GPS unit for the divide?

[Jbennett]

I'm doing some research on which GPS unit would fit my needs best for the divide. I currently have a Garmin 1000 that I plan to use as well. Will the eTrex 35 fit all of the way points without issue? Trying to understand the differences between the units and it seems to boil down to memory and how many way points they support. I don't mind spending a bit more if it means I'm getting a unit that doesn't limit me. Thanks for any input!

[Hadfield]

Just got the etrex 30x and it works great

[sfuller]

I took a Garmin 800 with me last year and used the smaller 10,000 point track on it. The route loaded quicker with the smaller track. I had no issues finding my way along the route with the 10,000 point track. Etrex and Dakota units work well and can be powered by regular batteries.

[vulpes_vulpes]

Can someone explain why I would spend 100 dollars more for the etrex 30x vs. the 20x? Is the compass/barometer necessary or just neat?

[pavementgraveldirt]

^ In my experience the 30 was 'cool' but the 20 was more practical.  Didn't ever need a compass or barometer for my usage.

I killed my 20 somehow, just stopped loading one day.  Got it taken care of no worries.
I now have a 10 because they were on sale and at the time I wasn't using the map features just tracking.  Works great.

If I was buying again today I would be looking into the touch screen options.

[bakerjw]

I opted for the 30x. It was only $70.00 more than the 20x. I love it.
I wouldn't recommend getting any of the mapping packages. There are many available for free or donation.

[sdr]

I used the Etrex 30 on my Divide ride. Don't quite remember why I opted for it over the 20 but I'm sure there was a good reason to come up with the extra cash. 

[dh024]

I'm doing some research on which GPS unit would fit my needs best for the divide. I currently have a Garmin 1000 that I plan to use as well. Will the eTrex 35 fit all of the way points without issue?

I see that the newer eTrex 35 actually has some disadvantages over the older eTrex 20/30: it is slightly heavier, it has a similar sized screen (touch) but at half the pixel resolution, and it has less than 2/3 of the expected battery life. I was going to upgrade to the touch screen eTrex 35 from my 30 unit, but I think I will pass now that I spotted those differences. The bad thing is, I see the eTrex 20/30 units are becoming harder to find as the newer "improved" GPS has come out.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/catalog/product/compareResult.ep?compareProduct=156873&compareProduct=518048&compareProduct=518046

[F0neb0ne]

The 20 does just fine, but I would get the older version without the touch screen. In my experience, you need to switch the scale of the map often, and with the buttons on the side of the eTrex, I don't really have to look there to adjust. On a touch screen, you have to look at it closely etc... too much distraction from the path right in front of you.

I downloaded map packs for MTB and openstreetmap, and they were totally sufficient, so save your $ and don't buy the map packs from Garmin.

[THE LONG RANGER]

Actually, if you are using the Etrex 35 with the touch screen, navigating the map is a huge leap forward better. There are +/- buttons on the map itself, but you can just pinch to zoom, as well as swipe to move the map around. That's, IMHO way better than having to use the buttons on the side, or Dog help you, navigate via the nubbin'. The screen size of the 35 is quite a bit larger than the 20/30.

If though, all you need to is to follow a track line, there's little difference, unless you're zooming in/out all day long.

[F0neb0ne]

Well I had to follow a given track all day long, so all I needed to do was zooming in and out quite often, depending on how tricky the track was hidden in the woods etc.

For free navigation without following a track... well... all GPS devices with a small screen suck imho, because its almost impossible to get a good overview of the area and then to decide with small track to actually choose to go where I want.

[Hadfield]

Please someone point me in the right direction of which free maps I need to download onto my unit. To use my etrex 30 for tour divide, I'm assuming that I need a map set other than what comes with GPS. Then I download gpx files onto gps? Sorry not very good with electronics part. Thanks everyone

[THE LONG RANGER]

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/

Although for the TD, there's no reason to really d/l any additional maps, just follow the line. The ACA maps give a good overview of resup points, etc.

[Hadfield]

Thanks long ranger. I'm an idiot when it comes to these things

[dh024]

Actually, if you are using the Etrex 35 with the touch screen, navigating the map is a huge leap forward better...

The screen size of the 35 is quite a bit larger than the 20/30.

Actually, the eTrex 20/30 has a 2.2" diagonal screen, whereas the eTrex 25/35 units are 2.6", so they are slightly bigger. But the touch screen units have only half the resolution (160 x 240 pixels vs. the 240 x 320 pixel screens on the older eTrex 20/30 units).

I posted a link to the stats above.

I have long preferred the touch screen of my Garmin Oregon on the bike, but I have giving my eTrex 20 more attention lately, and I think I actually like it a lot better. Using the touch screen with gloves has always been a pain, especially in the rain. And I have gotten used to using the buttons on the eTrex, which I think are easier to use on the bike for me than the touch screen. Plus the touch units seem to use up battery power far quicker than the Oregon or eTrex touch units.

[dh024]

Please someone point me in the right direction of which free maps I need to download onto my unit. To use my etrex 30 for tour divide, I'm assuming that I need a map set other than what comes with GPS. Then I download gpx files onto gps? Sorry not very good with electronics part. Thanks everyone

In addition to the maps on GpsFileDepot, you can also create custom downloads of routable OpenStreetMap map images (and installs for Garmin Basecamp/Mapsource) at: http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/.  The site includes some very good instructions for obtaining and installing the maps.

[Hadfield]

Thanks guys for the help.

[taprider]

anything combine a SPOT equivalent transmitter with a GPS receiver?

[stever121051]

Anyone have the Garmin GPS 64 series?

and how do you feel about it

worthy device for the Great divide

thanks
Steve

[dh024]

anything combine a SPOT equivalent transmitter with a GPS receiver?

The Delorme InReach Explorer might be what you are looking for. It also has satellite texting for two-way communications, which is an advantage over the SPOT devices.