Backtrack GPS?

hummingbird · 12-06-2011, 07:57 PM

Has anyone else seen these contraptions? If you activate it when you go into the woods, it will direct you to where you want to go whether it's a lake or another spot. Then when you get ready to come back, it will use a satellite-guided GPS system to show you the way back. I am going to get me one of these things. I have a pretty good sense of direction but not the rest of my family. They couldn't find their way to the car from the store, if they had the only vehicle in the parking lot.

steves · 12-06-2011, 08:04 PM

I have 2 Garmins and both of them have this feature

Qweetzy · 12-06-2011, 08:04 PM

Say, that does sound handy. There is a small pond where I like to go fishing and it's very remote. I usually have to place a few markers in the thick brush in order to make sure I find the right path back.

briansnat · 12-07-2011, 01:47 AM

I guess they are an inexpensive way to find your way out of the woods, but for not much more money you can get a full featured GPS that has a backtrack feature.

oldsarge · 12-07-2011, 04:40 AM

My sister has one, you can only save three way-points on it. It gives you little symbols like a car, a house, and one other. It's great for marking your car at some giant mega mall so you can find it again. You can't load any coordinates in it and does not have any map at all on the display. This GPS and the other ones that strap to your wrist really aren't all that good. I am a Garmin fan and it's not the make of the GPS but the style that doesn't do good. You are much better off getting a fully optioned unit that will truly outperform those you're asking about.

IndianaHiker · 12-07-2011, 11:00 AM

I have a GPS but still carry map and compass.

oldsarge · 12-07-2011, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndianaHiker

I have a GPS but still carry map and compass.

Smart man, The only way to go!

Bojib · 12-07-2011, 04:12 PM

Does the Backtrack GPS just save the waypoint, or does it also save a "breadcrumb" track for you to follow back?

If it just navigates in a straight line back to the waypoint, and it only saves three waypoints at a time, then it's usefulness will be severely limited.

Grandpa · 12-07-2011, 04:13 PM

I just follow my dog. He always gets tired and heads for home just about right.

I put my life in the hands of a map and compass as well. My only experience with a gps wasn't that great, mainly because I didn't do my homework first so it became another boat anchor I had to carry for a few days. I really didn't miss it because my navigation system was not built around it.

Lamebeaver · 12-07-2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bojib

Does the Backtrack GPS just save the waypoint, or does it also save a "breadcrumb" track for you to follow back?

If it just navigates in a straight line back to the waypoint, and it only saves three waypoints at a time, then it's usefulness will be severely limited.

It literally plots your path, and it's usually accurate to a few feet.

Technically, it's a series of waypoints, but there are lots and lots and lots of them.....every few seconds.