Best GPS/Chip combo

[gritsnham]

So I want to make my final big purchase (for now) on ice fishing and get a GPS and a chip which I have been wanting for some time. Just wondering what people like and have had reliability with. I wanted a H20 but have been hearing bad things about them as of late so am shying away. Looking to get the best deal on the GPS I can without spending alot.

Thanks for the input

[Northlander]

I have had my H2Oc for like 7 years and have had no issues with it. Well maybe the fact they munch batteries pretty good. I use my cord as much as possible. As far as a chip there isnt 1 chip thats good every where. I have 5 chips. Some are better on certain lakes. In the Duluth/Superior area I like my Navionics Premium North Chip. Lakemasters new chip for my area is supposed to be good so Ill look at that. Decide what waters you fish most and buy the chip according to that.

Russ at Marine General knows them chips better than anyone I know.

[PeteB]

I like my Lowrance 522C GPS with sonar and Navionics Hot Map North chip. The 522 is discontinued, but I would buy another of the Lowrance units. It's nice to be able to motor or walk directly to a likely piece of structure and then check the sonar to see if there is anything there. Mine will do both gps and sonar on split screen and has a flasher option to use for ice fishing. Side by side with a vexilar it didn't seem to be as sensitive as the vexilar in flasher mode, but I could follow my bait all the way to the bottom.

[buckhunter21]

I like the Navionics Premium chip because of how many different lakes you get all on one chip. You dont have to buy a new chip for each lake and it has lakes that no other chip has that I have seen. I think the chip I have has over 14,000 lakes on it, while most of them are not quality maps they still help when going to a new lake and there is 1200 lakes I think that are in HD that are almost as good as Lakemaster IMO. Well worth $150 if you ask me. As far as a GPS Im not real sure the only one I have used is my XOG which they dont make anymore and is not waterproof so its not the best gps to have with on the lake.

[Fredd]

H2O and Lakemaster here. I have had my unit for four years w/o issue. I had a buddy who had the Navionics a few years ago and he always had delays in the boat at high speed. Something about the size of the files and the refresh rate. Does anyone experience this with the newer products??

[mn_bowhunter]

On my lowrance expedition I have the navionics and lakemaster. Both are good chips, but slow load time and having to select which map section for navionics is a pain. If I were looking for a new GPS I'd look at other options than lowrance. Mine is rated for 12 or 13 hours battery life at full operation. With brand new lithiums and in power save mode I get at most 4 hours before dead. I may rig up some sort of battery pack for 2 d cells to get more life.