Carabiner on the Colorado

[MtnHermit]

The Colorado comes with a slick carabiner that attaches to the silver bracket on the battery cover. Is anyone using the carabiner? If so how?

 

I just did a 4-mile showshoe hike and I had the Colorado attached high on my daypacks shoulder strap via the carabiner. I couldn't easily pivot the GPS to read the display. Thought I might use a retractable tool cord or a short bungee cord. Any ideas?

 

Thanks

[+Tequila]

The Colorado comes with a slick carabiner that attaches to the silver bracket on the battery cover. Is anyone using the carabiner? If so how?

 

I just did a 4-mile showshoe hike and I had the Colorado attached high on my daypacks shoulder strap via the carabiner. I couldn't easily pivot the GPS to read the display. Thought I might use a retractable tool cord or a short bungee cord. Any ideas?

 

Thanks

 

I have the Oregon but it is the same carabiner and I love it. I typically wear a 5.11 Tactical Fleece Sheriff's Jacket that includes coth strips just below the shoulders for radio mike's. The carabiner clip snaps in there perfectly and I can twist the OR around to read it without unclipping. Works great.

[MtnHermit]

I have the Oregon but it is the same carabiner and I love it. I typically wear a 5.11 Tactical Fleece Sheriff's Jacket that includes coth strips just below the shoulders for radio mike's. The carabiner clip snaps in there perfectly and I can twist the OR around to read it without unclipping. Works great.

Surprised you're able to get it far enough away to see the display and focus. Do you have a photo?

 

Theirs a prison in town, I'll have to pay attention next time I see one of the guards.

 

Thanks

[+Tequila]

Here is a url to my jacket. But all LE jackets have radio clips.

[gallet]

I used to use it on my motorbike to hand from the mirror strut, worked well enough until I got a RAM mount. Otherwise it's fine for clipping to a belt.

[gallet]

I used to use it on my motorbike to hang from the mirror strut, worked well enough until I got a RAM mount. Otherwise it's fine for clipping to a belt.

[+g-o-cashers]

I've run into the same problem when I clip into the D-ring on my backpack strap. I have some Scuba retractors which would be too bulky but something like that would probably work. This place seems to have some retractors that would work with the GPS:

 

http://www.gearkeeper.com/

[+kezlu]

I have a lanyard in addition to the caribiner. I keep the lanyard around my neck so GPS can't fall if dropped. I clip the caribiner to shoulder pack strap when hiking so it rides high with good reception, unhook it to view.

Ken

[+forman]

I clip it to my pocket of my jeans or shorts. Does not go around a loop or anything, but it stays.

[+qlenfg]

If you take the carabiner and the nylon strap off the plastic piece, you can use a neck lanyard with one of those clear plastic snap-type ID badge holders. Fits just fine, works good.

[MtnHermit]

If you take the carabiner and the nylon strap off the plastic piece, you can use a neck lanyard with one of those clear plastic snap-type ID badge holders. Fits just fine, works good.

Do mean a spring retractable cord? The clear plastic has me confused.

 

 

Thanks

[+g-o-cashers]

The ID badge holders won't work because they release with just 2oz-3oz of pull. You need a retractor that has a release point of 8oz or more.

[+Redwoods Mtn Biker]

I just unclip mine when I want to read / use it.

[callen772002]

When I was in baghdad I used "gearkeeper". It comes apart to run throught the bottom of a pouch or something to that nature so when it retracted it sucked it into the pocket. I loved the setup the only down fall is that I couldn't find any part of my garmin Legend HCX that was strong enough to endure the beating that I put it throught. In short awesome set up but needs some work on garmins part, meaning some sort of securing device or part of the body.

[+g-o-cashers]

@callen772002, which gearkeeper did you use?

 

The good thing about the carabiner attachment on the Colorado and Oregon is that it seems pretty durable as an attachment point.

[+rkelso]

I clip it to the shoulder strap on my life jacket when kayaking, I can just pivot the Colorado so I can see the screen.

[+billandlore]

I use a lanyard too. I'd use the carabiner if I could reverse it.Having to unhook it so I could turn it over was a hassle.

