[sourskittle]

Will any ole GPS work while offroading ? In a few months, I'm going to be offroading in an extremely large state park, and I doubt if any of the trails will show up on a map.

Is there any GPS that's better than the other for that type of use ?

I've never used or had a GPS, so I'm GPS dumb.

I have been told that most GPS have a feature that makes the GPS track you, then if you forget where you were, you can just follow your lines on the GPS backward until you rememver where your at. My dad hunted in the his forrest for 30 years, and he told me DO NOT GO WITHOUT A GPS. Plus with the V8 in my TJ now, gas will need to be monitored more closely ( maybe, maybe not ).

Anyway, I'm thinking about picking up a cheaper budget one on "black friday"/

Thanx in advance.

[danholovic]

Look at the Earthmate by DeLorme, the company that makes maps and atlases. They seem to be the only people who have a GPS device with which you can view topograpgical maps. In addition, you can layer satellite views plus regular maps on the screen.

I took a Magellan on my last Jeep Jamboree (in West Virginia) and had a good time with it, but it did not have the detail that the Earthmate will show. It's a good product, and I will be buying my own the next time I need a GPS.

You may find a lack of coverage in some areas due to nearby mountains and tree coverage - my Magellan and the other guy's Earthmate would both lose contact with satellites in certain areas. This is a normal thing if you're deep in the sticks or the mountains.

[BrettDez]

Well, I think having a dedicated GPS for offroading/hiking is better than a hybrid. I was looking for the same thing but was dissapointed that I could not find a good GPS that did both great on-road navigation combined with great topographical maps. The closest I found was the Magellan Crossover, but even that isn't great.

But if you get a normal Garmin for your car like the Streetpilot series it'll be great for on-road.

For offroad and hiking? The Garmin 60Csx is a GREAT tool. Everything I say about this is second hand as I plan on buying one and have asked around about it but do NOT own it yet. It has EXCELLENT reception, even in deep canyons and thick forests. It has tons of useful features and great topographical maps and you can get the vehicle mount for it.

My winning combo(in my opinion only) will be my Garmin C330 streetpilot on road while switching over to my Garmin 60Csx for the trails.

[RikRotorhead]

I'm still using my virtually indestructable Garmin V, but it look's like the Nuvi 500 is the best bang for the buck. Used for on and off road.

[SeanCucf]

just make sure you get one with a good antenna/reception. My Garmin etrex vista Cx is great for my boat/jet skis with nautical maps, and ok for road directions with city navigator (both separat software), but it tends to have reception issues in heavily wooded areas. I like the big names in GPS; garmin most of all. They have enough models and features to fit any purpose.

I have to imagine in Garmins expanse of software/maps, there is something good for trails. I know they have Topo maps, I just haven't used them personally.

[Smtty58]

I have a Garmin Legend HCx, and I put a topo map on it. It will do trail mapping. I'm really happy with the reception so far. Check the GPS forum here, lots of posts just like yours.

[BYuen]

I use my Garmin Etrex Vista hand held for off road/trails and my Garmin Nuvi for the road. I originally bought my Etrex Vista for backpacking, kayaking, and what not.

[Faramir66103]

Another alternative is the Garmin Zumo series. These are made specifically for motorcycles, so they are weather, vibration and dust proof as well as being very easy to use, even while wearing gloves. I killed several handheld (i.e. made for hiking) units in the TJ and other vehicles over the years, and I think it was the constant vibration, shock, dust and temperature swings that did it each time. I figured a soft top Jeep was more like a motorcycle than a sedan or a backpack from the perspective of a portable electronic device so I went with the a unit made for that environment.

I got mine about a year ago and LOVE it. It came with a mount that was easily adaptable to the TJ's interior. This mount powers the unit and provides an audio output that is easily connected to the Aux input of a stereo. This is handy not only for the vocal prompts of the unit, but also for the built in media player. It has an SD slot so cheap memory cards easily extend your storage capacity for both additional maps and MP3s.

I'd also recommend Garmin's Topo series maps. These can be uploaded via your PC or Mac and cover the entire US in extreme detail. The Zumo will let you choose whether you want to use the topo maps or the street maps as well, so you can choose which style maps you'd rather use at any given moment.

The Zumo also has a built in database so that getting directions is as easy as using mapquest or googlemaps. It also makes finding gas, food, lodging, hospitals etc. a snap.

One caution though. Learn to use your navigation tools before your trip. Practice with them around town and be familiar with them. As you mentioned many GPS receivers will let you "track back". Which is all well and good until you have an emergency and the technology fails. Murphy and his law are terrible teachers. Also carry backups and know how to use them. It's really hard to beat a paper map, a compass and the knowledge to use them.

FWIW,
Adam

[0II0]

I have been looking at the garmin gpsmap 60csx. From what I have read it has a very fast aquire rate and very sensitive receiver. It will do topo and road nav with turn by turn directions.

[Smtty58]

I know a few people with the 60 CSx and they love it. It will only do turn by turn if you buy City Navigator, $100 extra.

[jeff@zina.com]

Garmin GPS 60 CSx. Plus a Nuvi for on-road. I used the 60 CSx for years before getting the Nuvi and it's perfectly good for on-road. I still use it since my wife took the Nuvi for her Grand Cherokee.

Jeff

[CalaskanTJ]

I just got the new Garmin Oregon 400t and have to say it is pretty nice. It comes preloaded with maps and has shown all but one of the trails that I have been on in the Sierra's! It also has some really nice features like touch screen. The 60 csx would have been my second choice. I know people that have that GPS and love it! It has been around for a while so all the bugs have been worked out by Garmin. I have also owned an Etrax Vista, but it was stollen out of my truck while getting shipped from AK to WA. I didn't like the way the buttons navigated through the menu on that one at all. The Oregon 400t is by far a superior device, but the cost also reflects that!

[ritjobbie]

Originally Posted by danholovic

Look at the Earthmate by DeLorme, the company that makes maps and atlases. They seem to be the only people who have a GPS device with which you can view topograpgical maps. In addition, you can layer satellite views plus regular maps on the screen.

I took a Magellan on my last Jeep Jamboree (in West Virginia) and had a good time with it, but it did not have the detail that the Earthmate will show. It's a good product, and I will be buying my own the next time I need a GPS.

You may find a lack of coverage in some areas due to nearby mountains and tree coverage - my Magellan and the other guy's Earthmate would both lose contact with satellites in certain areas. This is a normal thing if you're deep in the sticks or the mountains.

DeLorme PN-20 owner here. Vector maps are cool. Satellite imagery in your hand is awesome. The Garmin 60CSx can't do that.

[sourskittle]

Originally Posted by CalaskanTJ

I just got the new Garmin Oregon 400t and have to say it is pretty nice. It comes preloaded with maps and has shown all but one of the trails that I have been on in the Sierra's! It also has some really nice features like touch screen. The 60 csx would have been my second choice. I know people that have that GPS and love it! It has been around for a while so all the bugs have been worked out by Garmin. I have also owned an Etrax Vista, but it was stollen out of my truck while getting shipped from AK to WA. I didn't like the way the buttons navigated through the menu on that one at all. The Oregon 400t is by far a superior device, but the cost also reflects that!

400T is pricey.

I'm been checking on all these. ANyone know of anything good and cheap coming up on "black friday" ? I don't think a TOM TOM is gonna work