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Anyone ever get lost, I mean really lost in the woods?

Do you have a hand held GPS unit? If so, which one? And more important, Why did you choose that one.

I purchased the Garmin E-Trex Vista from Cabela's. Why? Because the product specialist at Cabela's recommended that one to me. (I have a Garmin on my boat). But, I think I could have been happier. First, I lwould like a color screen.

So what are your opinions?

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1545 Location: Michigan

I have either the Garmin E-Trex Vista or the Legend.
They work good when you can get a signal. If your in fairly thick cover, or there are many leaves on the trees, forget it. I carry mine when hunting new areas. I mark the trucks location before heading out. But 95% of the time, I'll never look at it again. I was raised on the compass and it works great for me most of the time. You gotta learn to trust your compass. Wink

Oh, I've never been really lost. Nothing where I couldn't find my way out in a few hours. It is a weird feeling, especially if it's late in the day. And you know it will be getting dark soon.

Joined: 03 Jul 2005 Posts: 370 Location: Amarillo, Texas

Hey Peter:
I bought a pair of Garmin 530s in anticipation of hunting Chukkar in Washington State. How do you spell Chukkar by-the-way. They have a big color screen, tracking, mapping, a magnetic compass, zoom in, zoom out, receive NOAA weather broadcasts, two way radio capability etc... The hunt got cancelled but I did use them in New Mexcio when I went blues hunting. The screeen is easily readable in bright sunlight, simple to use, when both are on each shows your buddy on your moving map. I found them easy to use and expensive.

Best,

Mike

Joined: 19 Jun 2004 Posts: 1480 Location: Mpls, MN.

I have a handheld Magellon maping unit (550?) that I bought when they were discontinued. I mostly use it in the boat. It eats batteries, but, has a 12 volt converter that eliminates that problem in a vehicle.
Around the Apostle islands on lake Superior, it has replaced my compass. I find it incredibly helpful knowing EXACTLY where the boat is on the chart. I have been told over and over again that sometimes they don't work, don't depend on it, etc, but, there you have it. There was a time when I would get "fogged in" on the lake, but, as long as it is working (it always has) that time is now over.
I've used it while hunting, but, most of my haunts are just that, and I don't like messing around with the unit while I'm hunting in an area I know well. It works best going 50 MPH, not walking. It seems like I have to learn how to use it all over again every summer, as I don't use it alot, and forget how it works over the winter.
If you spend any time hunting around the iron range in northern MN, you will quickly learn the limitations of a compass. One particular minimum maintenance road I hunt along near Orr, MN has deposits of nickle and iron ore in the ground that render any compass useless. It is chilling the first time it happens, watching the compass needle swing wildly, but, after that you know not to rely on it.
I've misplaced myself a few times, but never been truly lost.
Best,
Ted

I got so lost one time deer hunting that I had to climb to the top of a fire tower to get my bearings. Some places the snow was thigh high and I was getting weak from trudging through it. It was a scary feeling.

I bought a Brunton Atlas MNS. It is a GPS plus WAAS receiver. That means it is more accurate than just GPS alone. I got it because it uses SD\MMC 512MB flash memory card. I also bought the USA version of the Brunton Topocreate software. It shows finer details and 3 dimensions than the built-in database. Has over 60K critical marine navigation aids and 10K wrecks and obstructions in costal and lake waters. (I have yet to use this feature.) 2 million searchable points of interest, like airports, service stations, hospitals, churches, schools, public game lands, etc.

Yes, it does suck batteries down pretty fast in the normal mode, but it can also hibernate or just use the magnetic compass. Also has an optional active external antenna. I don't think any other mapping GPS has more bells and whistles; the operating instructions are more than 100 pages. All in English, too. I'm glad it has an easy mode and an advanced mode. So it can be kinda simple to use like a point and shoot camera or real geek-ish, if that floats your boat. Wink

Have and use a Garmin etrex Legend in my work. Does everything i need it to do.

