GPS confusion

[Hayden Payson]

I want to get a GPS for geocaching, but I am very confused as to which one I want. I'm thinking of getting the Garmin Etrex 20, but I need something that is very simple, user friendly, and provides a easy way to search and view geocaches that are close to me, no matter where I am. I don't even know if this is available, but I've been researching things about this GPS, but all this downloading, pocket queries and whatnot really gets me confused. I want a GPS that works kinda like the app for geocaching, or at least similar. Can anyone help?

 

Hayden

[+wmpastor]

Assuming you have a smartphone, use the app for now. No need to lay down the greenbacks yet. Later, you'll see whether you need a gpsr and have a better idea of what features you want.

[+ecanderson]

... and provides a easy way to search and view geocaches that are close to me, no matter where I am.

Was fine up until that request. You don't say if you PLAN to be wherever 'where' is. For example, knowing I was headed to Kauai, I loaded Kauai caches onto a purpose built GPS before I left, and refreshed them again while I was there. However, if I had no plan to be there and no time to load maps or caches in advance, then the only viable option would be a cell phone app that provided all that I needed on demand, which entails both mapping data and cache information. Where possible, I prefer to carry the GPS rather than use an app on my phone.

 

So in order to answer your question, you need to tell us whether you PLAN to be 'where I am', whether 'where I am' will be far from home, and whether this travel may be a more spur of the moment thing.

[39_Steps]

I want to get a GPS for geocaching, but I am very confused as to which one I want. I'm thinking of getting the Garmin Etrex 20, but I need something that is very simple, user friendly, and provides a easy way to search and view geocaches that are close to me, no matter where I am. I don't even know if this is available, but I've been researching things about this GPS, but all this downloading, pocket queries and whatnot really gets me confused. I want a GPS that works kinda like the app for geocaching, or at least similar. Can anyone help? Hayden

If you live in North America, are willing to rethink the "very simple" approach, like the idea of bundled road and trail routable Topo maps of the US and Canada for both the device and your Windows computer, a limited number of Delorme PN-60 gps devices are now available from Delorme. Be aware that this may be a closeout offering of a well tested bundle with stable firmware.

http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtdItemDetail.jsp?item=30538&section=10460