I'm looking for opinions/experience regarding GPS units. Right now I'm leaning toward the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx or 76CSx. I'm looking for expandibility, color screen and also vehicle travel routes in addition to using it on the trail.
Does anyone have experience or opinions with the models I mentioned or similar models?
I have the 60CS, and am delighted. Lots of memory, big bright screen and durable. Zooming or scale changes are almost instantaneous. I use mine offshore in saltwater (Blue Chart software), hiking (topo maps, and traveling (default maps). Zero compliaints and lots of compliments. Battery life is excellent.
We own the Garmin 60C and we have been quite happy with it. I don't like using it in the car though. The screen is too small to quickly discern where I am. I DO like it out on the trail!! It's only real nit is like a lot of GPS units it doesn't work very well in thick forest like we have here. Once out in clearer space it quickly locks onto satellites and provides tons on information.
I do STRONGLY reccomend NEVER relying totally on a GPS unit. ALWAYS bring printed topo maps and a compass and KNOW how to use them. ALWAYS. Oh and before leaving your vehicle ALWAYS get a waypoint for where the vehicle is in case you do get lost.
For in car GPS navigation we use my laptop with Microsoft Streets and Trips and the provided GPS antenna. This works GREAT with one of us navigating on the laptop and the other driving. Although even MS S&T can let you down once you are off the main roads and into the back country. Then I go back to the Garmin which does have color moving map topo and quite a few of the back country roads.
I like to pre-plan my back country time by uploading way points from my home PC to the Garmin 60C. This have proven VERY helpful.
You really can't go wrong with the GPSMAP series. The current models (the ones ending in Cx and CSx) have improved reception and battery life thanks to a new Sirf chipset.
Admittedly I'm more concerned with size and weight than I am with vehicle use and I never rely on a GPS alone to tell me where I am (so I don't really care if I have to wait a couple of minutes for it to get a fix) so I went for the smaller and lighter eTrex series. My old Legend has become unreliable after a few years of abuse and I had no problems replacing it with the latest edition of the same model (Legend Cx).
For what it's worth I'm definitely not a "power user" and tend to rely on a map and compass when exploring new areas but after getting the Cx, my curiosity was piqued and I decided to try some new things (see my thread in the digital forum).
Thanks for the feedback guys. I definately don't backpack without a compas and a real map, but I have heard good things about the 60CSx and 76CSx models.
Discussion
4 repliesDoes anyone have experience or opinions with the models I mentioned or similar models?
I do STRONGLY reccomend NEVER relying totally on a GPS unit. ALWAYS bring printed topo maps and a compass and KNOW how to use them. ALWAYS. Oh and before leaving your vehicle ALWAYS get a waypoint for where the vehicle is in case you do get lost.
For in car GPS navigation we use my laptop with Microsoft Streets and Trips and the provided GPS antenna. This works GREAT with one of us navigating on the laptop and the other driving. Although even MS S&T can let you down once you are off the main roads and into the back country. Then I go back to the Garmin which does have color moving map topo and quite a few of the back country roads.
I like to pre-plan my back country time by uploading way points from my home PC to the Garmin 60C. This have proven VERY helpful.
Admittedly I'm more concerned with size and weight than I am with vehicle use and I never rely on a GPS alone to tell me where I am (so I don't really care if I have to wait a couple of minutes for it to get a fix) so I went for the smaller and lighter eTrex series. My old Legend has become unreliable after a few years of abuse and I had no problems replacing it with the latest edition of the same model (Legend Cx).
For what it's worth I'm definitely not a "power user" and tend to rely on a map and compass when exploring new areas but after getting the Cx, my curiosity was piqued and I decided to try some new things (see my thread in the digital forum).
Guy
Thank again.