Best Handheld GPS Units
2.6" sunlight-readable color screen High-sensitivity GPS and GLONASS receiver with quad helix antenna Preloaded TOPO U.S. 100K maps plus a 1-year BirdsEye Satellite Imagery subscription 3-axis compass with barometric altimeter Wireless connectivity via Bluetooth® technology¹ or ANT+™. GPSMAP 64st includes a 3-axis electronic compass with barometric altimeter, wireless connectivity, and preloaded TOPO U.S. 100K maps plus a 1-year BirdsEye Satellite Imagery subscription. GPSMAP 64st also connects to compatible Garmin devices, including VIRB™ and accessory sensors, including tempe™, foot pod and heart rate monitor. GPSMAP 64st comes with a built-in worldwide basemap with shaded relief, preloaded TOPO 100K and a 1-year subscription of BirdsEye Satellite Imagery for a photo-realistic view. With 8 GB of onboard memory and microSD™ card slot, you can conveniently download TOPO 24K maps and hit the trail, plug in BlueChart® g2 preloaded cards for a great day on the water or City Navigator NT® map data for turn-by-turn routing on roads (see maps tab for compatibility). In addition, the 64st is compatible with Garmin Custom Maps, a map format that allows you to transform paper and electronic maps easily into downloadable maps for your device, for free. DUAL BATTERY SYSTEM Use with 2 traditional AA batteries, or the optional rechargeable NiMH battery pack that can be charged while inside the device.Weight 8.1 oz (230 g) with batteries.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Mainly, I wanted the much more finely detailed map of the US, but the built-in Bluetooth connectivity also seemed interesting and possibly useful. To even come close with the 64st, you have to turn off features like Bluetooth and GLONASS and use the display "battery saving" mode (which means the the screen is not on unless you press a key). To get around this, the manual suggests that you use (ultra high priced) lithium batteries. Even the user manual for the 64st is a minimalist document which appears to be designed to prevent you from finding how the 64st is supposed to work. Of course, since the device doesn't have most trails built in, the "calculation" always fails-- it never finds a route. I have had frequent trouble with the 64st including nonsense points in a track leading to absurd odometer readings. How hard would it be for the GPS to deduce that it is not possible to travel 24,000 miles per hour and ignore the spurious track point?"
"This time around, I saw a familiar, shiny reflection from under the trees. It had been sitting in the woods for over two weeks during a time when the lows had dropped to near freezing for several nights. I opened up the battery cover, and the Eneloops I put in there looked normal. After that, I put two freshly charged batteries back in and booted it up. This time, I put both the 64 and the 60 in my bag, cleared the trip data on both devices at the same time, and started on the journey. ----60Cx----. Trip Odom: 9.64mi. Moving Time: 4h49m. Stopped Time: 3h51m. Max Speed: 5.7mh. Moving Average: 2.0mh. Overall Avg: 1.1mh. Elevation: 3194ft. ----64----. Trip Odom: 10.3mi. Moving Time: 6h47s. Stopped Time: 1:54m. Max Speed: 2.8mh. Moving Average: 1.5mh. Overall Avg: 1.2mh. Elevation: 3210ft. The biggest issue I have here is that the moving time and stopped time are so completely different. What I noticed is that the 60 model is a whole lot more accurate about starting and stopping. It really does recognize you have stopped very quickly whereas the 64 seems to take two or three times as long to recognize the change. Also, when I am stopped in place, if I move just a little bit (I mean literally a half a step in any direction), the 64 will oftentimes think I started moving again, whereas the 60 has a more realistic understanding that when you take a break, you might move a little bit, but you're not yet "on the move." I found that the complications were not as bad as I read in some reviews, but the increased details of using it did not enhance the experience, either. They are very tough, use standard AA batteries, apparently can sit out in the woods for weeks without harm, easily readable in sunlight or in darkness, and are truly a simple joy to use. I want my GPS unit to be extremely simple and straight-forward, so much so that reading the manual is hardly required before using it the first time."
