Showing posts with label Hiking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hiking. Show all posts

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Garmin eTrex Legend C Waterproof Hiking GPS

Garmin eTrex Legend C Waterproof Hiking GPS Review



I've had the Legend C for 3+ years and love it. By now you can buy it with a memory card which is much better for street software. For just topo software, the older style is fine (but 8 MB in the basic legend is not).

First off, Garmin is an outstanding company. After 2 years of hard travel all over the world, the rubber surround was coming loose so I sent it in to get repaired fully willing to pay (even with the loose rubber surround, it never faltered in heavy rain). Rather, Garmin sent me a brand new one free of charge (despite clear signs of hard use including large scratches on the screen).

Second, this is for hobbyist- if you're doing serious wilderness work, get a higher end one (and for what it is worth, Magellan's hand held works better in heavy rain forest canopy cover).

With that said, I love my Legend C and only wish I had the Vista with built in compass. Without the compass, it won't give you bearing unless you're moving. I have a mount for my mountain bike (and my dash board which also works with a Garmin StreetPilot) and I don't bike without it. Get a case with the belt clip and you can put it on your pack while hiking or geocaching.

Color screen is worth the extra cost. Just wish I knew how to get rid of all the nautical markings!

Finally, you'll want the topo software which has all streets and is fine unless you're doing address mapping. Free software is fine but for you can get Google Earth Plus and upload your way points and tracks there!



Garmin eTrex Legend C Waterproof Hiking GPS Feature


  • Automatic route generation, off-route recalculation, turn-by-turn directions and more help navigate you safely to your destination
  • Waterproof to IEC 60529 IPX7 standards (submersible in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes)
  • Mini-USB port for fast, convenient download of map data
  • 256-color, sunlight-readable display, 36-hour battery life and 24 MB internal memory
  • Measures 1.2 x 1.3 x 4.7 inches (WxHxD)



Garmin eTrex Legend C Waterproof Hiking GPS Overview


eTrex Legend® C

The eTrex Legend® C is Garmin's exciting, new, pocket-sized handheld that brings color, automatic routing, longer battery life, plus more to our popular-selling eTrex Legend. You won't miss a thing when you take this colorful, lightweight, easy-to-use handheld out hiking, biking, boating or even geocaching. The eTrex Legend C along with the eTrex Vista C are Garmin's smallest, least expensive products to combine a color TFT display and advanced GPS routing capabilities in a waterproof design.

Outdoor enthusiasts will love the latest improvements made to the eTrex Legend C:

  • 256-color, sunlight-readable display makes it easy to distinguish map details and see where you're going
  • Automatic route generation, off-route recalculation, turn-by-turn directions with alert tones, and icon-driven menus for finding points of interest (when combined with Garmin?s optional MapSource® CDs) navigate you safely to your destination*
  • Longer battery life for more hours of outdoor enjoyment
  • Mini-USB port for fast, convenient download of map data from Garmin's entire library of optional MapSource CDs using a PC
  • 24 MB of internal memory for lots of map storage


Of course the eTrex Legend C still includes those popular features that users have come to love and expect in the eTrex product line, such as a compact, lightweight, waterproof design and user-friendly interface. The eTrex Legend C is WAAS-enabled, and like all eTrex units, the primary controls are oriented on the side of the unit, so the user can conveniently operate it with one hand. Also, an innovative rocker switch is located on the face of the unit that enables the user to input data easily, scroll through menus, or pan the map page.

*When Using City Navigator® data, unit has limited memory for mapping.


Garmin eTrex Legend C Waterproof Hiking GPS Specifications


Garmin's pocket-sized eTrex Legend C handheld GPS unit enhances Garmin's popular eTrex Legend with a color screen, automatic routing, and longer battery life, making it one of the smallest, least expensive waterproof products to combine a color TFT display with advanced GPS auto-routing abilities. You won't miss a thing when you take this lightweight, easy-to-use handheld out hiking, biking, boating, or geocaching.


Compass indicates direction. View larger.

An easy-to-read color map. View larger.

Displays nearby attractions. View larger.

The eTrex Legend C packs advanced GPS navigation into a compact, waterproof device.
The unit offers a bright, transflective color TFT display for easy daylight viewing, automatic route generation, off-route recalculation, turn-by-turn directions with alert tones, and icon-driven menus for finding points of interest (when combined with Garmin's optional MapSource CDs). You'll get up to 36 hours of use on two AA batteries. The unit offers 24 MB of internal memory and its mini-USB port lets you download map data rapidly from Garmin's library of MapSource CDs (not included) with your PC.

