Well me and my son want to start going trail riding, so I thought it would be smart to get us a gps system. I know nothing about these things, so all you gps owners out there, give me some info on what's best. I know I want to get a hand held one, and also one that is in color. Any input you have will be great!!

 

I have this one

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-E...qid=1228654894&sr=8-1


for only $130 its a good deal - if you think your gonna use it a ton, you need to have a unit with expandable memory. But i have hundreds of miles of tracks on mine, without the extra memory.

With any garmin you really should buy a topo map

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-M...RAASFK/ref=pd_sim_e_2


This unit has worked really well for me. The GPS has made me feel a lot more confident to explore new trails. I also download it into my computer and put it on google earth to "relive" m ride and see where I went. I share my tracks with other riders so they know where they can go too

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: wilburg321

I have this one



<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Etrex-Venture-HC-Receiver/dp/B000PDR230/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=12286548 94&sr=8-1
">http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-E...28654894&sr=8-1
</a>


for only $130 its a good deal - if you think your gonna use it a ton, you need to have a unit with expandable memory. But i have hundreds of miles of tracks on mine, without the extra memory.



With any garmin you really should buy a topo map



<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-MapSource-Topo-U-S-2008/dp/B000RAASFK/ref=pd_sim_e_2
">http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-M.../ref=pd_sim_e_2
</a>


This unit has worked really well for me. The GPS has made me feel a lot more confident to explore new trails. I also download it into my computer and put it on google earth to "relive" m ride and see where I went. I share my tracks with other riders so they know where they can go too</end quote></div>


Thanks for the links wilburg, I hadn't looked there yet!
I'm thinking about getting the Etrex Vista HCx. It's a little more spendy but all newer models are![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I have the Lowrance H2Oc color model and really like it alot,.........Even some of my friends from work that I Quad with can't believe the detail on it...........I choose the S/D card for the FULL detail and mapping,this way you can buy the card and put directly in the unit and go !!.......No PC updates and downloading the maps you need for that day.......It's all there!!......Also if you using it for 4-wheeling I would tell you to get the R.A.M mount for the handlebars.........This keeps the GPS directly in you sight and very secure......................Have fun shopping............Caper.............

The H2Oc also comes with a 12 volt plug-in ....Remember the color screens are hard on battery life....

 

I would like to find one that has a screen size that you don't need a magnifing glass to see! LOL! Like a 4"x3" screen.
Anyone know of any like that with all of the newest updates?

 

I am getting the Vista HCx for Christmas so I've been reading all of the reviews and they come back good.
With expandable memory like on the Vista you can download free maps that have been user created from http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/

You can go to Garmin's site and do a side by side comparison between their units.
I don't think you'll go wrong with the Vista. I would steer clear of the high end Colorado and Oregon models; I've read that their still working the bugs out of those units.
You can go to groundspeak.com and read about GPSr's for days; it's a forum about GPS so I'm sure any question you have can be answered there.

 

I like Garmin because of all the crap mine's been through over the years and it still works like brand new. [Actually even better than new. It's 10 times as accurate since Selective Availability, the built-in error in the satelite system, was turned off.] Whatever you buy, get a RAM Mount for the handlebars like Caper said. Mine looks like this and I swing it over next to the speedometer. It lays flat just a fraction of an inch over the pod, out of the way.

 

Garmin is a fine GPS, I sold mine awhile back and now use a tom-Tom, My Eyes are getting older and had trouble reading the smaller Garmin Etrex Vista, The cool thing about the Tom is that i can attach it to my Speedo Cover.

 

I have the e-trex legend. It's not practical for offroading. The screen is small and the buttons are hard to use especially if you wear gloves.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Budman650

I have the e-trex legend. It's not practical for offroading. The screen is small and the buttons are hard to use especially if you wear gloves.</end quote></div>

I think any handheld is going to be a problem with gloves on.

Oh....nice fish by the way![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]