twilitefirefly

OKay, let me ask this: what handheld GPS do y'all use? And what do you like about it? What features do you wish it had?

Good luck with that. Magellan, Garmin, DeLorme all charge. That said, if you get a Garmin, you can get free maps from other sources, such as OpenStreetMap or GPSFileDepot. These wouldn't update the map preloaded in your unit, but could be used as supplemental maps. The bf went to BassPro and said the Oregon 600 had free map updates for life. At least, I think that is what he said. Guess I had better check on that. Thanks!

Good luck with that. Magellan, Garmin, DeLorme all charge. That said, if you get a Garmin, you can get free maps from other sources, such as OpenStreetMap or GPSFileDepot. These wouldn't update the map preloaded in your unit, but could be used as supplemental maps.

Hello all! So I have been using my Iphone for GC'ing, which is easy to use and works just fine when there is reception, as most of you already know. I haven't done a lot as my bf has never really been super interested in geocaching, but after going out with my brother and dad, and finding several caches within seconds, he has finally become more interested in doing it (yay!). He even went looking at hand-held devices yesterday and tried a few caches on his own. So I am pretty excited! We were in UT an AZ last week, in areas where our phones did not work. I have an old handheld (ETrex H), which I HATE - it is so hard to input anything - a very basic, outdated device. So finally, I get to my question: what is the best handheld out there? What do you all recommend? I know I want waterproof, paperless, topo maps, color, free map updates for life, good storage....what else should I look for? (It will also be used for kayaking/fishing). Range - up to $500; preferably less though) TIA!

It was good for me to read this. Yes, I am a newbie. Yes, I am guilty of having done just acronyms on a log. No, I haven't done it on every log, but seeing it through a different perspective- i.e. the CO's eyes, it is probably a big letdown to see only acronyms. But please remember, us 'newbies' may have only learned from someone else or read online the way in which we post. Please don't get down on us - we are learning and I am sure many of us would appreciate gentle constructive criticism.. (I would've done a multiquote, but I don't know how to do that either...yet)! I promise I will make sure to do better from now on!! But to answer the OP, I use TFTC.

It seems like "lurking" might be the best approach at times. If someone new asks a question that has been addressed before, they inevitably will get some kind of rude comment on the thread regarding that. I understand that while it may get cumbersome/tired addressing the same issues, there is no need for flippant comments. I am sorry, but I am a newbie, and I just might have a question that did not get answered in 'Geocaching 101.' So I look on the forums to see if I can find my answer before posting something. I will scroll through a few pages, but I do not feel like scrolling through 10 year's worth of threads, especially considering I may not quite know exactly what I am looking for. Perhaps those who are veterans to this site who are irritated at seeing the same questions posted can either A). Bite their tongue and not say anything, or help to add more to the getting started section, so they can just post a link to an already addressed question. Being unfriendly/unhelpful is just going to turn new people away, and that will only lead to stagnancy in the forums. Just my two cents.

I had no idea about power trails. Guess that could be fun. I prefer (so far!) to just pick mine in a certain area. Of course, I am so new, I am still trying to develop my GC eyes and senses. Maybe doing a power run or trail would help me develop these quicker! But what about those who are not on a power trail and still log over 400 in a day? I have heard that there are teams out there that will split up caches / areas and sign in their partners on a log when they aren't even there, just for the sake of having more finds. Doesn't that seem a bit, well, unethical? Shouldn't one have to physically be there and sign the log? Does this bother anyone else or do you all feel 'to each his own' in how geocaching is done?

Hi all.... Still a newbie..although been on GC for a while, haven't been doing a lot. But I finally upgraded today to premium - yay! So I had better get my money's worth by finding more caches! My question is: how does one get hundreds of finds in one day? I have seen a few people as of late have anywhere from 300 to 900 finds in one day. How is that even possible? Is it because they are part of a team and they split up areas/finds? My thinking was that kind of defeats the purpose of geocaching - only trying to inflate one's numbers to look like they have a lot of finds, when in reality, they did not find it themselves. Just curious what you all thought. Sorry if this is in an earlier thread...scrolled back a few pages and didn't see anything, so I thought I would ask. Thanks!