GPS shopping - What's the best for all purposes? (Off-roading being one...)

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So far everyone has mentioned topo as a good feature. Do all of these units have most major trails already mapped out? I'd like to get a unit with some knowledge of known trails, but that hasn't been a big discussion point.

The Garmin 255 was recommended, and it looks like the 760 is decent too. I've never had a gps before, so I don't really have a point of reference. I'd like voice, topo and off-road maps available.

Thoughts?
 
Just asked gpsnow and their response was that the only nuvi compatible with topo maps was the 500. I pointed the rep to the amazon page that lists out the different topo units and the experiences discussed here with the 760 and others.

Where are you guys getting the maps? Garmin lists the national park maps in three regions, at over $100 apiece. That seems pretty spendy.
 
Another alternative is a UMPC? They are full blown Windows computers that have a 7" screen. They come in both a tablet only form or the newer ones like the Asus T83 are convertible between a tablet and a 7" Netbook. This one is semi-ruggedized and has a sunlight visible screen.

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One of the negatives about my 60CSx and the Mapsource software is that when I'm planning a route, I can't seem to get the routes to be the same on both the computer and the 60CSx. I tell the 60CSx to "navigate" and it changes the route while still going though the same waypoints as the computer. Anyone else had this problem? Is there a cure?
 
I have read most, if not all, MUD blog regarding handheld GPS units. I am no expert, just old school, and not a lot of money.

When I'm on the paved road I usually know where I'm going (and I'm sure as h**l not gonna ask for directions).

In the field, I prefer a simple handheld unit, like the Garmin Legend Hc, with a printed USGS map, and a standard old fashioned compass. The Garmin Legend works just fine, and if it ever quits, or it breaks, or I lose it, I still have my map and compass (hopefully!).

Just my 2 cents!
 
Garmin Nuvi 1490T with added free topo maps. Even the basic road maps have a fair number of dirt roads based on what I saw around my place. Can be used off the vehicle but big.
+
Garmin Venture Cx for hiking. Great backup. Can have topos and road maps (free) loaded too.
+
compass
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maps
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sun and moss on trees...


:)
 
I have so freakin' many GPS's now... :lol: In-dash in the cruiser, windshield mount Tom-Tom (Great for travel to unfamiliar places), GPS on the smart-phone (great 'cause the maps are always up-to-date, but limited to reception areas), a old laptop and USB puck antenna (rocks for off-road with USAPhotomaps - free!), and for hiking, and DeLorme PN-40 (great for downloading USGS topos, aerial photos, and letting it run all day in your pocket while hiking).

There is no one-size-fits-all GPS. Compromises between screen size/portability and battery life are the main choices you have to make. Anything large enough to be useful in a car is ponderous and short-lived on any kind of real hike.

:meh:


I started with MS Streets and Trips with an included USB antenna. Used that for a few years until I got a Tom Tom. Wife's car had in-dash, and the large screen rocks. I find I hardly use the phone GPS, but it's handy at times because you almost always have it with you. Hiking requires a dedicated unit for the right maps, long battery life, and low weight, plus a daylight readable screen. And yes, I always carry a paper map and compass when hiking.
 
Resurrecting GPS Thread

Howdy Folks! Seeing as this thread is almost 3 years old, I wanted to see who had any updates on the GPS/Topo combo. Being as 3 years has passed, I thought perhaps technology may have caught up to the 'ONE SIZE FITS ALL' scenerio for ON/OFF road navigating.

I'd love to find something that suits both purposes and also will allow for the setting of Waypoints on the fly when a new, good trail is rediscovered.

Your input is greatly appreciated!

John :popcorn:
 
Keep trying new stuff for off-road topo work including the very toy like iPad apps. However I keep going back to my Lowrance Baja 540C. Just came off a week in the back-sage (not many "woods" out here :D) of Nevada and I laid out the routes ahead of time at home on the full size puter. You can save all your daily tracks/routes/waypoints quite easily...after you figure the darn thing out ;)
 
:) I'm still love my Garmin 376c Marine GPS,i added an external Ant. ,2010 maps and Topo. Helped me a lot on new places and during hard rain to check ahead the road, mark trails on the forest, for hiking i use the 60CSX with topo also.
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rusty_tlc said:
Geeze Spresso, you've had that long enough for it to go obsolete twice.:flipoff2:





Multifunction GPS Chartplotter | LOWRANCE HDS-5m

And that's a Marine unit. Looks like the rest of the products in that family are combo fish finders and GPS.
Click to expand...


