Garmin eTrex Vista Handheld GPS Navigator
Go wherever life takes you and never get lost! The Garmin eTrex Vista handheld mapping GPS provides all the navigation tools you will need when you depart on your next adventure. This GPS comes packed with important traveling features including a barometric altimeter, an electronic compass, a detailed basemap of the Americas, and more!
Garmin eTrex Vista Handheld GPS Navigator Features
- Altimeter Determines Precise Altitude & Provides A Graphic Profile Of User¿S Trip
- Compass Provides Bearing Information While User Is Standing Still
- Same Features As Grm0025600 Etrex Legend Plus A Built-In Barometric Altimeter & Electronic Compass
- WAAS-Enabled
$249.99
I've had this model for awhile now. I like it better than the Foretrex models. I like it better than the basic Etrex models.
It can do a variety of format datum that allows flexibility of use.
It is very accurate, dependable, takes abuse, and is waterproof. It uses two AA batteries and does not eat them up like other GPS's. The field tab areas are customizable in navigation mode to suit it how you like. The blacklight feature is not to bright and a nice feature.
The "thumb" button is a nice feature to have to scroll around rather than the other etrex lower base models that you have to scroll around by side buttons. So the thumb button is very nice especially when inputting data settings or waypoints.
The auto configure feature of locating the satellites when you turn it on is nice because you can take a trip and have it automatically update your current location without getting into manual settings for regions.
You can take clear packing tape and cut it to the shape of the GPS screen and roll it on to make a protective coating for the screen that costs nothing.
Cons:
The retaining strap is hooked to a small piece of plastic at it's base that can break if some hard pressure is applied. I wouldn't dangle it by the retention cord all the time. It can get broken easily if abused in this area.
Fix: if it does break, drill a small hole into the battery cavity past the broken plastic strip and knot a piece of nylon cord / melt the end and pass the cord through the tight hole for a new retention cord that is stronger than the original. You can silicone it shut with some automotive silicone. This will allow you to keep it for trail hiking, have a stronger retention cord, and keep it secure. -- Great Low Cost GPS
Garmin eTrex Vista Handheld GPS
Bought it for a road bicycle, and I love it! Bought it with the bicycle mount. Received it and started using it the same day. It has a million features, so it takes a bit of reading to setup all the options. Oh...you have to buy MapSource to fully utilize the unit. I tried the cheaper method of uploading and downloading to the unit. Could not get to work with Google Earth Plus, I did get to work with other 3rd party software. But I finally coughed up the $100 bucks (almost as much as the unit) and bought MapSource North America.
Now I was cooking was gas! Uploading, downloading, mapping, graphing, analyzing my ride. It is incredible all the information that can be gleamed from the interface with MapSource.
Now that I have used it for a bit, I love it even more. You can plan routes, or not. Use the tracks you created, later. The graphing on the altimeter is wild! The maps are incredibly detailed. I could go on and on about all the features, for the price this unit is the BOMB.
I had a sneaky suspicion that I might need to buy the software. So I chose the Vista. However, I am so pleased with the unit that I wish I had bought the colored more sensitive(GPS wise) higher end model.
-- Garmin Etrex Vista
