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I need a GPS, just the basic info (dist, elev, time etc) and good visible map. mostly for mtb but also that would work for hiking/running*.
*not fussed about having it on my wrist but if the map graphics are good, maybe.
I live in mountainous terrain with tracks and trails in all directions, every outing is an adventure! Been using Strava on my phone but keep messing it up when I stop to take photos.
Bump.
Garmin eTrex for me, the 10/20/30 series are good value and do core mapping very well without all the frills of an Edge Explore or Wahoo Roam.
If you want training data, then anything from Garmin 530 upwards, or the expensive option is Hammerhead Karoo 2 If you don't want that training data then the Garmin Explore series are probs your best bet.Â
Watches: I had good success with a Suunto and I currently use a Fenix 5plus, and you can navigate with it, but it is admittedly a bit of PITA to have to keep looking at our wrist, and obviously it's more difficult that a bar mounted device with a bigger screen.Â
I'd say "basic GPS" doesn't tend to include Navigation/maps, you're typically going up a tier if that's what you're after.
If looking at bar mounted Garmin the Edge 130 is probably the baseline for what most would consider a 'Basic GPS' currently, but if you want Nav/Maps the price jump to an Edge 530 is not inconsequential, I personally wouldn't recommend the Edge Explore (but you will get recommended it) on the basis of battery life but it is an option to consider.
Similarly for wrist worn Garmin devices there's lots about, you could do worse than the Forerunner 55, again if you want maps you're looking at the Forerunner 255, you might also want to look at the previous generation of the Fenix (6). there's a silly number of watches to look at.
Importantly though you didn't say what your battery life expectations are. will you be going out for a couple of hours or a couple of days? for Garmin whatever they claim for battery life, knock 25% off, if using navigation take a bit more off, for bigger days out, consider if a power bank is an option.
I have switched to a Lezyne Bike GPS specifically because it gives me both Mapping (B&W) and better battery life, but generally life is simpler if you stick to Garmin as the most ubiquitous seller of sporting GPS products (IME/IMO), I still use one of their watches most of the time.
As ever check reviews on the DC Rainmaker site, and consider buying used, it's well worth trying out an older model or two just to give you a steer on what you'd like/benefit from in a GPS before flipping them on.
I use my garmin 830 for walking, so despite many comments to the contrary they are fine for that.
As for reccomendations I don't reccomend the 830 because it is crap in the rain. But the 840 is supposed to fix that issue. Or save cash and get a 5xx instead. The 8xx are touch, the 5xx are buttons. In hindsight I should've got a 5
As for reccomendations I don’t reccomend the 830 because it is crap in the rain.
Yesterday (rainy Wales) my 830 decided that I'd ridden 450m vertical metres, I got home and corrected the record on Connect and it decided that in fact I'd climbed 1137m.
Thanks Garmin 👍
Depending on how you work just now - Touchscreen, then Garmin 8 series is probably what you want; if you don't want touchscreen, the Garmin 5 series is probably it. Touchscreen seems a bit iffy in wet weather, I prefer pressing buttons...device is a bit smaller and battery life is decent, the touchscreen stuff needs to be a bit bigger but I don't know if the battery life is any better.
However, what kind of mapping do you want? The mapping they have by default isn't massively detailed...adding Trailforks can help but it doesn't really give a sense of gradient and varying terrain.
I'm pretty sure there are devices that will work with detailed mapping like OS stuff, but that probably requires an additional subscription to another service.
I've got an OS Maps subscription and use a Garmin 530, but haven't worked out how to get the OS Maps stuff on the device as I don't think it is possible.
Also depends which country you are in, if you aren't in the UK, then OS mapping won't be of interest anyway.
Thanks all for advice and suggestions, I usually study and plan(ish) routes before hand so have a rough idea where I'm at most of the time, I live in North Portugal so generally everything is very up or very down but there are tracks in all directions so just to be able to check visually on a screen would be handy, the gearing on my bike was perfect for where I did live (Suffolk near Thetford!) can't really entertain a new bike or drivetrain at the moment so just have to grind on up the hills!
Anyone have any experience of Bryton S800 0r 860?