Garmin GPS handheld

[northwest]

I have been looking at getting a Garmin map device for some time now and the only reason I haven't is because of the wide variety of choice. I have no idea which one would work for me. Ideally it would be for all terrain hiking/Trekking type outdoors. I need something that I can store various points of interest in and that is simple to operate. Also, cost is a factor, I don't want to be buying some Whizz Bang device that can navigate me to the moon and back as it would be totally wasted on me and I would be paying for something I would never use. I have sort of settled on the etrex 32x but would the etrex touch be a better choice? I had originally thought the etrex22x would fit the bill but it doesn't have altitude built in. Something I think would be very useful.

I welcome suggestions.

 

[GrahamGKD]

I use (and have for many years) an Etrex 30 for cycling. It's a robust device - they do fail eventually when the rubber wears through over the buttons. The later version Etrex (like the 32x) have a higher resolution screen but it is dimmer - more difficult to read in normal light without the backlight on (this is probably only an issue if you are doing ultra bike rides and need to preserve the battery). The issue with the touchscreen versions, for cycling at least, is that when the rain falls on the screen it either thinks you are pressing it or you mess it up by wiping off the water to see it.

For walking I just use my Android phone with a (subscription) app called Anquet (also called OMN and also available on IOS). Anquet gives you all the OS mapping you will ever need. Various bits of it (like syncing with a track on a PC) are not particularly intuitive but once you get the hang of it I can't fault it. Depending on your phone - you get a bigger brighter screen which is easier to read.

Also on Android (and not IOS) there is Locus Maps - another brilliant navigation app which has got us out of trouble walking in the US when the snow was covering the route markers.

Edit:
... forgot to say - both of those phone apps allow you to download mapping so you can use them happily in remote locations with no phone signal.

 

[northwest]

app called Anquet

Looks bloody great that does AND the PC link is good so I am going to go with that as it is one less thing to remember/cart about. I always have the phone with me so it will be perfect. I hope. The ability to have the route on a map on the PC is great too. Far easier to see in context.

 

[voipio]

The Anquet OMN 3 mobile app has a serious flaw, in my opinion. It doesn't update your present position, nor add points to tracks created when out and about, if the GPS position error is equal to or greater than 16, or 32 metres (can't remember exactly), making it useless in tree covered valleys, urban canyons, or if it's kept in a pocket, or any situation that doesn't have a good "sky view". The developers have been unwilling to fix this, which is a shame. OMN 2 doesn't have this problem, but it's unavailable now, and completely unsupported by Anquet. Memory Map seems better in this regard, loads much faster, and maps of different scales are selected automatically as the user zooms in or out. On OMN 3, changing from one base map scale to another (e.g. 1:25,000 to 1:50,000) requires too many screen presses and is a pain, even a danger, since it focusses your attention for too long.

 

[northwest]

Ahhh! that is a bit of a bummer as it would cause me real issues. I will do the 7 day trial and check this. Thanks for letting me know.

 

[voipio]

It's worth getting a large capacity microSD card (something like 128GB), and setting the mapping app to use that as the storage location for maps, then downloading the whole UK mapping at all scales, so that lack of mobile signal isn't an issue. I can spend large amounts of time out of mobile range, so being able to have the maps already downloaded is invaluable.

 

[Migmac]

I use the Garmin 64 s, great bit of kit but of late I’ve ditched it for the OS locate app. I’m using the free version just now and it has been very good. Main reasonrfor change was I got fed up carrying lots of bits of kit with me.

 

[Dr.Al]

Another vote for the Android Locus app. You can get all sorts of different maps (some free, some not), including Ordnance Survey maps (which are obviously excellent), John Thorn maps (which are excellent as well), IGN's excellent French maps and many, many more.

There are different subscription levels (which cost different amounts, obviously); I can't remember what the differences are, but the most expensive one is €24 a year, which isn't that much really. The cheapest is free, but you have to put up with ads. Different subscriptions: https://www.locusmap.app/premium/

It allows built-in download of maps for off-line use and you can also add your own maps if you have them (including in the GEMF format that I invented ). The developer is generally very responsive to requests for help or suggestions for improvements (via the Locus maps forum).

It's also got a web interface so you can plan routes (and send them to your phone): https://web.locusmap.app/en/?lat=54.643073&lng=-3.060722&z=12&map=hikeBike - note that this doesn't seem to support all the different map types at the moment and I think the sharing them with your phone is a subscription only thing (not available on the free version). I've never used this, so I can't comment on how well it works.

I've tried a heck of a lot of different Android map apps over the years but I've always ended up going back to Locus: it just seems better than anything else out there to me.

Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app

Multi-functional mobile outdoor navigation app for hiking, cycling, geocaching, sailing, flying and other sports activities and traveling

www.locusmap.app

 

[Cuthy246]

Use OS maps app (something like £30/year) on the phone when out in the hills, we take a paper backup and compass though as all it takes is fumbling it out of your pocket and dropping it on a rock and you are in serious trouble. Accuracy is somewhere in the 3 to 5m range which is fine for hiking. We have just got a Garmin 65s at work and its the absolute dogs danglies. Perfect for what we do work wise and even tells you what the current accuracy is. In open country have seen it as low as 1.2m and built up/forested areas its around 2.3m. Pretty straight forward to use and has some nifty features for navigating to your chosen points of interest. The etrex 32x looks like a good shout though and if I was buying for myself is probably what I would go for given the 65s is nearly double the price .

 

[m_c]

If it's only for UK use, and you're happy to use a phone, I use OS themselves - https://osmaps.com/

Can view the full range of Leisure Maps on phone/tablet/PC, and routes sync between them, plus if you know you're going to be somewhere without phone signal, you can download areas for use offline.

