I am in the market for a handheld GPS. I don't need it for driving. I will only use it when hiking or biking. I have searched over Amazon and read some reviews and have a few GPS systems in mind but thought I would ask the DPC minds and see if anyone here knows anything about them or has one they might wanna suggest as an option.
Only two things I need:
Under $200 & I have to be able to keep an elevation profile that I can upload to the computer when I get home from my trip.
Ours is a few years old so I'm not up on the new models but I'd recommend Garmin and avoid Magellan.
We bought a Magellan first and had terrible problems with signal echo off rock faces. We exchanged it for a Garmin, tested it out on the same geocache, and found it within minutes. Ours is the Etrex Legend.
Here are a few that I have looked at. Thanks for the heads up on Magellan. I will have to look up some Garmins. Main feature I need is a elevation profile.
I'll second the Garmin handhelds. I have the GPSmap 60CSx (higher end than you are looking for but I've used the less expensive units and they have the same or similar interface) and love it. Most hiking units will do the elevation data you want. The biggest difference with the higher end units is they give you the latest chip sets which provide more accurate data and work in dense forest without losing the signal.
All I need to do now is determine what maps I will need. I will wait till I get the unit and see what that shows. Judging from the reviews the maps preloaded on it are useless. But I will not use this for turn by turn directions in car so not quite sure. Think I may need Topo for US but that may be it.
All I need to do now is determine what maps I will need. I will wait till I get the unit and see what that shows. Judging from the reviews the maps preloaded on it are useless. But I will not use this for turn by turn directions in car so not quite sure. Think I may need Topo for US but that may be it.
If you lots of hiking the TOPO's are great. I've used Garmin's 1:100,000 maps for years and upgraded recently to there 1:24,000 TOPO's which are great, taken right from the USGS maps. They sell them on micro sd cards as well as on DVD. I like them on my computer and download the areas I will use onto my 60CSx. Makes it easier for checking routes before and after.
the maps on the Garmins are just fine, for hiking and biking. You don't really need roads on it when hiking, right? I have the 60CSx. I got the road software recently, since I use it in the truck also.
You want good Topo and mapping software? Get NGeo's TOPO! I have used if for more than 8 years. Can print out your own maps also (hiking, backcountry stuff). Great programs!
