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GPS Showdown
A GPS not only can save your life, but can also save you from driving around aimlessly as you try to find that state forest entrance. We tested the year's most cutting-edge systems and rated them based on their features, ease-of-use, satellite acquisition, and durability.
 Magellan Triton 2000
($499; magellangps.com) Features: * * Durability: * * * Satellite acquisition: * * * Battery type: AA Photo by Outdoor Life Online Editor Advertisement  Advertisement |
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Comments (11)
» Write a Commentas a person who uses GPS for work in the swamps of Louisiana in heavy full canopy (jungle like)the only brand and models that reliably have continuous reception and quick satellite acquisition is the Garmin handhelds with the antenna sticking out of the case, the one I use is the Garmin 60 CSX the new models are called GPSMAP 62. I've used numerous other models and they occasionally pick up signal. none of the others have sufficient reception.
In Wisconsin there is alot of heavey forest, so satellite acquisiton has to be very good or your GPS is useless.
I have used the TomTom, the Garmin, the Navigon, and I have played with the Bushnell.
I use the Garmin for work and it's great for highway use, as is the TomTom. The Bushnell has aerial photos to enhance your navigation, XM radio, weather, and more. It's big and awkward, but I enjoy its features. Going off-road with it would be better than a standard model that puts you in the middle of an empty GPS screen.
I have been very happy with my Navigon 2100, with its lifetime traffic, that actually warns you of issues. It's fairly easy to use and was really affordable. I buy them as gifts now for family and friends. For the price of a really expensive unit, I have less expensive, decently featured GPS units in all my vehicles, including on my KTM.
I hope at the 2011 SHOT Show the companies show manageable products that are affordable and help us woods types when we are way out in the stix. Remember that not all hunters and woodsmen/women have a fortune to spend.
Regards.
well, I dont know about you guy's but I am never gonna pay 600 bucks for a digital map! I have a gps, and have had a few to be honest. I now have a delorme pn-20 I got online, factory rebuilt for 109 bucks...with EVERYTHING INCLUDED>>> Canada, USA, Mexico...and it does way more than I will ever need it to. But to not have a lil cheapie listed makes me feel kinda worried about what this one is really all about. Sorry, but the Etrex I had for 8 years worked perfectly, you can buy one on ebay for $45 bux all day.
Agree good article, I am a gps gunky use the Garmin 396 in my plane, Garmin 60csx for my dirtbike, and Nuvi in the car and Garmin 421 in the boat. I know I am sick.
For out in the field you can not beat the Garmin 60csx. One of our dirtbike rides is 700+ miles. I use a Ram mount on my handle bars. To say the least the GPS takes a pounding. We had to evactuate an injured rider a few years back. We were out in middle of no where, and the poor guy got bucked off. He had some serious injuries, broken ribs and punctured lung. We didn't know at the time how bad he was. We located the nearest road with our Garmin 60csx, sent two riders there. They marked the spot, called our support team and go them rolling. Via radio gave us the spot and we started off. Magically we all arrived at the same spot and the support team got him out to the hospital. GPS served us well that day.
Using a GPS takes some practice, but is a great tool. I wouldn't leave home with out it.
The 60csx has some great features, easily loads topo maps, has a micro sd card for tons of memory. The screen can get wiped out from the sun. But you can get a glare wizard that really helps.
Love the outdoors!
Greg
I've bought and used the Magellan and the screen seemed very soft compared to other brands. It just scratched up way too fast. My garmin etex vesta holds up much better.
This was a short and -to-the-point GPS article. But, there were a few that I would like to have seen in this review.
DeLORME Earthmate PN-40
Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx
Garmin Rino 530HCx
Lowrance iFINDER Hunt C
As they are all hybrids in a sense. I would like to see ratings on battery life, can you upload/download trips to your computer, unique "hunting" icons and the like.
Great toys....actually can pass for essential.
It is between the Magellan Crossover GPS and the Tom Tom Go 720.
Honestly, I think I'll wait until the prices come down a bit!
Remember when HD TV first came out?
Too many gadgets for one seriously loss, needs all the battery life one can get till out of the mess they are in..
This is an interesting article cutting to the chase about the features, both good and bad, of some today’s popular GPS units. I don’t know what GPS manufactures are thinking with some of the gadgets they are adding to the GPS systems. I want a simple, weather proof way to mark some routes, waypoints, and maybe, a topo map of the area I’m going to be in powered by AA batteries. I DON’T want cameras, flashlights, voices, or anything else that drains battery life while in the backcountry.
i've never been lost but was turned around once for a few days. i could see how a g, p , s , unit could be handy to have the cost is a bit much though i bought a similar unit for driving that cost only 100 bucks , tom tom i believe,i don't mind paying a fair price but don;t like the feeling in my arse when i leave the store .