 

[GrahamGKD]

The Anquet OMN 3 mobile app has a serious flaw, in my opinion.

I can't say I have noticed that, although I mainly use it for navigating rather than recording tracks.

What I have noticed is that my Locus maps recently seems to miss some trackpoints when recording a track. Yesterday a 204km bike ride came out to about 197 on Locus due to 'thrupeny bitting' (is that an expression?) of some of the curves. The same ride recorded on the Etrex was correct. I have checked all the settings and can't see why this is happening. What I will have to do is record the same track on two different phone Apps and see if the same points are missed with both. Maybe this and the problem voipio mentions are related?

Whether you need an SD card, I guess, depends on your phone, My phone doesn't have an SD slot but there is enough memory for all of the HD OS maps 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 for the whole country plus a load of places dotted around the world on Locus.

I used to use the OS App but (at that time at least) you could only have so many maps loaded so I was forever deleting maps and loading new ones when we travelled to a different location. That may have changed by now though?

OS Locate is quite handy if you just want a position fix in the UK.

 

[Shox Dr]

If it's only for UK use, and you're happy to use a phone, I use OS themselves - https://osmaps.com/

Can view the full range of Leisure Maps on phone/tablet/PC, and routes sync between them, plus if you know you're going to be somewhere without phone signal, you can download areas for use offline.

Wow, changed days. I was drawing maps for walkers and Mountain bikers in the early 90s. OS had just released a digital 1:50000 landranger series on 400x400mm 256dpi tiles. I forget how much one tile was. The whole of the UK was £28,500 per yr.

 

[GrahamGKD]

Use OS maps app (something like £30/year) on the phone when out in the hills, we take a paper backup and compass

We used to carry map and compass as a backup but don't any more. My wife and I both have Anquet on our phones. I always have a sizeable power bank with me. What could possibly go wrong!

 

[julianf]

I've got an old Garmin hand held. It may have changed now with the competition from googles free maps but the map updates were silly money for the Garmin.

I always have the phone with me, and that's got gps on it, so the idea of carrying around another lump seems unfavorable.

Basically all a Garmin is a screen, a gps, and some mapping software. Seems more sensible just to have that on the thing you already have?

 

[m_c]

Since we're on mapping, for anybody interested in historical mapping/cartography, I love the georeferenced maps - https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=5.0&lat=56.00000&lon=-4.00000&layers=1&b=1
It fascinates me how they managed to create such accurate maps, as the overlay on the satellite mapping is mostly accurate to within a few feet.

 

[Cuthy246]

We used to carry map and compass as a backup but don't any more. My wife and I both have Anquet on our phones. I always have a sizeable power bank with me. What could possibly go wrong!

We have been in a similar circumstance, both have phone with maps and power bank. Wifes phone flat out refused to load the map when needed (ie when my phone died) had to use paper to get out. Still had about 6k to go at that point most of which was a tricky ridge then a boggy descent in heavy foggy rain and 50+mph gusts. With no paper we would have been in serious trouble.

I've got an old Garmin hand held. It may have changed now with the competition from googles free maps but the map updates were silly money for the Garmin.

I always have the phone with me, and that's got gps on it, so the idea of carrying around another lump seems unfavorable.

Basically all a Garmin is a screen, a gps, and some mapping software. Seems more sensible just to have that on the thing you already have?

The garmins are considerably more rugged than the average mobile phone though. The maps are not so much of an issue anymore tons of free resources now based on open street maps data. For example bbbike.org do extracts from the main data set for free (these are updated daily), although donations are encouraged.

 

[Dr.Al]

We have been in a similar circumstance, both have phone with maps and power bank. Wifes phone flat out refused to load the map when needed (ie when my phone died) had to use paper to get out. Still had about 6k to go at that point most of which was a tricky ridge then a boggy descent in heavy foggy rain and 50+mph gusts. With no paper we would have been in serious trouble.

As highly as I rate Locus maps, I would never go out without a map and compass. I often use it by default and just have Locus as back-up: I enjoy the process of using a decent compass.

 

[Misterg]

I have sort of settled on the etrex 32x but would the etrex touch be a better choice? I had originally thought the etrex22x would fit the bill but it doesn't have altitude built in.

You may have changed tack by now, but just in case:

I have used the Etrex20 for years and it has been thoroughly reliable. I think the 32X would be worthwhile for the magnetic compass - with the 20, I need to stride purposefully in one direction so it knows which way up it is (same would apply to the 22X, I think).

Battery life is excellent - easily goes all day on on couple of AA rechargeable batteries, and they're replaceable, so you can carry a couple of spares / pop into a shop if the originals get low.
It's waterproof, and pretty rugged.

I use the Open Streetmap mapping, packaged for Garmins at https://www.openfietsmap.nl/downloads

It's better than OS around here for paths and tracks.

I use maps on my phone occasionally (OS Maps & Maps.me), but if actively navigating, I prefer the GPS as it doesn't matter if it gets wet / I drop it & I know the battery will last.

The downside of the Etrex range is that the screen is tiny. I'm not sure if I'd buy another one, or go for something like the Oregon range with a bigger screen (and worse battery life, etc.)

 

[GRW]

A bit left-field... but if all you're looking to do is follow a route/trail, then you could get a "bike computer" (Garmin) & then upload .gpx files to the device to follow.
The files are available on Komoot, Strava, Garmon Connect etc - and they can be shared.

 

[Ubique]

I use a Garmin 64S, waterproof and the batteries will last far longer than a phone will, you can transfer maps from OS Maps or use Garmins own software. For phone use, I've ditched OS Maps software which I found to be very flaky after the 2021 update, I now use Outdooractive which uses the OS mapset and others but in a better interface. Its also slightly cheaper but does have a free version too.