GPS / Navigation Advice

mr ray · Post by **mr ray** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:39 pm

Hi! My wife and I were going to get each other GPS devices for Xmas. These would primarily be used on roads, but I was hoping to get one that I could use to find my way on multiday river or hiking trips or for scouting trips. My old civic navigation would show small unnamed creeks and I was able to move the image around to follow the creek to bridges and roads and find putins and takeouts.

So basically I want something that will do roads and trip directions, but will also be able to go off the roads and tell me where I am positionally relative to map landmarks, and show basic topography.

What are you using?

coloradopaddler · Post by **coloradopaddler** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:31 pm

Look into the Garmin Colorado. My friend has one and it is exactly what I want. It does road maps and rivers. It is also waterproof! It gets us to the put in and occasionally helps us out on the water.

philcanoe · Post by **philcanoe** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:42 pm

have even used one to decide which section to boat....

We took off looking for adventure with a deLorme in hand - just to find a little fun. Not sure as to which section to run, we drove to 4 bridges on the upper Locust Fork. We shot elevations at each location, and jumped on the steepest section. It was a very good day!

Cumnock · Post by **Cumnock** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:15 pm

I'm using my Droid Phone. Its a really good GPS unit and you can get a lot of GPS apps for it too

horizongfx · Post by **horizongfx** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:15 pm

What Next GPS on our boats to show us how to navigate through the rapids ?
I can see me Looking at my GPS while trying to navigate Jarod's knee...HHHm I wonder if it will show you where the Best Boofs are?

Boof left in 25 yards....Eddy turn ahead 10 feet.....Peel out River left and take the waterway....Huck the Falls In 3...2...1 Boof now !
Turn around and paddle upstream when possible...

Roll now dam-it
Jesh !

horizongfx · Post by **horizongfx** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:17 pm

Cumnock wrote:I'm using my Droid Phone. Its a really good GPS unit and you can get a lot of GPS apps for it too

I need a waterproof droid...

cheajack · Post by **cheajack** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:25 pm

Garmin Nuvi 500

Recalculating

Bob P · Post by **Bob P** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:31 pm

I don't know about the Garmin Colorado, but there are detailed contour maps available for my Etrex Legend. Just the thing to find that 500 ft/mile section of creek.

mr ray · Post by **mr ray** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 4:20 pm

Thanks everyone for the great tips. I'm looking in to the models you suggested. Think I'm going to lean a lttle further toward the outdoor use end of the spectrum and get one of the waterproof handhelds like the Colorado or the nuvi 500, and Etrex models if waterproof. Thanks again and... Meeerrrry Chriiiistmmaaas!!!