Garmin vs Bird

Hello all just wanting to hear any pros and cons between the Garmin Echomap 73cv ice pack vs the Humminbird Helix 7 G3 ice pack. Both seem to be the same price and as of now the panoptics for the Garmin is outside my budget.

Thanks!

Either one will deliver the goods for you. As of right now the Humminbird has no upgrade to add. The Garmin is capable of Panoptix. You might not be ready for it now but may in the future.

If you plan on using a map chip see which one is better, For your particular location. To help in your decision.

I had every intention of purchasing a Helix 7 but decided to look at the Garmin prior to my purchase. Both are great units but on Tuesday I ordered the Garmin 73cv. It will come down to personal preference and for me it was the touch screen, ability to add Panoptix, a pretty good built in map and I just liked using the Garmin better.
I bought the summer unit as I am mounting it on a Marcum Shuttle but I still have to buy an ice ducer.
Either way you will be happy

I bought the new Humminbird Helix 7 G3. I had the original Helix 7 Ice several years prior to this purchase so I knew my way around the menu’s and knew the little nuances for dialing it in to my liking. I was tempted by the Garmin but the Panoptix never figured into the equation for me as it just doesn’t appeal to me. Maybe if they get everything downsized and incorporated into one unit I might be more interested and uh, the price of a Panoptix is more than what I’m willing to spend. To me there is such a thing as electronic over load and the Panoptix represents that to me in some ways. The balance between spending time messing with your electronics and fishing tips towards messing with your electronics and away from fishing.

I’m seeing more and more Panoptix transducers show up on FB Marketplace and Craigslist lately. I don’t know if that’s due to people not liking them or not being able to figure out how to properly use them and are trying to recoup some money.

I just knew what I was getting with the Bird in terms of how to use it and product support. And that was enough to keep me loyal I guess. I have no doubt Garmin is a great product and every bit as good and maybe even better in some ways than Humminbird. It’s all a personal preference choice.

Not to belabor the point but the reason you are seeing more Panoptix transducers for sale. One of the biggest reasons is everyone wants to upgrade to the Livescope.

I am one of the few who actually prefers the older Panoptix tech. I started with the PS 21. Soon as they came out I upgraded to the PS 22. Been there ever since.

You may not be impressed with Panoptix of any sort. All I can say everyone that has fished with me in boat or on ice. Falls into two classes. They presently own or they are saving to buy.

That is not to pick on anyone’s opinion. But most people that aren’t all that impressed with Panoptix. Have either never seen it operate or observed some one operating one with no idea how to use it.

papaperch wrote:

Not to belabor the point but the reason you are seeing more Panoptix transducers for sale. One of the biggest reasons is everyone wants to upgrade to the Livescope.

100%
I was thrilled with the PS22 until I got to see Livescope in action. My PS22 went away and now I have livescope!

I can’t speak to Garmin, other than I just don’t want to spend that much. Just a personal thing. They do look pretty cool.

I’m a Humminbird guy. I absolutely love it. It’s one of the few pieces of equipment that I will say has actually made me a better fisherman.

I throw it in my boat in the summer. Troll around autocharting. I fish a lot of obscure small lakes that don’t have great maps, and the maps don’t always give you the detail. I’ve dialed in numerous spots that I basically have to myself. It’s great having it all in one unit rather than swapping cards, carrying multiple pieces of gear around, etc.

Im not sure if Garmin has it, but I’m a huge fan of the split screen GPS/sonar view. I can mount it on my wheeler or have it in the cab of my truck, follow a specific contour or route while dropping the ducer to verify depth/look for marks. Without having to toggle buttons/different pieces of gear with gloves on.

Ever since first using the 2D sonar that shows a history of your cadence, fish activity, etc. I’ve been hooked. That was a game changer for me. You get a better of idea of what you’re doing right/wrong in terms of getting fish to commit.

Garmin likely does all the same things. No idea. There are other things that’ll get those jobs for you as well, but I love having it in one package. Great battery life. Amazing display. But, I do know that I’ve never been happier with an investment in a piece of gear than the Bird.