2.6" sunlight-readable color screen High-sensitivity GPS and GLONASS receiver with quad helix antenna 1-year BirdsEye Satellite Imagery subscription 3-axis compass with barometric altimeter Wireless connectivity via Bluetooth® technology¹ or ANT+™. GPSMAP 64s includes a 3-axis electronic compass with barometric altimeter, wireless connectivity and a 1-year BirdsEye Satellite Imagery subscription. GPSMAP 64s comes with a built-in worldwide basemap with shaded relief plus a 1-year BirdsEye Satellite Imagery subscription, so you can navigate anywhere with ease. GPSMAP 64s comes with a built-in worldwide basemap with shaded relief and a 1-year subscription of BirdsEye Satellite Imagery for a photo-realistic view. With 4 GB of onboard memory and microSD™ card slot, you can conveniently download TOPO 24K and 100K maps and hit the trail, plug in BlueChart® g2 preloaded cards for a great day on the water or City Navigator NT® map data for turn-by-turn routing on roads (see maps tab for compatibility). In addition, the 64s is compatible with Garmin Custom Maps, a map format that allows you to transform paper and electronic maps easily into downloadable maps for your device, for free. DUAL BATTERY SYSTEM Use with 2 traditional AA batteries, or the optional rechargeable NiMH battery pack that can be charged while inside the device.Weight 8.1 oz (230 g) with batteries.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Mainly, I wanted the much more finely detailed map of the US, but the built-in Bluetooth connectivity also seemed interesting and possibly useful. To even come close with the 64st, you have to turn off features like Bluetooth and GLONASS and use the display "battery saving" mode (which means the the screen is not on unless you press a key). To get around this, the manual suggests that you use (ultra high priced) lithium batteries. Even the user manual for the 64st is a minimalist document which appears to be designed to prevent you from finding how the 64st is supposed to work. Of course, since the device doesn't have most trails built in, the "calculation" always fails-- it never finds a route. I have had frequent trouble with the 64st including nonsense points in a track leading to absurd odometer readings. How hard would it be for the GPS to deduce that it is not possible to travel 24,000 miles per hour and ignore the spurious track point?"
"This time around, I saw a familiar, shiny reflection from under the trees. It had been sitting in the woods for over two weeks during a time when the lows had dropped to near freezing for several nights. I opened up the battery cover, and the Eneloops I put in there looked normal. After that, I put two freshly charged batteries back in and booted it up. This time, I put both the 64 and the 60 in my bag, cleared the trip data on both devices at the same time, and started on the journey. ----60Cx----. Trip Odom: 9.64mi. Moving Time: 4h49m. Stopped Time: 3h51m. Max Speed: 5.7mh. Moving Average: 2.0mh. Overall Avg: 1.1mh. Elevation: 3194ft. ----64----. Trip Odom: 10.3mi. Moving Time: 6h47s. Stopped Time: 1:54m. Max Speed: 2.8mh. Moving Average: 1.5mh. Overall Avg: 1.2mh. Elevation: 3210ft. The biggest issue I have here is that the moving time and stopped time are so completely different. What I noticed is that the 60 model is a whole lot more accurate about starting and stopping. It really does recognize you have stopped very quickly whereas the 64 seems to take two or three times as long to recognize the change. Also, when I am stopped in place, if I move just a little bit (I mean literally a half a step in any direction), the 64 will oftentimes think I started moving again, whereas the 60 has a more realistic understanding that when you take a break, you might move a little bit, but you're not yet "on the move." I found that the complications were not as bad as I read in some reviews, but the increased details of using it did not enhance the experience, either. They are very tough, use standard AA batteries, apparently can sit out in the woods for weeks without harm, easily readable in sunlight or in darkness, and are truly a simple joy to use. I want my GPS unit to be extremely simple and straight-forward, so much so that reading the manual is hardly required before using it the first time."
