Good hiking GPS?

[K2QI]

Thinking about buying a small handheld GPS unit for hiking... getting tired of carrying a topo map and compass around if you know what I mean.

I've narrowed choices down to three:

Garmin 60CSx
Garmin eTrex Vista
DeLorme PN-40

Anyone have any input as to any of those three particular units? The PN-40 looks pretty good feature-wise, plus comes with just about everything to get going out of the box for the same price as the other two once you add a memory card and map package. The downside is battery life. The Garmin's on the other hand don't come with maps, so those have to be purchased. However, I've used Garmin's before and they are well built units.

[K9MEL]

Great site... www.geocaching.com Garmin e-trax series are good, but they suck on updates. You pay through the A*S. I think some new start up's are going to give them a run for the money!! Have Fun!

[N7RJD]

I would look seriously at the DeLorme. I have been with them for mapping software for years and have three GPS units from them. The three I have can be hooked up through the USB port on the laptop with one of them also being bluetooth capable. I do not have the portable mapping unit but would expect it to live up to the quality of the rest of their line and would not hesitate to purchase from them.

[AK7EE]

For hiking, backpacking, and geocaching the Garmin 60CSX is hard to beat. Second choice would the Delorme PN-40.


The Delorme uses some slightly different terms such as you can't set a direct 'go to', like you can with Garmin or Magellan. You have to create a 'route'. If you're new to hand held GPS systems this shouldn't be a problem until you change to one of the other brands. The Delorme seems to take a long time to get a lock. On the plus side the Delorme does interface nicely with Delorme TOPO 7.

Some geocaching friends own the Garmin 60CSX, it probably has one of best displays around.

For the past 10+ years hand held GPS receivers have been between Magellan and Garmin. I've owned several Magellans, bought Garmins for my kids, and my owns the Delorme. When I've been with people that have eTrex units they more of a tendency to loose the satilite lock than the Magellans or other Garmin units.

If want to really learn how to use which ever one you get go to http://www.geocaching.com and find a few geocaches. As has been said if you find a sandwich box in the woods you can find your way out of the woods.

Have fun
Byron

[K9ROO]

If you're wanting to go cheap, a 76CSx is just fine. I don't recommend a 60 even though they're pretty much the same. the 76CSx will float and is better situated for one handed use. I don't understand why people want to get a 60 cause they just "look cool", never fashioned me. The 60CSx will sink if dropped in water, hence people are stupid for buying a 60CSx if they know about the 70CSx.

If you have money and are willing to get a better GPS, look at garmin's Colorado 400t.