Thoughts on best GPS

I'm thinking I should get one of these for bc ski / mountaineering, hikes, possibly some water use too (not needed for car). I am still going to have a good analog compass with me, of course.

Would like something dependable with useful features (camera and mp3 player ain't these).

I am looking at Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx, and another one I consider is Garmin eTrex Vista HCx.


What are you using and what would you recommend - and why

Thank you
Ivo

I've used a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx since May 2006.  It was my third GPS (previous Garmin eTrex and eTrex Venture), and far superior to those in terms of screen quality and ability to maintain GPS lock in tall forest and deep mountain valleys. Really amazing how well it works in forest and valleys and even indoors, due to the SIRFstar chip it contains (revolutionary at the time it came out). Highly recommended. But 5 years have passed, so something else might be much better now -- don't know. The Vista HCx uses the same chip as far as I know, but it has a smaller antenna so it may not do quite as well in those difficult situations.

Thanks for the advice, Amar!

Hope you're enjoying the carbon Dynafits
Ivo

I got the Garmin Etrex because it was lighter with longer battery life. But it takes too much thinking and I have not been dedicated enough to memorize the buttons and pathways for successful use.

I wish I had gotten the one Amar has...

I've had a Garmin Vista HCX for a few years. I haven't used GPSMAP 60SCx to compare -- but I will say that the tracks that I've collected when I just leave it on sometimes have wild variations in reported position when I travel through heavily forested areas and deep creek valleys -- so Amar's antenna concerns appear to have merit.
BTW I've used rechargeble LiON AA batteriies to power it with excellent results -- three+ days of daytime continious use on a single set of batteries.

I've been using the GPSMAP60CSx since it first came out and have had pretty much the same results as Amar.

This is about my 4th or 5th generation gps and I have always used them in conjunction with computer mapping software for trip planning and uploading tracks back onto the maps after tours (I use NG Topo! State Series). This machine works so well that I've managed to stem the "gearhead" urge (so far) to upgrade to the GPSMAP62 or the touchscreen Montana. Bonnie (snoseeker) got the Colorado (or was it the Oregon) when the touchscreen models first came out but had so much trouble with it that she took it back and got a GPSMAP60CSx.

Retailers seem to be unloading them at killer prices right now (in the low $200's) so that seems like a pretty good deal to me. Of course if I were buying the gearhead in me would still be forced to spring for the 62 with its newer features

I discovered the eTrex Summit I had before I got the 60 demanded top voltages to perform well. When I used (NiMH) rechargables (which only charge up to 1.2 volts) I would get the reception problems that Randy mentions after only a hour or two of use. Then when I used (throwaway) lithiums (much costlier, of course) the eTrex didn't have any reception problems to speak of. But it was never as good as the 60CSx in trees and valleys. However I suspect the newer ones are likely better.

The 60CSx, however seems to care little about battery voltages; it works fine with any AAs -- rechargeables, alkalines or lithiums. I usually run it and my camera with the eneloop rechargables. They seem to hold the best charge over time.