GPS . . . ???

[LckyTylr]

What GPS do you guys use?

Do you like it?

What features do you like, what features do you wish you had?

As with everyone else, I'm looking for a GPS that has "some" bells and whistles, but I don't need the kitchen sink and associated cost.

[WapitiTalk1]

Finally broke down and got one about 6 years ago. Lowrance Ifinder Hunt C. It does everything I need it to do and has never failed me in some very adverse weather and a few tumbles. Has a big screen, all the maps for the states I hunt, and is easy to use. Not even sure they make them anymore. Should have got two.

[G Posik]

I use the Garmin eTrax 30. Not to expensive, very easy to use and is easy to load more detailed maps. Tough, light weight and good battery life.

Glenn

[Lark Bunting]

That will be my next major purchase. I figure it could be a safety thing since I am new to elk hunting. I am looking at the eTrex 20 used on AT. Figure I can get one for around $100.

[Swede]

Garmin 60cx if my memory serves me correctly.

[cnelk]

DeLorme PN30

[ctdad]

Don't over look Craig's list. I bought a Garmin Colorado 400t a few years ago that was brand new for a fraction of the new price. Garmin does software updates so if you do get an older model, be sure to contact Garmin and get the most current software. My compass didn't work well until I did that.

[JGH]

Garmin Oregon 450t here ...

This was an upgrade from the Garmin eTrex ... which had a bad habit of losing North. I don't know what that was all about, but it did teach me to bring a compass.

The 450t has all the features I need and more. In fact, so did the eTrex ... but the Oregon has a bigger screen, which aging eyes prefer.

It all depends on what you want to do with a GPS ... but some of the things I like about this one:

1. a built-in topo map. In addition to finding camp, or other waypoints, sometimes in dark timber it's nice to point me in the direction of a saddle, or the question comes up "How far to that little stream that should be at the bottom of this Hell Hole?" A unit without a built-in topo map will leave you guessing.

2. a micro-SD card slot. Wife and I got one of those land ownership chips recently. They're fun, and hopefully, they keep us where we're supposed to be.

3. the "best hunting times" feature, which tells you when you need to be in the woods. (Just kidding! ) But the sun-up and sun-down times are nice to have.

4. I use the vector feature quite a bit ... I look at the map, and figure what direction I need to go, or plug-in a way point ... and then use the vector feature to keep me on track.

[Still Hunter]

I've never owned a GPS, but i'm sort of thinking about getting one. I notice as I get older my memory is getting fuzzy.

I'm not looking for one with all the bells and whistles. Just something that will show me a breadcrumb trail back out the way I went in. It also needs to pick up a signal in timber. I'm cheap...........ok i'm poor, so I was thinking about an etrax 10. Any good?

[Broken arrow]

Garmin 450t. Worked great getting me back to camp in the dark and finding the X in the morning darkness.

[8upbowhunter]

I now use a Garmin Oregon 450. I download the free 1:25k maps at www.gpsfiledepot.com to use on it. It has never failed me since I bought it 3 years ago, touch screen, easy to use, battery life is ok but I always carry spare batteries with me. I upgraded from a Garmin E-Trex Summit that would lose signal in thickets and constantly lock up due to being low on memory.

[Indian Summer]

I have the Garmin Montana 650T. It has it all so you don't need to spend that kind of money but you can get one with similar features for less. I like the big screen. Also I want a color unit! Nothing worse than trying to read black words on black contour lines or differentiate between a stream and a contour. Love the touch screen. And it has a camera so I don't have to carry a separate device with additional batteries for taking pics. Plus it is SO easy to use. I never read the manual. Just turned it on and started touching the buttons and in 10 minutes I knew everything about it.

[>>>---WW---->]

Like everything else, it all boils down to what you personally prefer. For me it is something simple. I bought my GPS to show me where I'm at or where I'm going. I didn't buy it to play games on!

I'm a Garmin fan and always try to get one with a micro SD slot so I can slip in my huntingGPSmaps.com chip.

[Triplebhunters]

Garmin 62 stc.
Reception has been incredible.
The camera on this is a great feature. When pic is taken it also geotags a route, spot, whatever your fancy is.
Plug this into puter and follow your tracks and photos through the wilderness on google, Garmin base camp, etc.
Was a great learning tool for me. Able to make trails, waypoints, etc, on various mapware then upload into devise.
Also has other software available for driving, boating, etc.
Customer support has been good, to answer questions for you.
I will never use half of options available.
prior to purchase of any gps go to all manufacturers web sites and browse.

[navet]

I actually used my cell phone. I have backcountry navigator on it. This app allowed me to use topo and google earth pics . I put the phone in airplane mode, so just the gps and screen were on. The phone battery lasted all day and I charged it up at night. I carried a rapid charger(for the phone) in my pack. This app has all the bell and whistles of the real gps units and the screen is bigger and easier to read without my glasses on I downloaded the GMU boundries and ownership maps for it also.
I also had a compass/maps and back up old gamin 60 in case all else failed.
Just another idea.

[LckyTylr]

navet, I have the same ap for my iPhone, but the battery doesn't hold up for a 4 day hunt. I looked at solar chargers . . . but GEESH!!! They are spendy and I'd be half way to a really nice GPS.

What phone do you have? How much of a charge will a turbo charger get you? Maybe I'll just buy a few of those.

I really like the Backcountry Navigator, I had it on my Droid before I got this iPhone. Nice thing about the Droid, I had 4 extra batteries for it that I could carry. Damn Apple Products . . . and Damn Work for making me switch!

THANKS everyone for your input. If I don't stick with my cell phone, I'm really leaning towards one of the Garmin Oregons.

[navet]

What phone do you have? How much of a charge will a turbo charger get you? Maybe I'll just buy a few of those.

I have a galaxy note 2 and use a "my charge " charger. I get 2 full charges from it. It takes about 2-3 hrs to charge the "my charge" I have an inverter in camp so I am able to recharge the phone and the charger each night. I never used the "my charger" in the woods because the phone lasted all day. It was piece of mind having it in case the phone battery died for some reason.

[ishy]

Any cell phone users run into service issues? Can you have maps loaded in your area that you wouldn't need service to pull up?

[pointysticks]

my brother had a Rino. awesome GPS. i think his is the 630 or something.
he got tired of only using it for a GPS and bought me a rino 520. same thing, i just dont have a compass.

fantastic powerful GPS. picks up satellites and lots of them fast.

you cans shut off the radio portion or vice versa. nice to have options should you ever end up in group all running rinos

[LckyTylr]

ishy, with an app like Backcountry Navigator, you pre-download maps for the areas you will likely be in. Each map takes about 4 seconds on my iPhone with a fast internet. I download about half of a unit before I head out scouting.

A smartphone won't need typical "cell service", it will rely on the built-in gps that is used for your navigation feature.

It works really well, my only beef is that my cell phone battery won't last very long and I can't just swap batteries.