New GPS

[mtreker]

Hello to all you. I found this site just after getting started in canyoneering. I love reading your guys TR

[shagster]

I own an etrex legend by garmin. I have had it for about a year and so far love it. It is very easy to use for me has everything I need. Not sure how it would do in tight canyons as far as picking up a signal. For hiking, biking, hunting and everything I do outdoors it is great. Check it out here.

http://www.garmin.com/products/etrexLegend/

Good luck, I think the main thing is deciding what you want out of your GPS then finding one that matches your needs should not be to difficult. :2thumbs:

[mrbrejcha]

I used to have the Garmin "Summit." I loved that thing, then it took a digger off a cliff.
It would do elevation, electronic compass (works even w/o sats), way-points, vertical speed, speed, ETA, distance traveled, draw a map of your elevation change, and a lot more things I can't think of off the top of my head. It wasn't ridiculously expensive and it was fairly simple to use and understand. I used it primarily for alpine climbing, but I'm sure it would be sweet for canyoneering too.

By the way, it comes with a little strap and I recommend you use it!

[R]

I have a buddy who shall remain nameless, but who brought his GPS on a hiking trip to Utah with me a couple of years ago. He spent a lot of trail time looking at it, and trying to get it to find enough satellites to plot a position. Once in a while he would blow right a cairn or trail intersection because he was spending way to much time playing GPS. In my opinion, a decent map and compass and some navigation skills come several steps ahead of a gadget like GPS.

He offers to let me use it sometimes, but I politely thank him and say no, I'd feel bad if I dropped it and broke it. :nod:

[Win]

I've got a Garmin 60cx and find it to be a good aid. This is a newer technology and aquires and holds satellites better than earlier models. I just set it to write a track and leave it alone. I used it to do a hike a couple of weeks ago in non-trail area and it worked terrific.

I've done alot of boating on the open ocean and in foggy conditions and GPS was a great asset. We always had charts and a compass, too.

Win

[alusul]

I've enjoyed the Garmin Rhino series (i have the 130, used the old 110, friend has the new 530) for being very rugged and waterproof (floats), some have compass/altimeter's but they all come with gmrs radios which is a big plus for me. But for canyoneering my recommendation would really be for any of the newer units that have sirfstar III, definitely lets you spend more time knowing where you are and less time wondering where the satellites went, now if garmin would just quit making rhinos without sirfstar :frustrated:

[denaliguide]

i have used the exrex legend, vista, and now have the vista c. the legend is ok but it only has 8 megs of memory. the vista series has 24 megs and allows you to download actual topo data into the gps as well as the usual waypoints, routes and tracks. i used the vista on a solo hike last april in the grand canyon. i did the royal arch loop and when i compared my gps with where i thought i was on the map it was spot on. the vista is easy to use and the manual is reasonably easy to understand. they can be had on ebay for around $125-135.

[Mtnman1830]

I am currently using a Garmin eTrex Vista. It has served me well, but I am upgrading to a Garmin 60CXs sometime this month.

[Caddis]

I have a 60C and really like it. The 60CSX has expandable memory that uses a miniSD card, I believe uup to 1GB of memory.

[adrians]

I have looked at the Garmin 60 CX and am curious -- do you ever find the uploadable topo maps to be helpful in navigating the terrain going forward? (as opposed to seeing where you've been).

[Win]

I really use my 60Cx for running tracks rather than as a topo map. When you put full detail on the screen there is a lot of clutter. If I were in a wilderness area with a chance of getting lost I'd have a good map, too.

As I use mine more and more I think the removable memory will be a big asset. Say you're going to AZ on vacation, you could put a fresh chip in just for that trip.

Win

[Caddis]

I have a 60C and really like it, it works great. I am selling it so that I can upgrade to a Rino 530.