best handheld gps?

[grapedrink]

looking for something compact mostly for hiking, biking, paddling, camping, etc.. that can also be used as a car navigator or for navigating around a city on foot. no interest in geocaching. never used one before. hows the garmin etrex vista hcx?

[peterslovo]

Not sure if it's the BEST, but I have had the Garmin 60 csx for a couple years, and it does everything you ask. I've been quite pleased.

[hop]

I've used a wide variety of Garmin products and never been disappointed.

[Buzzworthy]

Garmin has stepped there products up a notch and are now by far the leading consumer GPS systems on the market.

(I used to be in the GPS business)

[grapedrink]

ok so garmin it is, i like the size of the vista hcx so i'll probably end up with that unless anyone says otherwise. i've read a few old threads on here but just to be sure.. as far as maps are concerned on the garmin site there's

TOPO U.S. 24K - Northeast https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=68271

and

US TOPO 24K National Parks, East https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=999


Is the latter included in the former or would I need both and will either have trail, route, campsite info (for say the adironacks) or is that something i have to find elsewhere and overlay? are these the best maps you can load on a garmin? oh yeah and TOPO Canada doesn't look to be nearly as detailed, any alternatives? thanks

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=1016

[Jonathan S.]

Vista/Legend HCx vs 60 CSx/Cx is a toss-up: the former twins are noticeably smaller & lighter, but the latter twins have larger screens. If I really wanted to optimize my setup, I'd keep my 60 Cx for outings where I expect to use a GPS, and then bring a Vista/Legend for when I just want it as emergency backup.

For Topo maps, just use these:
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/
A Polish software developer reverse-engineered the Garmin code, so now anyone with some spare time can follow the publicly available directions and reconfigure free government data into Garmin-compatible topo maps that are just as good as Garmin's. I have both Garmin 24k maps and the freebie versions on my GPS. In the northeast, it's pretty much a toss-up. (Garmin has more trail coverage, but the trails locations are often very inaccurate.) On Rainier last year, I found that the Garmin version had a slightly faster screen redraw, but nothing to pay extra $ for. (I bought them before the freebie versions were available.)

For car navigation though, I'm pretty sure that only Garmin's City Navigator map supports auto-routing (which is a big plus).

[RShea]

A few keys to the handhelds- first is the screen brightness and being able to read it in bright sunlight.

Also if you plan on using it in the woods or anywhere that there will be thick canopy the antenna is important. The Quadrifilar helix antennas are better than a standard patch antenna.

Also consider battery (hours and type used) if you will be spending longer times out in the wilderness.

[Platinum Pete]

I think I saw the Garmin 60 csx in the REI mailer for like $150 off MSRP... not totally sure this is what you're looking for but might make the deal for you. Alternately, it might signal end of life for that product and a new & improved version on the come up.

What do you guys think of the touchscreen Garmins like the Oregon series? Seems like a nice big screen. Drawbacks besides challenges to operate with gloves on?

[GeezerSteve]

Vista/Legend HCx vs 60 CSx/Cx is a toss-up

Except for this, which can be a big deal in the PNW:

Also if you plan on using it in the woods or anywhere that there will be thick canopy the antenna is important. The Quadrifilar helix antennas are better than a standard patch antenna.

FWIW, when I'm limiting my GPS use to alpine and subalpine terrain (i.e., clear view of sky) I go with the cheapo ultralight compact Garmin Geko 201. I've threaded the needle in pea soup on some pretty serious high routes with the Geko. It aint a mere toy. But it's practicably worthless for lowland forest, car, montane forest or anywhere else without a clear view of the sky.

[LeeLau]

The Vista Legend HCX works well. It even works in the dense forest canopy of North Vancouver woods.

As for maps - here are free Canadian maps for you grapedrink. http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/

[capulin overdrive]

how do the phone apps stack up against carrying a GPS?

Iphone, Droid, etc.?

[Jonathan S.]

I think I saw the Garmin 60 csx in the REI mailer for like $150 off MSRP... not totally sure this is what you're looking for but might make the deal for you. Alternately, it might signal end of life for that product and a new & improved version on the come up.

Flyer just arrived in the mail -- only $200 starting on May 21.
The new & "improved" Garmin models are more gimmicky and IMHO less useful for backcountry skiing & ski mountaineering, etc.

[Jonathan S.]

FWIW, when I'm limiting my GPS use to alpine and subalpine terrain (i.e., clear view of sky) I go with the cheapo ultralight compact Garmin Geko 201. I've threaded the needle in pea soup on some pretty serious high routes with the Geko. It aint a mere toy. But it's practicably worthless for lowland forest, car, montane forest or anywhere else without a clear view of the sky.

