Hi All - Is anyone using a hand held GPS unit in the woods? Which ones do you like? I'm looking at the iFinder Hunt C. Anyone have any experience with this one?

No, I am of the opinion that if you can not navigate in the woods without electronics, you do not belong in the woods. But that is just me, I know a lot of people use them.

We have an Ifinder H2O. If the Hunt model is anything like ours. It will be a quality piece of kit. http://www.thegpsstore.com is very reasonable.

No, I am of the opinion that if you can not navigate in the woods without electronics, you do not belong in the woods.

 

So I guess every soldier on the modern battlefield shouldn't be there either.

Honestly, if the modern day troop cannot do any land navigation by the time they've been in the service long enough to get sent to battle, it is not the institution's fault-- but operator error. I agree with TBT, if you cannot navigate the woods using the sky, landmarks, and maps-- GPS won't help much either.

OK let's settle this right here and now. The thread is about peoples experience with electronic navigation aids. If you want I'll start a different thread about peoples experience and reliance on natural navigation vs. electronic navigation, and you hero's can throw all the comments you want about people who you assume (but of course know nothing about) can't navigate naturally. If you have anything informative to say about the subject, it would be appreciated. There might be other people here who are actually trying to educate themselves and would find constructive information useful.

I was an intelligence analyst, both in garrison and in the field. If a Soldier could not navigate using basic skills or make good use of a tac map-- I would wash him out, and keep him in the S shops until he could. Why? Because in the field, both downrange and here in the homestead, markers and other man-made creations can change rapidly. Whether land is sold and re-developed, a storm washes out a trail, the names of roads change or are in different languages-- the GPS cannot account for these. And if a person becomes far more reliable on GPS then the natural ability of navigating the open terrain (which people tend to do), then they're screwed.

 

Personally, my unit did rely on GPS downrange. But we ended up using them as weights or something to sit on because during strong storms, they were useless... the names of roads would be in foreign languages (even though we had the translated name), making it virtually useless. Batteries unfortunately die, and what was a great tool became just a piece of plastic and metal (albeit an expensive one).

 

I'm not saying GPS is not a great tool-- it really is a great one. I just think the user should know land navigation and map reading, and use the GPS to compliment.

Dude, I gave you my opinion and said a lot of people use them. You threw the insult. You go ahead and use one and when the battery goes dead and you wander aimlessly lost because you never bothered to learn to become a woodsman, go ahead. But do not ask a question if you do not want an answer that makes you feel good.

 

I never had a GPS. I had a Lensatic Compass and a map.

Trout My question was about what kind of experience (if any) people had with electronic navigation devices in the woods. It was not about whether a GPS unit is a good substitute for field skills. YOU assumed that I was trying to use it as a replacement for basic field skills. Frankly - I agree with you 100%!!!!!!! A GPS can crap out and if you are completely reliant on it, you're screwed. But that is not what the thread was about!!! I asked this same question on another board and got legitimate replies. Think about it. You immediately jumped in with your admonishment. Not addressing the question, assuming, etc..

 

Personally, I have pretty good (in my opinion) field navigation skills. But then again - what does it matter - this is the internet - I can say what I want right?

 

Opening the other thread was a unintentional because the New Post and Post Reply buttons are right next to each other. SO FWIW I apologize for that. I meant to hit the post reply button but hit the New Post button instead.

No admonishment, I am just bluntly oppinionated. It is a character flaw that I do not plan on fixing. I honestly am not a fan of all the high tech gadgets that take away from the basic human abilty to function. I hope you get the info you are looking for.

I've had an Etrex Legend since about 2003. Its out of date now but it does the basics and you can load maps of where you're going to be in it. I have had two Garmins in the car (350(stolen) and 750) and both are great. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a garmin Trail GPS like the Oregon or Colorado. I know you pay a premium for Garmin products but I've not had a problem with any one of the three that I don't know anyone who has.

We bought an Etrex that my son's girlfriend used when she was doing field studies at Rutgers years ago and had to map her positions in the field, a good but very basic unit. This spring he brought it with him to Belize on his honeymoon and dropped down the side of a mountain. I replaced it with a Ifinder H2O with the Navtech Marine chip which he likes. I guess if I bought an inland map chip, it would be good for hunting or hiking? I like the color screen and the face that it is waterproof.

 

I also have a Garmin 500 in one car which has a topo mode, car mode, walking & biking mode as well as a marine mode and is the only waterproof Nuvi made (or it was when new last year). I guess if you set your vehicle location before going into the woods, it might make a good backup if you get lost or if you set where your stand was, you could find it on a dark morning?

I have a Garmin 60CSx loaded with a topo map and think it works great for hunting and scouting. Although, I don't use all its features and basically mark good tree locations for stands and where I parked the vehicle if I'm in a new area. I also use it in conjuction with trail maps, since either one could be missing features. BTW, I've taken the land navigation course in Quantico many years ago....give me the Garmin and a spare set of AA batteries anytime, especially in total darkness with a bow, backpack and climbing treestand onboard as was the case this morning.

 

Go here for package deals, I did:

 

http://www.thegpsstore.com/

GPS? Here? C'mon man! Buy a ribbon roll if you have to.