Need Garmin GPS recommendations
Elk
Contributors to this thread:
I have an old Garmin 12 GPS that has served me well for nearly 20 years, but I am wanting to upgrade to a more modern model that I can use the Wyoming surface ownership chip in to tell what is private and what is public. Haven't shopped for a GPS in ages, can anyone recommend a good color screen
Garmin that accepts microSD cards and you have had good experience with?
Thanks.
I'm currently in the market for a new Garmin as well. Narrowed my choice to 3. Montana, Oregon and 64S. Can't decide if I want to go touch screen or buttons. OnXMaps is supposed to be reviewing their top 5 Garmin Picks today on their Blog. All three of these get pretty good reviews and accept microSD cards and are hunter friendly.
The Blog is almost done but we will be releasing it Tuesday now. It will go out via our newsletter list and I'll be sure to post it here as well.
The Montana, Oregon, 64S would be my top 3 if you don't need a radio. Of course there are some price differences in these 3 models. Basically skip the t models and I don't use the camera so I skip those models. That will save you some cost. Then it starts to come down to budget and personal preference. The biggest is gonna be touch screen vs. buttons. These aren't the nice touch screens you see on your phone though and even though you can use with a glove it is really hard to actually select on the screen what you want with a glove on so usually the gloves come off. I'll have a nice chart with some of the specs on each model on Tuesday when I post the blog.
Cheers, Matt
I have a thread running on this very topic.
Love my Montana 650! Color touch screen is awesome compared to my previous stone age model. if you intend to keep it as long as you last one like me I didn't care what it cost. I just bought the one I wanted. It's an investment.
I look forward to seeing your rankings on your blog.
I'd rather have buttons than touchscreen. I basically want the most barebones model that has a 3" color screen and a microSD card slot. I don't need a radio, camera, dishwasher or any of that other fancy stuff.
Plywood Bender, where is your thread at, I'd like to look at it?
Joshua
I could use a dishwasher!
Are all of the oregons touch screen? I was just looking at the 450 and 600, neither have the "T" but seems both are touchscreen? I agree with josh, I just want to upgrade my etrex for a bigger screen.
Alright, another question, what is the difference between the GPS units intended for vehicle use and ones like mentioned above (Oregon, Montana, etc.)?
Do you like the
etrex okay except for the 2.2" screen? Everything else about it you like ok?
Some answers:
The only option for buttons is really the etrex20 and 64S, the 64s is 3.07 Squared inches for the screen and has an MSRP of 299.99.
All the Oregons are touch screen. The 600 is the identical replacement for the discontinued 450 model. It has a slimmer profile, same screen size, new software system, and it has a new screen that is not affected by sunlight glare.
Etrex is great and is one of my top 5 recommended. Just be aware that I have found this GPS to be the hardest to learn as far as navigating through the menus and operating tasks so be sure to practice!
The nuvi models work great for vechicle use mostly, also work great with our maps. The battery life is not great so it's not gonna last more than maybe 1-4 hours in the field if you remove it from the vehicle. The do not take batteries so must be charged from a vehicle or other power source.
Eric, without going into too much technical detail, what about the Etrex makes it more complicated than some of the others you mentioned?
Joshua
If you don't want a touch screen, I'll sell you my Etrex for $50. I bought it last year and use my iPhone over it because I prefer touch screen. I've used it once.
Joshua-
It was titled
In the Market for a New GPS
I brought it to the top, I think
Carl
IDYll... If josh isn't interested in your etrex I may be. I need something for the girlfriend. Let me know.
Love my montana 650, I've had it for a few years now, I use it a ton in the winter ice fishing Lake Winnipeg, so its held up
what is the cheapest model that has the land ownership feature?
kyhunter13...The land ownership feature comes with the SD Card, not the GPS. Any unit that accepts SD cards can have this feature. You will however pay upwards of $100 per state for the card.
I have a Garmin 62st I got back in August. So far no complaints. I have the Hunt map micro SD card installed.