Sat lock is a function of both antenna and chipset. The 60 series improved dramatically with the switch to a better chipset, even though the antenna remained the same.
The HCx version of the Legend/Vista has a comparable chipset to the 60 series. The antenna is different, but I don't know how much difference that makes. I do know that the 60 CSx/Cx has downright scary reception. I mean, you'll start thinking, those sat signals are bouncing around even down here? (For example, my basement ski room has *no* windows. Another room across a small hallway has a very small window with a very limited view of the sky. Yet the 60 Cx still gets perfect reception down there.)
By contrast, the older Geko line has both a less capable antenna and less capable chipset.

[LightRanger]

The new & "improved" Garmin models are more gimmicky and IMHO less useful for backcountry skiing & ski mountaineering, etc.

Agreed. And battery life blows compared to the Legend/Vista.

[GeezerSteve]

. . . the 60 CSx/Cx has downright scary reception. * * * By contrast, the older Geko line has both a less capable antenna and less capable chipset.

Agreed, although the Geko has never failed me at or above tree line, i.e., 90%+ of my use so far.

I traveled with a Vista/Legend, 60CSx and Geko side-by-side on a NCNP cliffy montane forest approach route. The 60CSx had reception c. 100% of the time, V/L c. 75%, and my Geko 201 c. 30%. Certainly not a scientifically sound test, but the constant reception of the 60 blew my mind.

(I plan to get a 60CSx from REI on Friday.)

I'd prefer a simple unit with the better chipset/receiver and quad helix antenna, but without the map function. I always use map and compass as my primary navigation tools, and always will. All I want is the ability to store waypoints, mark waypoints and get bearing and distance to stored waypoints. I don't need no stinkin' map on a screen. But neither Garmin nor anybody else is going to make my dream unit.

[XavierD]

how do the phone apps stack up against carrying a GPS?

Iphone, Droid, etc.?

really? really?
they suck balls. if your needed accuracy is 4 digits then your fine. If not your fucked. My iphone just put me about 65m 195deg from my actual position. I have had it up to 200m off. The compass is also balls, generally +/- 20 deg, except when in an area with heavy computer usage (big computers) then it just goes any which way.

[grapedrink]

cool, looks like its the 60csx or vista hcx. i'll have to go back to mec and compare sizes. and wait for that price drop. thanks for the link lee! anything similar for the states?

[Jonathan S.]

anything similar for the states?

if you mean topo maps, then:

For Topo maps, just use these:
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/
A Polish software developer reverse-engineered the Garmin code, so now anyone with some spare time can follow the publicly available directions and reconfigure free government data into Garmin-compatible topo maps that are just as good as Garmin's. I have both Garmin 24k maps and the freebie versions on my GPS. In the northeast, it's pretty much a toss-up. (Garmin has more trail coverage, but the trails locations are often very inaccurate.) On Rainier last year, I found that the Garmin version had a slightly faster screen redraw, but nothing to pay extra $ for. (I bought them before the freebie versions were available.)

[Buzzworthy]

Don't have time to look up, but do any of these say WAAS capable?
Google WAAS for more info. Kinda what Rshea is referring to on the antenna and what sats it will pick up for better accuracy.

Canopy can be interesting with these consumer ones. I used a $3K system under canopy with 1M accuracy. But again, it was from the company I worked for.


Want the real deal, look up Hemisphere GPS. $$$.

[GeezerSteve]

Yes, all or nearly all the models discussed in this thread are WAAS enabled.

[Buzzworthy]

Yes, all or nearly all the models discussed in this thread are WAAS enabled.

Good good, thanks Big SteveO!

[grapedrink]

if you mean topo maps, then:

whoops, not sure how i missed that. thanks for the info everyone

[HikeforTurns]

If you carry a radio, consider the Rino 530 HCX, just had mine a couple months now and am pretty pleased with it.

[mnflyfish]

The Vista Legend HCX works well. It even works in the dense forest canopy of North Vancouver woods.

As for maps - here are free Canadian maps for you grapedrink. http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/

I have the Legend HCX and love it. I can even get a signal inside my house. Simple to use, light weight, I also use it as a bike computer. I'm part of a SAR group and use mine weekly for training and it's very accurate. I downloaded some free maps off a website that I found here on TGR.

gpsfiledepot.com.

[Platinum Pete]

(I plan to get a 60CSx from REI on Friday.)

I bought one today. I don't know what I am doing yet. I went to gpsfiledepot and it looks like I have to get smarter. Not an "insert batteries and you're good to go" scenario. Time to read the manual and the how-to docs on the site.