking. Magellan Sportrak or Etrex? Let me know what I should consider. thanx mike”

“go expensive, you will get what you pay for on these items. I use extrex venture.”

“I hope you get a lot of good answers to this post because I would like to know the same thing. I sure could have used one on a hike I was on recently. I would spend the money if I just knew which one would be the best to get. I’m also need to know if they will work in the thick woods.”

“I like the Garmin line. Some of the etrex units look awesome. I have owned two Garmins and loved them both (Garmin 38 and Garmin eMap). I have played with Magellen units and wasn't impressed. I think you should upgrade enough to get downloadable maps. Having the topo loaded on your GPS is great.

My Garmin 38 got ruined when it got wet in a hail storm. Either go waterproof or make sure you carry it in a waterproof ziplock or something.

I currently use the Garmin eMap. Not sure they still market the line, but I like the big screen and other features. I make routes and stuff on the computer and then load them into the GPS unit.

Most of the newer GPS units track 12 or more satellites. You need at least that to track in confined areas like under trees or in canyons, but nothing is perfect.”

“Get the Rhino. It's got everything, for only 250 bones. 2 way radio (2 mile AND 5 mile) and a GPS. You get some one who has one and they can transmit there location to you. Very neat. Check out rei.com fer details.”

“Get the Rhino. It's got everything, for only 250 bones. 2 way radio (2 mile AND 5 mile) and a GPS. You get some one who has one and they can transmit there location to you. Very neat. Check out rei.com fer details.”

“I got the etrex summit for Christmas. Haven't really had a GOOD opportunity to try it out yet, though. So far, so good. I agree that you should spend some extra dough on it. Good luck!”

“How about the Magellan Sportrak for $119 after rebate, vs the Etrex for $109”

“I have the no frills Yellow Garmin e-Trex and it does everything I want to do. If you look around you can pick one up cheap Target had them on sale before Christmas for $89.95.

Costco also had a good deal on a Magellan GPS Bundle that came with everthing... maps, PC cables, powercables, cases , etc.

You can always find used basic units for sale at Groundspeak Somone is always upgrading to get more whistles and bells.”

“So far I am happy with my new rino 120 - nice having 1 piece of gear for both GPS and FRS that also supports downloaded maps and GMRS. One question though - anyone actually use GMRS while hiking?”

“Someone else that is using a GPS, which one, and what for?”

“Having used the Garmin GPS III+ on occasion, it is a very handy navigation tool. It enables you to conserve energy since there's less dead-reconing type of travel with a map and compass. You have to use a topo and pre-planned waypoints along with your unit.

The Garmin GPS III+ has 12 satellites of tracking and will not pick up a signal under dense tree cover. The Garmin GPS V might, but I've never tried one of those.”

“Yellow Garmin Etrex here.

Which reminds me........ there's a NEW CACHE ABOUT 45 MILES FROM ME... untouched (far as I know)... PLUS A TRAVEL BUG!

ohhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee

So it's -7 windchill... WHO CARES!! That's why I got me Vasque Arctic boots, right???

Plus at least one, if not two more caches in the general area to find.

hehehhee... I think I have Sunday plans now.”

“I really like my Magellan Meridian Platinum, I got it from Harmony , for $249.00. You do need to get a SD card and Mapsend Topo if you want any detail in the maps.

You could always do it like our own ROCKMAN, and just use's a topo...He has 145 finds, just one using a GPS.

Hey Rockman, go for this one, Come and Get it , and use some of your new winter gear.....”

“Etrex Vista- pretty nice and very small”

“Go Garmin.”

“I would look at the Garmin RINO. It is a GPS and a 2way radio all in one. That's the one that I'm going to get.”

“Garmin Etrex for me, too. Does everything I need (including taking it running to see how far I go; setting on the dash in the car to check my speedometer; can connect with TOPO!, etc.) and is cheap. Someday I'll get the Rino, cuz I like the FRS radios, too, but not urgent for me.”

“I scored my 3 caches yesterday. Most interesting "find" of the day? The 'possum just sitting in the tree, clinging to the tiny trunk that was maybe 10 inches around,about 20 feet off the ground. (no, not by its tail, sorry)... whatever, it was the funniest thing I'd see in awhile. I've seen them in my garage, and squished on the road. But never in the wild!”

“I've got a Map 330 - Magellan. I really like it. As someone said earlier, go with quality. Big difference in a lot of them, is whether or not you want one with all the built in highway maps, rivers, etc... Some cheap ones, will give you direction, get you back to waypoints, and record your track, but won't help you out on the drive to your trailhead.”

