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The best thing about the eTrex is that it has a much more accurate GPS than in a phone, at least an iPhone. The worst things about the eTrex are it's utter cra

by whyenot 11y ago

The best thing about the eTrex is that it has a much more accurate GPS than in a phone, at least an iPhone. The worst things about the eTrex are it's utter crap screen, how bulky it is, how expensive it is (they start at $250), the fact you have to spend a significant amount of additional money on maps and map updates, the added bulk due to the fact it uses AA batteries, and the poor battery life (I know this contradicts your experience, but that is MY experience using one 12 hours a day mapping plants). I think for many people buying something like the Gaia GPS app and a waterproof case for their phone will be a much less expensive and more flexible option. If you are worried about running down the battery, buy a rechargeable lithium ion battery with a usb jack and take along your charging cable. If you need more accuracy, get a GPS puck for your phone. Garmin sells one.

justinator 11y ago
> The worst things about the eTrex are it's utter crap screen, There's been a refresh of the eTrex recently, one of the improvements is a better screen. > how bulky it is, It's 2.1" x 4.0" x 1.3". You know, big enough to hold in your hand. > how expensive it is (they start at $250) Here you go: $163, I'm sure there will be many sales in many outdoor enthusiast stores in a few days. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1149968&gclid=CPqiy-bYh8kCFQuSaQod158Ivw&is=REG&m=Y&A=details&Q= http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=11499... > the fact you have to spend a significant amount of > additional money on maps and map updates Here you go, all free: http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/ http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/ > the added bulk due to the fact it uses AA batteries, Again, I'm not sure if I'd call AA's "bulky" (compared to what?) but one of the merits of only needing AA's is you can find AA's literally anywhere, which is important to me, as I'm sometimes found in the middle of nowhere. > and > the poor battery life (I know this contradicts your > experience, Lithiums work incredible on this thing. The majority of the time, I use rechargables, as my use is < day, but if I'm out for a few weeks, I bring along a few pairs of lithiums, and life is good. The refresh again had improvements in battery life. The eTrex literally has the best battery life of all the Garmin consumer models. > think for many people buying something like the Gaia GPS > app and a waterproof case for their phone will be a much > less expensive and more flexible option. My use case is different than yours (backpacking, mountaineering, bicycle tours across the country). Ever have a phone shut down because it's too cold? Ever use a touch screen with enormous gloves on? Ever needed to use your phone, but its dead because of an app? All of the above in a storm? Phones are great. I have one! They are also very fragile. I could throw an eTrex across the room in an attempt to do harm to someone and it would work just fine, once I find it again. You think I'm going to put my phone, in a cradle, and mount that on the handlebars of my mountain bike, then go out and ride a singletrack trail across Colorado? (because that's what I do) Nope. Batteries not going to last, screens not going to be visible, the thing will get damaged the first time I go over the handlebars (because again, that's what I do). Dropping my phone off a cliff is something that's happened to me in the last week. I dropped an eTrex down a cliff, and I searched for it, for like an hour, because I knew it was still on, still functioning, and damnit, it's been working for 4 years, no way did I want to lose it. The phone, when found, was destroyed.
nether 11y ago
I just sold my Garmin 62s. iPhone 6s in low power mode has a longer battery life, and Gaia has always been superior to Garmin software. A better purchase today might just be a Delorme Inreach and their cheapest subscription. It gives 2-way communication and has an emergency beacon function.

by whyenot 11y ago

justinator 11y ago

> The worst things about the eTrex are it's utter crap screen, There's been a refresh of the eTrex recently, one of the improvements is a better screen. > how bulky it is, It's 2.1" x 4.0" x 1.3". You know, big enough to hold in your hand. > how expensive it is (they start at $250) Here you go: $163, I'm sure there will be many sales in many outdoor enthusiast stores in a few days. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1149968&gclid=CPqiy-bYh8kCFQuSaQod158Ivw&is=REG&m=Y&A=details&Q= http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=11499... > the fact you have to spend a significant amount of > additional money on maps and map updates Here you go, all free: http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/ http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/ > the added bulk due to the fact it uses AA batteries, Again, I'm not sure if I'd call AA's "bulky" (compared to what?) but one of the merits of only needing AA's is you can find AA's literally anywhere, which is important to me, as I'm sometimes found in the middle of nowhere. > and > the poor battery life (I know this contradicts your > experience, Lithiums work incredible on this thing. The majority of the time, I use rechargables, as my use is < day, but if I'm out for a few weeks, I bring along a few pairs of lithiums, and life is good. The refresh again had improvements in battery life. The eTrex literally has the best battery life of all the Garmin consumer models. > think for many people buying something like the Gaia GPS > app and a waterproof case for their phone will be a much > less expensive and more flexible option. My use case is different than yours (backpacking, mountaineering, bicycle tours across the country). Ever have a phone shut down because it's too cold? Ever use a touch screen with enormous gloves on? Ever needed to use your phone, but its dead because of an app? All of the above in a storm? Phones are great. I have one! They are also very fragile. I could throw an eTrex across the room in an attempt to do harm to someone and it would work just fine, once I find it again. You think I'm going to put my phone, in a cradle, and mount that on the handlebars of my mountain bike, then go out and ride a singletrack trail across Colorado? (because that's what I do) Nope. Batteries not going to last, screens not going to be visible, the thing will get damaged the first time I go over the handlebars (because again, that's what I do). Dropping my phone off a cliff is something that's happened to me in the last week. I dropped an eTrex down a cliff, and I searched for it, for like an hour, because I knew it was still on, still functioning, and damnit, it's been working for 4 years, no way did I want to lose it. The phone, when found, was destroyed.

nether 11y ago

I just sold my Garmin 62s. iPhone 6s in low power mode has a longer battery life, and Gaia has always been superior to Garmin software. A better purchase today might just be a Delorme Inreach and their cheapest subscription. It gives 2-way communication and has an emergency beacon function.