Posted: 9/19/2011 8:28:45 PM EDT
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What GPS unit are you using?
I went on a solo backpacking trip this past weekend and realized my old GPS was about useless. What are you guys using? Topo maps are a must and I would like to have an electronic compass and a barometer would be sweet. If I had one, I might have known the weather people were full of shit when they told he was going to be mostly sunny all weekend. Thanks |
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Garmin 60 CSx, it's been discontinued but you can still find them here and there on closeouts with some google searching.
Free topo maps from: GPS File Depot FYI: Weathermen predict weather for the easy going city life which is usually in calmer valleys. Up in the mountains where weather and wind swirl and things can change every 15 minutes, it can be anybody's guess. |
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Quoted:
Why does everyone keep recommending an old, outdated gps? For the price you can get a Delorme PN series which is more rugged, more compact, faster, comes with topo maps, and has a longer battery life. 60CSx- waterproof, 2.4" x 6.1" x 1.3", topos are free if you know how to use the internet and basic computer loading skills, 2AA last 18 hrs (factory specs). I paid $200. 1,000 waypoints. PN-60- waterproof to same level as garmin (IPX7), 2.4" x 5.25" x 1.5", preloaded with topos, 2AA's last 14 hrs (per REI, factory didn't list it). REI lists it for $299.95, factory MSRP is same. Unlimited waypoints (limited only to memory). "faster" with gps is all relative IMHO- it's all about clear exposure to the sky. Both waterproof, both have access to free topo maps, both are compact unless you want to argue over .75" in length, Garmin wins on battery life (all i have are factory/retail specs), Gamin is $100 less. Delorme has more memory if you can think of more than 1,000 places you want to get to or return to. For $100 less i got a whole lot of GPS for my $$$. My sources: Garmin DeLorme REI |
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Whatever you get, I highly recommend that you get into the game called geocaching. It's basically a treasure hunt.
www.geocaching.com If you want to learn land nav skills and get your ass up and outdoors with the family, this is the game to do. It's free and it is a lot of fun. It goes beyond the basic land nav skills. Sometimes you must apply mapping skills to figure out how to approach a target. After a while, I found it was getting too easy, so I started doing them at night. My daughter is only two and she LOVES going on what we call, "looting." |
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Quoted:
I still use a GPS-12. hows that for outdated?  I JUST (I mean,m 3 weeks ago!) bought my very FIRST GPS, ever. A new in box, Garmin 12! Quickly realized I'll need to upgrade at some point, but I learned enough in a couple days, and it worked well enough to get me back to the boat ramp at 0130, when I lost my lights MILES from the ramp during a DIY SC gator hunt! 
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