GPS - stand alone, not smartphone

[Hampton_Bay]

For a few very important reasons, DH bought me a garmin etrex for Christmas. I’ve had some significant issues with using my phone in heavy cover, and cell coverage is spotty anyway. However, the one they sold him on seems to be utterly useless unless I only want to find my way home along the path I took. The only map it has stops at the state border level.

Does anyone have recommendations for something functional without breaking the bank? I need some kind of map that I can see roads, water, etc.

[furlong47]

You have to buy the detailed maps for your area separately and load them… it should have an internal memory or be able to use a Micro SD card, unless it is the most basic model (10)… which model is it?

[Hampton_Bay]

It’s the 10. I don’t think I can update any maps from what I have read online. He had a similar model many years ago for hunting, and he thought this would be comparable. I’m thinking it’s not.

[furlong47]

That’s the bottom line one and has no ability to load other maps. I’d see if he can return it for one of the higher models like the 20x plus the 24K topo for your area. That’ll run another $200 probably, on top of the return.

Or you can buy the paper topo maps and learn to use a compass :winkgrin: Cheap, no batteries, no reception - no problem.

[Hampton_Bay]

I need technology here. Many of the rides do a horrendously poor job marking trails. I also ride the woods near my house, and many of the trails come out near roads but are pretty overgrown. Given that there are hundreds and hundreds of acres to ride, and backtracking can be difficult with little marking, good technology has saved my butt a few times.

[clanter]

[QUOTE=Hampton Bay;8466629]
I need technology here. Many of the rides do a horrendously poor job marking trails. I also ride the woods near my house, and many of the trails come out near roads but are pretty overgrown. Given that there are hundreds and hundreds of acres to ride, and backtracking can be difficult with little marking, good technology has saved my butt a few times.[/QUOTE]

you need my little mare, she knows where the trailer is all the time… when I make a turn away from where she knows her ride is she will turn to look at me in disgust

[furlong47]

With proper training you can out-navigate GPS by using map and compass :winkgrin: and more importantly, the skill and confidence is in YOU, not in some box that can break or fail. I enjoy having the ability to navigate cleanly and quickly off trail in any place whether I’ve been there before or not. But if GPS is what you want, there are plenty of options, you’ll just be paying far more for them than the basic model you have now. The next model up with a set of maps is still probably your cheapest bet as electronics go.

[Hampton_Bay]

I’ve also considered getting a non sucky phone, which means canceling my contract in addition to buying a new phone. I’m worried I will end up with the same situation though, where the phone stops tracking me for long distances. Ever since my head injury 10 years ago, I have a lot more trouble with my sense of direction.

My horse has no navigational skills. If the trail goes left but he cannot clearly see that a ways off, he gets to the end of going straight and wants to slam on the breaks thinking he has hit a dead end. He then needs to be convinced that left is a valid option over standing in the woods staring at the trees.

[DMK]

Before you commit to a phone, if you go out on a long trail ride, using the phone software tp track your ride is a giant battery suck. So if the idea is to have your phone in case of emergency, you need to be careful of what/how you use it on the trail (in other words, you still may need a handheld GPS)

[Hampton_Bay]

If I upgrade the phone, I’ll also purchase one of the battery backups for it. I have a windows phone now that’s super sketchy in more ways than just the GPS. As in a couple times a month, the battery dies and it takes half a day for it to recognize the charger so I can turn it back on. I hate iPhones, so would be looking at an android phone. I’m trying to make the wisest use of my $$$. There is some heavy cover in this area that would be a concern, as well as poor cell reception. The heavy cover isn’t for long stretches, but the sketchy cell reception can be for an entire ride.

[DMK]

if you do ever need to use your phone in an emergency, it’s amazing how often a text will go through when a phone call will not!