Willing to invest $200-$400 for GPS unit to use on canoe trips, new to this gear

any suggestions including good solar panel and I-phone option

Thanks

quote jamartinsr: "Willing to invest $200-$400 for GPS unit to use on canoe trips, new to this gear

any suggestions including good solar panel and I-phone option

Thanks"

I have an older Lowrance I-Finder Expedition C GPS unit that is no longer made /sold. Mine is setup with maps of the BWCA with portage and campsite locations. Until it breaks, I will not replace it with a newer unit. So, someone else will need to point you in the direction of a current GPD make/model.

I see that you are a registered member of BWCA.com and not a guest paddler. As such there are member forums that are available to memebers. GPS Users is one of those forums. From the Messageboard, you will see a list of the private forums available to join. Select the GPS forum and you'll access all the information you'll ever need about GPS usage in the BWCA.

Regarding Solor panels, IMO Goal Zero is the gold standard with numerous options/sizes/price ranges to choose from. Personally, I use the Sherpa 50w kit which includes a 13.5 watt solar panel, a 50 watt battery pack and a 100w inverter. There isn't a single portable elecgtronic piece of equipment that this setup will not charge or run in the BWCA. It's a bit pricy at $350 - $400 but it works.

Can't help with the I-Phone. I don't/won't use apple products.

MotionX works great on the iPhone, and if you fish the Navionics app is a must as well.

Lots of detailed information here as mentioned earlier. Don't let the title Private Member Forums bother you they are mostly open to everybody.

At your price point a higher end color mapping dedicated GPSr is what I would suggest. Especially if you plan to use it for other activities, hunting, property management, geocaching, mapping. Garmin 62st and Delorme PN60 are my favorite.

butthead

You can get a decent compass and map for under $30 ... and the batteries are guaranteed not to run low. :-)

quote OBX2Kayak: "You can get a decent compass and map for under $30 ... and the batteries are guaranteed not to run low. :-)"

Good point.....Never rely on just a GPS for navigation.

Everyone should have a good quality map and compass along, and more importantly, know how to use them.

Having said that there is nothing wrong with bringing and using a GPS. For many it can add lots of enjoyment and improve the quality of your trip.

Why do you think, jamartinsr, does not have a compass, map, or the knowledge to use them!

butthead

quote butthead: "Why do you think, jamartinsr, does not have a compass, map, or the knowledge to use them!


butthead"

How did you read into my post that I thought jamartinsr didn't have a map & compass or the knowledge to use them?

My comment was a generic response to OBX2Kayak (post directly above mine). Just a general statement on the importance of maps and compasses and not relying solely on a GPS.

It had nothing to do with jamartinsr having a compass or not or knowing how to use them or not.

Why do you think I can't read?

butthead

We've been happy with the Garmin eTrex series. The one we have now is the top of that line but the line has changed. They are small, rugged, good screen. Battery use with lithium batteries is low enough that batteries last a few days. A few sets of batteries on a trip will be much lighter than any solar option and doesn't depend on good sunlight and the time to recharge things. So we haven't gone that way.

We use the RedPine PaddleNav maps in it for the BW. Also very good.


For a compass, I'm partial to an old Silva Ranger with clinometer and 0 to 360 rather than quadrant readings. I hear the new ones aren't as well made. For maps, still like McKenzie the best but carry at least McKenzie and Fisher and sometimes Voyageur too. You can't have too many maps! :)

LuvMyBell: "
Everyone should have a good quality map and compass along, and more importantly, know how to use them."

I have never brought a compass and most who know me would say I've never brought quality maps either.

+1 for the Garmin 62ST. Many people also like the 60CSX which has been supplanted by the 62 series units. Obviously you will have a map and compass as well. Be sure that you play with whatever GPS you buy well before you leave on your trip so that you can gain the most from having it. A word of advise: When you are on the trail, make sure that your backlight is turned off. You won't need it and inadvertently leaving the light on drains the batteries like you wouldn't believe. For charging my GPS I don't use a solar charger because i find them to be too finicky. I instead bring this battery backup: Mophie Juice Pack

Mine is a Garmin 62st with Upper Midwest Fishing Guide chip installed and selected data from the Arch Harris collection loaded for that particular trip. Couldn't be happier. Great time for sale prices on many of the models in the 62 series as the 64 series is due to come out soon.

I use a Garmin Dakota 20 and really like it. It worked great in the BWCA last year and I don't intend to change it out. One set of batteries easily lasted the whole week and it was on the entire time. I downloaded and saved the tracks when I got home. It really made for some interesting information concerning our paddling/portaging speeds and times and the time of day when we arrived or departed any given place.

Never used it for navigating ... we had map and compass for that.

I have a Garmin Rhino 650. I use it for more than just the BWCA however, which is why I wanted the radio option on it as well. I like it a lot though.

Very happy with my Garmin 60CSx unit. Do a fair amount of backpacking and like the barometric altimeter and electronic compass. I also like the tracking feature which displays exactly where on your route you are at a given time.

Not as user friendly as some units but very reliable and durable as well.

Dual GPS I50 is a gps receiver that will bluetooth with your iphone. Add and app like Gaia GPS and you're good to go, no longer rely on cell towers for gps or map info.

Dual Gps

Gaia GPS