First GPS

[Trey Arentz]

Hey guys I’m heading to Colorado for the first time this year. Looking to get my first GPS and have no idea where to even start. I’m not sure the difference between handheld and a watch. Any recommendations would be great!

 

[Linedawg]

if you have a smart phone look into on-x uses your phone as a gps a lot cheaper option

 

[LandYacht]

Garmin 64S. Tried the cell phone thing and didn’t like it. I suppose if you had a waterproof phone it would be okay, but even then it’s not as nice using the touch screen with gloves to mark waypoints or navigate through the different parts of the app as a dedicated GPS with buttons like the 64S.


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[Kootenay Hunter]

I have had poor success with touch screen GPS units, phones or otherwise. When my hands are cold and wet or have gloves on using a touch screen can be frustrating, always an issue when you absolutely need it to work! Also, GPS units have a much better antenna/receiver than smart phones, with better accuracy.

I prefer a dedicated GPS with buttons, I use a Garmin GPSMAP 64ST. It also has the ability to use Garmin's 'bird's eye' which does a satellite overlay like google maps. sometimes it's more updated than google, sometimes not.

Watches typically do not show a map, you can just mark way points, follow a compass direction, and follow a trail you've left, very basic features.

We don't have OnX in Canada or have the same issues with public/private boundaries, so that feature is not important to me.

 

[muddydogs]

Phone app is about the best you can do. Way cheaper then a dedicated GPS unit, phone gets just as good if not better GPS signal and a touch screen is really no big deal to use. Company's are making gloves these day that are touch screen compatible.

A watch is a nice companion to a GPS but in general there lacking in the map and photo area.

Here's what I do for my GPS needs. I have a Garmin InReach for satellite communications, I have the Garmin Earthmate app which is free with an InReach subscription on my phone which takes care of all my GPS needs. I feel for my needs the Earthmate app is every bit as good as Onx but I don't need an overlay to tell me if an area has been burned or not as I can read aerial photo's just fine. Just this year I have added the Garmin Instinct watch which is a simple GPS unit that communicates to Garmin's Explore phone app which in turn shares waypoint with the Earthmate app. So for quick navigation I can use the watch, when I need more indepth maps and photo's I use the phone and Earthmate.

 

[AirborneEScouter]

For cheap and simple use, I have the Garmin Foretrex 401. It is not fancy. However, you can plot points and the system will point you in the direction of said points (ie truck, campsite, glassing point, etc). We also download areas on google maps and onX on our phones as well but those can be hit or miss.

I was on an elk/mule deer hunt 2 years ago and packed one out (by myself) and it got dark before I got back to camp. Our campsite was only a few hundred yards from the main trail - I thought I'd be able to figure it out without GPS assistance but felt like I was in unfamiliar territory once I got in range. Turned my foretrex on and it got me back to camp no problem (I wasn't too far off).

 

[Beendare]

Sold my GPS [multiple]

GAIA on my iPhone is better for multiple reasons....used it from Alaska, to the rocky mtn. and even in Japan- it kills a GPS for 1/10 the cost.

 

[Felix40]

Big fan of gaia here too. Get a waterproof case for your phone. Then get a battery pack like an aker or similar. Leave it on airplane mode while you are out there and you can go for several weeks like that.

 

[Bubblehide]

Get an In-Reach and pair it to your phone, you will then have the GPS abilities along with communication abilities, and kill two birds with one stone. Eventually you will be looking at an In-Reach anyway, do it now and save yourself some unnecessary spending.

 

[backcountrymuzzy]

If I were in the market for a new GPS I would definitely get the Garmin 66i. It appears to be an upgraded 64st with a bigger screen and the InReach SOS/texting built in. It's $600 though...

I have the 64st and use that as well as my phone, I would highly recommend not depending 100% on a smartphone if you are going deep anywhere.

 

[longspeak74]

Just picked up a Garmin Foretrex 401 based on the good reviews it got. I am not tech savy, so it's taking me a bit to get the handle of it. Also thought about getting a Bushnell Backtrack as backup. I liked the idea of a wrist-style GPS rather than a handheld.

 

[Carr5vols]

Have garmin that I never use anymore, use phone all the time now. Smart phone and on x works great for me.

 

[Whiskey_Fish]

I retired my eTrex Legend when I went to onX.

But the best move I ever made was pairing an inReach mini to the instinct watch. I never miss my pre-planned check-ins because they're so stinking convenient with the watch. My wife is much happier for it. Mini stays clipped being my shoulder at all times now. GPS accuracy between iPhone and ok breach have been within 3m for two years consistently.


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[Mike098777]

I use a gamin 530, works for me.

 

[Still Hunter]

I tried to upgrade my Garmin Standard maps on my 64ST and the map upgrade was apparently "no longer supported" . Software upgraded, but maps did not. I sent an email to Garmin but they never replied. My Onx chips continue work find on it so I will continue to use it. Not sure I would buy a new 64ST at this time.

 

[excaliber]

I use a Garmin Montana 650T I like it allot and it works well. We tried using the OnX maps on my friends phone but when we moved quite a ways away from his intended areas to hunt, we went off the screen.
My GPS worked much better than his phone did.

 

[kboatman107]

I use a garmin etrex 20x. Nothing fancy about it but it gets me from point A to B. And the battery life on it is really good. Also use onx on my phone.

 

[Wheels]

I have a Garmin 62ST, only need I have for GPS is finding camp or the truck in the dark and marking wallows or a downed elk. I use paper maps for navigation otherwise. Last time I used the 62 was when I hunted Arizona in 2014, turned it on the other day and it fired right up, guaranteed my iPhone wouldn’t do that.

 

[BullElk]

Have yet to see anyone mention phone batteries and cold weather. Can’t speak for anything other than iPhones but If I was headed to unfamiliar territory I wouldn’t be relying on that alone.
My rinos run circles around that thing and will last two days especially the 655...755 on the other hand makes it about ten hours.

 

[bmf0713]

I have a garmin 64st and I like it. Just bought a garmin Inreach SE. Thinking I maybe should’ve sold the 64st and got the inreach explorer. I do the like the idea of having batteries becaus it never fails that the power block is almost dead or the recharging cable is f’d up. Phone is nice for pictures and back up gps. I dont like to trust just 1 electronic device.