Who uses a handheld GPS unit?

I thought I might add a handheld GPS to my pile of electronics, because a guy can never tell when he'll crash on an unexplored wilderness beach...

For almost every model, there are nearly as many "I hate it" reviews on Amazon as there are "I like it" reviews.

It always helps to ask the folks who actually use them, so:

If you're carrying one with you in your kayak or when hiking or hunting, what is it?

I have a Garmin Dakota 20 what I bought in 2014 for hunting. I dislike it because it is slow to respond even though it is a touch screen. That's probably because I went for the low end of the product line.

I'm thinking on spending a bit of money this year on a satellite text and GPS combo from SPOT. If the GPS is usable for navigation while hunting, it will be a lead pipe cinch.

I use a Garmin eTrex 20 in the kayak (and RAM made-to-fit holder) and I have no complaints. Like anything else, the more you spend the bigger the screen, more features, etc. My primary use is for tracking my speed and drift and making sure I can get back to where I started if the fog rolls in (I carry a compass too of course). This unit is cheap, light, waterproof, and runs a couple of sessions on 2 AA batteries.

If I was going to get one today I'd get same/similar form factor but one that has a better map pack built in for when I'm hiking.

Regardless of which unit you get, one thing that's really fun is to get familiar with how to dump the GPS track out to a file and import it into Google Earth or similar. I'm attaching an example.

I have a Garmin Dakota 20 what I bought in 2014 for hunting. I dislike it because it is slow to respond even though it is a touch screen. That's probably because I went for the low end of the product line.

I'm thinking on spending a bit of money this year on a satellite text and GPS combo from SPOT. If the GPS is usable for navigation while hunting, it will be a lead pipe cinch.

Thanks.  That's one I was looking at.

I use a Garmin eTrex 20 in the kayak (and RAM made-to-fit holder) and I have no complaints. Like anything else, the more you spend the bigger the screen, more features, etc. My primary use is for tracking my speed and drift and making sure I can get back to where I started if the fog rolls in (I carry a compass too of course). This unit is cheap, light, waterproof, and runs a couple of sessions on 2 AA batteries.

If I was going to get one today I'd get same/similar form factor but one that has a better map pack built in for when I'm hiking.

Regardless of which unit you get, one thing that's really fun is to get familiar with how to dump the GPS track out to a file and import it into Google Earth or similar. I'm attaching an example.

I had no idea you were so technically well equipped!

That's all I need a GPS to do for me.  I appreciate the feedback.

I carry a Garmin Oregon 450.  Bought the topo maps and the ocean maps (bluechart) and city navigator.  Been using that for kayaking, hiking, biking, driving, everything! I don't leave home without it.  Runs on 2AA rechargeable batteries- about 10hrs per set.

I use Garmin's program called basecamp to plot my tracks, but the gpx  files can easily be exported to any program. Data is on a micro SD card or USB cable connection.

Garmin Oregon 450 was the hero when my power boat buddy had his fish finder crash on his boat and he lost all his waypoints from 7 years of boating. Fortunately I was on many of those trips and I saved tracks and waypoints, so I made a gps file of waypoints and translated it to download to his new GPS.

I've had this for over 10 years, at some point I'll need to get a new one.

i carry a garmin 550t only as a backup if my f.f. gps goes out. works great out there in the salt and else where  but in deep forest can have hard time getting signal from satellite`s to work. any out there that don`t? and as a 3rd backup i stuff a small compass in my tackle box.

Occasionally the Oregon 450 GPS loses communication with the satellites in dense forest or narrow rock canyons like the Columbia River Gorge.  I think all handhelds will do that - probably a limitation of their antenna.  Some models do seem better than others and I think that is due to the signal processing in the unit (Garmin is pretty good in my opinion).

Occasionally the Oregon 450 GPS loses communication with the satellites in dense forest or narrow rock canyons like the Columbia River Gorge.  I think all handhelds will do that - probably a limitation of their antenna.  Some models do seem better than others and I think that is due to the signal processing in the unit (Garmin is pretty good in my opinion).