“I'm gonna bounce this back to the top..I wanna use my REI dividend, with the 10% off deal...and am looking at a GPS. For hiking, and use on plotting my new fence lines. HOI and others are you guys happy with the Rino???”

“My limit is around 200 for a gps..FSR isn't that important if you guys reccomend something else. Ease of use is a must since my dad will wanna borrow it. It's either this or a pair of binoculars from REI”

“....I had the same dilemma and I ended up using my dividend to purchase the Garmin Gecko 201...a nice little unit....light weight, WAAS enabled, decent storage capacity and you can download some basic stuff like maps....and it has some goofy games on it for those boring times in the tent when the weather outside is too nasty to be bothered with....”

“Opie, with a consumer-grade handheld unit, you won't be able to locate your fencelines much closer than about 10 meters (33 feet).”

“kletten..all the things i'm reading have them at 2-3 meters. But thanks for the info...some of the acreage is so dense we may just use it to get us close to find the old lines and corners”

“Opie, 2-3 meters is available on lots of handhelds with WAAS capability, though I know the military turned selective availabilty back on during the war. Should be fine for getting close, but not as good as you're gonna get from a surveyor.”

“Opie...the 10% additional savings CAN NOT be applied to GPS purchases @REI.....just in case you didn't already know that!”

“With respect to the Rino - its OK for clear areas or if you are up on the ridge but when down in the hollows under trees it is difficult to get enough reception to have a fix. I am thinking that units that have the option for an external antenna may be a better choice (Rino does not have that option) - put a better antenna on a pole attached to you pack and then GPS may be better under the trees at least (not much one can do down in the hollows however).”

“well there goes that...and since i don't have time to fit or research a new pack...i'm gonna get the Minolta 8-22 zoom binocs...that's for that info stratus..i'll read the fine print next time....freaking communist!!..lol”

“Planning to take back my Magellan Gold and replace it with a Garmin Gecko 201. The Magellan is just way too bulky, and the Gecko 201 although lacking anywhere near the features of the Magellan Gold it still seems to have an adequate feature set for it's intended use. I really like the fact that the Gecko is so compact and lightweight, especially after lugging that massive Magellan around on a few trips.”

“I like the rhino 120 hybrid radios
download maps or call for help
when your lost.
Clips onto my shoulder harness and
supposed to be waterproof.”

“I have the Rino 110

I'm really happy with it. I just don't bother with the units that you can download maps into. I carry my Quads for any place I go and use the GPS when Bushwhacking where I cannot see landmarks and to spot my location on the map.

It usually does not lose the satelite if I have it clipped on my shoulder harness. I backback and do bti (black fly prevention) application with people who have the same units and we are able to keep track of where each other is located.”

“I couldn't imagine myself downgrading my GPS capibilities by replacing with an inferior unit.”

“I have the Geko 201 I so far it is great. Had a little trouble on the New Years Day hike, the trees were too thick and I think I had WAAS enabled or disabled. I have a link for a $7 cable to hook it to your computer if you want.
http://www.gpsgeek.com/page5.html”

“Give it look! If only it had a color screen.

28M for downloads of maps, routes, waypoints, tracks etc.



Moz”

“I'll sell you my garmin geko 301..seriously..even has the neck lanyard”

“Don't you like it, Opie? I have to confess that my Gecko 201 #&%!$ the bed after about one month down here. It just won't turn on. It'll be going back into Garmin when I get back. But up until that point I really enjoyed using it...”

“Costco had a package with the Magellan Sportrak Map, Mapsend Topo and a case for $199.00

The Topo program alone list's for close to $150.00”

“AND there's a $50 rebate on the package! That's only $20 more than I paid for JUST the gps.”

“Saw that...thought about getting it, but can't justify it, lol...”

“I've heard that the Garmin units are the only ones with very reliable satelite reception in forested areas.

from what i've read, hear and other places, you really have to spend around 300 bucks on a unit to avoid being frustrated with it.”

“I had a Garmin eTrex before I got the SportTrack and I wanted to throw it in a river. Wouildn't get or keep a signal for shlt. The SportTrack is 200% better. I get a signal in the house (second floor), in the car's cup holder, in heavy forest...”

“I bought my Garmin 12 about four years ago for $129.00. It is good under tree cover

I want a new GPS that allows multiple tracks and has a scale in yards or metres.

I like to download and record tracks for mapping and I want a GPS that will hold a minimum of five tracks.

I want a GPS that has a yardage scale for golf.

My reliable Garmin 12 only allows one track and the highest resolution is one hundreth of a mile.”