i need a backwoods GPS for hiking/hunting.

[vash]

ok. i am confused. i know how the unit works. my friend has an eTrex, and complains about the slow boot up, and tiny screen.

i will need this for hunting in remote areas. the worst that i have gotten turned around has been in AZ, and i am going back. i would love topo maps, and street maps would be cool too.

what are you guys using. the guy at REI tried to fleece me with a Garmin 550t "oregon". $599....whatever.

[NineOhOne]

Breitling Emergency...get lost, unscrew antenna, activate International distress signal. Rescuers come to you.

[porsche4life]

I like my eTrex but I don't use it much... I have a Magellan for my car and I like it as well. I'd say find one of either brand you like and go for it.

[Westy]

The sun rises in the East,,,,and sets in the West. At some point it is directly overhead. Lesson over!

[Westy]

And,,,,just so ya know,,,,I make a great gravy!!!!

[cantdrv55]

I have a never used eTrax you can have. Not into bakwoods hiking or hunting so it's yours.

[vash]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

I have a never used eTrax you can have. Not into bakwoods hiking or hunting so it's yours.

let me borrow it.....

[vash]

Originally Posted by Westy

And,,,,just so ya know,,,,I make a great gravy!!!!

no you dont...good gravy has salt in it...

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Westy

The sun rises in the East,,,,and sets in the West. At some point it is directly overhead. Lesson over!

the sun is NEVER directly overhead overhead unless you are on/near the equator

[aigel]

I would get the $90 job from etrex. Mark your truck / camp when you leave it and turn it off. When you need to hike back and feel lost, turn on the "go to locatoin" function and follow the arrow. (Can be a bit problematic in bad terrain, then you may want to keep it on to keep a breadcrumb trail). Bring a couple sets of extra batteries. Don't worry about maps.

I have no GPS, but if I'd get one, I would follow my advice above. You may even have a hunting buddy who is upgrading and you can get theirs for $50.

G

[MT930]

E-trex Legend

Great for back country, good reception in the mountains. I use it a bunch

Hunting, hiking, geocaching, & Maping ATV routes.

[scottmandue]

Does it have to be wrist mount? Some killer holiday deals on the small handheld units ($100-$200).


I said "small handheld units"... huh.... huh, huh... sorry.

[cantdrv55]

My bad. I thought my unit was an eTrax. It is an eMap - much older model.

[911boost]

I have an eTrex Legend, with a color screen. I also bought the Topo Maps for it. It works awesome. I used it a bunch this past elk season. I save some waypoints, and then just leave it turned on. It leaves a track, that I can easily follow back. I also used the topo piece to find roads / etc.

Bill

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by NineOhOne

Breitling Emergency...get lost, unscrew antenna, activate International distress signal. Rescuers come to you.

I have one of these and like it but if you unscrew the cover and pull it out, they will also charge you a lot of money after they rescue you. It better be an emergency!

Get a Garmin Gecko for backwoods work.

[drcoastline]

Get a Garmin GPS Map 176-276 or 478C. C stands for color the B/W units are about $150.00 cheaper. It is a more serious GPS then the hiking versions. Not that being lost hiking can not be serious. The 176-476 GPS is a full version GPS in a small package. It is usable on land or water (and in the air but it was not designed for flight use. We use it as a moving map when flying). You can down load street maps for highway driving, Charts for marine navigation and Topo's for hiking or bike riding from Garmin. They also have voice. They are larger then a typical handheld but not by much. It is roughly 6" X 2" X 3-1/2" It and has a 4" screen and weighs maybe 12oz? 1lb. max. They can also be integrated with other nav equipment if needed and integrated with a lap top for a larger screen. I originally bought it as i could use it on my 21' Seacraft CC and use it in my car. I have since purchased a handle bar mount for my mountain bike so we take it on family trips. It has preloaded points of interest, campgrounds, restaurants, etc. so when riding our bikes if we want food go to the restaurants and all eating establishments will come up starting with the nearest to your location. hit enter and you get directions.

Garmin's warranty program is also excellent. One of the rubber buttons popped off of my 176 several weeks out of warranty. I sent it back to be repaired. 7 days later I received the 276C at no cost.

My car was broken into about a year ago and the 276 was stolen. I now have the 478C and I love it. I have a Garmin fixed mount 600 series in my sport fisherman and this does everything the larger unit does just smaller.

That's my .02.

Good luck.

[Joeaksa]

One thing to remember is that the color displays are nice but also hog battery life.

Agree totally on Garmin's warranty. Best I have ever found.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by Westy

The sun rises in the East,,,,and sets in the West. At some point it is directly overhead. Lesson over!

Have a watch? Point the hour hand at the sun.

Half way between the hour hand and 12 is South.


Take a USGS topo and compass with you. Can't get lost.

[drcoastline]

Agreed my 478 is a battery hog. I do not use my unit on battery power very often but it will last a whole day while everything is running. Active map tracking, No time out power down, and voice navigation all on. You could turn some stuff off to make the battery last longer if needed. Fortunately, the batteries are inexpensive and I do keep two spares as back up. My 176 used 8 AA batteries, they would last nearly two days, but the unit was not as sophisticated.

FWIW I, saw on on of the morning shows yesterday a new satellite tracking system that communicates with your PC via the Internet. Anyone looking at your PC can see your movement. I recall the unit had a 911 button and will notify some authority of your location but I can not recall exactly which one. It does not provide you with navigation it is simply a tracking device with 911 notification. Cost was about $170.00.

On our Sport Fisherman we have an EPIRB that cost $2,000.00 and I thought what an inexpensive way to accomplish the same task for $170.00.

[VINMAN]

I'm old school.......