GPS for Driving, Biking and Trails

I'd love to get just one GPS for turn-by-turn driving, bike rides
(turn-by-turn smaller roads only + fitness and route tracking), and
trail and topo navigation. This is probably asking too much. Perusing
the Garmin site, it looks like the Dakota has some of these functions.

This website seems to have some interesting comparison matrices, and
information, but appears to lack the full comparison of multiple units
I'm looking for: http://gpsinformation.net/ Are there any other good
sites that compare units across series, for example?

I'm hoping someone can point me to the most flexible GPS models out
there which might meet my interests. There are so many models it's a bit
daunting. I mean, they're all computers right, but which models/series
provide the most options and expandability right now? Thanks.

-Tony

http://www.tvnav.com 785-625-3546 Darrel can help you figure out which
Garmin models would work for you.

--
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5

On Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:57:38 -0400,


I use the etrex Vista HCx for all of these. It does a fine job,
and is reasonably affordable--though it comes with only the
~worthless base map, and decent mapping is an added cost.
Downsides are relatively small screen and no voice. You might
include it in the models you consider.

--

Magellan MobileMapper6 or Triton series
CompeGPS Twonav Aventura
Lowrance Endura series
Delorme PN-40

hth
Anton

Tony S. wrote:

The Garmin 60/76 Cx/CSx models will do all of that. You have to add
your choices of mapping to the GPS but that seems better than buying one
at a higher price and maybe with mapping you don't want or need.

I have the 76Cx and consider it to be the most versatile GPS receiver
available as far as features, data collected and displayed, and choices
of mapping available. The 60 and 76 Cx and CSx models are identical
except for physical shape and minor details. The CSx adds a barometer
and compass to the Cx models for about $50 more in the MSRP. The
barometer and compass in the CSx models give more accurate elevations
and heading data.


You just have to grind it out and try to separate the gushing and
meaningless review from the honest and objective reviews. All brands
are certainly not equal. And Garmin has been changing their models
steadily over the years. I consider the newer Garmin handhelds to be
inferior to some of the earlier ones in that they have lost some of the
pages of information, features, user control of some if those things.

I consider most of the newer Garmins to be "dumbed down" to appeal to
less experienced or technically inclined users in some respects.


It's great if you can actually get in contact with experienced users and
also get you hand on them in a store to look at them. But that can be
hard to do. It is another one of those things that we almost have to
buy one just to see if we like them. Where are you located? Anywhere
near Bangor, ME?

Jack