Looking for GPS recs. I'm looking at the Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx and eTrex Legend HCx.

The primary use is for geocaching but I want to be able to use it as a car nav in a pinch, though my iPhone and Google maps is usually enough. I want easily added maps, so memory card options are a big plus. I also prefer the newer GPS chipsets (SiRF Star III), so I'd prefer "newish" units vs older stock ones.

Thanks!

what the heck is geocaching?

Randy, Geocaching is a treasure hunting game where you use a GPS to hide and seek containers, I've played it once with my brother inlaw and our kids up here, we all had a great time.

http://www.geocaching.com/faq/

I've actually been reading the website for about an hour. Great, now my kids think we need to do it.

Yeah, the kids are a big reason. We're a pretty active family and trying to keep that going w/ the kids. My wife likes to trail run and I cycle. If we can get our 5 and 2 yr old on hikes with a purpose, we'd be on a roll.

My 5 yr old likes the idea of a treasure hunt. There's even a handful of caches w/ in 5 miles of our house, some w/ in 1 mile.

I'm intrigued with the idea of taking this with us to Yosemite next month and Mexico in a few.

My family is interested, then I told the wife we would have to spend at least $100 for the GPS unit. Now she is thinking we can just go hiking without a GPS.

but what if you get lost?

The Garmin GPSmap 60Cx is an excellent gps. I've been using gps's of one sort or another for work (and play) for about 15 years now and the 60Cx is now our Departments standard. The newer model (as opposed to their first few runs) has a removable microSD card which allows users to load a ton of map layers (e.g. road, topographic, bathymetry, etc) or compatible GIS layers (e.g. pipeline, logging road, seismic cutline layers for access routes in the boreal forest) onto the unit. This model has excellent battery life, is waterproof, has WAAS and has incredible satellite receiving capabilities. The later feature is particularly important if you plan on using a gps in dense forest cover.

I occasionally use it for navigation while driving just because I own the gps, but handheld units like the 60Cx aren't the best units for this use as the relatively small screens don't cover much navigational area with the detail needed driving in unfamiliar urban environments. If I were going to buy a gps mostly for driving navigation, I'd look at the dedicated units with the larger displays.

The 60Cx is a fairly pricey gps as far as handheld mapping gps's go, but they are the best (accurate, durable, versatile and fast). I haven't used any of them, but some of the folks I work with have bought units from Garmin's cheaper eTrex line for personal use and have been quite happy with them.

Any recommendations from anyone on a cheap GPS unit that could be used for this Geocaching and navigation in the car. Seems like Walmart and other stores have handheld units for around $100. Also, I'm starting to see cell phones with GPS enabled for sale, would these work?

For cheaper ones, you can use older Garmin's. I've seen used, older etrexes (even NIB) on craigslist for around $100.

The things you give up are:
- external memory card support
- newer GPS chipset. May not matter if you're willing to wait a little longer to acquire sats. However, the newer chipsets do much better with foilage cover.
- DB9 serial cable vs USB. I have Intel Macs so I prefer USB vs a converter.

You might even consider PDA-based GPS units if you are OK w/ more hardware. My buddy uses one worldwide (mostly in the Israeli desert) with his HP iPaq. I know there are ones you can find w/ Palm V units, even Treos. If one shows up at Macworld (yup I'm going) for the iPhone and it's relatively cheap, I might try it.

If you have GPS on your phone, like a RAZR, that might do in a pinch, at least to try it. You can print all the maps for a cache from the Google maps and get the coordinates. Then use your phone to get you close.

Do what people have done for years and learn to read a map and compass... correctly.

Before one "takes up" hiking, an orienteering course should be a must.

I actually took one in junior high through school, along with a winter survival course...

Bren R.

What were your grades?

It was pass/fail.. and since I was the only one who brought enough calories worth of food, and food that could be eaten raw or heated, I think I did well. I also learned the real value of the "cable saw" in those so-popular-at-the-time "Rambo" knives (a guitar D-string is sharper) and why you should coat matchheads with paraffin wax (that rubber O-ring between the "compass endpiece" and the hollow hilt is more of a suggestion to water to stay out).

I suck at foraging ("I'm not eating that!"/"It's nutritious"/"It's FLORA!") and snowshoeing, however.

Bren R.

Oh, man, I forgot about those knives. I never had one, but I remember thinking they were cool.

But yeah, I should learn how to survive at some point.

Your logic is just but actually, just to be fair to some hand helds, I was very pleasantly surprised at how well my Garmin Quest does as a Driving GPS when it is actually small enough to fit nicely in a pocket. They appeared to have done a very good job of maximizing the smaller screen's potential as I have no problems at all glancing at it, as needed, when it's stuck to my windshield. Also doesn't hurt that it gives voice directions so you are prompted with verbal commands when a course change is required.

A bigger screen is probably always better for driving if it's as bright and easy to read as this one. (I have seen cheaper big screen versions that are more confusing and harder to read than my small one.) For me, it has to also fit in the pocket of my life jacket so I am very happy with it.

Also, to whomever said, "what if you get lost?" I'm sure you were joking but I guess it's possible to get lost with a GPS in hand but if you do, please through out your batteries when you are rescued so you can blame dead batteries.

Also, NEVER, go into the wilderness without a backup compass, chart, and the knowledge of how to use it. Otherwise, please will me your speakers.