You'll enjoy outstanding accuracy of less than three meters (10 feet) when the device is enabled to receive enhanced GPS signals from the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) in the United States. Like on all eTrex units, the primary controls are located on the side of the unit, so you can operate it with one hand. An innovative rocker switch on its face makes inputting data easy, and with it you can scroll through menus or pan the map page.

Other key features of the eTrex Legend C include an auto-route basemap (featuring general map data like highways, major roads, rivers, lakes, and borders); a waterproof design (to IEC 60529 IPX7 standards--submersible in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes); 500 waypoints/routes/tracks (with graphic identification); 50 reversible routes; 20 saved tracks; 10,000 trackpoints; TracBack technology); alarms (proximity waypoint, anchor drag, and off-course, as well as a built-in alarm clock); a GPS patch antenna; selectable audio tones and color schemes; a stopwatch; a hunting/fishing calendar; sun/moon calculations; and a trip computer.

The Legend C includes a built-in, permanent basemap, Americas Recreational, which cannot be altered. The Americas Recreational Routable Basemap v2 includes the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America, and covers an area from longitude 30 to 180 degrees west and latitude from 60 degrees south to 75 degrees north. It includes a high-level, worldwide map featuring borders and major cities.

Standard map coverage includes oceans, rivers, lakes greater than 30 square miles, lakes greater than five square miles in the U.S. and southern Canada, lakes greater than 10 square miles in central and northern Canada, principal cities, some smaller cities and towns, major interstates, principal highways, political boundaries (state and international borders), major airports, and a database of Interstate exits for the Federal Interstate highway system. This last includes many establishments within about 0.25 mile of exits, including restaurants; diesel and gas stations; hotels, motels, and inns; overnight RV parking; dumps; campgrounds; truck stops; medical facilities; shopping and outlet malls; ATMs; and many more such attractions.


What's in the Box
eTrex Legend C GPS receiver, basemap (Americas Recreational), MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager CD, PC/USB interface cable, wrist strap, quick reference guide, and owner's manual.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!




*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Oct 28, 2010 13:00:03

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Garmin GPSMAP 60C Water Resistant Hiking GPS

Garmin GPSMAP 60C Water Resistant Hiking GPS Review



This is probably my 4th handheld GPS. I also own a bluetooth GPS for the PC. I use the GARMIN in my car sometimes, but mainly on my kayak trips.
Before this I had a Magellan Sportrak color. It was stolen and replaced with this unit after I tried a friend's Garmin.
I use this GPS frequently and it is hands-down my favorite. It doesn't do the same job a GPS meant for a car does, but for the outdoors it is great.
I have downloaded maps onto it (it appears to only like Garmin maps) and everything was easy.
The display is bright and clear even in open sunlight on the water, something I could not say for the Magellan.
I highly recommend this model for hiking, biking, and kayaking.



Garmin GPSMAP 60C Water Resistant Hiking GPS Feature


  • Sunlight-readable, transreflective TFT display
  • Integrated outdoor calendar
  • Geolocation games, including geocaching mode
  • Waterproof in one meter of water for up to thirty minutes (IPX-7 standards)
  • 30-hour battery life (uses 2 AA batteries); includes serial and USB interfaces



Garmin GPSMAP 60C Water Resistant Hiking GPS Overview


The GPSMAP 60C is an all-purpose unit - packed with exciting new features and delivering the kind of color that consumers want in their handheld GPSs. This lightweight, rugged, waterproof unit raises the bar to offer a 256-color, highly reflective display that provides easy viewing in almost any lighting condition. This transreflective TFT technology provides excellent viewing while maximizing your battery life.The GPSMAP 60C is packed with extra features, including rapid automatic route calculation, an integrated outdoor calendar, a dedicated geocaching mode, and indoor/outdoor GPS games that turn the outdoors into a giant gameboard. into a giant gameboard.


Garmin GPSMAP 60C Water Resistant Hiking GPS Specifications


The Garmin GPSMap 60C is full of features that are only found on the newest generation GPS handheld units. It's not enough just to have color displays anymore. Garmin knows this, and they upped the ante with this lightweight, rugged, waterproof unit, offering a 256-color, highly reflective display that provides easy viewing in almost any lighting condition, including sunlit conditions.


Main menu. View larger.

Map page. View larger.

The Garmin GPSMap 60C packs GPS navigation into a compact, waterproof device. View larger.
The 60C's WAAS GPS receiver has an accuracy of 10 feet in North America. With the 50 reversible routes, 10,000 track points, and 500 waypoints, you're sure to have enough tools to find your way. The trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more. Meanwhile, a fast processor allows the 60C to provide quick auto-routing, turn-by-turn directions, and audio alerts when you use the optional MapSource software, which can be stored on the unit's 56 MB of internal memory. Downloading information is quick with the USB or serial port interfaces. Using the dedicated serial port, the 60C can share navigation instructions with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots. The four-position rocker pad and dedicated high-use buttons make navigating through the unit's features easy, even when your fingers are cold or wet.

