One Brand...GARMIN !
I use a GPS 2 here in Alaska , the Magellan units were not sensitive enough to lock on Satellites quickly here in Alaska. The Garmin has never failed me yet in the harshest of conditions.
Rich
( ps. I do carry a Compass as backup for dead batteries !)
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[I]You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!:( [/I]
I have started with the Magellan eXplorist 200 - the next-to-lowest level they sell. I use it as a glorified roadmap while doing roadtrips by motorcycle - I cobbled up a handlebar clip-on mount.
I set the scale as I approach or leave a city area - bigger for highway travel, and tighter in town. It gives me a much quicker headsup if I get off-course. Beats stopping to read a paper map!
I have also used it for hiking and off-roading on single-track trails.
It is battery-only (no power plug-in), built-in memory only (no download mapping capability or cards).
It proved more sensitive and able to synch on more satellites than my partner's Garmin. It has bounced off the bike onto a packed-dirt road and still works like a Timex. Rugged and fairly water-tight - it's been thru several hard driving rainstorms.
While it doesn't have loadable mapping, and only goes down to state and county road level, I can still plot routes and backtrack - great for off-road trips!
As a cheaper unit for somewhat limited use, it's good. Soon though, I will be upgrading to a more featureful unit. I just hope it's as tough as this little yellow nut!
I have a garmin and have had the issues Dale complained about, it's the $99 model, so no mapsource stuff - thanks for the advice Dale!
Spent the money and bought a very nice Silva Ranger model compass - highly recommended - if you haven't had an Army compass course, buy your self a book and learn it. I took a friend elk hunting in Utah and we used nothing but my compass, he was impressed. Good maps of your AO are a must also, compass will only point you in a direction, the map will show you the way home.
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They should have stopped at "Congress shall make no law"
I have a Magellan Explorist 400, it's b&w screen has a full map of the USA and you can download detailed maps to SD memory chips and put them on the GPS. I like this system because it never becomes outdated since you can always download the newest maps. You should still take a good lensatic compass and a detailed, topographical, grid marked map.
I used this during our trip to Tennessee and it guided us to our cabin, which was on a single lane dirt road on top of a mountain. The map actually showed the dirt road. We did a lot of hiking in the national park and most of the creeks and all the rivers showed up on it. From my experience with it, I can't complain.
The thing is, the GPS DOES NOT replace the compass - it's an entirely separate tool. I use it as a roadmap, as I said earlier. I have a compass for direction - but roadmaps are difficult to use on a bike while riding! In the mountains, it shows a preview of an upcoming tight curve, warning me of possible problems - a compass can't do that, no matter how good.
I do carry a compass when riding and hiking.
The thing is, the GPS DOES NOT replace the compass - it's an entirely separate tool. I use it as a roadmap, as I said earlier. I have a compass for direction - but roadmaps are difficult to use on a bike while riding! In the mountains, it shows a preview of an upcoming tight curve, warning me of possible problems - a compass can't do that, no matter how good.
I do carry a compass when riding and hiking.
Also, if there were EMPs, the GPS [executive order] might not be there. If you find the North star at night, directly below it is North. A compass is invaluable. Maps will be too. Common sense will rule.
I like and use the Sporttrax pro. They arent made as of recently and no have become the exsplorist 400. They are W.A.A.S enabled , Downloadable map, have a nice sized screen and water proof. What i use for guiding. But as said always carry a compass for back up. I mostly us my GPS for the topography map to help me remeber certian draws, hillsides ect
My father in law had a Garmin E-Trex Legend C that I really liked but the screen was pretty small but still easier to see than my GPSMAP 76 with a bigger black and white screen. I like the 76 because it is waterproof and will float if (probably not if but when) I drop it in the water.
I recently got a bluetooth GPS and receive that signal on my Verizon 6700 PDA phone running Delorme 2007 and like that setup for in the car.
Magellan eXplorist 200 - $117 at Wally's 
