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GPS Advice (looking for one for hiking and driving)
- Thread starter Gibber
- Start date
P
Priceless
Guest
Re: GPS Advice (looking for one for hiking and driving)
When it comes to hiking, no one beats Delorme. The PN devices weren't designed for driving, but I helped test the 40 series before it went live and it's quite good for driving. People tried to use the 20 for driving and it really wasn't designed for that - the 40 has a new routing engine. The best bet is to use Topo USA on your PC for routes, waypoints etc and transfer them over. The support is top-notch (if I do say so myself
) and local - everything is done in Yarmouth, ME. Check out the forums for a lot of feedback and ideas, and the answers to almost all of your questions. And Delorme actually listens to customers - many of the improvements in the 40 came from the suggestions of the people who use it (imagine that).
It's a little pricey, but for everything you get it's really a bargain.
When it comes to hiking, no one beats Delorme. The PN devices weren't designed for driving, but I helped test the 40 series before it went live and it's quite good for driving. People tried to use the 20 for driving and it really wasn't designed for that - the 40 has a new routing engine. The best bet is to use Topo USA on your PC for routes, waypoints etc and transfer them over. The support is top-notch (if I do say so myself
) and local - everything is done in Yarmouth, ME. Check out the forums for a lot of feedback and ideas, and the answers to almost all of your questions. And Delorme actually listens to customers - many of the improvements in the 40 came from the suggestions of the people who use it (imagine that).It's a little pricey, but for everything you get it's really a bargain.
Re: GPS Advice (looking for one for hiking and driving)
Gib - I have had very good luck with my two Garmins (I left one here for the family and bought a new one when I moved to Indiana). I researched the GPS units at this site: http://www.gpsmagazine.com/reviews.php#automotive and found it to be very helpful. Amazon has the Garmin Nuvi 260W on sale this weekend for $119. My original GPS that is being used by the family is the 250W. It never missed a turn on the trips we have made to Prince Edward Island - or anywhere else. It is also the entry level of Garmin that speaks the directions - a real plus in my book. It doesn't just say turn left. It will say turn left on Main St. I did buy a higher end model from my drive to Indiana and I use it constantly, but if I had to do it over I would buy the Garmin 260/250 series. I am finding I don't need the extras.
I can't speak for other models. I have been very pleased with Garmin (and being a sponsor of a team in the TdF gets them bonus points). TomTom does have one feature I would like - to change my voice giving directions to Homer Simpson.
Gib - I have had very good luck with my two Garmins (I left one here for the family and bought a new one when I moved to Indiana). I researched the GPS units at this site: http://www.gpsmagazine.com/reviews.php#automotive and found it to be very helpful. Amazon has the Garmin Nuvi 260W on sale this weekend for $119. My original GPS that is being used by the family is the 250W. It never missed a turn on the trips we have made to Prince Edward Island - or anywhere else. It is also the entry level of Garmin that speaks the directions - a real plus in my book. It doesn't just say turn left. It will say turn left on Main St. I did buy a higher end model from my drive to Indiana and I use it constantly, but if I had to do it over I would buy the Garmin 260/250 series. I am finding I don't need the extras.
I can't speak for other models. I have been very pleased with Garmin (and being a sponsor of a team in the TdF gets them bonus points). TomTom does have one feature I would like - to change my voice giving directions to Homer Simpson.
Re: GPS Advice (looking for one for hiking and driving)
Gibber, if you find one, let me know. I was hoping to find one that was good for hiking/biking and in the car, and I eventually gave up. Seems like 90% of the GPSes out there today are designed for car only. They're great for punching in an address and giving driving directions, but lousy at anything else - and forget battery life. Pathetic. The other 10% are specialty hiking ones only that don't have the navigation features you would like when you're in the car.
I still miss my Garmin III+. Every "improvement" since then has made for a worse user experience for me...
