Garmin eTrex Vista C Waterproof Hiking GPS by Garmin
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List Price: Our Price: $100.00 You Save: $329.99 (77%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: GPS or Navigation System See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Garmin eTrex Vista C Waterproof Hiking GPS
Digital camera Review: Start up and walk (drive) away)
Summary: 5 Stars
I liked the unit from the first time picked it up. It is MUCH faster in start up and lower in power draw (longer battery life) than the last two units I have used (one of them an older Garmin product!). I literlally put the batteries in and turned it on and used it with only a few references to the quick users guide. The controls ate very intuitive and the online support excellent.
I reccomend it highly.
Digital camera Review: The Garmin 60cs is a better deal for the $
Summary: 3 Stars
I've owned many handheld GPS units, and the Garmin eTrex series is one of my favorites. The Garmin units are small and fairly easy to use. But the Vista C doesn't compare to the similarly priced Garmin 60cs.
The VistaC has a nice color display, and is a nice size for my hands. Unlike the other classic eTrex models, the VistaC has a faster USB interface (although the VistaC seems to have dropped the "Universal" out of USB, and is lacking industry-standard NMEA software support). The color Vista has retained its 24 MB of memory, so you can install higher quality maps on the VistaC using Garmin's mapping software (sold separately).
In comparison, the 60cs is ever-so-slightly bigger than the VistaC - and that's mostly because the 60 series has a more powerful, more effective antenna.
For hiking and geocaching, you want excellent GPS reception. A bit of tree cover shouldn't put you in the dark. The 60cs' awesome antenna is better able to cope with real-world conditions that you'd find on the trail and on tree-lined roads.
Plus, the 60cs has a bigger screen, a better user interface, more than twice the memory (56 MB), 1000 waypoint capability (vs. 500), much better computer compatibility, NMEA compliance, and it sells right here for just about the same price as the VistaC. Oh, plus you can hook an external antenna up to it.
So although Garmin's VistaC is a decent GPS, the 60cs is by far the more capable GPS for just about the same money.
Digital camera Review: This is a great all around GPS
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this GPS unit just a few weeks ago and I love it. I was a bit skeptical because I know how color screens wash out in the sun, but not this one. It is great even in direct sunlight. The last reviewer on this must not have ever used any other GPS becuase this is by far the easiest to use for what it offers. He must remember that this is a GPS for someone who needs all the extras or wants them. THis has it all, but like any new technical device it takes time to learn everything this unit can do. It really lacks for nothing. I have tried many different GPS systems and this is by far the best. The old maps that Garmin offered I will agree are not too great but they have just barely released new maps for the units just this summer and the new maps are great. Please note that most places are still selling the old software not the new software. I can drive down the highway where I live and my GPS will tell me exactly what gas stations, stores, hotels, eating areas will be at what exit number off the freeway. Get the new mapping software and this GPS and you will have a great GPS for hiking and for traveling. It will give me turn by turn instructions to where I program it to go. I can't think of what more to ask out of a GPS than this one. You really can't go wrong with this one and like I said I have used these products for years.Digital camera Review: Using E-Trex Vista C on AT Thru-Hike
Summary: 4 Stars
I am currently carrying the Etrex with me on my 2174.6 mile thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. As of today, I have completed 270 miles (taking a day off in Hot Springs, NC).
So far the Etrex Vista C has been very reliable, only losing satellite reception for short periods of time, and usually that is when I am indoors, or in a shelter. However, sometimes it seems to lose satellite reception at times when it appears I have a clear view of the sky.
The battery life has been very good, especially now that i have started using the energizer lithium batteries. I use the Etrex with the compass turned off, and almost never use the backlight, as per Garmin's reccommendations for increasing battery life.
My main use of the gps unit is to create a track of where i have hiked - I am not using it to program my routes or future destinations - only to mark the locations of where i have been. Therefore I cannot comment on downloading maps, creating routes, etc.
Issues I would like to see addressed are greater memory capacities (I have to download my tracklog every 2 weeks), a removable flash memory card in this regard would be excellent. Also, I have to carry the usb cable driver installer with me everywhere in order to download my gps data from the unit - if this were plug-n-play similar to most card readers, that would also help.
Digital camera Review: Very Good GPS
Summary: 5 Stars
This is our third Garmin GPS, the first being the Legend, and the second a C330
for the car.
We have an old version of Metroguide USA v5 and downloaded applicable areas of interest and what a neat difference it makes using the look up feature and the
basic auto routing capability to find what you're looking for.
Our primary use for this GPS is geocaching, and I think we got a good deal on
it for just a little over $100.00 including shipping.
Since the Legend series is basically the same, it wasn't to difficult to grasp and
use the basic features on the Legend C. I know it is really outdated compared to
the newer GPS's however if you can find one as we did in the price range we got it for, it is worth getting, and before I forget, It has 24mb of memory to download
additonal information. From the Metroguide I was able to download several major
cities that we drive to and through on trips, so the 24mb was adequate for us.
Since the old Metroguide can be used over and over again, it is not a problem to
put in a laptop and update the Legend C as needed, deleting and adding whatever
information is needed.