Handheld GPS for under $300

If you’re shopping for a GPS this season, here are a few of the best handheld GPS for under $300.

Garmin GPSMAP 76

Garmin eTrex Vista GPS

Garmin Rino 130

Magellan Sportrak Topo GPS

Lowrance iFinder Pro GPS

I want to buy a new one but there are so many on the market. If anyone is a guru on them or owns what I’m looking for please reply. I’d appreciate any advice on it. In order of importance, here’s the features I care about.

1. Waterproof
2. Quickly Enter Waypoints
3. Quickly Begin and End Routes
4. Lotsa Memory
5. Has a computer cable interface to manage waypoints & routes. (cause I’m a geek)
5. Mapping via Upload/Download/Card/etc..
6. Canadian Maps Available

Whew! See I’m not that picky!

Thanks in advance,

JJ

JJ,I’m sure Wade will be able to find you a great unit for what your looking for.Best of luck.
Ryan Hale

JJ, glad to see you’re NOT picky!

The best new thing in handheld GPS is the Garmin GPSMAP 76CS. This looks like it’s gonna be the mother of all Handhelds this year. Huge internal memory, 115MB. Garmin has a Fishing Hot Spots map for part of Canada but I don’t know how good it is. Although it’s been sorta hush hush, it’s clear from their new product lines that they will be coming out with a new version of Hot Spots soon. Garmin is also releasing that new Minnesota Lakemaster mapping software ( HERE ). That would sure look pretty in color wouldn’t it.

I don’t know that there is a unit that has all you’re asking for but someone might have a better idea. I have run a few different handhelds. I did like the Garmin iQue 3600 that I tried out last year. This year I am going to give the new Lowrance iFinder Pro a shot because it will run Navionics maps. I think you can add memory cards up to 512MB so memory would not be a problem. The Pro Plus model comes with the Mapping Accessories Pack that contains MapCreate mapping software, a 16MB MMC memory card, and an MMC/SD card reader with USB connector. I’m not gonna get all that because I think I am just gonna get the Navionics card and pop it in. I have not used a Lowrance GPS before so I can’t comment on it much but I will make a post after I get to use it for a while. Good luck!

Thanks for the great information.

The Garmin GPSMAP 76CS looks really neat I’ll definately check these out before making a purchase decision.

Another question I’ll throw out..

What do you think happens if you buy a pre-programmed card and it gets nuked? Do you lose the “information” you purchased or do you have to buy a new card and information? Is it safer to buy a CD and blank card seperately so you don’t lose your “information purchase”? Anyone ever had a card go bad?

As an aside, I was looking for a GPS map of Laq Suel in NW Ontario.. I checked out the hot spots site and it looks like they don’t have one yet… however they have a new Eagle Lake map which means Lac Suel can’t be more than a few years off! (Warning: Submerged Canadian boulders can be hazardous to your lower unit! )

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Thanks for the great information.

The Garmin GPSMAP 76CS looks really neat I’ll definately check these out before making a purchase decision.

Another question I’ll throw out..

What do you think happens if you buy a pre-programmed card and it gets nuked? Do you lose the “information” you purchased or do you have to buy a new card and information? Is it safer to buy a CD and blank card seperately so you don’t lose your “information purchase”? Anyone ever had a card go bad?

As an aside, I was looking for a GPS map of Laq Suel in NW Ontario.. I checked out the hot spots site and it looks like they don’t have one yet… however they have a new Eagle Lake map which means Lac Suel can’t be more than a few years off! (Warning: Submerged Canadian boulders can be hazardous to your lower unit! )

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You’re welcome.

I would think if a card went bad you might have to buy a new one but you may be able to work something out with the manufacturer. As far as electronic mapping goes, it’s only going to get better and there will be more and more lakes/rivers added every year.

Im also going to use the navionics and the i finder pro, we will have to see how good it works…

Thor, let us know what you think of it after you’ve used it a while. Thanks!

I won a gift cert from cabelas, the new 04 nav chip region 10 showed up today but the ifinder pro wont ship until march 5. but with ALL THE TONS of info i get from this web site it wouldnt be right not to share what i find out once i get it out!!!

I have been playing with my new Ifinder pro plus. It seems to be going quite well so far. The only problem I’m having is I can not get the EPE down. Can not get lower than 50 ft. Made one chip of Iowa from map create . It took the whole card to do it. Need to get more cards I guess. Had the Nav. card in and it looks great so far. There is a lot to learn . Jim

I’m still waiting for the iFinder Pro to come in myself. Jim, when I get it I’ll see what help I can be for you.
Maybe Thor can help out too if he gets his in first.

Gianni, you out there? Do you know what might be going on with Jim’s GPS? Any ideas?

Wade when you guys get your units please let me know what your EPE is on them. I just got a letter from Lawrance and they said the best way to check it was to make a waypoint and walk away from it and then to navigate back and see how close you get to it. They said the number does not mean that much. Just an estament. Let me know how you do please. Still like the unit. A+A+A+ Jim

You got it! I’m going to an outdoor show in Omaha tomorrow. I’ll see if they have any ifinder pros there that I can test out too.

so much for march 5…..the ifinder showed up today! from what i can tell with the nav chip, by the st croix river it appears to be fantastic, it shows the boat launches, depth contours, bridges and fishing tips. Ill have to keep playing with it. james…whats epe?

Hi thor hope you have fun with your new unit I know I have been. There is alot to learn over. Still got some to go . As for EPE it is estemated position error. It is to let you know how far off the target you can be. The lower it is the better. I talked to Lawrance and they told me how to check my unit for accurace. Will try it out and let you know how it does. Jim

Well thought the ifinder pro was the new one out but Lawrance has come out with another. The ifinder h2o The new water proof one. Seems we are outdated already. Jim

Jim, there is not a ton of difference in these two units. Supposedly some slight mapping differences, but the main selling point on the H2O is the waterproof specs. I’d say put your iFinder Pro in the water proof bag that it came with and don’t throw it overboard. Use that bag when it’s raining and you should be just fine.

I agree it just seemed strange I no sooner got one and a new one came out. By the way I got me a card 32MB. Jim Did you get yours all figured out yet.?

Shoot, I still don’t have mine yet. I put myself at the end of the list. It won’t be long…

When you guys get you I finder figured out, please make another post. I received one for x-mas and still have not figured it out yet. Can’t get my epe down under 30 ft and I have marked some way points but can’t figure out how to have the unit find it for me with out backtracking. I have read and read the book but I am not doing something right. I am using the advanced mode. Thanx

Well Duck I too have had trouble getting under 30 on the epe. I checked with Lawrance and just remember that is a estament . The way I checked my unit was as follows. I had my girlfriend go out side and mark a spot in the yard and mark it with a object. Then brought me the Ifinder and I walked out the front door and walked around the block and came back and tried to find it. See how close you can get. I walked right over the top of it and then went back to within 3 ft. I then checked the epe and it was 46 . I no longer put a lot of stock in it. I use the advance mode too. It gets down to .02 area. Have you set the gps on degrees.min.sec . and turn the waas on .? It is differant then my last one . There is a lot to it but it is not as complicated as we make it out to be. If you put a chip in you have to go to map select to activate it. Have fun and don’t pay alot of attention to the epe. Just check it out like I did and I think you will agree. If I can help I will just PM me. Keep up the good work if I can do it anybody can. Jim