Gibber, if you find one, let me know. I was hoping to find one that was good for hiking/biking and in the car, and I eventually gave up. Seems like 90% of the GPSes out there today are designed for car only. They're great for punching in an address and giving driving directions, but lousy at anything else - and forget battery life. Pathetic. The other 10% are specialty hiking ones only that don't have the navigation features you would like when you're in the car.
I still miss my Garmin III+. Every "improvement" since then has made for a worse user experience for me...
FiveHole12
Registered User
Re: GPS Advice (looking for one for hiking and driving)
Gibbber... I have had a Garmin eTrex handheld GPS for many years and it works great. I use it mainly for fishing to mark channels and honey holes. Maps and charts are available also, but I have always entered my data manually. Really small, which I like... it fits in the palm of my hand and I can mark waypoints with one hand while motoring along with the other.
Haven't shopped for a new one in years (because I haven't had to), but I believe the newer models also have downloadable road maps, etc.
Here's Garmin's eTrex site... Garmin eTrex
Gibbber... I have had a Garmin eTrex handheld GPS for many years and it works great. I use it mainly for fishing to mark channels and honey holes. Maps and charts are available also, but I have always entered my data manually. Really small, which I like... it fits in the palm of my hand and I can mark waypoints with one hand while motoring along with the other.
Haven't shopped for a new one in years (because I haven't had to), but I believe the newer models also have downloadable road maps, etc.
Here's Garmin's eTrex site... Garmin eTrex
Gibber
Little Boxes
Re: GPS Advice (looking for one for hiking and driving)
Thanks for the responses so far, everyone... I may end up getting just a hiking one as I have a GPS that I am ok with for the car... was looking at Garmin eTrex Venture HC GPS Receiver and it has decent reviews, might go with this one...
Boosh, I am an atlas freak, I usually get a new one every other year from wearing out mine. Doesn't do much for the hiking I plan to do on my spring trip to Utah and Arizona for some photo adventures though (it'll help for planning the driving though
) Even my GPS I usually only need for when I have assignments (usually quickly) in towns I'm not familiar with....
Thanks for the responses so far, everyone... I may end up getting just a hiking one as I have a GPS that I am ok with for the car... was looking at Garmin eTrex Venture HC GPS Receiver and it has decent reviews, might go with this one...
Boosh, I am an atlas freak, I usually get a new one every other year from wearing out mine. Doesn't do much for the hiking I plan to do on my spring trip to Utah and Arizona for some photo adventures though (it'll help for planning the driving though
) Even my GPS I usually only need for when I have assignments (usually quickly) in towns I'm not familiar with....Billy Blanks
I fix fat people
Re: GPS Advice (looking for one for hiking and driving)
Where do you plan on hiking in AZ? Northern AZ near the Grand Canyon?
Where do you plan on hiking in AZ? Northern AZ near the Grand Canyon?
Gibber
Little Boxes
Re: GPS Advice (looking for one for hiking and driving)
Billy, sorry I haven't revisted this thread since I last posted, just saw your message... there are a TON of places I want to visit/photograph...
most of the places on my first trip will probably be in Utah (Zion/Bryce/Canyonlands/Arches), but we're planning on hiking in Cuyote Buttes (sp?) specifically to the Wave, as well as Antelope Canyons and Monument Valley..... We'll see how it all comes together!
Billy, sorry I haven't revisted this thread since I last posted, just saw your message... there are a TON of places I want to visit/photograph...
most of the places on my first trip will probably be in Utah (Zion/Bryce/Canyonlands/Arches), but we're planning on hiking in Cuyote Buttes (sp?) specifically to the Wave, as well as Antelope Canyons and Monument Valley..... We'll see how it all comes together!
Billy Blanks
I fix fat people
Re: GPS Advice (looking for one for hiking and driving)
I've hiked all over the country and I'd rank Arizona as one of the top spots in the continental United States. My favorite spots outside of the Grand Canyon area are all in Sedona. Almost everyone rates it as one of the (if not the) most beautiful places in the US. It's almost akin to a spiritual experience when you see the Red Rocks of Sedona for the first time. I've only hiked there for about 3 days total (visited 6 times) and I think we've only seen about 30% of the what there is to see.