The Oregon 450 has been replaced by the Oregon 650, and as I remember the price of the 450's, the price for the 650's came down a bit.  I don't see much difference between them except the 650's have more onboard memory.  Still, I'm not as daring as you and I wouldn't take an Oregon out to sea, because I'll find a way to lose it for sure, and I could replace a Dakota without too many sobs.

I was also looking at the Oregon for Kira, who recently "discovered" the wilds of the Cascades.  If we ever run into each other, would you mind showing me how yours works?

i carry a garmin 550t only as a backup if my f.f. gps goes out. works great out there in the salt and else where  but in deep forest can have hard time getting signal from satellite`s to work. any out there that don`t? and as a 3rd backup i stuff a small compass in my tackle box.

Military units.  A surveyor told me his GPS equipment needed line-of-sight to at least three satellites to hold a signal, and I guess terrain AND vegetation make a difference.

I think of the compass in my PFD pocket as mandatory, too.  Good point.

I have used several models of Garmin handhelds over the years. I've had one die on me after a year but one of them (original Legend) I started using in 2007 still works fine today after many hours on a kayak. Currently I've been using the eTrex 20 for about 4 years now and it is solid. I really like the Garmin software - very simple to use and I can import/export tracks and waypoints to/from my handheld or my new Echomap Chirp sonar.  I'm becoming more and more of a solid Garmin customer as years go by. 

Sent from my Moto G Play using Tapatalk

I agree with rawkfish.  I use a garmin vista which is the same as a legend except it has an internal compass..  The big advantage of these units for me is that they have an old school toggle and buttons with no touch screen.  I haven't found they touch screens very usable in northwest weather.  The toggle still works when the screen is covered with water and I'm wearing gloves.  It is also small enough to fit in the side pocket of my chest bino harness.  It rarely if ever loses signal even in the coast range.  You do give up a lot of screen size so if you want to use it for onyx hunt maps or similar it might not be the best for you.  I don't think they make them any more but you can pick them up off eBay fairly cheap.

Yeah, JT99 raises a good point.  I don't think a touch screen unit should be something that someone who fishes off a kayak should be considering.  Too clunky and unnecessary in my opinion.  I like the toggle button that the Gamin eTrex and Legend series have.

Ever used a smartphone in the rain?  Hunched over, right?  Touchscreen plus water equal confused software working with wet hardware...

Ever used a smartphone in the rain?  Hunched over, right?  Touchscreen plus water equal confused software working with wet hardware...

I'm hunched over because the phone isn't waterproof...   

I agree with rawkfish.  I use a garmin vista which is the same as a legend except it has an internal compass..  The big advantage of these units for me is that they have an old school toggle and buttons with no touch screen.  I haven't found they touch screens very usable in northwest weather.  The toggle still works when the screen is covered with water and I'm wearing gloves.

Yeah, JT99 raises a good point.  I don't think a touch screen unit should be something that someone who fishes off a kayak should be considering.  Too clunky and unnecessary in my opinion.  I like the toggle button that the Gamin eTrex and Legend series have.

I wouldn't be using a handheld unit as my primary GPS in the kayak, but using it in wet conditions is something I'll definitely consider, since Garmin still makes units with toggle buttons.

Thanks for pointing that out.

I use a Garmin GPSMAP 78. It's waterproof and it floats. I have the Blue Chart for coastal waters and it is pretty good but expensive. I don't use it too much anymore because I rarely ocean fish. The Garmin topo maps aren't great.

I use a Garmin GPSMAP 78. It's waterproof and it floats. I have the Blue Chart for coastal waters and it is pretty good but expensive. I don't use it too much anymore because I rarely ocean fish. The Garmin topo maps aren't great.

I'm sorry to hear you don't get out in the salt very much these days, and hope it's by choice.  I was looking at the GPSMAP whatever-number-it-is and it looks impressive on paper.  And yeah, the Blue Chart maps are costly.

I hadn't heard much bad about Garmin's topo maps, but it seems a lot of folks find and load non-Garmin topo maps, so I guess I should read between the lines.

Thanks for the information.