This eTrex model is equipped with a high-sensitivity GPS receiver, a 2.2-inch monochrome display, and a worldwide basemap making it easier than ever to see where you are and where you have been. WAAS-enabled GPS receiver with HotFix and GLONASS support for fast positioning and a reliable signal.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I've been studying it and using it on bicycle rides for the past two months. I've read several of the Amazon reviews for this product, and few do a good job of informing the consumer. They can be cheap alkaline, or the more expensive rechargeable NiMH or lithium. I use a Web site called RidewithGPS to create my TCX files. Since you cannot install an SD card into this device, you cannot add maps. Can you use this device on long bike rides so you don't get lost? Can this device aid one in navigating a city walk? I use the device for GPX files I create using a free online service called RidewithGPS dotcom. Is this device good for long distance bike rides like brevets? GPS navigational devices designed for cyclists typically have internal rechargeable batteries that will die after 10 to 12 hours of constant use. Since the eTrex 10 uses two AA batteries, when they die they are easily replaced while riding the bike. As long as you have extra AA batteries along during your rides you will never be without a functioning eTrex 10. How long does it take to find satellites before it starts working? However, I have both kinds of satellites enabled in my system setup. Does this device track pace and distance traveled? You can configure the view screen to tell you how far you have traveled at any point in time. When the device is functioning a cursor shows up in the view screen indicating where I'm actually planted on the earth. As it moves along the track and I approach a waypoint I know it'll be time to make a turn. And when riding in the middle of the night I rarely look for street signs to verify a turn. Of course, it is nice to see a street sign that matches the waypoint title. Waypoint titles show up in my view screen as I ride. You only get turn-by-turn instructions when a GPS device uses an installed map to "calculate" your route. The maps are just background images to the tracks and waypoints that appear on the respective view screens. All three units allow you to create proximity warnings around your waypoints. >>With two rechargeable NiMH AA batteries with capacity of 2600 each you'll probably get more than 20 hours. This has been my experience while having both types of satellites accessed and leaving the backlight on constantly. When the batteries die do you lose your current track and any waypoints? This is because information is saved as you go along, and the route is not “calculated” during your ride. When you turn the device back on after changing the batteries the cursor in your view screen shows your current location just like when the power went out. Won't read TCX or FIT file formats. For example, the proximity alarm in the eTrex 10 will not produce any bells or beeps, but the other two units do. Save the file when you are done, and you can upload it to RWGPS, Garmin Connect, Strava, or MapMyRide."
"It does take a little to familiarize yourself with this unit. When downloading gpx waypoints into your unit you do have to go into the "drive" on your computer to make sure the files are under "gpx" in the unit so that they show up under the geocache on the unit."
"I also thought the gray scale screen would be fine for my use. Because the etrex 10 contains virtually no basemap (and no way to update), I found it difficult to navigate because there were no points of reference other than a small dot for cities. The gray scale screen seemed to confound my confusion as waypoints and tracks and text blended together on the tiny screen with a featureless background. In summary, the Etrex 20 is a major improvement over the 10 in my opinion, based on initial impressions."
Best GPS Trackers
Whether you want to track a suspicious spouse, a teenagers vehicle, an elderly parent, or valuable equipment at your company, this tracker is the perfect choice. An available waterproof magnetic case lets you easily attach the GL300 to any vehicle or asset, and an available belt holster lets you easily track a person. Perfect for tracking vehicles, teens, spouses, elderly persons or assets.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This thing worked like a charm."
"Cons. - The website used for all tracking and reporting IS NOT HTTPS (secured using TLS / SSL); your logon and password are sent unencrypted for the tracking portal. - Your entire browsing session for the SpyTec Portal IS NOT HTTPS; anyone able to sniff your network traffic knows exactly what you are browsing while on the Portal. - The GPS seems to be off by up to about 30-40 feet on our unit; may lead to improper street address resolution. - The web portal seems to be geared to tracking "drivers," as if this product is only to be used for tracking vehicles. Pros. - The SpyTec web portal is well thought out in general. - The web portal can be accessed from any modern browser, not limiting you to a specific Android or iOS application, for example. - The service does allow you to define areas to be notified when the GPS leaves / returns to certain area. - It appears to be much more effective than bracelet GPS devices sold for children, especially in that it works to some extent inside buildings. - Mapping / Reporting is based on Google Maps, and that's pretty nice. Background: We purchased this unit to track our 3 year old child that suffers from an Autistic Spectrum Disorder."