Finally, the GPSMap 60C is packed with some extra fun features. An integrated outdoor calendar provides ideal hunting and fishing times, plus moon rise/set/location information. There is a dedicated geocaching mode for those of you into the hot GPS community treasure hunt game. Finally, there are indoor/outdoor GPS games to help you and your friends enjoy the outdoors.

Garmin produces some key accessories for the 60C. If you'll be on the road, Garmin's U.S. topographical MapSource CD-ROM provides the most detailed maps available. Or, for a combination of detailed U.S. maps and a car kit for mounting and powering your GPS, there's an automotive accessory pack for North America.


What's in the Box
GPSMap 60C receiver, basemap (Americas Recreational), MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager CD, PC/USB interface cable, lanyard, belt clip, quick start guide, and owner's manual.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!




*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Oct 23, 2010 11:17:03

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS

Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS Review



Love it! It is true that the screen is not quite as bright as other models, but I haven't found that to be a problem. I love the ease of using the touch screen! The menu is super easy to navigate, and the touchscreen makes it is much easier to scroll around on the map to see what is around you, makes it easier to explore areas. It fits very securely on the bike, is fairly compact, takes rechargeable AA batteries, which is a VERY nice feature (and essential) when out on a long tour. (Carry spares and don't worry about batteries going dead! ) I've tried the Edge 705, but like this much better for it's ease of use (especially the menu). I chose it over an eTrex model, because I like using the Garmin Connect website. 4 stars because the screen brightness does leave something to be desired.



Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS Feature


  • Sunlight-readable, 2.6-inch color touchscreen display
  • High-sensitivity GPS with HotFix satellite prediction
  • Built to withstand the elements: bumps, dust, dirt and water
  • Preloaded with a worldwide basemap plus has 850 MB of free internal memory for map transfers
  • Includes 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass, barometric altimeter, microSD slot, and wireless sharing between units



Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS Overview


Outdoor navigation meets touchscreen simplicity in Dakota 20. This rugged, palm-sized navigator combines touchscreen navigation, high-sensitivity GPS with HotFix satellite prediction, barometric altimeter, 3-axis electronic compass and microSD card slot in one affordable, power-packed punch.


Garmin Dakota 20 Waterproof Hiking GPS Specifications


Outdoor navigation meets touchscreen simplicity in Dakota 20. This rugged, palm-sized navigator combines touchscreen navigation, high-sensitivity GPS with HotFix satellite prediction, barometric altimeter, 3-axis electronic compass and microSD card slot in one affordable, power-packed punch.

Touchscreen navigation, high-sensitivity GPS with HotFix satellite prediction, and a worldwide basemap. Click to enlarge.

(Click on image below to change view.)


2.6-inch touchscreen with easy-to-use interface.

Touchscreen navigation for the great outdoors.

Touch and Go
Dakota 20 makes outdoor navigation effortless with a tough, sunlight-readable, 2.6 inch color touchscreen display. The interface is easy to use, so you'll spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time searching for information. Both durable and waterproof, Dakota 20 is built to withstand the elements: bumps, dust, dirt and water are no match for this rugged navigator.

Get Your Bearings
Dakota 20 has a built-in 3-axis electronic compass, which shows your heading even when you're standing still or not holding the device level. Its barometric altimeter tracks changes in pressure to pinpoint your precise altitude, and you can even use it to plot barometric pressure over time, which can help you keep an eye on changing weather conditions. And with its high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver with HotFix satellite prediction, Dakota 20 locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover and deep canyons.

Find Fun
Get into paperless geocaching with Dakota 20 by quickly downloading up to 2,000 caches, with information such as location, terrain, difficulty, hints and description--no more paper print outs and manually entered coordinates. Visit our geocaching pages for more information.

Explore the Terrain
Dakota 20 comes with built-in worldwide basemap, so you can navigate anywhere with ease. Adding more maps is easy with Garmin's wide array of detailed topographic, marine and road maps, available on microSD card.

Share Wirelessly
With Dakota 20 you can share your waypoints, tracks, routes and geocaches wirelessly with other compatible Dakota, Foretrex, Oregon and Colorado users. Now you can send your favorite route or geocache location to a friend easily. Just touch "send" to transfer your information to similar devices.