I will sell a never used, but turned on to confirm it is in perfect working order, Garmin Oregon 600 for $299.00 plus $10 for shipping to your door. All cables, belt carabiner, instructions, manuals, etc. included in the box. Will throw in a couple new AA batteries for good measure. It has the latest version of software update installed. I was given an Oregon 650 (the camera version) and now have no need for the new 600. It has never been out of my driveway. They are $400.00 retail at the stores.
Listed in Bowsite Classifieds at this time
I have a brand new Oregon 650T I'd sell or trade...I am used to the 60CSX, and am having a hard time getting used to this one...
Thought I'd add one thing to this discussion. When I purchased my Garmin Rino 655t, I thought that the camera was an unnecessary function.
It takes better quality pics than I had anticipated though. It also provided concrete evidence of the exact location of a trespasser on some land that I was hunting. And without that camera function, I would have no pictures of my WY bull before I broke him down.
For me, the camera function has come in handier than I anticipated.
Doesn't the OnX Landowner SD cards only work in Garmins?
I recently upgraded from a 15 year old etrex, and I did a lot of comparing, they are quite an investment, and for the purchase price I wanted to make sure I was going to be happy with it for a while. That being said it basically came down to whether I wanted a touchscreen or buttons. I had read some things about the touchscreens not working with gloves on, or being slow in the cold. The screens on the touchscreens aren't the same as the screens on an Iphone or a galaxy. I decided to go with the Garmin GPSMAP 64s. The interface takes a bit to get used to but so far I love it. The only decent case I could find for it was made by a company called gizmovest. It's a very nice, although a bit bulky textured rubber case, I also bought a fitted screen protector and I have a feeling this thing will last for years. I also bought the huntxmap wy chip last week, and so far I am very impressed, although I haven't yet figured out a way to integrate it with the birdseye imagery that I downloaded. It seems like I have to use one map set or the other, and that I can't overlay the huntxmaps over the birdseye. Not a big deal, just can be annoying to swith back and forth. Looking forward to reading the review blog, and expect the 64s will be up on your list.
Rwatson3...I'm debating the same thing you went through and was curious is the Birdseye imagery could be used with the OnXMaps. I'm leaning hard towards the 64S as well I'm waiting for the review before I buy, but assume the 64S will be at or near the top.
so if you buy the sd card it is outdated as soon as you buy it im assuming or is there a way that you can update it? I mean what if the land gets sold or broken up now the sd card is useless? or am I missing something?
Ky...yes, you can download updates for the card. I think OnXMaps updates are $30.
got it ......thanks kota man......
Will the landowner SD card work in a Garmin 60CSx?
onXmaps's Link
Here's our blog post everyone. I'll try to address your questions but if I miss it please let me know.
Joshuaf: Etrex has 3 buttons to navigate through all the settings, it's not hard but you will spend time figuring it out and have to dig a little more than with the other units.
Kota-man: When you buy our chip and register it on our website you will get updates for a year, after that the updates are available to purchase on our site.
Beaneater: Our chip works on top of Garmin's basecamp (the base map on Garmin's GPS units) software. The chip also works on any computer with a micro SD card reader. To use the chip on your computer download Garmin Basecamp (free) from their site and then just plug your HUNT chip in. The Garmin GPS unit must have a color screen and a SD slot to use our HUNT chip.
Hope this helps everyone. If you have any questions please visit our website.
Thanks for the review Matt. I am still no closer to making a decision. I really need to go look at my top 3 in person before deciding. Montana, Oregon or 64S....Hmmmm.
I own the dakota 20 i wanted a smaller device with long batt life its touch screen and easy to use device
City...That's one of my issues. My eyes will be 50 years old this year, and may actually enjoy the larger screen on the Montana even though it weighs more!
The larger screen is why I went with the Montana. I'm 51 and about two years ago I started using readers. It's nice to not have to fish out a pair of glasses every time I want to check a boundary or something similar.
Thats what I'm talking about Woodsman416...Bought my first pair of readers last year at 48 years young and now can't go without them up close in low light.
Nick says I should just use my Ipad and he's probably right!