HELP with GPS Selection

OK, so I'm finally thinking about getting one of these things and I just found
http://gpsinformation.net/ and was trying to get some understanding of them.
Since I
(think) I know what I'm looking for in terms of features and use, they recommend
I post my
questions here. So here goes ... I live in Las Vegas and like to go hiking in
this area
but lets include southern CA and AZ and NM. I would like this thing to have
topo map
display and track my hiking in terms of distance and total elevation gain/loss.
I'd like
to see my hiking on the map so I can back-track and not get lost even if I'm off
trail. I
would also like it for car driving road map directions. Voice prompts in
driving mode
would be nice. I'm prepared to spend about $500 but see that once I buy the
unit having
to buy extras are going to be part of the cost as well so $500 should include
buying the
unit plus any essential extras I will need (maps, software, antenna, ..). The
Garmin
GPS-60 Color sounds like a good choice but I'm very open to other suggestions.
I figure
once I get this thing and figure out how to use it I might be interested in
trying
geo-caching as well; maybe. Please reply to my email address if possible rather
then this
news-group. And THANKS!!

--

-- Lee

Lee Kolinsky wrote:

He also wrote:

Driving and hiking really two different GPS appilications. Very few
units are designed to do both well. I consider Garmin Quest an "all
terrain" unit that does both roads and ridges and should be in your
budget even when purchasing optional detail maps. Other dual-use
Garmins, as you mentioned, the Garmin 60 CS is primarily designed for
hiking, but has autorouting feature for navigating to the trailhead.
If you are more inclined to be on the water but need help with
navigating your trailer to the boat ramp, have a look at the GPSMap 76
C.
More potentially confusing "which GPS" information here:
http://www.travelbygps.com/articles/which_GPS.php
I hope this helps!
- Doug

I use my 60CS in the car and on the trail and find it does both well.
You won't get voice prompts though.

I have reviews of all the units being discussed here posted at:
http://gpstracklog.typepad.com/

Rich Owings
http://www.MakeYourOwnMaps.com/
http://GPStracklog.typepad.com

"We were desert mystics, my friends and I, poring over our maps as
others do their holy books." - Edward Abbey

Lots of good info but in your review of the Quest you say it comes with a
routable basemap instead of City Select. In fact it comes with both the
basemap and City Select (full unlock).

http://www.garmin.com/products/quest/

Bob,

Thanks for catching the error. Not sure how I managed that, but it's
been corrected.

Rich Owings
http://www.MakeYourOwnMaps.com/
http://GPStracklog.typepad.com

"We were desert mystics, my friends and I, poring over our maps as
others do their holy books." - Edward Abbey