Garmin GPS Recommendation?

[federali]

Knowing that this is where all the knowledgeable people hang out, I thought this a good place to ask. I have an older and bulkier Garmin GPS (for an automobile). It's time to buy a new Garmin, one with a flat, 5" screen and which I can take with me on occasional domestic flights so as not to depend on car rental company GPS units which cost as much to rent as what you can buy them for.

Problem is, there's a bewildering array of models that all look the same. Can anyone recommend specific features that are must-haves in a mobil GPS?

Many thanks for your assistance.

 

[hobby-gunsmith]

garmin gps

I have a Nuvi 50 in 5" screen which I love. I purchased the accessary bean bag with the attachment for the car and take it with me when renting a vehicle for traveling. The updates are free and search for resturants and gas stations while traveling en route to my destinations. The GPS was a Christmas present from my wife and purchased it at H Gregg. I recommend that model for price and function.

Nick

 

[madmikeb]

I have a Nuvi, don't remember the model, take it with me whenever I travel for rental cars, just take my suction cup mount.
The main thing I want to say is to make sure that you get one with the lifetime map updates and travel info.

 

[Damn Yankee]

Sir,
Go here I think you will get the info you want.

GPS Receiver Information, Software, and Hardware Reviews of Garmin, Lowrance, Magellan and other GPS Receivers

 

[jackvs1]

I just updated my Garmin NUVI that I have had for 6 years. I bought at Best Buy one month ago for $130 and it is on sale today for $90. It has life time updates which I immediately did when I got home with it. It is your basic model, not to many frills and simple to use.
Garmin - nüvi 42LM Essential Series 4.3" GPS with Lifetime Map Updates
Hope I can link & if I wasn't supposed to sorry.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/garmin-nvi-42lm-essential-series-4-3-gps-with-lifetime-map-updates/7534182.p?id=1218849840607&skuId=7534182&st=pcmcat127000050005_categoryid$abcat0301014&cp=1&lp=1

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Can anyone recommend specific features that are must-haves in a mobil GPS?

Many thanks for your assistance.

Bottle opener???

 

[italiansport]

I have a Garmin and it works great out on the road. However; I've never been able to find a good explanation as to how to use it out in the woods while hunting. I'd like to put in my camp location as a reference to finding my way back.
Jim

 

[SJshooter]

Do you have an iPhone or other smartphone? I find that the spoken directions by Apple are just as good as any of my old Garmins. Google Maps will speak directions in real time, also, and there are other apps, too. My iPhone is only slightly smaller than one of my old Nuvis.

 

[Marshwheeling]

I have a Garmin and it works great out on the road. However; I've never been able to find a good explanation as to how to use it out in the woods while hunting. I'd like to put in my camp location as a reference to finding my way back.
Jim

The Etrex models can do that for you (designed for hikers), as well as the one that for years was the standard for motorcycle tourists (on- and off-road), the Garmin 60CSX. It doesn't do routes, and you don't have to put up with the Garmin [W]itch, but it can store lots of tracks and has a ton of map capacity if you put in a big enough chip. The routing capability is of no use in places where the trails have no names or where there are no road signs.

 

[Salty RI]

Pay the extra few bucks and get one with free up dates.

 

[BruceB]

I bought a little Garmin Nuvi 270 in 2009 for a trip to Europe, it came with both US and Europe maps. We drove all over the place - Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany and Poland, and it only failed us once, and that was so funny it was excused. In a small Italian coastal town it sent us up an alley one car wide that ended in stairs before the street continued. Backing out of there under the gaze of the amused residents was funny.
We were out in the forest in Poland an hour or so south of Gdansk and missed a turn off a two-lane road. About 1K later the GPS sent us down a dirt track into the forest. 10 minutes and a couple of turns later we popped out right at our destination, you can't get better than that! During that little side trip, the screen just showed green, but somehow it knew the tracks were there.
Oh, and there was the time I had the thing in "walking" mode and it sent me the wrong way down a "no cars" boulevard in downtown Zurich. People pointing and the approaching streetcar finally clued me into why there were no other cars there. Totally my fault, but I got out of there before the Swiss cops spotted me


Driving and backwoods hiking/offroad GPS' are different, so get what you need for the intended use.