Andy73

Thanks for the hint

Thanks for all the quick answers

I just got one of these units and Plan on using it for hiking. What I dont understand is dont most people use hand held units for slow speeds such as walking. If i wanted a unit for my car i would have gotten one made for autos with a bigger screen and a neat little voice that tells you when to turn....So how can Hand held units be having problems at slow speeds? Sounds like a huge issue....

Is it better to keep the maps smaller? If I put on a much larger area then I need will it slow the unit down? or can I put the whole US on the micro sd card with no significant loss of processing speed?

Sounds simple enough. Thanks!

My Kids and Wife gave me the Vista HCx for Fathers day this year. Of course I was very excited and already opened everything and have been playing with it. Just trying to get the basics down since this is my first GPS unit. They also gave me The Topo US maps on Disk and the City Navigator maps on disk. Now here is my question. What is the best way to use the maps? Do I buy micro sd cards and put them on there? One card for each map? If I want to go after a cache that I have to drive to using the City Nav. then Hike the rest of the way switching to the Topo maps whats the best way to do it???? I guess my question is whats the best way to put the maps on the unit? and how do i switch back and forth between them? Thanks Andy

I own a Large lot of Wooded land that I was thinking about placing a cache on someday. I have it posted with no trespassing, no hunting signs. I would not take those down I have too many up in the trees but If Its my land and I put the Cache there would it matter if I left the signs up???

The EMS by me closed about 8 months ago. I am on Long Island But Making a Side trip to NJ on my next trip up to the Adirondack's might be a good Idea. There must be some place on Long Island I can go to find Hiking boots...

what does the NT stand for?

Dont they make belt holsters for pepper spray...

Thanks for all the recommendations. I have a heal spur that acts up from time to time so I want to get a good pair. I will go to the store and look for some of the better brands recommended here.

I vaguely remember hearing about a Young lady who was Hiking the Appalachian Trail system a few months back that had a bad encounter with a man in the woods. If I remember right I dont think it turned out well... I think it would be ignorant to believe it could never happen to you...this is not directed to anyone in particular. I'm using "you" to mean any Geo-cacher

Mostly Day hiking In the Adirondacks (NY). With the occasional weekend long hike with pack for an overnight in the woods. I will try them on first of course but there are so many different types Just be getting some names of brands other people like it helps to narrow down how many I need to try on...the more I think about it the more I realize that Waterproof is a big plus.

I'm looking to buy new hiking boots? What brand do you recommend? what do you look for in your hiking boots? waterproof, High or low backs? etc...

Wow this thread went a little off topic so i will try to head it back in the right direction. A good strong Pepper Spray sounds like a good alternative. I do own a Pistol but i live in Suffolk county on Long Island and the Carry laws here are confusing. I cant get anyone to explain to me if or when I can carry so I dont. (if any one here can clear that up for me let me know?) I do Hike upstate NY ALOT but I dont know if I can carry up there with my Suffolk county Pistol permit. Anyway...What kind of Pepper Spray is good? Do you wear it on your belt?

Whats an ASP?

My question is have you ever found yourself in a dangerous or uncomfortable situation. Your doing a suburban cache and stumble across a group of teens or a homeless person in a wooded area. Now you realize you are carrying about $700 in electronics between your GPSr, Palm, Cell phone and who knows what else. Or your doing a very long hike through a rural area and all of a sudden come across someone in the woods who just doesn't seem right to you. How do you make sure you are safe when out Caching alone or with your kids?

I just made my mind up to get my first GPS. Now they come out with this new Game Wherigo. I have gone Geocaching with a friend and had a great time. I cant wait to get my own unit. I was just about settled on the Vista hcx. I was just about to buy it.. Now I just find out about Wherigo. Is it worth the extra money for the Colorado 400? I dont want to buy an out date gps unit if it cant be used for Wherigo. Will this take over making traditional caches old school? Also, I have a Palm Tungsten E2. Can I use that for Paperless Caching if i get the Vista?

Very good point Thanks

Thats how I was planning on packing. Im a big believer in better be safe then sorry. Im glad in not the only one to over prepare.

If you are planning a day of Caching what do you bring along? How does what you pack change when you are caching in the woods (many many rural acres) as opposed to around the neighborhood/ small plots of trees (acre or less)? what safety equipment do you bring along?

You can have multiple combinations of mapsource maps in the GPS, like City Nav, TOPO, Blue Chart, and other homemade maps within a single mapsource session, then uploading that. As far as useful maps on the Vista, the City Navigator, may be all you need. I found Topo almost useless on a small screen like the eTrex or 60CSx, but the TOPO is excellent on the high resoloution Colorado. hmm..Maybe I should hold out a little longer and save more money and go for a Colorado... Just when I thought I was ready to buy... Topo is better on Colorado and the Wherigo thing is for the Colorado... I was going to get the Vista but now im not sure...

OK just a question. I really cant afford a new Colorado. Im i going to be missing out on something great with this new game Wherigo.com I just read about it. I feel like im already buying old technology If it cant even play this new GPS game. But Is this new game worth the extra cost of the colorado?

I dont think she would buy it... But I will try

Thank you everyone for posting such great answers to all my newbie questions.