What's in the Box
Dakota 20, Lanyard, USB cable, Owner's manual on disk, Quick start manual

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!




*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Oct 21, 2010 11:37:03

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Garmin eTrex Legend Cx Waterproof Hiking GPS

Garmin eTrex Legend Cx Waterproof Hiking GPS Review



I purchased the Garmin eTrex Legend CX exclusively for ice fishing. It works great with no problems. The battery life is good depending on usage. Also I like the fact that is it compatible with the pre-programmed SD cards like the Garmin 010-C0458-00 Inland Lakes Data Card for the Northeast U.S.. Just slide in the card and it is ready to use, no downloading or installation required. The only issue I get frustrated with is that the initial start-up of the unit takes about 5 minutes to find the satellite signal in my area. That may be because I use he full detail feature. However when the signal is found, it stay's acquired and is never lost. I am able to program and mark fishing hot spots so I know where I need to go when I go back on the lakes.

The unit is very lightweight, easy to carry and the colored LCD is bright and easy to read (even in sunlight). The rubberized housing makes it easy to hold and not slip out of your hands.

Some great optional accessories you may want to consider are:
GARMIN 010-10314-00 Carrying Case
Sony Power Battery Charger with 4 AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
GARMIN 010-10563-00 12V Adapter Cable



Garmin eTrex Legend Cx Waterproof Hiking GPS Feature


  • 64 MB microSD card for MapSource data gives you the versatility of adding highly detailed maps
  • 256-color, sunlight-readable display makes it easy to distinguish map details and see where you're going
  • Support for English, Spanish, Portugese, and French languages.
  • Automatic route generation, off-route recalculation, turn-by-turn directions with alert tones
  • Mini-USB port for fast, convenient download of map data from Garmin's entire library of optional MapSource CDs using a PC



Garmin eTrex Legend Cx Waterproof Hiking GPS Overview


The eTrex Legend Cx is a versatile, pocket-sized handheld mapping product ideal for both marine and outdoor use. It provides a bright, sunlight-readable color TFT display and includes a 32MB microSD card for storage of optional map detail. Garmin preprogrammed microSD cards can be purchased, providing detail for Topo, BlueChart, Fishing Hot Spots, Minnesota LakeMaster Promaps and European streets. The 64MB microSD card can also be loaded with data from MapSource products like BlueChart, U.S. Topo 24K, Minnesota LakeMaster Promaps and City Navigator. Fast USB connectivity makes loading charts and maps quick and easy, while navigation instructions can be shared with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots using NMEA protocols through the dedicated serial port.


Garmin eTrex Legend Cx Waterproof Hiking GPS Specifications


Amazon.com Product Description With the Legend Cx, Garmin has updated a much-loved device with expandable memory on a microSD card so you can load optional map data for your hiking, hunting, and other outdoor excursions. Add to that a bright, full-color TFT display, automatic routing, and long, 36-hour battery life, and you've got a great companion for your next outdoor or boating adventure.



Compass indicates direction. View larger.


Displays nearby attractions. View larger.

The Legend Cx features a bright color screen, 36 hour battery life, microSD card maps, and more.
You can use the Legend Cx's memory card slot with preprogrammed microSD cards from Garmin (sold separately) that provide topographic maps, city streets, and nautical charts. In fact, the unit is compatible with most Garmin MapSource products, including BlueChart, City Navigator, U.S. Topo 24K, and U.S. Topo and Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots. The unit comes preloaded with an Americas autoroute basemap that provides automatic routing capabilities, including highways, exits, and tide data. You can even get turn-by-turn directions when you're driving, and an integrated trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more.

As on all eTrex units, the primary controls are located on the side of the unit, so you can operate it with one hand. An innovative rocker switch on its face makes inputting data easy, and with it you can scroll through menus or pan the map page. Fast USB connectivity makes loading charts and maps quick and easy, while navigation instructions can be shared with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots using NMEA protocols through the dedicated serial port. Additionally, the case is water resistant to IEC 60529 IPX7 standards (can be submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes).

Another key feature of the Legend Cx is the 10,000-point automatic track log; 20 saved tracks (500 points each) let you retrace your path in both directions. There's also a large-numbers option for easy viewing, as well as a dual-position display mode. Lastly, the unit includes built-in celestial tables for best times to fish and hunt, plus sun and moon calculations.

If you like the features of the Legend Cx but require an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter, check out the Garmin eTrex Vista Cx.


What's in the Box
Legend Cx unit, 32 MB microSD card, USB interface cable, MapSource Trip and Waypoint Manager CD, lanyard, owner's manual, and quick-start guide.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!




*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 26, 2010 19:45:04