"Device worked absolutely awesome."
"I use it to find my car when I can’t remember where I parked it. You have to close the app and sign in again to see the current location."
"I find that it gives its own readings between 1 am and 4 which makes you think the vehicle makes bed 2-4 blocks over when in fact it hasn’t moved at all."
"I had an issue where my ex wife took my kids and disappeared for 6 months with my kids."
"I really like the device and it allows me to keep track of my new drivers to be sure they are safe."
"The device haven't work yet for me the only time it works is when you turn it off and on it will mark the location you are at,otherwise if you set the geofencing it will mark your in and out status or when your press the alert key other than that it won't give a accurate reading I contact the SpyTecGPS support they was helpful by troubleshooting it but the keep reading the same script after they can't get it to work."
Best CB & Two-Way Radios
50 Channels with Up to 36-Mile range communication in open areas with little or no obstruction,120V Charger.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"One of the features that was very important to me and set Midland apart from most of the other radios was their Group call feature. When I got the radios, I noticed as I setup them up the same as my original 4 that the Group call feature was missing."
"I live out in the country and needed a way to communicate with the wife and children.. Up on arrival we charged the units for a complete 24-30 hrs."
"All radios work off line of sight, so 36 miles is only if your on top of a mountain and the other person is in the valley directly in front of you with no other mountains, or hills blocking your way."
"My parents used them when traveling from one state, over 900 miles, to another while driving two separate vehicles (one truck, one moving van)."
"These radios work very well for us, when I am driving my truck and my husband is on his Harley."
"My daughter took one into a stream when the horse rolled over on her so they are water proof under water for short periods of time and come out working fine and dry inside."
"They're not left in dirty toolbags or dropped on job sites. To their credit, they had me send them the radio and they replaced it. I paid shipping to them, but they paid shipping back to me. It IS broadcasting something because it gives out a very unusual feedback signal on my computer speakers but not the same feedback as every other radio we have. It seems like it's just decided to operate on a totally different frequency. FREQUENCY INFORMATION FOR THOSE THAT WANTED TO KNOW: For those that are curious about frequencies and channels, I figure I'll save you the hassle of looking it up and figuring it out. The following chart shows the Radio channel (the number on the on-screen LCD) along with the actual frequency of that channel, the common name for that channel (so you can set another standard radio to match it) and the broadcast power of the channels. Looking at the chart below, keep in mind the following things. Channel Freq Actual Ch Power. 1 462.5625 FRS1/GMRS 9 500mw. 2 462.5875 FRS2/GMRS 10 500mw. 3 462.6125 FRS3/GMRS 11 500mw. 4 462.6375 FRS4/GMRS 12 500mw. 5 462.6625 FRS5/GMRS 13 500mw. 6 462.6875 FRS6/GMRS 14 500mw. 7 462.7125 FRS7/GMRS 15 500mw. 8 467.5625 FRS8 500mw. 9 467.5875 FRS9 500mw. 10 467.6125 FRS10 500mw. 11 467.6375 FRS11 500mw. 12 467.6625 FRS12 500mw. 13 467.6875 FRS13 500mw. 14 467.7125 FRS14 500mw. 15 462.5500 GMRS 1 5w. 16 462.5750 GMRS 2 5w. 17 462.6000 GMRS 3 5w. 18 462.6250 GMRS 4 5w. 19 462.6500 GMRS 5 5w. 20 462.6750 GMRS 6 5w. 21 462.7000 GMRS 7 5w. 22 462.7250 GMRS 8 5w. 23 462.5625 GMRS 1 5w. 24 462.6125 GMRS 3 5w. 25 462.6625 GMRS 5 5w. 26 462.7125 GMRS 7 5w. 27 462.5500 GMRS 15 5w. 28 462.6000 GMRS 17 5w. 29 462.6500 GMRS 19 5w. 30 462.7000 GMRS 21 5w. 31 462.5875 GMRS 2 5w. 32 462.6375 GMRS 4 5w. 33 462.6875 GMRS 6 5w. 34 467.5625 FRS 8 5w. 35 467.6125 FRS 10 5w. 36 467.6625 FRS 12 5w. 37 467.7125 FRS 14 5w. 38 462.5750 GMRS 16 5w. 39 462.6250 GMRS 18 5w. 40 462.6750 GMRS 20 5w. 41 462.7250 GMRS 22 5w. 42 462.5625 GMRS 1 5w. 43 462.6125 GMRS 3 5w. 44 462.6625 GMRS 5 5w. 45 462.7125 GMRS 7 5w. 46 462.5500 GMRS 15 5w. 47 462.6000 GMRS 17 5w. 48 462.6500 GMRS 19 5w. 49 462.7000 GMRS 21 5w. 50 462.5875 GMRS 2 5w. Actual Power Experience: I live in the country. The radio is designed to recharge a rechargable ni-mh using it's "chg" jack (located under the mic cover on the right side.)."
