GPS suggestions/ideas/help/etc

“I know.. I know.. There are probably a million threads about this already....

I'm finally going to get a GPS. I'm interested in the Geocaching to fill up some winter weekends when I can't get out to kayak, ski, bike, snowshoe, etc... Of course, I plan on using it hiking and backpacking. I don't think I need too many bells and whistles.. Maybe..

So, what brands do you have? Does it have more options that what you use or do you wish it had more? What do you use it for?

Thanks for your help... I'm totally confused... (OK.. more than usual...)”

“My basic Etrex has few bells & whistles, hence its relatively low price. I haven't done any geocaching, but it tells you where you are, so I guess it would work, right?”

“GRMN Garmin Ltd.$45.00 -8.41 (-15.75%) today.”

“make sure you get a GPS with the new low noise chipset - it works better under trees as far as I have heard”

“My belief is that you would have to get & use one to decide which features you will use & like.

I'm on my 3rd Garmin. (38 & 12xl) I was perfectly happy using UTM format (really like UTM) to match up to my topo maps.

My last Garmin (60csx)is a little pricey ($500) but navigates streets as well with a different (changeble) memory chip. Software for streets & topo's was another $200.

I was perfectly happy with my earlier (much less expensive) Garmins but I really like & use this one often now. Garmin's Topo's leave a little bit to be desired though.”

“i am looking at the Garmin 60csx, as recently as today. only the price is holding me back. i just need to make totally 100% sure i will be happy with it. i am thinking of paying a premium at REI for it because if it sucks i can take it back. i think i can save 100 bucks somewhere else, but then i don't get REI backing me up.

catskhiker, why was this your last garmin? what did you get to replace it? i thought this was a recent model.

what was the battery life like? i read a review on amazon taht said that it won't take lithium batteries which i find hard to believe but really stinks.

thanks”

“Thanks for the suggestions! Some things I hadn't thought about... battery life? Low Noise? Do you turn it off and on when you stop on the trail to save battery life? I think I'm going to have to just close my eyes and pick one out and start using it... There are a lot of choices out there. Good point about buying it at REI so I can take it back if it doesn't work for me.”

“I love my Garmin eTrex Vista CX - check out it's batter life - navigates street (computes directions) and great for the trail too”

“I have a Garmin 60C and I love it. I have really scratched the screen up though. I should have been more careful or maybe put tape over it before each trip. I normally plot my trail on National Geographic's TOPO State and then upload the waypoints to the GPS via USB (Very simple). Garmin's TOPO map program is not worth the money. I normally do not turn the thing on unless I start thinking that I am on the wrong trail or something. The batteries do not last 30 hours as advertised but you can make them last for two weeks if you only turn it on when you need to. I also love the Garmin City Select SW. It is like a personal street navigator.”

“I'm really happy with the Garmin 60csx. I use it with City Navigator in my car (love that!) & draw juice off of the vehicle. This is a good map set. The Topo's aren't as good but I can live with them.

My last Garmin's used 4 AA batteries. This one uses 2. I generally just use Alkaline because they are much cheaper then lithium. I winter hike & cold has never been an issue.

I generally don't leave my GPS "ON" all the time. I "MARK" my vehicle & some waypoints along the way. I can pre-mark my destination so it can tell me how far, direction etc.

I use GPS as a back-up for my paper maps, compass & altimeter. If you're in valley's or featureless terrain (no landmarks) it's reassuring to turn it on to verify where you think you are.

Works well for me this way. I have no need to leave it on all the time & this way the batteries last a very long time.

The 60csx not my "last" Garmin, it's just the newest of the 3. The earlier 2 are still being used by my brother-in-law who lives in the Adirondacks & my baby brother in the Rockies.”