I've never been that lost. A helicopter pilot i was with one time got disoriented and set us down, and found out he was exactly where i showed him we were on the map i had been following....

he was going by flight time and direction, i was going by terrain features (and following the roads and railroads)..

a map used together with a GPS is the best way to go, especially if you are on a long hike or hunt.

just use them frequently and stay in practice using it every day.

rayb

I bought the USGS map program to go with my Etrex legend unit to run around the Kansas Backroads and wow it is remarkable.
Every creek. dirt road and outhouse is there and as a bonus it even tells me what exit I can find a stuckeys at to get a nut log roll.

Cheers,
Brad

Brad...

Where did you find the map program?

rayb

Member Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 602 Location: western pa

rayb, If you can get to a Cabelas store, they have them on the shelf. Brad, I've been thinking about it, sounds like you're pleased with the map pgm.

Joined: 19 Jun 2004 Posts: 1480 Location: Mpls, MN.

Come to think of it, I bought an extra CD from Magellon that a computer geek where I used to work loaded into my unit-I hadn't used it prior to him doing that, and don't know what, for sure, was built into the machine, for features, points of interest, etc. May have been far less useful as it was sold.

Hadn't considered how much info may have been added.

Best,
Ted

Rayb,
Fred is correct. The Garmin US topo software series is readily available at cabelas. bass pro, or anywhere online and yes I am very pleased with it.

FYI- I researched all of the software options out there in great detail and while I am no techno guy I found this program to work great and be pretty simple for the average bonehead like me.

I was a bit disappointed in garmins Customer service. I talked to several people there and they would have had me buying a program more suited to the average driver vs the outdoorsman. If your looking for a mobile road atlas that's great but I found the TOPO series to have all the street and highway mapping one would ever need plus the topography details that are great to the outdoorsman.

Regards,

Brad

Hey folks, Thanks very much for all that input. You folks are a wealth of information.

Regards,

Peter

I have the Garmin E-Trex Vista Cx. I purchased it for hiking/hunting as well as for kayaking and road navigation. It is similar to your Vista but has a color screen, has expandable memory, and has road routing capability. I purchased the Garmin City Navigator software for it as well so that I can just enter an address into it while on the road and go there. I have the USGS TOPO maps for it as well as the marine charts for sea kayaking on the great lakes.

I've found the best pricing on all GPS and Mapping stuff here:

http://gpsnow.com/

I also have the National Geographic USGS maping software for several areas I frequent because it is 1:24000 scale where the Garmin Topo is 1:100,000 scale which doesn't have as much detail. I like the ability to chart my hiking on the USGS Topo, synch it with the GPS, and print the maps on waterproof paper so I have a hardcopy if the batteries die.

When kayaking on the boundary waters or hiking I always carry a backup compass and topo map just in case. I have a solar panel on my kayak for re-charging as well. I also have a watch that has a compass and REI zipper compasses on all my backpacks and jackets etc. Its probably overkill but I got lost for about 3 days on a day hike once while in college because my compass got damaged and I was a moron for not being prepared. I will always have a GPS, Topo Map, and 1 or 2 Compasses as well as plenty of water, a small survival kit, and some powerbars when going on a day hike after roaming around for 3-days in the rain, freezing my butt off, and trying to find my car.

Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Posts: 10 Location: Canada

I have the Garmin Etrex Legend CX. I bought it mostly for hunting and fishing. But also had it in the back of my mind that I may do some Geocaching with it.

I chose this unit for many reasons. Some of which include small size, a color screen, upgradable memory card, longer battery life and a usb port for downloading maps and updating the unit software. This unit is also capable of doing auto-routing should you ever have the need for it.

It came with a 64mb microSD card which I upgraded to a 512mb card. This will hold all the maps that I have which include City Navigator 8 North America and both Topo programs for the US and Canada.

The fact it came with a $50 mail-in rebate just sweetened the deal.

I think it is worth a look.

Aek

I am a huge fan of my Garmin Gecko 301. It is small and lightweight, and it almost always goes into my game vest. It has the electonic/magnetic compass feature, so even in dense cover with poor satellite acquisition I can still get a directional reading.