Any one have a suggestion on a good inexpensive GPS?

I'm thinking about the eXplorist 300 North America anyone had any experience with this?

I'm also looking at the eTrex Legend any reviews from anyone on this?

Are GPS worth bring to the BWCA or do most people think they are just another thing to bring with that needs batteries.

I'm no expert on the matter of GPS.

I have been on trips that people had brought them along. They were fun for figuring out total distances traveled throughout the day.

I would never depend on one for navigation. I have seen people assume this could be done only to be dissapointed.

Hex

A good Gps is the garmin 60CS. It has great mappinng for lake and topo maps too. we use it alot fishing the missouri and it is great we used it ones last year up in BWCA to find a lake. it is hard to hike with a gps through forest because it cant pick up on a signals very well, but if you use it on a lake they work great.

I have the Garmin GPS 72... It is relatively inexpensive, $150.00, and I use it exclusively. I can use mapping software to pre-enter my route, sites to see, campsites, portages, and other things. While the pre-programming may not be pin point accurate it is still close enough to get me to the spot where I can make the change to the actual coordinates. It is WAS enables which get the accuracy down to about 3 - 15 feet. I use it hunting, fishing, hiking and for everything. You can program it to check your mileage, your speed, average speed and top speed, travel time, stopped time, and also gives you clestial information... (*hunting and fishing times)
Check it out, I like it...

Bruce

I've had the etrex Legend for about three years and love it. I have the Mapsource TOPO software. I can mark campsites, portages, what-ever on my PC and download it to the Legend. I also use it for hiking, driving and for finding my way back to the truck when hunting. I've marked berry patches as waypoints so I can find them the next year. It's also handy for storing fishing hot spots. The data base contains solar lunar tables so I can pinpoint sunrise and sunset and moon rise and set times way out in advance to tell me if the moon will interfere with watching the stars when canoeing or camping. The database also has information about Interstate rest areas and what services are available at exits. It's also useful when measuring distance, average speed and top speed when hiking, biking or canoeing. I've had absolutely no problems with it.

Does anyone know of a resource for waypoints of portages,campsites, or other? Would anyone like to share waypoint info? I am heading to Alice from Lake One and thought it would cut travel time with the assistance of such info. Thanks for your help!

Go to TOPOZONE.COM. Go to where you want to have a waypoint and click the mouse and it will give you the longitude and latitude.
Good luck,
canoe42

Check out http://w3.cs.jmu.edu/arch/camp/maps/quet-pcd/code/index.php and scroll down to BWCA campsite info. There is a map with GPS info for portages and campsites.

Maptech.com has a good map resource too. It's what I use the majority of the time...

Bruce

I bought a eTrex Vista after getting "lost" in the fog on a large lake. Visiblity was about 100 feet and we had a very difficult time finding the landing using just the map.

Next year, same situation, only had the GPS along loaded with a TOPO map. We had no problem finding our way.

I have a Sport Trak Map, several years old. I know it could do much more, if I needed it to and wanted to learn... I find coordinates before I go (from Topozone.com, Topo by National Geographic and other sources) and I just use the unit to find out where we are if we're not sure (or to relieve boredom). I've found it to be extremely accurate; the McKenzie map for the Pow Wow Trail includes GPS coordinates for campsites and other landmarks. They're right on. I usually get 3 to 7 satellites in the BWCAW, but only out in the open, not under heavy tree cover. I guess I use mine as "insurance" I've only been "lost" a couple times (I'm really good with map and compass) and the GPS just verifies where I think I am.

I've worked with Garmin GPS systems for years and have always been extremely happy with them. I have an e-trex legend and have been very happy with it. However, as others have said, it isn't a replacement for good map-reading and navigation abilities.

Google earth will give you pictures and coordinates... but it does not have campsites listed or portages. You can get that else where if you are interested e-mail me and I will give you the address.

Bruce

Do you experience any battery life issues? It seems it would be on quite a bit, especially if you didn't base camp.

What I've witnessed is when people bring in GPS they do not leave it on all the time. They use maps and the GPS as a tool along with the maps. They load specific waypoints such as portages and campsites prior to going in on their trip and then when in doubt they turn on the GPS to verify a location.

You are right, if you left it on all the time you would need lots of spare batteries. By using it as needed you will conserve battery life and not need to bring as much extra power along.

As far as battery life my GPS 72 will last the time I am paddling into an area if it is WAAS enabled. It is supposed to last about 16 normally, but two alkaline battery will last a full day paddling 8 - 10 hours. I do not use mine everyday... but I generally carry about 8-10 AA batteries for the GPS and other things and 6 AAA extra for my head lamp... I like to read at night... biggest batteries are for my depthfinder.

Bruce