Edited December 21, 2008 by billandlore

[+billandlore]

I use a lanyard too. I'd use the carabiner if I could reverse it.Having to unhook it so I could turn it over was a hassle.

[MtnHermit]

I use a lanyard too. I'd use the carabiner if I could reverse it.Having to unhook it so I could turn it over was a hassle.

Maybe mine is different? The carabiner slips out of the cloth loop very easily, such that the spring-gate could open either left or right.

[+Parabola]

I use the carabiner all the time. But mine is starting to get hard to open and won't close now unless Ipush it close. I don't know if the spring system in the latch is messed up or what. I force myself to get use to a neck laynard and have found it was a bit weird getting used to the carabiner, and found myself in a few brief panic attack's looking for it and it's not around my neck, it was clipped on my side.

[+Tequila]

I use the carabiner all the time. But mine is starting to get hard to open and won't close now unless Ipush it close. I don't know if the spring system in the latch is messed up or what. I force myself to get use to a neck laynard and have found it was a bit weird getting used to the carabiner, and found myself in a few brief panic attack's looking for it and it's not around my neck, it was clipped on my side.

 

Mine did the same thing. Spray the hinge with WD40 and it will work fine.

[+qlenfg]

The ID badge holders won't work because they release with just 2oz-3oz of pull. You need a retractor that has a release point of 8oz or more.

 

I never said retractor. I said a neck lanyard. What you want is one of the badge holder lanyards that has the flat, clear plastic badge holder with the snap (like a small clothing snap) that goes through a hole in the badge. This will fit perfectly on the carabiner mount piece off the Colorado.

 

 

Edited December 22, 2008 by qlenfg

[+cyber6]

edit

Edited December 22, 2008 by cyber6

[+cyber6]

 

i have customised my gps at 60 serie style phone clip

[MtnHermit]

i have customised my gps at 60 serie style phone clip

I like it.

 

Do you then have the phone clip on your belt? or is this used in your vehicle? or both?

 

Thanks

[+Prime Suspect]

The ID badge holders won't work because they release with just 2oz-3oz of pull. You need a retractor that has a release point of 8oz or more.

 

I never said retractor. I said a neck lanyard. What you want is one of the badge holder lanyards that has the flat, clear plastic badge holder with the snap (like a small clothing snap) that goes through a hole in the badge. This will fit perfectly on the carabiner mount piece off the Colorado.

 

 

 

You're very trusting of a snap, which is intended to hold nothing heaver than the weight of a couple of credit cards.

[+g-o-cashers]

@glenfg. I like the idea, just assumed you were referring to the recoil type not the lanyard. The only thing I would be concerned about is the reliability of that plastic tab. They get pretty brittle in the cold around here and I've seen them break over time even carrying an id card around.

[+Team_Uhl]

Hi there,

I use my Oregon 300 for geocaching mostly and hold it in the hand. I wanted to add a wrist strap/band to it.

Anyone know it this is allowed this way ? (sorry for the bad quality pictures).

 

 

 

Thanks Surfcaster and g-o-cachers for thehelp.

Edited December 23, 2008 by Cpl_Uhl

[+TheSurfcaster]

Perfect-That's what its made for.

[+g-o-cashers]

Yes, that's a lanyard attachment.

 

 

http://garminoregon.wikispaces.com/Hardware#toc15

[+qlenfg]

@glenfg. I like the idea, just assumed you were referring to the recoil type not the lanyard. The only thing I would be concerned about is the reliability of that plastic tab. They get pretty brittle in the cold around here and I've seen them break over time even carrying an id card around.

 

I've used quite a few of those lanyards and badge holders over the years and I haven't broken one yet. I figure the plastic mount on the Colorado is gonna go first, since you have to take it off every battery change and when you use a R.A.M. mount. However, I mostly carry my GPS in hand with a small microfiber camera lens cleaning cloth attached to the plastic badge holder. The lanyard sees very little actual neck use.

[MtnHermit]

Thanks for all the replies, helped a lot. Here's what I ended up doing, subject to change as I use it.

