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Author Topic: Best Hiking GPS?  (Read 3229 times)  Share 

Offline MilesOfTexas

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Best Hiking GPS?
« on: April 20, 2010, 07:25:07 PM »
I apologize in advance if this has been addressed before, but I am trying to get a 'real world' opinion about which GPS is the best for hiking BIBE and other US national & state parks.

I'm not concerned about the cost, just performance, features, map quality, battery life, etc..

Naturally, nothing beats a good USGS topo map, but a GPS is nice in case of disorientation and in cases when terrain features look too similar to make a genuine clear cut call about where one is.

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"I have an excellent profession, but I don't enjoy it near as much as I do when I am in the heart of the wilderness, surrounded by marvelous creations, and efforting to capture what I see and feel so I may share it with others."

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Offline BigBendHiker

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Re: Best Hiking GPS?
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2010, 07:36:27 PM »
Garmin GPSMap 60CSx.

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Offline dkerr24

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Re: Best Hiking GPS?
« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2010, 08:17:06 PM »
+1 on the Garmin 60csx.  Even though the model is several years old, it is still the gold standard of handheld GPS units.  Easy to use, fairly light, very rugged, uses 2 AA batteries.
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Offline MilesOfTexas

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Re: Best Hiking GPS?
« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2010, 08:20:45 PM »
Thanks a million!  I will check it out.
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-Me 09/12/2011

Offline BigBendHiker

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Re: Best Hiking GPS?
« Reply #4 on: April 20, 2010, 08:36:33 PM »
Quote from: dkerr24 on April 20, 2010, 08:17:06 PM
+1 on the Garmin 60csx.  Even though the model is several years old, it is still the gold standard of handheld GPS units.  Easy to use, fairly light, very rugged, uses 2 AA batteries.

If you load City Navigator maps on the 60CSx, you will find it works great for navigating in a city.  I use mine in San Antonio and it works as well in the city as it does on the trail (of course, on the trail, I use the topo maps that I have loaded on it).
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Offline Sotol Vista

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Re: Best Hiking GPS?
« Reply #5 on: April 20, 2010, 10:53:06 PM »
oh yes, this has been discussed many times, and the answer is usually the same....the Garmin 60CSx is the one to get.

I purchased the 60CSx after seeing a 60CS in action and then the awesome folks here pointed me to the 60CSx and I have never regretted it.

It has improved reception over the 60CS and works well in the trees and in canyons. A few years ago some of us from the forum here took a float trip from Lajitas through Santa Elena Canyon and pulled out at the "boat ramp" just out side the canyon. It maintained signal the entire trip , except for about a total of 5 minutes. The guide was generally surprised it actually worked as well as it did.

There are some Topo maps to download for Big Bend, as well as many other state and national parks.

James
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Offline badknees

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Re: Best Hiking GPS?
« Reply #6 on: April 20, 2010, 10:59:04 PM »
Quote from: Sotol Vista on April 20, 2010, 10:53:06 PM
oh yes, this has been discussed many times, and the answer is usually the same....the Garmin 60CSx is the one to get.


Agree whole heartedly. I've had mine for 3 1/2 years now and it has served me extremely well
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Offline MilesOfTexas

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Re: Best Hiking GPS?
« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2010, 11:16:28 PM »
Well that settles it then, the Garmin 60CSx it is!!!

I truly appreciate everyone's feedback!

I was worried about searching via the search box for 'gps', knowing there would be a million hits, so I looked though the titles in this category and didn't see anything jump out at me.

The mystery is solved!  :icon_biggrin:
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"I have an excellent profession, but I don't enjoy it near as much as I do when I am in the heart of the wilderness, surrounded by marvelous creations, and efforting to capture what I see and feel so I may share it with others."

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Offline RichardM

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Re: Best Hiking GPS?
« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2010, 11:50:12 PM »
Quote from: MilesOfTexas on April 20, 2010, 11:16:28 PM
I was worried about searching via the search box for 'gps', knowing there would be a million hits, so I looked though the titles in this category and didn't see anything jump out at me.
Wrong category. :ranger:
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Offline MilesOfTexas

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Re: Best Hiking GPS?
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2010, 01:07:28 AM »
Quote from: RichardM on April 20, 2010, 11:50:12 PM
Quote from: MilesOfTexas on April 20, 2010, 11:16:28 PM
I was worried about searching via the search box for 'gps', knowing there would be a million hits, so I looked though the titles in this category and didn't see anything jump out at me.
Wrong category. :ranger:

Gee wiz ... I keep managing to post in the wrong dadgum category.  I'm sorry!  I looked but I didn't see this one.  :icon_redface:
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"I have an excellent profession, but I don't enjoy it near as much as I do when I am in the heart of the wilderness, surrounded by marvelous creations, and efforting to capture what I see and feel so I may share it with others."

-Me 09/12/2011

Offline Al

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Re: Best Hiking GPS?
« Reply #10 on: April 23, 2010, 12:12:04 AM »
So what about these new units? 

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145

They look really cool and my old ETrex has died and I have a birthday coming up . . .

Al
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Offline Al

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Re: Best Hiking GPS?
« Reply #11 on: April 23, 2010, 12:22:18 AM »
Why would one buy the 400t instead of the 450t since they are listed at the same price?

Al
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Offline dkerr24

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Re: Best Hiking GPS?
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2010, 06:12:00 AM »
Another thing to keep in mind is definitely use NiMh or Lithium AA batteries.  I use Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable AA's in my 60csx and normally get 10-12 hours of continous usage out of each pair.  The Eneloops are the low discharge batteries that will keep 90-95% of their charge when sitting on the shelf for several months.

You will be sorely disappointed in battery life if you use Alkaline AA's.
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Offline badknees

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Re: Best Hiking GPS?
« Reply #13 on: April 23, 2010, 11:29:35 AM »
Quote from: dkerr24 on April 23, 2010, 06:12:00 AM
Another thing to keep in mind is definitely use NiMh or Lithium AA batteries.  I use Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable AA's in my 60csx and normally get 10-12 hours of continous usage out of each pair.  The Eneloops are the low discharge batteries that will keep 90-95% of their charge when sitting on the shelf for several months.

You will be sorely disappointed in battery life if you use Alkaline AA's.

Seems a bit odd. I get about 16-20 hrs out of Alkalines
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badknees
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Offline dkerr24

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Re: Best Hiking GPS?
« Reply #14 on: April 23, 2010, 12:01:29 PM »
Quote from: badknees on April 23, 2010, 11:29:35 AM
Quote from: dkerr24 on April 23, 2010, 06:12:00 AM
Another thing to keep in mind is definitely use NiMh or Lithium AA batteries.  I use Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable AA's in my 60csx and normally get 10-12 hours of continous usage out of each pair.  The Eneloops are the low discharge batteries that will keep 90-95% of their charge when sitting on the shelf for several months.

You will be sorely disappointed in battery life if you use Alkaline AA's.

Seems a bit odd. I get about 16-20 hrs out of Alkalines

Maybe it's the Chinese-made alkalines I picked up at the local Sam's.  :)
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