I use a Garmin Rino530HCx.

Probably more than the casual user may need, good hand held.


Bill

Posted By thomas harrison on 07 Feb 2015 03:43 PM

I use a Garmin eTrex 20. It is fast, accurate, and low cost. Amazon has them for 159.00. It is a very durable unit and does lots of things. Can't beat it for the price.

  Do ya have to buy maps with the eTrex?

Ivan

I recommend the Delorme PN series handheld units, I use a pn-60w with the InReach satellite communicator and wouldn't be without it . If your used to a Garmin or something else there is a learning curve. but I think that the Delorme maps are better. Some people don't like them though. I use a Garmin on the highway, Delorme off road.

GPS likes depends on what features you want. Many these days can load topo maps. If you use paper maps the lower end less costly GPS's are ok. But the newer GPS's have fancy features like joystick off current location on a topo map a certain direction and bearing to see distance and then you can click to set the location as a waypoint and navigate to it. Some GPS's don't like being in vehicles so the models allowing external antenna are good for having good fixes while driving or hiding from the elements. I think a Rino unit mention might have the external antenna, walkie talky that can be set to transmit location to other units, memory card for maps and waypoint and a good size screen for viewing easy.

If you have an older model a Garmin 12 you can cruise with that easy. I have an eTrex with topo's that has the fancy features but the Garmin 12 boots, acquires sats and matches military GPS's 10 grid MGRS with only the altitude being off 30-50 feet.

Best real help I can give you is even if you go with a bells and whistles GPS be sure to have a map. Maps don't require batteries or good signal. Possibly the most helpful info is battery life being estended having the external antenna or making sure your unit has good signals. The advertised 12hr on times go to around an hour if the unit is on in a vehicle with 4" windows and body with no external antenna attached. You can extend battery life in options setting the slower location figuring. Sometimes the slower setting will make you recorded tracks have viewable track locations long distances apart making your seeing where you went hard to figure. Play safe.