loneranger916
Active Member
ISO of a an affordable/get-the-job done GPS that i can depend on in the back country.. Usually affordability and dependability cant be used in the same sentence, but im seeing whats out there..
GPS
- Thread starter loneranger916
- Start date
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I've been having good luck with onXhunt map installed on my phone. Just save a map of the areas that you'll be hunting while you have service and you're good to go. The only downside is that it costs $29 a year for one state or $99 a year for all states.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Nimrod
Well-Known Member
I have been using a Garmin Etrex Legend for several years and am happy with it. If you add the OnXhunt app you should be good to go.
Beardeddeer91
Well-Known Member
I have a Garmin Oregon that I have used for a few years. It's been great, but seems unnecessary when you have have OnX on your phone. I always carry my phone and a battery pack anyway if I'm going in the backcountry so it seem redundant to carry a handheld GPS on top of that when my phone works just as well. As already mentioned just download the area(s) beforehand and then put your phone on airplane mode to save battery.
loneranger916
Active Member
Thanks all for the responses. I currently have onX on my phone, but was looking to get a hand held as well. But after reading a few comments, it seems that I'd be able to get away with just having it on my phone and saved for offline. So now I'm thinking hand held may be unnecessary after all if I'm bringing my phone anyway.
aushunter1
Well-Known Member
Get a Garmin InReach with your country maps.
Gives you the best of both worlds, a Topo GPS with printable map capability via Garmin basecamp & also a PLB service that you can enable for any period you want.
Gives you the best of both worlds, a Topo GPS with printable map capability via Garmin basecamp & also a PLB service that you can enable for any period you want.
Country Bumpkin
Well-Known Member
My 2 thoughts.
1. If you do NOT feel as though you will be getting into potentially dangerous situations, or if you do NOT need to "check in" with the family, then stick with OnX. You are always going to have your phone with you (for camera purposes). The only thing I would ADD is an external charging unit so that you don't need to worry about battery life (or you could go solar but I don't trust those things).
2. If you feel the need, as I do, to check in with the family and to potentially send for help/SOS, the InReach is a great unit. Earthmate is a very user friendly website for downloading maps to your phone. Your phone syncs with the GPS as long as you do it while still in service. The InReach has come pretty impressive battery life (so if your phone dies, you always have the gps functions available to get out of dodge). Pairing the InReach up with your phone is MUCH easier to use than just the buttons on a standard gps. Also much better map viewing when looking for that timbered bench that might be an elk bedding area.
1. If you do NOT feel as though you will be getting into potentially dangerous situations, or if you do NOT need to "check in" with the family, then stick with OnX. You are always going to have your phone with you (for camera purposes). The only thing I would ADD is an external charging unit so that you don't need to worry about battery life (or you could go solar but I don't trust those things).
2. If you feel the need, as I do, to check in with the family and to potentially send for help/SOS, the InReach is a great unit. Earthmate is a very user friendly website for downloading maps to your phone. Your phone syncs with the GPS as long as you do it while still in service. The InReach has come pretty impressive battery life (so if your phone dies, you always have the gps functions available to get out of dodge). Pairing the InReach up with your phone is MUCH easier to use than just the buttons on a standard gps. Also much better map viewing when looking for that timbered bench that might be an elk bedding area.
Nimrod
Well-Known Member
I have OnX on my phone also but I have had problems using it without a signal so I take my GPS along too. For what it's worth I also carry paper maps and a compass and know how to use them.
D
Deleted member 110997
Guest
What are you looking to spend? A used garmin foretrex won't be hard to find used on eBay.
.2c tip. Keep it close to your body and inside your warming layers so the batteries don't get so cold they're worthless.
D
Deleted member 110997
Guest
Use these for work. They're worth it....but like a dude said depends what you need. Nothing like a good old map and compass. That's a couple $$ and something you can teach your kids that I'm sure no kids are taught these days.
https://satellitephonestore.com/catalog/sale/details/iridium-go-252
https://satellitephonestore.com/catalog/sale/details/iridium-go-252
sbfireman
Active Member
Questions if I may...
What do you want to use the GPS for? Are you wanting to create track logs of where you've been (load to a computer mapping program then review); waypoints to mark certain locations you've found; create a route that you can upload then follow? Looking to track out and then use the trackback? Want an electronic compass and altimeter? Color screen? Determine hunting zones / land ownership? Add an aftermarket chip for specific maps / data?
Basic functionality / basic use can be had for about $100 or so - easy to start / go from there. Like many here, I'm a Garmin fan but wary of touch screens due to scratch issues.
There's some sage advice in the above posts (please strongly consider taking a map and mechanical compass and letting family know where you're hunting - as you know, you never know what you'll encounter in the field).
Good luck with your search.
Respectfully --
What do you want to use the GPS for? Are you wanting to create track logs of where you've been (load to a computer mapping program then review); waypoints to mark certain locations you've found; create a route that you can upload then follow? Looking to track out and then use the trackback? Want an electronic compass and altimeter? Color screen? Determine hunting zones / land ownership? Add an aftermarket chip for specific maps / data?
Basic functionality / basic use can be had for about $100 or so - easy to start / go from there. Like many here, I'm a Garmin fan but wary of touch screens due to scratch issues.
There's some sage advice in the above posts (please strongly consider taking a map and mechanical compass and letting family know where you're hunting - as you know, you never know what you'll encounter in the field).
Good luck with your search.
Respectfully --
Been thinking anew GPS also.....buddy of mine and buddies of his have all gone Garmin Montana........shows all property lines....
Packing the phone in back country and turn on you have to have a power source to charge...if it keeps looking for signals it is as good as dead.....
GPS and a phone with or with out maps on it.....
Packing the phone in back country and turn on you have to have a power source to charge...if it keeps looking for signals it is as good as dead.....
GPS and a phone with or with out maps on it.....
