GPS Questions (Which one to buy)

[mymaro]

Okay i really want a gps but am not sure which one i dont understand all these features and what they mean. So im hoping if i say what i want in a gps you guys can tell me.

Im going to be using it all year round. ice fishing, snowmobiling, open water fishing and driving. i would like it to have street numbers and directions driving. i want it do be very detailed about lake rivers and anything to do with water. i would like it to be waterproof. I want to be able to mount it on my snowmobile handlebars and maybe have somewhat decent trail map system it doesnt bother me if its handheld but does need to mount do my sled.

[MN Mike]

The Garmin Nuvi 500 or 550 would be what you might want to look at, both units are waterproof, have replaceable batteries, will accept Lakemaster chips for lake depth data and will give you spoken, turn by turn street name directions.

Both units are the same except for the maps, the 500 comes with a Topo map, the 550 does not BUT it gives you street and Point of Intrest information for North America where the 500 only gives you that for the lower 48.

There are lots of other map options too.

Some guys on this site are picking them up for about a couple hunderd bucks and I've seen them as high as $300, either way, there are a ton of other options these Garmins can do.

They come with a suction cup mounting system but you can purchase other mounts too. If you go to Garmins site and get to one of these models, there is a Demo on the right hand side of the screen, just a quick one but it gives you some idea what they can do.

Mike

[Kirsch]

I agree with MNMike's recommendation for a GPS that can do it all, the Nuvi 500 is a great choice. It isn't the best at any one area but it can do it all which makes it a very affordable GPS.

There really aren't too many other options out there. The other option if you can find one is a Lowrance XOG but they are discontinued. I still prefer the Nuvi 500 but if you can find a store or HSOforum with one of these left, you may be able to snag one of these for aroudn $125-$150. They aren't waterproof but at least weather resistant and would be my 2nd choice for the needs you described.