Garmin GPSMap 64s vs eTrex 30...anyone have any experience/recommendations?

[Spicy McHaggis]

So I'm about to pull the trigger on a new GPS...and it's down to either the GPSMap 64s or the eTrex 30. Here's the comparison direct from Garmin's website...there's not a lot of difference between the two. The biggest that I see is the battery life (16hrs for the 64s and 25hrs for the eTrex)...otherwise they seem pretty darn similar with only differences that wouldn't really be noticed by me. The storage is a bit more on the 64s, but that's easily equaled out with an SD card.

Thoughts? I'm leaning towards the eTrex 30 right now.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/catalog/product/compareResult.ep?compareProduct=140022&compareProduct=87774

[dh024]

I have both units. You are correct that they have similar functionality. However, the eTrex 30 is more compact in size and fits better on my handlebars. For that reason alone, I have not used the 64s biking.

I also have an Oregon 450 with a touchscreen, which I like much better on the bike (I can't ride and use those joysticks to navigate the gps screens). The new Oregon 600 has an even better touchscreen and display, although it is a bigger unit).

[tanadog]

I have an etrex 30 & use a 62s for work. (which has similar interface and antenna) . The biggest difference will be the accuracy and speed of the gps in getting a fix due to the external higher spec antenna. For bikepacking this is not a big issue IMO as accuracy down to a couple of metres rarely matters. That said, I prefer the control panel of the style on the 62s/ 64s vs the e30. The joystick is fiddly on a bumpy road but ok.

[Spicy McHaggis]

Thanks for the replies. I ended up ordering the 30, as the size seemed to be a bit more appropriate for cycling.

[cjdunn]

I have the same units as tanadog and agree with him on all points.  I'm using the etrex 30 on my bike.