Best Camping & Hiking Compasses
Features:- Luminosity: Tritium- Jewel Bearing: Sapphire- Rotating Bezel: Bi-Directional- Climate Capacity: -50 F to +150 F- Frame Materials: Cast Aluminum- Waterproof: Yes- Expected Luminous Life: 10 Years- Accuracy: +/- 0002 mils- Dial Readings: Degrees & mils- Casting: Aluminum- Damping Process: Induction- Carrying Pouch: LC-1 w/Belt Clip- Lanyard: Included (No Liquid Req. Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"On these compasses, you can find the manufacture date and lot number inside the compass next to the site wire in the format ## ## ## (Printed in black). I docked a star because the site wire is slightly crooked (which does affect siting efficiency). The design of this compass does make it difficult to align the bezel properly due to parallax (especially if you are facing south). They actually have a compass rental program for Boy Scout groups (and other youth groups). I think they would rent out their baseplate compasses for $15, with the option to purchase the compasses if you wanted to keep them for your Boy Scout troop."
"I was one of those guys who served in the the early 70's and trained on a similar lensatic compass with basically the same specs as the current (1992+) contractor (Cammenga.). Tritium is not a neon glow which backlights your compass and can serve as an emergency flashlight or locator beacon. Only the basic indicator lines and East and West markers glow - faintly. The picture that most vendors (and Cammenga as well) use to illustrate the 3H Tritium lighting is grossly exaggerated. Cammenga offers some great map & compass / orienteering resources, as does the US Army, for free. Cammenga FAQ page explaining date codes: [...]. Excellent orienteering resource can be found at: [...]."
Best Camping & Hiking Topographic Maps
You can drop custom waypoints and check your progress with our tracking feature, which gives you distance traveled and a trail of breadcrumbs to follow back to camp. State Specific: Game Management or Hunting Units, Hunter access programs, Conservation and program lands.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"After purchasing a new Garmin Montana 680T and this chip I found out there is no way to export waypoints created on the computer using the Onxmaps web mapping to the GPS! It's much, much easier to create waypoints on the much larger screen of a computer than it is on the tiny screen of the GPS, and a computer allows you to move around the map much, much more quickly. The only realistic way is to note the coordinates of the waypoint on the computer and create a waypoint on the GPS, which is somewhat of a pain."
"Even if you already have a general "feel" for the information this product provides, having everything all in once place and easily manipulable lets you focus on the hunt and the reason you go out in the first place while spending a lot less time fiddling with paper maps or trying to remember detailed information about a place you haven't hunted in years. Second, and related to the last point, if you're into variety, this product lets you try new places without as much uncertainty about whether you're wasting your time or stumbling into a potential honey hole. Having the product available on your handheld GPS and on your phone, whether offline maps or otherwise, is just great for backup."
"Bought this for use a Garmin Montana 610t, purchased for my husband as a combo birthday/Father's Day gift."
"I highly recommend this chip to anyone that hunts or fishes in unfamiliar places."
"I use this with the Garmin handheld GPS and it works great."
"The product itself is real good, the loading it onto the GPS could be a bit more clear as it took a while to figure out where you were to go from one place to the next."
"I just got a new Garmin 650T which is great, but adding the Hunt chip is amazing."
"Very usefull when hunting and keeping track of where you been, Especially when on public land."