Garmin Handheld GPS Reviews

"Even in a crowded GPS market, the Garmin handheld GPS units lead the way in quality, value, and advanced features."

Garmin continues to innovate, producing new devices with unparalleled ease-of-use and superior navigation functions. Garmin GPS devices are designed for hiking, boating, hunting, geocaching, and many other outdoor pursuits.

Garmin also makes GPS units for cycling and running, as well as GPS software for cell phones and laptop computers. Reviews and ratings for these Garmin Portable GPS Devices are here.

Basic Units

These Garmin GPS units offer simple, solid navigation capabilities at reasonable prices. They have grayscale sreens and lack the ability to add maps.

The original Garmin eTrex and the newer Garmin eTrex H are both entry-level units in the eTrex line. Both are inexpensive, yet don't compromise on performance. The “H” model has a high-sensitivity receiver that locks and holds satellite signals very well, and a 17-hour battery life is up for extended outings.

The Foretrex 101 straps to your wrist, freeing your hands for other uses. It runs on 2 AAA batteries and has a 15-hour battery life. Not really a handheld GPS, Garmin designed this model more like a wrist watch.

The Foretrex 201 has the same features as the Fortrex 101, except it uses an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

The Geko 201 is a very small and light device, with a 12-hour battery life.

The Garmin Geko 301 adds an electronic compass and barometric altimeter to the Geko 201 features.

The Garmin 60 is a rugged unit with an unbeatable 28-hour battery life and 1 MB internal memory.

The GPS 72 is designed for boating. This handheld marine GPS floats in water and has a 16-hour battery life.

The Garmin 76 GPS is another handheld marine GPS that accepts points of interest data and has a 16-hour battery life.

Mapping Units

These devices possess the ability to add detailed maps of your destination.

The eTrex series is an enduringly popular line of Garmin handheld GPS units, for good reason. Compact, lightweight, and waterproof, they appeal to both beginning and advanced users.

The Garmin eTrex Legend is the company's entry level mapping handheld GPS. Garmin added a high-sensitivity receiver (the “H” ) in the Garmin eTrex Legend H.

The eTrex Legend HCx has a color screen, high-sensitivity receiver, and an impressive 25-hour battery life. With optional Mapsource street maps on a microSD card, it will also give turn-by-turn driving directions.

The Garmin eTrex Summit HC is similar to the Garmin eTrex Venture HC, adding a compass and altimeter.

The Garmin eTrex Vista is a mid-level model with a detailed basemap, compass, and altimeter. Another feature is the large 24 MB internal memory for map storage.

The Garmin eTrex Vista HCx is an upgrade to the Vista model. It adds a color screen, high-sensitivity receiver, and a removable micro SD memory card.

The GPSMAP series units are rugged Garmin handheld GPS devices with larger screens and quad-helix antennae for better reception.

The GPSMAP 60 has a grayscale screen and 24 MB of internal memory.

The GPSMAP 60C has a color display and 56 MB of internal memory for uploading map information.

The Garmin GPSMAP 60CS is similar to the 60C, adding an electronic compass and altimeter.

The GPSMAP 60Cx adds a color display, high-sensitivity receiver, and a microSD card slot. It also includes a blank 64 MB microSD card.

The Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx is similar to the 60Cx, adding an electronic compass and altimeter.

The GPSMAP 76 is designed for boating (it floats), with a grayscale screen, basemap with marine aids, and 8 MB of internal memory.

The GPSMAP 76S adds a compass and altimeter, and has 24 MB of internal memory.

The Garmin GPSMAP 76Cx, also a marine unit, has a high-sensitivity receiver, color screen, 128 MB of internal memory, and a microSD card slot.

The GPSMAP 76CSx adds to the 76Cx features an electronic compass and altimeter.

The Colorado line of Garmin handheld GPS units are rugged devices with advanced navigation features and an innovative scroll wheel for easy operation. They have high-sensitivity receivers, color displays, barometric altimeters, wireless data sharing, and SD card slots.

The Colorado 300 comes with a basemap of North America.

The Colorado 400c has preloaded coastal charts.

The Colorado 400i has maps of the U.S. inland lakes.

The Colorado 400t comes with U.S. topographic maps.

The Oregon series is the newest, most advanced line of Garmin handheld GPS units. They have touchscreens for ease of use, high-sensitivity receivers, color displays, and microSD card slots.

The Oregon 200 comes with a world-wide basemap.

The Oregon 300 adds a barometric altimeter and wireless data sharing.

The Oregon 400c has preloaded coastal charts, an altimeter, and wireless data sharing.

The Oregon 400i comes with maps of U.S. inland lakes, barometric altimeter, and wireless data sharing.

The Oregon 400t has topographic U.S. maps, barometric altimeter, and wireless data sharing.

Two-Way Radio

Merging more than one feature into a single unit is the electronics mantra of the day and Garmin is embracing the future with its Rino series products. The name is a Garmin created acronym derived from the sentence—Radio Integrated with Navigation for the Outdoors.

This series is a unique blend of a Garmin handheld GPS unit combined with with a two-way radio. Thus allowing users to communicate with and locate each other at a distance.

The Garmin Rino 110 offers basic navigation with a grayscale screen, no basemap, and 1 MB of internal memory for adding points of interest. With 1 watt of transmit power, it has a range of 2-5 miles.

The Garmin Rino 120 adds a few useful features: a basemap, 8 MB internal memory, and voice scrambler for privacy.

The Rino 130 has even more features: 24 MB of internal memory, compass, altimeter, and a weather radio.

The Rino 520HCx has all the features of the 120 plus a high-sensitivity receiver, color screen, and microSD card slot. It has 5 watts of transmit power for a 2-14 mile range.

The top-of-the-line Rino 530HCx includes an altimeter and compass.

The Astro is another unique Garmin system which allows you to track your dog's movements via a GPS-enabled collar. A color screen and high-sensitivity receiver make navigation easy.

As you can see, there is a Garmin handheld GPS unit for nearly any use you can think of. With unmatched quality and ease-of-use, you are sure to find a device to fit your needs and budget.



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