BWCA Noob Question Boundary Waters Group Forum: GPS
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05/16/2017 03:05PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I'm thinking of getting a gps. Among other reasons, I'm planning a trip to Woodland Caribou this year.

Is it better to go straight GPS, or is the latest version of inReach a good option as a combo GPS and PLB. (I am not as interested in 2-way conversation, except maybe in case of emergency.)
 
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schweady
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05/16/2017 03:34PM  
This comparison page for the inReach Explorer+, inReach SE+, and GPSMAP 64st may prove to be a helpful start.

The first thing that stands out to me is the comparatively limited number of tracks and waypoints that the inReach will store.
 
05/16/2017 07:50PM  
Dedicated GPS (Garmin 62st) and PLB for me. More interested in the tracking and other uses for the GPS. The PLB is always in my car unless on a packing trip.

butthead
 
Savage Voyageur
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05/19/2017 07:31AM  
You really don't need ether of these units, people have been tripping forever without them. They do make your life easier with them, and just might save it too. Usually when you combine two units of anything they don't do ether very well. I would suggest you get what you really need, and that is navigation needs. You need to know where you are at all times. In reality there is a very small chance that you will need to be rescued. My vote is to get a GPS. I have taken the Military 4 part compass school and passed all the testing. So I'm pretty good with a compass but a GPS makes it so much simpler.
 
05/19/2017 10:51PM  
Thanks for all the info. I kind of thought that separate units were the way to go, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything.

I have no probs w/a map and compass. Not giving up either on any trip. But since I'm going to a place that's a bit more remote, with campsites and portages less used and marked, I'd like to have some backup.

Plus I think it'd be fun to do some geocaching, separate of any canoe trips.

As for the PLB, again, belt and suspenders. Sometimes just a bit extra contact, just in case. Always on a solo trip. Probably on a WCPP trip.
 
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