Write a Comment Your comment (200 characters or less):
well, I dont know about you guy's but I am never gonna pay 600 bucks for a digital map! I have a gps, and have had a few to be honest. I now have a delorme pn-20 I got online, factory rebuilt for 109 bucks...with EVERYTHING INCLUDED>>> Canada, USA, Mexico...and it does way more than I will ever need it to. But to not have a lil cheapie listed makes me feel kinda worried about what this one is really all about. Sorry, but the Etrex I had for 8 years worked perfectly, you can buy one on ebay for $45 bux all day.
i've never been lost but was turned around once for a few days. i could see how a g, p , s , unit could be handy to have the cost is a bit much though i bought a similar unit for driving that cost only 100 bucks , tom tom i believe,i don't mind paying a fair price but don;t like the feeling in my arse when i leave the store .
This is an interesting article cutting to the chase about the features, both good and bad, of some today’s popular GPS units. I don’t know what GPS manufactures are thinking with some of the gadgets they are adding to the GPS systems. I want a simple, weather proof way to mark some routes, waypoints, and maybe, a topo map of the area I’m going to be in powered by AA batteries. I DON’T want cameras, flashlights, voices, or anything else that drains battery life while in the backcountry.
This was a short and -to-the-point GPS article. But, there were a few that I would like to have seen in this review.
DeLORME Earthmate PN-40
Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx
Garmin Rino 530HCx
Lowrance iFINDER Hunt C
As they are all hybrids in a sense. I would like to see ratings on battery life, can you upload/download trips to your computer, unique "hunting" icons and the like.
Too many gadgets for one seriously loss, needs all the battery life one can get till out of the mess they are in..
I've bought and used the Magellan and the screen seemed very soft compared to other brands. It just scratched up way too fast. My garmin etex vesta holds up much better.
Agree good article, I am a gps gunky use the Garmin 396 in my plane, Garmin 60csx for my dirtbike, and Nuvi in the car and Garmin 421 in the boat. I know I am sick.
For out in the field you can not beat the Garmin 60csx. One of our dirtbike rides is 700+ miles. I use a Ram mount on my handle bars. To say the least the GPS takes a pounding. We had to evactuate an injured rider a few years back. We were out in middle of no where, and the poor guy got bucked off. He had some serious injuries, broken ribs and punctured lung. We didn't know at the time how bad he was. We located the nearest road with our Garmin 60csx, sent two riders there. They marked the spot, called our support team and go them rolling. Via radio gave us the spot and we started off. Magically we all arrived at the same spot and the support team got him out to the hospital. GPS served us well that day.
Using a GPS takes some practice, but is a great tool. I wouldn't leave home with out it.
The 60csx has some great features, easily loads topo maps, has a micro sd card for tons of memory. The screen can get wiped out from the sun. But you can get a glare wizard that really helps.
Love the outdoors!
Greg
I have used the TomTom, the Garmin, the Navigon, and I have played with the Bushnell.
I use the Garmin for work and it's great for highway use, as is the TomTom. The Bushnell has aerial photos to enhance your navigation, XM radio, weather, and more. It's big and awkward, but I enjoy its features. Going off-road with it would be better than a standard model that puts you in the middle of an empty GPS screen.
I have been very happy with my Navigon 2100, with its lifetime traffic, that actually warns you of issues. It's fairly easy to use and was really affordable. I buy them as gifts now for family and friends. For the price of a really expensive unit, I have less expensive, decently featured GPS units in all my vehicles, including on my KTM.
I hope at the 2011 SHOT Show the companies show manageable products that are affordable and help us woods types when we are way out in the stix. Remember that not all hunters and woodsmen/women have a fortune to spend.
Regards.
Great toys....actually can pass for essential.
It is between the Magellan Crossover GPS and the Tom Tom Go 720.
Honestly, I think I'll wait until the prices come down a bit!
Remember when HD TV first came out?
In Wisconsin there is alot of heavey forest, so satellite acquisiton has to be very good or your GPS is useless.
as a person who uses GPS for work in the swamps of Louisiana in heavy full canopy (jungle like)the only brand and models that reliably have continuous reception and quick satellite acquisition is the Garmin handhelds with the antenna sticking out of the case, the one I use is the Garmin 60 CSX the new models are called GPSMAP 62. I've used numerous other models and they occasionally pick up signal. none of the others have sufficient reception.
Write a Comment Your comment (200 characters or less):