3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
E Trex Vista
Date of Review: Aug 29, 2006
The Bottom Line: Trail navigation, hiking & teaching nav. skills: Buy It. Finding streets in your car: Don't Buy It.
Had it for three years now. Found out that you MUST calibrate the compass unless you want to be confused. I'm a traditional navigator with compass/map, stars, etcetera. Going electronic seemed natural for me but it takes time to get used to. When backpacking, find a spot on top of your shoulder strap to secure it in to keep a lock on the Sats. Excellent for teaching nav skills to those less informed.
Screen selection seems slow, mapping software for the gpsr is VERY limited. Long boot time. Some line pixellation occurs once in awhile and the unit has NEVER been abused. Battery life is miserably short, especially if you are tracking yourself.
Excellent cartographic implications for downloading, lots of software accept the coordinates, tracks, maps you would upload. For a handheld, I do not see the need for color. That is wasted cash. Flame me if you want but I probably have more trail time than you so stfu. For the average hiker/Geocacher, this unit fits a need. You want a true read of the use of a gpsr? Go geocaching. Compare different B&W models on one Geocache. Then use your color model on the same cache. You'll see what I mean.
I could possible admit one use for color. If you're using a gpsr for street nav., then coloration is useful. This model is not intended for the automobile like other pricier units are. Yes you can upload road maps to it but it is a LAND NAVIGATION DEVICE. You're supposed to GET OUT OF THE CAR and THEN use it!
For trail navigation, traversing unbroken expanses of heavy forest, trail blazing, teaching outdoor skills, cartographic updating, it is flawless.
