Handheld GPS Units with Powerful Lake Maps?

[SunnyRick1]

Is there a good hand held (besides a phone) GPS unit that can be loaded with Minnesota Lakes that is easy to read and accurate?

Bobberman

[Tator2k]

Lots of folks like the Lowrance iFinder H2O

[leech~~]

Lots of folks like the Lowrance iFinder H2O

H20's are good but they are being discontinued, there are a few good new ones out now. Another good one which maybe on it's way out also is the Garmin 500. I like crossovers because you can drive to the lake and keep going! But wait a while ED will be by, he always has some good info on the latest equipment!

[Ed Carlson]

If a dedicated hand held unit for marine use is your primary need, then look at the Garmin 78 (Floats), Garmin 62Csx, Oregon 400i 0r Oregon 400t, and the Dakota 20.

All in this class are 100% waterproof and run Garmin Inland Lakes Vision and LakeMaster mapping along with MNTRAX, NDTRAX, MTTRAX and all the new expanding TRAX line.

The Nuvi 500 (waterproof but does not float) was mentioned and I also like this unit as a dash to boat to pocket waterproof unit with wide ranging utility.

Handy unit, with turn by turn command prompt driving skills, but it lacks some marine use utility's the dedicated hand held units in the Garmin line can provide. Runs Garmin mapping and LakeMaster, and all TRAX mapping. Good value, very nice unit.

Top dog for field marine use, hands down, is the Garmin 78sx. The 78-series a number of features inherited from the Colorado, Dakota, and /or Oregon series. These include the ability to use, Garmin custom maps and aerial photos bird’s eye map, a three-axis compass, new customization options, Advanced Track navigation, wireless communications and paperless geocaching. None of them were available on the 60/76 series. An excellent daylight viewable display.

Then the Garmin 62Csx a great unit, for durability and bang for the buck. Loaded with user friendly features and Garmin mapping capability's. An excellent daylight viewable display. Very nice unit, top marks from me.

The Oregon 450i or t is a nice feature rich unit, but the battery life is not so good. If you will be running it in a boat with a 12 V power cord most of the time, no worry.

I own and highly recommend the Garmin Rino 530 HCx.

This unit is 100% waterproof and also has a multi band radio with GMRS/FRS 5/2 watt that includes NOAH WEATHER RADIO functionality and a ton of other handy Garmin utility's. This is tough workhorse GPS/Radio unit with a long life rechargeable Lithium Ion battery pack...16 hours easy on a charge. Well worth looking into as well as it has a lot of utility a sportsman and a guy on the job can use.

Pop in at the Garmin web site and click to compare the different models and features and see what fits your particular needs best. You Tube also has a lot of useful Garmin use videos that can show the utility and ease of use of different models.

*On the new Lowrance Endura and Safari line of hand held GPS units, my experience with them is not a good one. I can not personally recommend them, I'll leave it at that...enough said there.

[SunnyRick1]

Thank you, Ed! This is extremely helpful!

Bobberman

[BobT]

I will add my ditto for Garmin products. Along with all the available options you'll also find their service second to none in my opinion.

I've been using my Rino120 for a number of years and I love it. About the only thing I would mention about the Rino series that may apply to your original question is screen size might be a little small to suit your needs. It works okay but there are times I wish I had a 76 or 78 series so I had a bigger screen. The radio comes in handy every year as we use two-way radio between vehicles when we travel to Canada. We go up in four or five vehicles and the radios work better and safer than cell phones, especially when after crossing the border we usually run out of cell range.

[leech~~]

But wait a while ED will be by, he always has some good info on the latest equipment!

See, not bad for a guy in a van down by the river!

[Ed Carlson]

I'm get'n old, I occasionally forget....Ahhhh..Ummmm....STUFF...so a gps comes in handy to find the Ol' Van...down by the river if I loose it.

And SunnyRick1 your very welcome. I hope it helps you out in your process of thinning out the herd of options.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Dang Ed! How long did it take you to grab all those pics and post all that great info?!

[IA4PATS]

I am pretty dumb when it comes to GPS (among most other things), but when people are saying the accuracy is within, lets say 10 feet, does that mean within 10 feet on a preloaded map or 10 feet from the spot you manually mark? I am looking at getting a handheld for fishing and to use for hiking and crosscountry skiing. But mainly to mark where the fish bite. I don't need all the bells and whistles but don't want cheep junk either. Thoughts?

[mnguy152]

i have a garmin 62 with lake master works great for hard and soft water