Hello, this is my first post. I know that this is an oft asked question, and my use is a bit OT...but you folks use GPSes more than most.
I have a 5 year old Vista and it is time to update. My primary use is wilderness hiking, in potentially rough/wet conditions. I have a Nuvi for my car, so road directions to the trailhead is not a significant concern.
My concerns are with capabilities:
• Abilities to load 3rd party maps (GPS File Depot, et. al.)
• Battery life (I go out for 5 – 7 days)
• Memory expandability
• Weight (including replacement batteries, I am one of those gram weenie light weight hikers)
• Route loading at home and viewing in the field.
• Ability to get a satellite fix in less than ideal conditions (heavy wet tree canopies, tight canyons, etc.)
• Ability to correct routs/way-points to match reality on the ground
Am I missing other important criteria?
The models I am seriously considering are as follows, in alphabetic order:
• Colorado 300
• GPS Maps 60 Csx
• Oregon 300
• Vista Hcx
Are there other models I should list, and why?
I have reviewed many web pages and I think this is where they stand…
• The 60 Csx can not load 3rd party maps. Is this correct? Can the others? I think the Vista can, but what about the Oregon and the Colorado?
• The Vista wins on the battery life and weight.
• The Oregon is the hardest to see in many lighting conditions.
• The Colorado can display only 1 route at a time (is this fixed in the current firmware?).
• All 4 will “see” only 2 GB on a memory card. I have read some reports that the Colorado can see 4 GB, but there seams to be conflicting reports on this. 2 GB is a lot of maps, so this might not be an issue.
Any additional opinions/feedback/comparisons/options/comments will be greatly appreciated.
Also, has anyone tried portable solar battery chargers (Silva, PowerFilm, etc.)? What is your experience with them?
Thanks,
Michael