Backtrack GPS?

[ppine]

I used a GPS this fall for navigating a maze of dirt roads covering 95 miles coming out of a hunting area.. It was the first time I have relied on it and it was very handy. The map and compass boys are right, that you do not want to rely on anything electronic a long way from home. What happens when your batteries quit?

The only people that get lost trying to find my house, are the ones using a GPS. Every winter we lose a few tourists that end up following some direct GPS route that can't differentiate the road hierarchy, and then end up stuck somewhere and die. Officials are still looking for the guy from Canada that died somewhere in Elko County, NV last spring.

[oldsarge]

It's easy to get overwhelmed with all this new technology. When I had my first GPS, I was still learning how to use it and was letting it lead me to a prior way point I loaded. Being slightly familiar with the area, I noticed I was way off. Of course it couldn't be the GPS's fault! So I kept moving and noticed the GPS had locked up and froze. I had to shut it down and re-start it, then it started working again. I then got the new set of coordinates and plotted it on my map and found I was about a mile away from where I should have been.

[Theosus]

Originally Posted by oldsarge

I agree with the eTrex models. Very reliable and inexpensive. But a high priced GPS is just as easy to use, it just has more options available. I wouldn't tell a first time user to get the top of the line model, but I would suggest at the least to have mapping capabilities. Then again it all depends on what the person wants to do with the GPS. If you're good with maps and plotting coordinates, then a very simple GPS is all you'll ever need.

Agreed. I had the blue eTrex legend (just sold it because I never really used it, I won it at a conference).
My Old standard GPS is a magellan sporTrak Map. Its several years old, but has been bulletproof so far. You can load maps on it, but it doesnt have much memory. It does keep a track of your travels, of course, and has a "backtrack" feature if you need it.
The #1 thing you have to remember; MARK THE CAR!
Older GPS units can be had for a steal vs. when they were new. The blue legend models consistently go for around $40 through the geocaching.com "forums" page. Many other models are available through it too, but be warned, you are buying from other people, not a store, so its like ebay (without the paypal trouble); buyer beware.

[oldsarge]

I gave my old Magellan SporTrack Map to my buddy in Alaska, along with all the mapping software. It's still going strong! All my previous Magellan's were good, my big issue with Magellan was their customer service. I had some real issues with them the last time I had to get repairs done. Nothing but one problem after another. When it was all finished I did come out ahead but who needs all that drama. I still have my Blue eTrex Legend, never use it though. I have been using the Colorado 300 mainly and keep my old Magellan 500LE as a spare just in case.

[briansnat]

Originally Posted by Johnny

What Garmin models are those? I finally decided to buy a GPS and for now Garmin is my first choice. Is backtracking feature common in GPS devices or is this an exclusive of more expensive models?

Thanks.

I can't think of a Garmin GPS that doesn't have a backtrack feature. Maybe some of the wrist units like the Foretrex, but all other Garmin models from the top to the bottom of the line should have a backtrack feature.