 

 

 

As you can see I cut off the Garmin web loop and removed the carabiner. Then I added a Fastex clip, this allowed me to reverse the Colorado for brush and/or rocks. I feel the Fastex will be easier to attach than trying to find a loop with the carabiner. Jury is still out.

[+george_k]

@glenfg. I like the idea, just assumed you were referring to the recoil type not the lanyard. The only thing I would be concerned about is the reliability of that plastic tab. They get pretty brittle in the cold around here and I've seen them break over time even carrying an id card around.

 

I've used quite a few of those lanyards and badge holders over the years and I haven't broken one yet. I figure the plastic mount on the Colorado is gonna go first, since you have to take it off every battery change and when you use a R.A.M. mount. However, I mostly carry my GPS in hand with a small microfiber camera lens cleaning cloth attached to the plastic badge holder. The lanyard sees very little actual neck use.

 

Hi Glen,

 

I use a lanyard, too. My setup looks almost identical to yours, except that instead of the plastic badge holder piece, I just left on the original nylon strap that came with the Garmin plastic mount. It seems like that is much sturdier than the clear badge holder piece, and you don't have to worry about that snap coming undone. The only advantage I can see with the clear badge holder piece is that it is easy to snap on/off. However, I notice that your setup (like mine) has a spring-loaded latch mechanism that came with the lanyard, so that should suffice for that purpose. So I'm just curious -- why did you choose to go with the clear plastic badge holder piece in place of the original short nylon strap that came with the plastic mount?

 

George

[+qlenfg]

 

Hi Glen,

 

I use a lanyard, too. My setup looks almost identical to yours, except that instead of the plastic badge holder piece, I just left on the original nylon strap that came with the Garmin plastic mount. It seems like that is much sturdier than the clear badge holder piece, and you don't have to worry about that snap coming undone. The only advantage I can see with the clear badge holder piece is that it is easy to snap on/off. However, I notice that your setup (like mine) has a spring-loaded latch mechanism that came with the lanyard, so that should suffice for that purpose. So I'm just curious -- why did you choose to go with the clear plastic badge holder piece in place of the original short nylon strap that came with the plastic mount?

 

George

 

Long before R.A.M. came out with the mount for the Colorado, I made one out of a piece of brass sheeting and a R.A.M. threaded ball. It actually slipped around the plastic piece and into the slots. The nylon strap was in the way.

[+Jonovich]

I like that Fastex clip - I may do something like that to mine - however, has anyone tried the new Foarm Colorado protector? It looks to use a different clip system on the rear of the Colorado and I wondered how folks got along with it, before purchasing one myself and/or modifying the existing to use the Fastex clip.

 

Cheers,

 

Jon.

[MtnHermit]

Jon,

 

If you decide to use a Fastex clip, you do NOT have to cut the webbing. The bottom "pin" on the Garmin plastic clip is split. Easy with a needle nose pliers to get the webbing off the pin.

[+Jonovich]

If you decide to use a Fastex clip, you do NOT have to cut the webbing. The bottom "pin" on the Garmin plastic clip is split. Easy with a needle nose pliers to get the webbing off the pin.

 

Awesome, and does it all go back together sturdily enough to trust? I already use a secondary wire 'just in case' when I use the carabiner. Ideally I'd like a tether to the Colorado itself rather than the back clip, but alas it doesn't seem to have anything. I notice on the Foarm case there is provision for a lanyard, which was one of the things that appeals to me about it.

 

Cheers,

 

J

 

 

Edited December 24, 2008 by Dakar4x4

[MtnHermit]

Awesome, and does it all go back together sturdily enough to trust?

IMO, the weakest link of the Fastex, webbing and Garmin plastic is the Fastex clip. Probably good for 10 lbs before it'll fail, a guess.

 

 

 

Theirs a review on Amazon. From that and these photos I'll suggest the Foarm hinges at the bottom and the shoe lace is required to hold the two halves together, the spring slider suggest that. The "foam" is apparently very rigid and we all know Colorado's love batteries.

 

I considered the foarm, but didn't like the cost or the belt clip. Since Garmin supplied an elegant hanging solution, thought I'd use it. Because I wanted to hang it backward, I thought the aluminum carabiner might interfere with satellite reception, so decided on the plastic Fastex.