edelsite Posted July 19, 2006 Posted July 19, 2006 I recently took my niece geocaching and she loved it. She's 12 and is pretty good with electronics as are most kids these days. I'd like to buy her a GPS to start caching with, but I'm not sure she would need or understand any of the advanced features on some of the expensive models. However, I'm not sure if a base model would hold her interest long. Just wanted some input from others who got thier kids into the sport. Those with experience with kids and caching...what's a good unit to start with? Quote
Hertzog Posted July 19, 2006 Posted July 19, 2006 I recently took my niece geocaching and she loved it. She's 12 and is pretty good with electronics as are most kids these days. I'd like to buy her a GPS to start caching with, but I'm not sure she would need or understand any of the advanced features on some of the expensive models. However, I'm not sure if a base model would hold her interest long. Just wanted some input from others who got thier kids into the sport. Those with experience with kids and caching...what's a good unit to start with? I don't qualify from the standpoint of experience with kids, but I have a few thoughts on the matter: 1. As you say, the kids are amazingly adaptive; I suspect she would be able to easily handle the complexity of the more advanced units; probably more that a lot of adults first starting to use them. 2. If it were me, I would go for one of the Garmins, maybe a Legend or Vista. But then I'm a Garmin user myself; in your shoes I would be inclined to get her one from the same manufacterer as I use (if I used a Magellan I would get a Magellan). That way you will share the same mapping and interfacing software and files, and be able to work more closely with her as she learns the ropes. If you are thinking of upgrading, it would also give you a great excuse to do so (you get the new model you've been salivating over, and she gets a model that's stood you in good stead til now)! Quote
+DustyWalker Posted July 19, 2006 Posted July 19, 2006 My son bought himself a e-trex Legend when he was 13. He had no trouble figuring things out. I am sure he would have found the same with the more "complicated" units. You can show them the basics, and they won't be long figuring out the rest. I am still at a loss to figure out the controllers on the video games they play... Quote
+Maingray Posted July 19, 2006 Posted July 19, 2006 I havent a child that old yet, but I often think about whether they would do better with a more basic unit that hasn't mapping ability, but they can still just "follow the arrow", or whether a mapping unit would be more visual to them. i guess it depends on the kid. My 4 yr old follows the arrow, but gets bored doing that quickly. I'll try the map one day. Quote
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