CivilVet

Personally, until the bugs are worked out of the firmware, and that might be as soon as 2.51 is out of beta, I wouldn't want to deal with it. Although I wish I could have profiles, those sound very helpful and paperless caching would be very nice. However, the longer battery life, the ability to edit or create geocaches in the field, and that turn pop ups occur on any page are very helpful features, IMO. Once these issues get sorted out I would likely consider a 400t for my next unit. But I don't get the argument about user interface, but I don't mind the interface on the 76/60Csx, I thin it works well for everything I have wanted to do with it.

This is probably the best thing to help you with your decision: http://garmincolorado.wikispaces.com/Colorado+vs+60csx Since I have never used a Colorado don't take this as a recommendation, but based on that list I don't feel the need to upgrade right now.

My wife and I struggled with this a little since we sometimes cache seperately but only have one name. So sometimes I will visit a cache first and then later she will find it with one of our friends. We only log once and try and leave a note, although I am sure we will sometimes log twice.

The only thing I worry about with MetroGuide and MEtroGold is how out of date it may be. I was just looking at retail sites, and the metroguide was like 85 and CN 8 was 81. So that was why I was debating. Is the topo maps helpful for hiking and kayaking?

Ok so I am unsure what to do here, from reading the forum here it seems like going with CN and Metrogold are about the same for what I want to do. I want to be able to load both Driving maps and topo maps on my 76CSx at the same time and use the for navigation and hiking. If I buy both CN and Topo USA can I do this? From the website for Metrogold they say you can. However, there is no price difference between MetroGuide and CN, well it is like 4 bucks so who cares. But I would also have to pay 6 for MetroGold. But really 10 isn't that much. Can anyone give me any advice on what would be the best way to go? Thanks. PS My wife and I only have one GPSr right now, I don't know if we will buy another one anytime soon.

YOu can make it put either the name or the cache number in the point name field with EasyGPS. It is a setting, go to Edit -> Preferences ->Geocaching. You can then configure it whichever way you like it. I think they just changed the default.

I have one for my 76CSx, and it works great. It was easy to apply and is barely noticeable. I also got a full body cover for my cell phone, and it also works wonderfully. Follow the directions when you install it, take your time, and you will be fine. And the things is super durable. I don't think I can recommend them enough.

Yeah I don't know, lots of people seem to have had trouble with Magellan. Plus from their web page they make no reference to being able to do autorouting. I found this really surprising. I want to hear what people think when it finally comes out though. I have a 76CSX, we use it on our kayaks in addition to caching. I think I like the shape better than a 60CSx. And it floating is a nice thing for it being in our kayaks when we are out on the water. Would hate to lose it.

Yes, I use the ones from shieldzone for both my cell phone and GPS screen. I like them and would recommend them.

I agree that finding a few is a good idea. One thing I would add is if it is either in a high muggle area, or in a area with an abundance of hiding spots then you should give a good hint. A few times I have had to call it because I had no clue where to find it after hours of searching, or there were too many people to search unobtrusively. Either way, a good hint would have been a god send.

Really, I don't mind challenging hides like that, although the up the tree bit is obnoxious and unnecessary. If you need special equipment, like a ladder, then say what is needed in the description. What annoys me is when I get out in the middle of a forest with heavy foliage, poor sat reception (even with a sirfIII) chip, and am looking for a micro. After searching for 1.5 hours I check the clue and find the clue is no help what so freaking ever. If you are going to make a really difficult find, make a useful clue please, if I see a what looks like a hard find and a clue I think the clue will be helpful. Maybe it is just me but I try not to look at clues, in fact I write them in my field book encrypted and decrypt at the site if I need help. My rules if I ever place a micro: 1) Give good coordinates, let you unit average for a few minutes. 2) If plentiful hiding spots exist in the area, give clue that will really help the person find it. 3) Test it on a few chacher friends, if they take 2 hours to find it make a better clue or change hiding spot. At least then it is less likely people will spend hours searching because they are too stubborn to give up, like me. Because the caches that I can't find after searching for close to two hours with help, take a lot of fun out of the trip for me. I want good hides, they may be difficult to find, but give a useful hint so I don't have to DNF it.

My fiancee and I have both put some religious things in a cache before. Sometime they are a foam glider we got and thought some kid might enjoy, we were out of the WWII plane ones. Or other sute things we have picked up over the years as rewards for kids. They may mention God, but that can be so abstract people cna choose to take it as they will. And I don't think it is that big a deal as long as it isn't hard sell religious tracts. Even those don't offend me, I just ignore them but I wouldn't place any. I think people getting upset about stuff like that is dumb, I don't like it when people put in some political stuff, but then again it is all in the eyes of the cacher. My trash is someone else's neat trade. I know some people leave new batteries, on the one hand, nice if your GPS is low and you forgot you used your last extra set the last time you were out. But they can leak and cause problems. I don't think there really is a perfect cache item. Use what you think someone else might like to find, and take. We use things that we liked as kids/young adults so things like gliders, pendents, and neat collectibles are what we try and use.

My girlfriend and I just keep a surveying field book, and write down the cooridinates, driving/parking info, cache size any notes and then the hint encrypted. Then if we need the hint I just work out the ROT13 encryption. The field book is superior to just a note book because it is hard bound, and the paper is 50% cotton so that it holds up better to rain or crap getting on it.

I just bought a 76Csx and while it says it is waterproof and floats, I still want to put it in a nice drybag or pouch to keep it dry when I am out kayaking. Anyone have sugestions for a bag that fits it? I found one at a outfitter, but it has text printed on the front which requires me to put in upside down so I can see the screen. Less than ideal, but that is the best I have found. Anyone found something that works really well?

Well I ordered the 76CSx last night. We could just use a compass, but it is convenient to have it all in one device. Pius it was oless than $20 more, and I know if I had bought one without it my fiancee wouldn't use a regular compass, or we would forget one and either way just follow the GPS direction. And we have had a few headaches doing that with our friends Etrex. As for battery life, I will always carry spares so not that big a deal, and it can be turned off. And being able to plot the barametric pressure over time could be interesting to the geek part of me. Glad to here that it works well for you. We aren't generally Ultralight hikers so it being a little larger and heavier isn't that big a deal.

True, but I want to buy one that I am happy with, rather than a cheap one and then wanting to replace it in a year. Besides I am also a grad student so my stipend does allow me some spending money. I really want one I am happy with and can use for a long time. And if that means spending a little more money up front so be it.

So my fiance and I areand getting into geocaching and are looking to buy a GPS unit. We have gone with friends and one has an etrex and the other has a 76Cx. So are somewhat familar with those two unit families. Things to consider: 1. We both kayak, bike, hike, camp etc. I want something that we can take with us on all these things, especially the kayaking. Knowing the distance to our pull out would be nice on long trips. 2. I want to be able to use it road directions. The lack of voice support for a lot of the Garmin handheld line is fine for us. 3. We are both finishing up our college education so cheap would be good. Based on what I can find online I am looking at either a 76Csx or waiting for the new Etrex Vista HCx. I like the 76CSx a little better better because having the buttons on front will make it easier to use in a protectant cover when it is on the water. And the thing floats so if it were to get dumped from the boat we know it will stay on top of the water. Any thoughts or comments? Is there something by another manufacturer that would work better for us? The best deal I have found is $330 for the 76Csx or $260 for the new Vista, but it won't be available for another month at least. Thanks