Looking to Buy a Garmin GPS

[+sli23sli]

I've been using an Axim 51v and Cachemate/Cachenav to find geocaches. I also use a Nuvi 350 to travel to the location. I've been thinking of getting a handheld gps that could take the place of what I'm currently using i.e navigate to the cache and find the cache. It would replace a compass, a GPSr, a Nuvi 350 and possibly the Axim 51v. (Although the Axim 51v with cachemate has more info than the GPS handheld units, therefore I may still use it.) I'm considering Garmin units that can fit the bill. To the best of my knowledge, and please correct me if I'm wrong, the Garmin etrex Legend HCX, etrex Vista HCX, the 60CSX and the 76 CSX have similar features including a compass, an altimiter, a base map, routing capability, and use of storage memory chips. If that is correct, I'm leaning toward the Vista HCX or the 76CSX. The other piece of information I'd like to know is whether the base maps are good enough for driving purposes or whether more deailed road map software is recommended. The cost for the map software is rather expensive so it would be nice to not have to get it. I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks. Sli23sli

[gratefulHIKE]

The basemaps are nice if everyone lived on major highways, other than that they are rather useless for car navigation

 

The unit I would go with would be the newer vista HCX, but that is simply my opinion. I have had both in my hands, and I own a 60csx and a vista HCX, but not a 76csx. I would still go with the vista HCX based solely on my opinion, not only because of the money but also the factoid that it is a newer unit with bettery battery usage and a newer antennae/software setup to interpret the signals from the big sky.

[+the hermit crabs]

To the best of my knowledge, and please correct me if I'm wrong, the Garmin etrex Legend HCX, etrex Vista HCX, the 60CSX and the 76 CSX have similar features including a compass, an altimiter, a base map, routing capability, and use of storage memory chips.

The Legend HCx does not have the compass & altimeter. (That is the only difference between the Legend HCx and the Vista HCx, besides the price.)

 

The other piece of information I'd like to know is whether the base maps are good enough for driving purposes or whether more detailed road map software is recommended.

The basemaps are pretty much useless for driving. To make the autorouting useful, you really do need to get additional map software.