Preferred Handheld GPS?

[Awise1]

Interesting thread. I must be the odd ball out there. We use the Rhino series of GPS/Radio. I don't know if the new ones have the same features but the most common things we use are. Radio for comms, Radio to check weather, waypoint functions of being able to send them to others on the "net" and the ability to use the net like a real time military style link for global awareness of everyone's position. That sending waypoints works really well when the animal is down and everyone in the valley converges to help with the pack out.

I also use the Rhino model for the same features that you mentioned. The only thing I don't like is the small screen, but then mine is 6 yrs. old and newer models probably have larger screens. All features still work so haven't looked into upgrading.

 

[badgerbob]

How good does your cell work without signal? There is a heck of a lot of goat country that you can't get service in.

I have onXmaps on my smart phone. I like it fine. Battery life is a little weak, so I use my Garmin e-trax for navigation. Phone has an off line cache you can store maps in and use when not in an area with a signal. Property lines work in this mode and so does the phones gps. I will use it again this year. Yearly fee is about 35$ for the Oregon maps.

 

[Horsenhike]

The most popular of the phone apps is BackCountry Navigator GPS Pro. I know several of the forum members have dumped their GPS units for this app.

When I began looking for GPS options last year BCN was the first option I tried. Very accurate for me. Creepily so. Airplane mode worked perfect. Phone was a Kyocera Brigadier. Supposedly one of the toughest on the market. Broke it.

Phone vs. Handheld durability is what it came down to for me. Spent $120 on a Garmin 64s. I'll leave my phone in the pack.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

If you go with the Oregon 450, there is the "450T" and the "450". The "T" means that terrain data is already imbedded on the GPS and you tend to pay quite a bit more. If you are buying the land status chips, you really don't need the "T" unit.

For many years I have used and Oregon 400 and more recently the 450 and they are great units and are easy to use. The issue I have had with both units is screen brightness. It may be because I keep mine on while hunting (using it a LOT). I use rechargeable Eneloops and replace them everyday. I have just begun to explore a different model with a larger and brighter screen or possibly using my iPhone.

 

[WapitiBob]

An iPhone 5 or newer and the latest update should get you GPS without cell signal if some of you are having trouble.
Spent the last two seasons with "phone for GPS" guys. Not a fan.
I like having my laptop and GPS showing pretty much the same thing. I can copy all topo, sat imagery, geopdf, marked up roads, tracks, and waypoints over to my GPS much easier than to my phone. If I'm in a spot and take a bunch of points, I like to drop them back on the laptop that night and formulate a plan on a 15" screen and have all the extra overlay data available, and do it all without Internet.

 

[MidwestAssault]

I just picked up a Garmin Oregon 600 from Academy for $99. I figured for that price I'll make it work lol

 

[luckynv]

Mine have multiplied, all Garmin- Dakota 20, very lightweight-small screen-easy to use-cheap-AA batteries, Montana 650T-bigger and heavier, lithium or AA batteries-large screen "easy" to see!! Would not pay extra for T-preloaded top. This year several in our group upgraded to Rino-smaller screen-great to ping each other for location, however has to be line of sight, radio iffy at times-lithium battery-lasts all day. Have used my cell and worried about battery life. so many variables, Good luck and God bless