Fortunately I found aftermarket map support. Can't rely on Lowrance for any help :rolleyes:. There's a reason most baja racers still use Lowrance for incab nav. Its the best hardware form factor out there for that purpose.

I thought the iPad might finally be the holy grail. But too many compromises for it to go anywhere in its current design state...as it relates to my off-road topo requirements. And after almost a decade Micropuke still can't figure out touch screen.
 
Update:
As you are breathing life back into this thread, I ended up with the Garmin 765T. It was an ebay find. It worked fine while I was In Central America. The problem was finding maps for the region. My 4x4 compatriots hooked me up with the El Sal maps and supposedly Guatemala and Hondo but I never got a chance to test out the last two as my job assignment terminated and I have since relocated. Now with the unit in the U.S. it has not missed a beat on highways and secondary roads. I have yet to take this unit off road in the U.S. or hiking. It is quite light and I am a weight Nazi when it comes to my pack. This seems quite reasonable for its weight. I am also a bit curious how it will be on inland water, rivers and such so i plan to take it on my next kayak run as well.
 
locrwln1 said:
This one is getting close, but it just needs to have something in a 7" screen.

Garmin | Montana™

Both a street and trail GPS. We will see what the verdict is after some users have some real time use.

Jack
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That looks cool, I was really digging it up to the built in camera thingy. Why does everything have to have a built in camera? :confused:


How is the Overland Navigator/Laptop combo working out for you guys?

Edit: Okay this sounds cool I retract my camera comment

Take Geotagged Pictures

Capture locations and memories with Montana 650t’s 5 megapixel digital camera. Each photo is geotagged automatically with the location of where it was taken, allowing you to navigate back to that exact spot in the future. Snap and view pictures in landscape or portrait orientation. To keep track of your photos and show their location on a map, simply connect Montana 650t via USB and use Garmin’s free BaseCamp™ software. For more storage, insert a microSD™ card; you can even view pictures from other devices on microSD with Montana's picture viewer.
Click to expand...
 
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rusty_tlc said:
That looks cool, I was really digging it up to the built in camera thingy. Why does everything have to have a built in camera? :confused:


How is the Overland Navigator/Laptop combo working out for you guys?

Edit: Okay this sounds cool I retract my camera comment
Click to expand...

Well, not so good. I still have it, but I don't think I will be spending the money on a mount to put it in the truck. And the main reason is that ON does not have a "track up" feature, the maps are set as "North Up" only. I emailed Chris (the ON dude) about it, thinking that I was missing a feature, but no it does not have that option and he has no plans to intergrate that feature any time soon. I asked about that option on ExPo and you would have thought I was asking for the moon.

I just can't believe a program that was written in the last 5 years or so, still doesn't have a track up feature. Every GPS I have owned or used in the last 15 years has it. Other than that one GLARING omission, the maps and other features are great. It will get relagated to occasional/where the hell am I type uses.

So we continue with our Nuvi with Topo loaded (it really sucks with topos, but what the hell).

You can get the Montana without the camera, which I would anyway, I have other better cameras. Like I said, I will wait for both the price to come down and to see if they are going to make it with a bigger screen. Until that happens, the search for the perfect vehicle based/exploration/street navigation gps continues (not holding my breath).

Jack
 
No track up would suck, seems strange that that feature wouldn't be available.

I kind of changed my mind about the camera, last weekend I hiked the Ophir Creek Trail on an over nighter. To save weight I didn't take my camera but I did take my GPS. I wish I had some pictures from the trip now so I think the added functionality would be useful for hiking. Anyway 5MP is better resolution than the camera I use now.

The Geotagging features would also be kind of cool, ever look a t a picture and wonder WTH you were when you took it? I think some of the high end digital SLR cameras have a built in GPS for that reason.
 
The Montana might be a candidate, assuming they come up with something bigger than a 4" screen, as long as Garmin woke up and fixed their BS issue of rotating your field of view 180 degrees when you de-GPS and just want to scroll around the map looking at features, other trails, etc. Stupid fawks.

I have read good things about the Garmin Zumo (and last year they finally added a larger screen version...the Zumo 660) series but once again you're back up north of 6 bills and you have to put up with looking at a motorcycle pointer on the track screen :D But it will load and function from their topo map software.

I'd spend the coin if they had Apple like post sale support. But no effing way only to have to stress out over those clueless bastads (Yes: Based on my own actual experiences with Garmin...).
 
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