Handheld GPS!! Need some advice!!

[Woody621]

Just getting into backpack hunting and buying gear here and there. I've looked at the Magellan 350 Hunt and read a lot of reviews and a lot of people like it and a lot don't. Just want something fairly easy to use and I will be using it mainly for hunting and that's it. Let me know what you guys use and have had luck with. Thank you in advance.

 

[jim thorpe]

I'm very partial to Garmin. I've had a few and they seem to be the most user friendly. I recommend the Rhino. It's a great pc of equipment for us.

 

[airlocksniffer]

Garmin eTrex 20 here. Affordable, small, light, good battery life and pretty much bombproof.

 

[AK Troutbum]

I just bought a Garmin Montana 600 a couple months ago and purchased a topo map chip to go with it. So far I'm really liking this GPS, it's way more user-friendly than the old Garmin that I used to have and I really like the touchscreen feature.

 

[Eagle]

I used a handheld gps for years, but recently downloaded GAIA GPS onto my iphone and don't think you can beat this app if you have a smartphone. The resolution and ease of use blows any of the dedicated GPS units out of the water. Worth researching and seeing what you think if you have a smartphone.

 

[Woody621]

Thanks guys I really appreciate your input. Really like the price on the Magellan. 150$ on Amazon. But I don't want something cheap and un reliable. Gonna look at the Garmin Montana as well. Thanks again

 

[dotman]

Garmin is the goto brand, stick with what is known to work and supported really well in the aftermarket with maps and other goodies. I recommend the Rhino 650, especially if you have partners that have one.

 

[dotman]

Cabelas has a sale on the Montana right now or coming up for $389 or something.

 

[jmez]

I have a Montana 450 and I don't like the touch screen feature. I also have an etrex and use that one over the MT. Screen doesn't work when wet and doesn't work with gloves on. The MT touchscreen models eat batteries, even lithiums. If you leave the unit on you won't get much more than a day of use off of a set of batteries. The etrex will run a week on one set.

You have to remember to lock the screen if leaving it on. If you don't as it bounces around it will be cycling through various screens and your batteries will last about half a day.

 

[AK Troutbum]

The Montana 600 that I just got seemed to be pretty good on batteries. I just used the battery that came with it, fully charged it up before leaving, used the GPS every day but didn't leave it on all day long and after nine days I still had about a half to three quarters of battery life left. I used it to look at different topo's in the area that I was and then to mark various way points so I could find my way back. Over that nine day span I probably only averaged using it about 15- 20 minutes a day.

 

[AK Troutbum]

I just went and took another look at it and it shows 78% battery life left.

 

[Woody621]

AK Troutbum. Thanks for your input. I'm gonna start reading up on the Montana 600 as well as the Rhino. I just want something fairly easy to use. Mark way points and reliable to get me back to the pickup. Anybody have any experience with the Magellan 350 Hunt??

 

[Cantharellus]

I agree with getting a Garmin but no one has mentioned the GPSMAP models. I'm a big fan of my older GPSMAP 60CSx. The new ones look great!

When I get a new GPS it'll be a decision between the Rino 650 and the GPSMAP 64s. Just depends on what my hunting partners do. If another one of them gets a Rino I will follow suit. Both have models that come preloaded with US topo maps but I have the onXmaps hunt chip for my area which should be sufficient. You can find free maps online for other states you may be visiting.

 

[hunting1]

"I'm a big fan of my older GPSMAP 60CSx. The new ones look great!"

I love my 60CSX but am thinking of upgrading to the new 64 myself. After how well the 60 has been this would be my recommendation.

 

[AK Troutbum]

AK Troutbum. Thanks for your input. I'm gonna start reading up on the Montana 600 as well as the Rhino. I just want something fairly easy to use. Mark way points and reliable to get me back to the pickup. Anybody have any experience with the Magellan 350 Hunt??

I don't have any experience with Magellan products.

 

[slick]

I would push people away from a touch screen. I didn't like mine. Dakota 20. On X Hunt Maps MT work great with it, the only problem I have is the touch screen. It's a lot simpler to manipulate buttons. Especially in the cold, with gloves, just in general.

 

[SHTF]

Iphone 5s is now my dedicated GPS with Gaia Maps Pro. It works in airplane mode so I can get 2 day battery life out of it before recharging, also the GPS feature still works in airplane mode. I can download offline maps for my hunting area and has a guide to next waypoint feature. I probably wont ever own another gps after using this the last 2 years.

 

[kpk]

"I'm a big fan of my older GPSMAP 60CSx"

I'm using the same one also and haven't really seen a reason to upgrade it. I only use mine to mark important waypoints and turn it off after every time I mark or check where I'm at. It starts up and acquires sats faster than my buddies new ones (not sure of the models) and it's definitely better on batteries.

Having a reliable GPS can certainly ease the mind when in new territory. I'm usually pretty good with "natural sense of direction" but it would be real easy to get turned around in some areas or especially in the dark. I'd go with a unit that's proven and has an excellent track record personally.

 

[usmc99]

I really like the garmin 64st I got this summer. I actually ordered the 64s but they sent me the st instead. Works great. Very easy to use. Battery life was great. The 1 year subscription of the Birdseye imagery it comes with is really cool too. It's like looking at Google Earth.

 

[striker3]

I like the Delorme inReach paired with my phone and Delorme's Earthmate app. This gives me a functional GPS unit with button controls. I dislike touch screens because of how hard it is to use on a tiny screen. It also gives me access to emergency services if needed, as well as allowing me to send and receive custom text messages.

If I need a more detailed view of the area, or want to do some route planning, I use the phone and app. When in airplane mode, the battery life on my iPhone is pretty long. I can go almost a week without recharging. I also have onXmaps for my phone so that I can see private/public land.

What made my decision was that I do not go on trips without some form of communication for emergencies. Instead of having multiple devices, I just use the inReach to cover gps and emergency comms. Saves weight.