I'm thinking about buying a handheld GPS to use for road trips and primarily offroading.  I know I want 12 channels and good maps but only want to spend around $300 or less.  Anyone have any recommendations as to brand, model, or features to look for?    

I have a Garmin E-Trex Legend.  It is good as far as giving you information and maps, but it is a gray scale screen. When ever you go into a National forrest it shades the area gray which means you can't read it very well.  If you stop and look real close you can read it, but it is no good when you are driving and trying to glance at it.  Try and find a color screen if you can.
Mike

I have a Garmin GPS-III plus.  It is gray scale also, but it works very well.

Cwkick

I have a Garmin e-map.  It also works very well.  I've had it for 4 years.  I mainly use it on my bike, but it does keep a breadcrumb trail when you are offroad so you can see where you came from.  You can get them new on e-bay for around $140.

We have a Garmin Etrex Legend, and a Vista. The Vista is nice because of the electronic compass (so you don't have to be moving to register which direction you are going), but the Legend is nice too.

I'd reccomend a Legend, about $125-150 bucks, get a CD of Garmin's MapSource US Roads and Recreation (about $100) bucks (unless you get it from ebay) - most come with a serial cable for the computer - so you won't need that - a cigarette lighter plug for the car, and a suction cup window holder for it.

Should be about $300 bucks, and would work well.

Heather

Mine is a little off the path ...

I got a cheap used laptop (ibm thinkpad 240x), got at USB gps adapter, and the National Geographic topo maps for my area ...

Sources
laptop - ebay (around $200-300)
TripNav USB GPS Receiver TN-200 - (around $100)
Topo maps from http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/topo/ - $100 per state

The three main thing I like about this is ...
Large color screen (even a lame laptop will have a color screen that is much better than any handheld).
The maps are loaded onto my personal PC as well as the HD of the laptop.
Relatively cheap (especially if you have an old laptop already).

I had the laptop strapped to my center seat in my FS truck, will be building a mount for the tracker soon.

Rob

I too recommend the Garmin Etrex Legend, with a mount and a cigarette lighter adapter.

I have the MapSource US Topo software, which lets me download topo maps into the GPS unit.  It works quite well, I'm quite happy with the level of detail that is available on these maps.  I think the software is around $100.  

For longer trips, I find it handy to have paper maps available to get a better idea of the "Big Picture" (and just in case the gps fails).

- Craig

Garmin eTrex legend, + pc/data cable & power leads,  linked to my laptop, running memory-map ordnance survey maps - all the info you need on your laptop screen, with the benefit of a hand held GPS if hiking/biking.

I secure the laptop on a pivot-tv bracket mounted to a board secured to the passenger seat, to enable at-a- glance-viewing whilst driving.

   Thanks for all the reviews!!!  I'll definitely check out the Garmin E-Trex Legend, but I'm concerned about the gray scale.  The laptop idea sounds really cool but how well do laptops hold up to the bouncing and banging on the trails?  What about all the dust?

Another vote for the Garmin Etrex Legend.  I have one, it was my first GPS after I saw the word geocaching in a post by Heather on another BBS, looked into it, and then decided I wanted to do it.

http://www.geocaching.com

The Legend  served me very well but I had to upgrade (because I like spending money) and got myself a Garmin GPSMAP 60cs.  REAL nice unit with a very bright transflective color screen.  Not cheap though.  I have mine in a little cellphone holder thing stuck to my dash at eye level.

I read recently that there are new versions of the Etrex legend/vista coming out with that same color screen, but I cant find them on the GArmin site.

Also, roads and rec is a great CD (I have it) but garmin no longer sells it.  if you get one it will be forever outdated.  They suggest City Select NA as replacement and the maps are newer.

I personally wouldnt try to make a laptop survive banging around in an offroad truck, but YMMV.

~daxe

Mine is a little off the path ...

I got a cheap used laptop (ibm thinkpad 240x), got at USB gps adapter, and the National Geographic topo maps for my area ...

Sources
laptop - ebay (around $200-300)
TripNav USB GPS Receiver TN-200 - (around $100)
Topo maps from http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/topo/ - $100 per state

The three main thing I like about this is ...
Large color screen (even a lame laptop will have a color screen that is much better than any handheld).
The maps are loaded onto my personal PC as well as the HD of the laptop.
Relatively cheap (especially if you have an old laptop already).

I had the laptop strapped to my center seat in my FS truck, will be building a mount for the tracker soon.

Rob

I've been thinking about something like this... using my laptop as a GPS. I really like the idea of a large color screen, plus the ability to use it to play MP3's is pretty awesome, too .

I've actually been thinking about making a mount for the Tracker that clamps to the 'oh shit' handle and then clamps the laptop down to it.

Of course then I'd have to wheel with my windows up


EDIT: What software are you using?

mounting the laptop;

I tried initially to fix it onto the parcel shelf, but the leverage effect was a concern, and off road the vibration excessive.

So I designed and made up a mount onto the passenger seat - car is in the garage so I will provide a pic in due course.

I fixed a portable TV bracket on to a piece of board, say 12" wide and say 24" high, so that the bottom of the bracket ( usually a cover over the rotational axel of the bracket) is level with the bottom of the board.

The pivot-tv bracket bottom sits on the passenger seat swab(base), giving a cushioning effect, and the board the bracket's wall plate is fixed to is secured to the seat back by straps around the head restraint. I also loop a bungee cord over the arm of the pivot, secured to the floor at the two front corners of the seat.

The laptop is secured to the pivot plate with a webbing strap.

This has worked for me, and although I can't take a passenger with me I am in no doubt where I am/have been/am going ( unlike with a navigator!!!), and he now has to come out in his Land Rover with me.

The laptop's screen map display is big enough to read at a glance - but you wouldn't try to use it whilst moving anyway would you!!!

The laptop coupled with CB make good companions on a trip - just dont try to watch porn whist you're driving!

What software are you using?

I just run "Topo!" that comes with the maps.

just dont try to watch porn whist you're driving!

Damn, that's half the reason I wanted the laptop mounted in the car... long trips are boring

I just run "Topo!" that comes with the maps.

So the maps come with their own viewing program or something that can be interfaced with the USB GPS?

Another vote for the Garmin Etrex Legend.  I have one, it was my first GPS after I saw the word geocaching in a post by Heather on another BBS, looked into it, and then decided I wanted to do it.

http://www.geocaching.com

The Legend  served me very well but I had to upgrade (because I like spending money) and got myself a Garmin GPSMAP 60cs.  REAL nice unit with a very bright transflective color screen.  Not cheap though.  I have mine in a little cellphone holder thing stuck to my dash at eye level.

I read recently that there are new versions of the Etrex legend/vista coming out with that same color screen, but I cant find them on the GArmin site.

Also, roads and rec is a great CD (I have it) but garmin no longer sells it.  if you get one it will be forever outdated.  They suggest City Select NA as replacement and the maps are newer.

I personally wouldnt try to make a laptop survive banging around in an offroad truck, but YMMV.

~daxe

Yep we still geocache when we feel like it.. it's cool to have some other hobby to do when you're bored on the weekends, or not working on the Zuk. Plus it gets you out.

I saw a color Legend in the store the other day. I think it was a little expensive.. around $269 or something at the store.... nice unit though, if I had the cash I think I would have bought it.

Here's the info:

http://www.garmin.com/products/etrexLegendc/