GPS reviews

[Crickschop04]

I was considering getting a affordable GPS (don't need all the bells and whistles) for hunting and fishing, and was wondering if anyone had some good/bad experiences with certain units.

[Hemlock]

I'm happy with my Lowrance H2O. $200 plus $129 for a chip that gets me everywhere I need to fish. Solid unit with cig. lighter cord and a RAM mount,it's tough to beat.

[CPTNTIM]

I 2nd the h2o easy to use!!!!

[krma]

Post deleted by Paul Waldowski

[White-tips]

I'll 3rd the Lowrance H2O. Great unit, incredibly user friendly and MMC or SD card ready. It's worth every penny of the $219.99 purchase price.

[burl]

The lowrance h-20 is a sweet unit.Easy to use and very helpfull on the lakes with the lakemaster chip.Burl.

[Lynno62]

Are you guys talking about the lawernce h-20 or h-20 plus, both are listed on there web site, but like a 100.00 differece between the two. Thanks.

[tillbert]

I have been using the Garmin ETrex Legend for 4-5 years now and have no complaints. I have no idea what it costs now, or how it rates against the Lowrance unit, but you should check out the Garmin units too.

[dockehr]

Lynno62,

The Lowrance iFinder H2O+ includes the Mapcreate software and a mmc/sd card reader. This package allows one to create custom maps on their pc and then transfer the custom maps via the card reader to a mmc/ sd card that is then inserted into the iFinder. However, these maps do not have lake contour capability.

The iFinderH20 does not include the Mapcreate software nor card reader.

dockehr

Dr. Roland E. Kehr, Jr.

Lindy Tackle Company

[Mad Mulcher]

I 5th the H20! I bought one 3 weeks ago and my 2 Etrex units will never get used again! Except for back up of course. None of the Garmin handhelds can use a card, plus they cost more money. The ease and convenience of the plug in cards is something I couldn't comprehend until I had one in my posession and ran it.

[sightfisher]

The H2O is a great unit. Lowrance definitely has better, and more affordable, options for getting lake maps. Both Navionics and Lake Master have great chips. If you are only fishing MN then LakeMaster is a better option at 99.99. You get, I think, 255 lakes with contours, but also get thousands of other lakes with accurate shoreline depictions. It does not have Red, Rainy or LOTW. They do offer a chip for LOTW by itself. Navionics offers its chip by region, our region covers MN,WI,IA,and MI. If you fish more than MN the Navionics chip could be the better choice. Their chips are a liitle more expensive; the Gold is 129.99 with 10' contours, the Premium at 199.99 has down to 1' contours. Garmin also has great units. They are 'tried and true.' Garmin does have better all around software options; from Topographical, Roads, Recreation, and Fishing(although the fishing software does not include as much coverage as Lowrance options). Garmin's software, Map Sorce, comes on CD Rom and usually covers all of the US. Lowrance software comes in chip format, and covers states or regions. The chips for Lowrance, other than the fishing chips, can be hard to come by. Garmin does have package deal currently that includes: an Etrex Legend 169.99, Map Source Topographic 99.99, Instructional DVD 14.99, and cigarette lighter adapter 29.99. This package sells for 199.99. The Etrex Legend does not have tons of storage space, but to put it into perspective it can hold at a time atleast all the topo maps for the North Shore stretching from Duluth to Grand Marais. Both manufacturers have a solid product.

[ScottND]

I've had a Garmin GPS V for 3 years...it's a GREAT road warrior GPS with the routing. I also have an H20 with the Fishing Hotspots Elite North card and Mapcreate 6.3. They both have their own uses. If Garmin could use Fishing Hotspots cards there would be no doubt (because of their quality) I'd pick Garmin. But then again if Lowrance had Garmins quality...HMMMM!

[archer59]

Another vote for the H20. I've had mine for a couple weeks now and really like it. This one replaced my Magellan 310 so there are quite a few more features.

Nick

[caseymcq]

I have a Garmin GPSMap 76. I love it. It has a pretty good base map and when I have been lucky enough to get differential correction it has had an estimated positioning error down to 6.5 feet! The unit is extremely easy to use. Light wieght. Waterproof. The other nice thing about any of the Garmins is that there are a ton of accessories. I bought a newly overhauled GPSMap 76 off of GPSCity.com and it was under $200. There are two other models in the same family that are less expensive (I noticed you said you weren't looking for bells and whistles). The GPS 76 (no base map) and the GPS 72. I have used the 72 a lot for work and it is a great unit too.

The Lowrance H2O's sound nice though. I have a LCX 15mt for my boat and I love the LakeMaster mapping chip I bought for it. If you bought a H2O you could use the lake map chips in it.

[Hap Shaughnessy]

Go with the Lowrance I-Finder Hunt. It'll do what the H2o does, and also has features for those of us who venture off the water, into the woods hunting.

Garmin? Tried one once, that was enough.

[Captain B.R.K]

I would definately take a look at the Lowrance units that are on the market. Don't kid yourself of these fine units- base maps are good, ease of use and the capability of inserting chips w/ lake maps on them (extra cost).

You'll be happy you bought one!