GPS Hiking Garmin
GPS Hiking Garmin
Garmin recommendations?
My wife has decided that she wants a Garmin for her birthday. I totally agree that this is the right choice for GPS. However, I am frustrated with what version to get. For those who have some background, I want to ask what version is right for us. The requirements we have are:
1. Outdoors. We want to be able to use the device while camping and/or hiking. Long battery life and weather-proof goes a long way.
2. Driving. We want to use the device when driving and get turn by turn directions to wherever we are going when we use it in the car (I don't mind loading maps onto a SD card, but I want to hear where to turn, not watch a screen).
3. Price. Bang for the buck, which Garmin is the best?
I tried to decipher the products on the Garmin site, and walked away needing an asprin. Anyone with experience with the Garmins, please help me choose which they would prefer if it was their money.
The fact that you want an outdoor unit is the determining factor here because you need something rugged. That eliminates the iQue and most of the car-oriented units.
The new eTrex Legend HCx fulfills all of your needs in terms of outdoor usage and costs about $250. It is a handheld unit with a color screen, good receiver sensitivity, and has long battery life from 2 AAs (upwards of 30hrs). If you need a barometer and electronic compass (not GPS signal-derived), you can step up to the similar Vista HCx.
The Legend HCx will autoroute but it does not provide spoken directions. Before a turn it will beep and display a message on the screen. There are no handhelds that provide spoken directions. The other issue with the color eTrex HCx units is that the buttons are on the sides. That may make operation difficult if you mount it in the car. The GPSmap 60Cx/CSx and 76 Cx/CSx have the buttons on the front, but they are larger and cost a bit more than the eTrex HCx series. They are good units too and deserve a look. At the moment, I think the 60Cx and CSx have a $50 rebate right now, putting the price of the Cx below $300.
I can also direct you to a couple of the Garmin Quest models that are handheld size. They are more toward the automotive end of design, but they are durable enough for outdoor use. The only issue is that they might be discontinued and I'm not 100% sure they offer voice prompts.
My knowledge mostly covers handhelds, so I can't give you too much info about the car models. The thing for you to decide is where are you going to use the GPS receiver the most? You could always get a nice car unit like the StreetPilot C320 (voice prompts, but no text-to-speech so it can't say street names) and then get a cheaper handheld.
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Garmin Getting the Most From Your GPS: Fortrex 301, 401 $29.95 Learn all the features & functions & HOW TO USE & MAXIMIZE your Garmin unit. This step-by-step instructional training DVD walks you through the key features and functions of the Garmin unit from the basics to advanced operation.This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.... |
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Need directions? Are you good at getting lost? Then GPS is just the technology you’ve dreamed of, and GPS For Dummies is what you need to help you make the most of it.If you have a GPS unit or plan to buy one, GPS For Dummies, 2nd Edition helps you compare GPS technologies, units, and uses... |
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Everything you need to start the high tech treasure hunt called Geocaching. By logging into a geocaching website anyone can locate the coordinates to find a geocache. A geocache is a container containing a logbook, and trade items... |
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Whether you’re hiking, fishing, kayaking, cross-country skiing, or taking a mountain bike ride in the backcountry, a GPS receiver can help you reach your destination and return safelybut only if you know how to use it! This is the most complete, easy-to-use GPS book available, is your guide to getting the most out of a receiver, from basic consumer advice to advanced techniques... |
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Garmin Foretrex 401 Waterproof Hiking GPS List Price: $424.99 Sale Price: Too low to display Used From: $200.00 |
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The Foretrex 401 is a slim wrist-mounted GPS navigator perfect for outdoor activities that require the use of both hands. Foretrex 401 combines a high-sensitivity waterproof GPS receiver, electronic compass and barometric altimeter into a lightweight device ideal for hikers, skiers and campers... |
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Garmin Foretrex 301 Waterproof Hiking GPS List Price: $249.99 Sale Price: Too low to display |
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Features high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix for improved performance and reception in heavy tree cover or deep canyons.Keeps track of routes, tracks and waypoints.TracBack feature retraces user's path on the easy-to-read LCD display... |
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Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS List Price: $399.99 Sale Price: Too low to display |
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Outdoor navigation meets touchscreen simplicity in Dakota 20. This rugged, palm-sized navigator combines touchscreen navigation, high-sensitivity GPS with HotFix satellite prediction, barometric altimeter, 3-axis electronic compass and microSD card slot in one affordable, power-packed punch... |
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eTrex Venture HC is an essential for any outdoor excursion. It features a high-sensitivity GPS receiver for peak performance in any environment and includes 24 megabytes (MB) of internal memory, a detailed basemap and crisp color screen... |
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Garmin's eTrex GPS series offers reliable satellite navigation, making it a favorite of hikers, hunters, and geocachers. The eTrex 20 is equipped with a high-sensitivity GPS receiver, a 2.2-inch color display, and ships with a worldwide basemap with relief... |
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Take it hiking. Take it hunting. Take it on the water. Montana 650t features a bold 4 in. color touchscreen dual orientation display and TOPO U.S. 100K maps, supports multiple mapping options like BirdsEye™ Satellite Imagery and it has a 5 megapixel camera to boot... |
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Garmin Oregon 550 Waterproof Hiking GPS List Price: $399.99 Sale Price: Too low to display Used From: $330.58 |
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The navigator with the photographic memory--Oregon 550 combines rugged outdoor touchscreen navigation with a 3.2 megapixel digital camera. Add high-sensitivity GPS, barometric altimeter, 3-axis electronic compass and microSD card slot... |
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Garmin Montana 600 Waterproof Hiking GPS List Price: $549.99 Sale Price: Too low to display |
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Take it hiking. Take it hunting. Take it on the water. Montana 600 features a bold 4 in. color touchscreen dual orientation display and supports multiple mapping options like BirdsEye™ Satellite Imagery, BlueChart® g2 and TOPO U... |
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Outdoor navigation meets touchscreen simplicity in Dakota 10. This rugged, palm-sized navigator boasts touchscreen navigation, high-sensitivity GPS with HotFix satellite prediction, and a worldwide basemap in one affordable, power-packed punch... |
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Garmin Oregon 550T 3-Inch Handheld GPS Navigator with 3.2MP Digital Camera (U.S. Topographic Maps) List Price: $599.99 Sale Price: Too low to display Used From: $299.54 |
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The navigator with the photographic memory--Oregon 550t combines rugged outdoor touchscreen navigation with a 3.2 megapixel digital camera. Add preloaded U.S. topo maps, along with high-sensitivity GPS, barometric altimeter, 3-axis electronic compass and microSD card slot... |