What GPS is best bang for your buck. I am not a high tech person in any way. I was hoping for help in selecting a good user friendly gps for keeping me from getting lost on my hunts. I do alot of core land adventures, and have gotten turned around more then a few times. What would a good budget, simple and dependable gps cost, and what do you guys recommend. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am presently lost already in what to get! Thanks ahead!

Gunner

This is what I use start it and put in my pocket when ready to head back push the button shows direction and distance can set a couple of reference points if you need to find where you where for next day hit the button and go.

I'm kinda curious myself. I was using mine recently while scouting a new area i'd never been to.

was foggy and rainy, vegetation to thick, to really see anything to get a idea where the heck i was at. Couldn't even see the tops of the mts.

could not get enough signal to get a gps fix. So ended up using my compass most of the day.

I'm thinking GPS signal may have a lot to do with terrain and weather, because i've felt like giving mine a pitch out through the woods more than once.

The thing that bugs me most is it works fine on those sunny blue sky day's when visibility is good, and i don't really need it, anyhow.

And it don't work so good on cloudy, rainy, foggy, miserable, very low visibility day's, when i'm down in some hell hole, soak and wet, and need it most.

I always carry a compass, It's got me out of the mts more than once when my gps couldn't.

I have a Garmin Etrex 20 that is loaded with US topo maps that is fantastic. It hS led me back to my truck while turkey hunting more times than I care to admit. It doesn't eat batteries and gets excellent reception. I'm very pleased with it and would recommend it, especially with the topo maps loaded on it.

Silva Compass

The Garmin Etrex is a GPS that is easy to use and will do a great job of getting you back to your vehicles, etc. HOWEVER --- If you are in HEAVY cover such as tall evergreen tress, NO GPS will be able to get the necessary satelites to tell you which direction to go. ALWAYS carry your "backup" compass and USE IT.

I am currently using the Garmin Etrex Legend. Great little GPS. I have also used the 60/62 but opt for the smaller etrex on most occasions.

Garmin 600 It work's in the mountains of NY , Vt. and the marsh of Maryland. I enjoy using it . I can walk right to any marked spot . I have the topo and down load airel photos of the areas I we'll be spending time in .I am not a teckey but manage to get the job done .I will see how it workes in the dark opining morning of Maryland seasion on the 5th .

May life's simplest things bring you the greatest pleasures !!!

If you have an IPad mini or Samsung galaxy, they sell GPS receivers for them. There are numerous programs available, and you get a satellite image as well. We sometimes use it for navigation in the plane, incredibly precise.

I have a Garmin Etrex 20 also. It is a very good GPS for the price. It is simple and easy to use. Ken

Paper Map and a Compass with an iPhone backup. I tag my parking point with the iPhone. Then I navigate with compass. I can open my iPhone map to confirm my bearings when needed.

I guess it depends upon where you are (phone reception) but I know I will have my iPhone with me anyway.

I have a waterproof cover for my iPhone. I also got a backup Battery that can be trickled charged with Solar. That battery can charge your phone 2 or 3 times without a recharge.

I have heard a lot of good things about the Garmin 20, there is now a Garmin 30 with a berimetric barometer, and a electronic compass. I have seen a few comments on how the compass on the 30 will freeze up on you, and have to often be recalibrated. Has anyone had such an experience with them? The garmin ex trec 20 has had many high ratings by editors choice and various outfitters as best buy for your buck. i have not seen such ratings on the newer ex trec 30 model yet. Any comments on i, or experience with it would be greatly appreciated. Gunner in Tex :)

The base model Garmin Etrex 10 for about $110 is a great unit. I have been using various gps units for over 10 years, teaching land nav to Scouts, JROTC and geocachers. These newer units pick up track the satellites much better, even under canopy cover to some extent, than the older models.

A simple unit will do 98% of what you need for hunting (all but boundary ID which requires specialized maps etc) and any gps should be considered a compliment to the map and compass you are carrying, not a substitute. Cell phone gps apps are neat but not a substitute for a real gps.

I bought Garmin 60 gx (or something close) for my son and myself. We get reception with all kinds of tree or cloud cover. And we always carry spare batteries-even though they last for days.

Which ever GPS you get.....learn how to use it with confidence BEFORE you go out! They are not magic. Leave it on, if you turn it on just when you want to look at it there is time delay while the unit searches for satellites- it is not an instant read. Wait for the accuracy level to get down under 50 ft. For you guys in populated areas the smart phones can work OK. But if you lose cell service and don't have maps cached you are out of lick. Besides the cell phone batteries do not last long when using the gpd function. A GPS unit can last 20 hours or more. Always have spare batteries and know how to use map and compass to navigate. As a SAR member I have heard that they have GPS and/or map with them but did not know how to use them.

If you get one simple GPS units that do not have a map- REMEMBER- you have to have a start point to find your way back to. Otherwise all you have on the screen is dot showing where you are and nothing to reference it to.

Yes to the Garmin Etrex 10 or 20 . After you get a GPS, go to Youtube, there are lots of videos to show to use them.

Must be the only guy on this board who uses a Magellan Explorist 500. I've got a state wide topo map loaded onto the SD card, it is a very easy unit to operate, and Magellan has matching program for your PC, every where I've been since I got the gps is now uploaded onto my pc. As said, always carry a compass, and if you're going into new area, a map as well as your gps.

Thanks guys, Big Help as always! It's way I love this site! Gunner

Riverwolf, which direction does that sun set? :)

Thank again!

I have a bushnell backtrack like Big Dogs above works well and simple enough for a low tech guy (still cant get the DVR to work)

Went out one year with my buddy and he had his High Dollar one. Gave the same directions, just doesnt have all the bells and whistles. But those bells and whistles eat up batteries, this one doesnt.

I hardly go that far aymore in the woods to need one, but I have used it to find my car at the mall LOL

I'm still happy with my Garmin GPSMap 60CSX. I just wish I could find a Brunton Classic Compass(9020G)it's the only one with letters and numbers big enough for me to see without having to put on my reading glasses and they discontinued them I guess. I tie it to my GPS with a cord, get a fix with gps then turn it off and use compass to get where I'm going.

Hoyt, i have a million year old lowrance thats about 1/2 the size of a brick and doesnt have all the maps and stuff but all the fonts are big enough to see and it is a great unit without all the bells and whistles... i have sold a couple newer units because i just didnt like em as well as my old reliable lowrance

Garmin rhino..

gunner witch ever your choice always learn how to use a map and compass electronics break and if your like me it will not work when you need it most. be safe.

Silva compass and a map along with my eyes plus my own version of trail markers.

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