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Looking at getting a handheld GPS

Bignate603

Bignate603

Lifer
I'm going to be doing a Grand Canyon hike at the end of the month and I'd like a decent handheld gps. I've been wanting one for a while because we do a good deal of hiking. Trying to find trail heads is pretty tough some times and I'd really want to be able to get some topo maps with common trails marked. In other words, I don't just want a cheapy model that only gives your coordinates. Getting driving directions isn't as a big a deal.

It looks like I can get pretty much all the free maps for the areas and trails I'd want if I go with something compatible with mapsource, which is done by Garmin so I'm leaning towards one of their

I really don't want to spend more than $150 if I can avoid it, Amazon has a Garmin Etrex Venture HC (I guess the HC means it's better at picking up satellites?) that I can get for $115. Is that any good?
 
Originally posted by: Throckmorton
The new expensive Garmin with the jog dial and the one with the touch screen have really detailed maps with topo etc.
Click to expand...

Expensive and under $150 usually doesn't go together.
 
Originally posted by: LilPima
Does your cell phone provider offer an equivalent service that you can just add to your plan?
Click to expand...

No cell phone provider is going to have anything that is even remotely useful for a hiker.
 
Originally posted by: OdiN
I have one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-0...qid=1223234204&sr=8-20

Works fine for hiking/geocaching, and it's not bad for driving. It has the main roads on it, which is good enough if I ever needed it for driving.
Click to expand...

Currently I can get the one I posted in the first post for about $10 less. It would get me 3 times the memory, the more sensitive unit that should work better even if the conditions aren't perfect, and it costs less. Seems like a better deal unless there is something that I'm not seeing.
 
Originally posted by: Bignate603
Originally posted by: OdiN
I have one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-0...qid=1223234204&sr=8-20

Works fine for hiking/geocaching, and it's not bad for driving. It has the main roads on it, which is good enough if I ever needed it for driving.
Click to expand...

Currently I can get the one I posted in the first post for about $10 less. It would get me 3 times the memory, the more sensitive unit that should work better even if the conditions aren't perfect, and it costs less. Seems like a better deal unless there is something that I'm not seeing.
Click to expand...

I didn't realize those things had come down in price that much. They used to be about $200.

But yeah I just posted an example. Doesn't make sense why that B&W one is more...so maybe you can find one cheaper as that one was through an external seller.

I don't see the need for a color screen personally *shrug*
 
Originally posted by: OdiN
I have one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-0...qid=1223234204&sr=8-20

Works fine for hiking/geocaching, and it's not bad for driving. It has the main roads on it, which is good enough if I ever needed it for driving.
Click to expand...

I bought the very same one for geocaching with me and my son. I honestly think it was horrible. Once you went under ANY cover (like a few trees) it would lose signals and be useless. I then did some reading and posting on the geocaching website and the general consensus was while a decent unit, it was horrible when in any trees. Around here thats a problem.

OP goto geocaching.com read/post on the forums. Those people are CRAZY helpful.
 
Originally posted by: DLeRium
Originally posted by: OdiN
Originally posted by: LilPima
Does your cell phone provider offer an equivalent service that you can just add to your plan?
Click to expand...

No cell phone provider is going to have anything that is even remotely useful for a hiker.
Click to expand...

Nokia N95/N82.
Click to expand...

Both of those are WAY over my limit of about $150, is NOT useful to a hiker, and isn't supported by my provider. This is something I'm taking to the grand canyon. A $500 phone isn't going to be something you want to take back packing.

I need something I can upload trails on, topo maps would be great too. Not something that gives me driving directions and would run out of batteries inside a few hours because I'm out of range of cell towers.
 
I know you don't want to spend too much but I really think you'll be happier with a newer model with the Sirf chip (faster, much better reception). At home I have the Garmin 76s (not sirf chip) and at work I use the Garmin 76Csx. Both are great units for hiking. The 76Csx holds satellites better and has quicker start up in addition to more memory for tracklogs (on microDS card).

The 76s is currently $200 and the 76Csx is $270. For the $70 difference I would go with the 76Csx.
 
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