Suggestions for handheld gps

[mentalcrisis00]

Hey all

Well it's pretty much like the title says, I'm looking for a handheld GPS. I'm an avid hiker, rock climber, camper, and survivalist. Typically if I go in the woods I am in a place I either know very well, use a map and compass, or I don't go to far off the trail. I am planning a big hiking trip for next spring, I'd like to start a hike of the Appalachian Trail starting mid way in Maine and just seeing how far I get. (dangerous I know but I'm newly graduated from college and I'm itching for an adventure before I have to many obligations, and I've been in survival situations before).

I've read that parts of the trail are either poorly marked, under construction, or non existent. It would be a great help to have a handheld GPS which can be updated to include trail and road changes. I've been looking at places like newegg and it seems their selection of sub $300 gps's are all Garmins. The thing is I've never owned any of these and not sure if one of the lower priced ones with the black and white screen would be best or if I should go else where for a unit. It might be a cop out to discard my map and compass but there are times that I find I come out a good 50 to 100 yards from where I intended. I'd like to get the precision of a gps unit especially for such a long hike, seeming my knowledge of the trail itself is limited.

My mom has a motor vehicle gps by Garmin, one of the Nuvi's and I have been impressed by it. I'll shoot a few links and perhaps some of you may have more experience or knowledge in GPS technology than I do. I realize that most companies put the gimmicky things in their units for the gadgety people which I am not one of. I'd like something that can get me from point A to point B accurately, help me determine the safest or quickest terrain to navigate, get me back to the "world" if I get lost, and be durable and dependable enough for me to actually be at ease while using it.

I'd love to get a fair degree of quality for $130, but I can probably go as far as $300

Any suggestions are welcome

-Ray

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16858108268

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16858108255

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16858108256

 

[NesuD]

look into the Garmin Etrex Vista Hcx. I picked one of these up to use hiking the Barr trail at Pike Peak and it worked beautifully for me.

 

[scott916]

Originally posted by: NesuD
look into the Garmin Etrex Vista Hcx. I picked one of these up to use hiking the Barr trail at Pike Peak and it worked beautifully for me.

I've been doing a lot of research lately, and I've pretty much narrowed it down to the Hc or the Hcx.

 

[IronWing]

For the AT I would get a Garmin GPSMAP76 Csx or 60Csx and get Mapsource Topo USA and National Parks.

- They both have sufficient memory to load the topos for the entire trail.
- Daily tracklogs can be saved to the memory card.
- Both are waterproof
- Both have the SiRF chip for better reception under canopy.
- Both use AA batteries, available just about everywhere, in every popunk gas station along the way.
- Both have clear displays.

The differences are form factor, slight interface differences, and the 76 floats.

 

[necine]

Iphone?