Good luck and make sure to post your pictures Gibber!
I've hiked all over the country and I'd rank Arizona as one of the top spots in the continental United States. My favorite spots outside of the Grand Canyon area are all in Sedona. Almost everyone rates it as one of the (if not the) most beautiful places in the US. It's almost akin to a spiritual experience when you see the Red Rocks of Sedona for the first time. I've only hiked there for about 3 days total (visited 6 times) and I think we've only seen about 30% of the what there is to see.
Good luck and make sure to post your pictures Gibber!
Gibber
Little Boxes
Re: GPS Advice (looking for one for hiking and driving)
Sedona is definitely on my future destination list (I have two trips mapped out a northern circle (southern utah/northern az/colordao) and a southern circle (cali/nv/az/nm) and it still only covers SOME of what I want to see I got these books:
Photographing the Southwest: Volume 1--Southern Utah
Photographing the Southwest: Volume 2--Arizona
(with Vol 3 - Colordao/NM coming hopefully for Christmas )
As for the Atlas, believe me, I have worn out my atlases (atlasi?) year after year, I'm obsessed with maps, and mapping stuff out beforehand, but the GPS comes in handy when in a place I'm not familiar with, and I'm not sure lugging that around will help me while hiking with my gear
Sedona is definitely on my future destination list (I have two trips mapped out a northern circle (southern utah/northern az/colordao) and a southern circle (cali/nv/az/nm) and it still only covers SOME of what I want to see
I got these books:Photographing the Southwest: Volume 1--Southern Utah
Photographing the Southwest: Volume 2--Arizona
(with Vol 3 - Colordao/NM coming hopefully for Christmas
)As for the Atlas, believe me, I have worn out my atlases (atlasi?) year after year, I'm obsessed with maps, and mapping stuff out beforehand, but the GPS comes in handy when in a place I'm not familiar with, and I'm not sure lugging that around will help me while hiking with my gear
Gibber
Little Boxes
Re: GPS Advice (looking for one for hiking and driving)
I was blown away/surprised when I got this GPS for Christmas from my bro/sis-in-law
Can't wait to get out in the spring and test it out
I was blown away/surprised when I got this GPS for Christmas from my bro/sis-in-law
Can't wait to get out in the spring and test it out 
REDRocket
Beat'em, bust'em, that's our custom
Re: GPS Advice (looking for one for hiking and driving)
I don't use the GPS for driving, but in the woods this thing is freakin' unbelievable.
I don't use the GPS for driving, but in the woods this thing is freakin' unbelievable.
Re: GPS Advice (looking for one for hiking and driving)
Great area, we did this a few years ago.
Arches is amazing and I wish we had allocated more time in Canyonlands to rent a Jeep so we could drive into the Green/Colorado River Valley for some hiking. Also, don't miss Capital Reef NP - an absolute hidden treasure! Make sure you take Hwy 261 south from the Natural Bridges area toward Valley of the Gods - Mexican Hat. One of the most amazing stretches of road I've ever driven. You go straight down a mesa!! Not my blog, btw.
Great area, we did this a few years ago.
Arches is amazing and I wish we had allocated more time in Canyonlands to rent a Jeep so we could drive into the Green/Colorado River Valley for some hiking. Also, don't miss Capital Reef NP - an absolute hidden treasure! Make sure you take Hwy 261 south from the Natural Bridges area toward Valley of the Gods - Mexican Hat. One of the most amazing stretches of road I've ever driven. You go straight down a mesa!! Not my blog, btw.
Gibber
Little Boxes
Re: GPS Advice (looking for one for hiking and driving)
Oh wow, that an amazing stretch alright! Rt 12 between bryce and Capital Reef is supposed to be one of the most beautiful drives in the US, looking forward to checking that out..
Oh wow, that an amazing stretch alright! Rt 12 between bryce and Capital Reef is supposed to be one of the most beautiful drives in the US, looking forward to checking that out..