Well the question would be "What do you plan on doing with the GPS?"

There are many different grades and models to meet specific needs. What do YOU need it for?

MessOnTheFED!

Mainly for fun!

We are avid campers, and are now going out 1-2 times a month, and want a hand held gps with a topo map, with a decent screen size/resolution, and easy to use.

Me and my dad are liking the Oregon model 400t, with the topo, altimeter, barometer, and compass! Plus with a touch screen.

Anyone familiar with the Oregon 400t or any Oregon model?

Originally posted by DesertNomad
Are you looking for backcountry wilderness mapping or street navigation?

Backcountry wilderness mapping, we will only be using it out in the woods, and want to get one within 2-3 weeks before our next outing.

Originally posted by DesertNomad
The Garmin Oregon 400t is at a bargain price right now because of the recently announced 450t and 550t. (Considerably more expensive, new hardware features including a camera option.)

See, we bring our two digital camera's with us all the time, so I'm not sure if the 450t+ models would be of much benefit to justify the price, right?

What would you choose, the 400t, 450t, or 500t?

Originally posted by DesertNomad
The Garmin "T" models come with 100K Topo maps. Serious hikers will want the 24K Topo maps since this version displays the most geographic detail.

Garmin sells 24K Topo DVD's by region, usually a cluster of states in close proximity. A little over a $100 a region discounted online.

All of the newer models of Garmin GPS's can use the 24k Topos, it comes down to screen size, map storage options, and hardware features. Their website will show map options for each device.

Nice!, so what is the difference between the...

24K Topo maps vs 100K Topo maps?

I believe all three models are water proof, let alone most gps now a days I guess!

Let me check out that one site and I'll check back here!

Ok, a couple more things also mind you, lmao...

Battery charger...is there one available for any of these models?

Also, Waypoints, does only the Colorado 400t support this, or does the Oregon 400t model have it as well?

As far as the topo maps are concerned...

So the Oregon 400t comes with the 100K topo's?

Could we install the 24K topo's as well?

Does it matter?

And do we need to let the supplier know our location...(South West/U.S.)

Solofront,

Right now I would choose the Garmin Oregon 400t because it is now discounted to around $335 and the 450t is around $120 more. (It is actually cheaper right now than the Garmin 300 without the 100K topos, go figure.) The 550t offers a built-in camera, but early reports are that the camera functions really drains the batteries fast. Much easier to just bring along a separate camera and not kill your GPS out in the field! (BTW, always bring along extra batteries for the GPS in your backpack.)

With the $120 savings I would buy the Garmin 24K Topo software and load the more detailed maps onto the 400t. The 24K Topos offer considerably more detailed maps than the 100k. 24K means 1:24,000 and 100K means 1:100,000 resolution, so the 24K’s have much more detail about geographic features making them more useful in navigating the terrain. And the 400t can turn this detail into 3D elevation maps, which is
a great feature out in the field.

I currently use a Garmin 60CSx with 24K Topos and will be upgrading to the 400t before Spring.

I am not familiar with the ins and outs of the models you have narrowed it down to but I can tell you one thing!

You can't go wrong with Garmin!

I have used them for 10+ years, handheld, car and motorbike and never had a problem.

They have always told me everything I needed to know, the software is great and battery life very good.

The Captain on the plane to Egypt loved mine and said even they still use old fashioned gyrometers for the navigation on the Boeing 737, he wished he could have something cool with a moving map etc. And that was Oct 2008.

Go for it, any of them, you will be very happy!

Originally posted by DesertNomad
With the $120 savings I would buy the Garmin 24K Topo software and load the more detailed maps onto the 400t. The 24K Topos offer considerably more detailed maps than the 100k. 24K means 1:24,000 and 100K means 1:100,000 resolution, so the 24K’s have much more detail about geographic features making them more useful in navigating the terrain. And the 400t can turn this detail into 3D elevation maps, which is
a great feature out in the field.

Sweet butter!

So we should get the...

1. Garmin Oregon 400t gps
2. Garmin 24K Topo software

?

One more thing, where is the most reliable online retailer to get this model and software?

You mentioned $335?

Very good...so it seems like we'll be doing this then...

1. Garmin Oregon 400t gps
2. Garmin 24K Topo software
3. microSD data storage card


Not sure if the screen protector will work since its a touch screen...

My advice, get the cheapest (black and white screen) GPS you can buy that has the capability to TRACK your route you've hiked. The reason I say this is no matter which GPS you buy, you MUST have a paper topo map and compass with you in case the GPS fails (battery, dropped, malfunction, it happens).

I use these GPS units in back country all the time, and the only useful feature is the tracking option. With that track line it creates of where you've hiked, you can then compare it to your paper map (which you should have anyways) to easily spot where you are on the map. Paper topos provide a much larger "display" of your area and frankly, are much better at providing a spatial awareness than even the best GPS screens which are small.

So spend $100 on a cheap unit that can track your route, and buy a paper map of the area. You can use them to geocache and find your way back to your car and locate yourself on a paper map.

You can use the money you save to buy $250 hiking boots!

Originally posted by harrytuttle
My advice, get the cheapest (black and white screen) GPS you can buy that has the capability to TRACK your route you've hiked. The reason I say this is no matter which GPS you buy, you MUST have a paper topo map and compass with you in case the GPS fails (battery, dropped, malfunction, it happens).

I use these GPS units in back country all the time, and the only useful feature is the tracking option. With that track line it creates of where you've hiked, you can then compare it to your paper map (which you should have anyways) to easily spot where you are on the map. Paper topos provide a much larger "display" of your area and frankly, are much better at providing a spatial awareness than even the best GPS screens which are small.

So spend $100 on a cheap unit that can track your route, and buy a paper map of the area. You can use them to geocache and find your way back to your car and locate yourself on a paper map.

You can use the money you save to buy $250 hiking boots!

I get my hiking boots from walmart, about $35-$50 for a pair that lasts a year or more!

We still haven't decided, we do have maps though, plus $300+ is another 9mm +ammo, lmao, so we are still undecided, but if we do get a gps, odds are it may be the Oregon 400t

My advice. Seeing as how this is posted in the Survival Forum would be to learn the fine art of navigating by Topo Map and Compass. Perfect this skill before you rely on GPS in the Wilderness. A Compass is only as good as its user. No battery failure, No software failure, most of all no Satellite Failure.

Keep in mind that if the SHTF, those handy navigation satellites will be turned OFF like a light switch leaving those who rely on them up snip creek without a paddle.