Greetings from Vermont! While I’m new to this forum, I was a naturalist-canoe guide back in 1976 - working out of Gunflint Lodge for the Kerfoots. In July of 2019 I returned, for the first time in 43 years, with my wife…and we paddled across Gunflint and Magnetic, up to the falls at the start of the Granite River.

Being at these falls…looking up the river - was all it took to know that I just had to get up that river to Sag - around and down through Alpine and ending at the eastern end of Seagull. So we scheduled a trip for July of 2020…and, well, we all know how that went! But we’re on for 2021…and are very excited!

But with the passage of 45 years comes many changes…including those in the landscape/riverscape itself and in my memories (and/or lack thereof) of this. It is with this in mind that I’m now actively researching GPS units. Having never owned one of these, I’m now finding myself confronting a confusing morass of products.

My goal is to purchase something that ticks off the correct boxes for a multi day river/lakes trip - while avoiding other features which might not be necessary and which could/would only add to the cost, bulk/weight, and complexity of the unit.

It is with the above requirements in mind that I’d like to ask other GPS owners on this forum: what would you recommend? Thanks!

I used to bring a Garmin eTrex with me when I would head into the BWCA/Q, more than sufficient. For the last 4-5 years I have left the GPS at home and just brought the iPhone with me. Last year I added the Navionics app, an excellent mapping app in my view. It more than serves my navigation needs. In addition, I have found the Navionics lake depth contour info to be sufficiently accurate...quite helpful when looking to locate and fish shelfs, reefs, etc.

Link to GPS forum
For more detailed information from users on this site.

Personal choice for me needs to be stand alone functioning, not an app on a smartphone. Button operation not screen taps. Ability to work with a computer mapping program for map building. Good waypoint and tracking functions.
A Garmin GPS 62-66 series or the Garmin eTrex 22-32x.

butthead

I'm right in parallel with butthead's comments. I've progressed through 4 handheld units over the past several years, and currently using a Garmin GPSMAP 64st. Probably upgrading to a 66st soon, for some reason... probably just because it's there. Happy with the mapping, buttons, readability outdoors, ease of transferring sets of data from trips to my computer for safekeeping and future dreaming, etc. I attach mine to the thwart in front of me with items from RAM Mount. Make sure you nose around in this site's gps forum that he linked above, too.

Find one with the ability to add a map chip, most do nowadays. Look for one that you can read in direct sunlight, long battery life, ability to use replacement batteries. As with most electronic products nowadays it all comes down to power and memory. So get one with long battery life or ability to change batteries. Also has lots of internal memory and a slot for a memory chip. Get a Garmin.

Why spend money on GPS. Download offline maps under your Google Maps app on your phone. You can put your phone in airplane mode and access your Google Map. Your phone will not use much battery power in airplane mode. For Boundary Water use that is enough along with paper map.

I just have my maps and the Garmin Earthmate app from my phone (For you nah sayers, the phone is in airplane mode the entire trip) Earthmate is used just to confirm my location now and then and the maps I loaded have the portages marked. I have a Garmin etrex but never bring it

Not as interested in navigating with a phone (or gps or any other electronics) as much as I am interested in having something dedicated to saving for me the tracks and waypoints that allow me to look back at the lines and marks on a map to enhance the memories of a trip, much like old photographs do for most of us. Speaking of which, matching the timestamp on photos taken on the trip can place them along a mapped line to put together stories of the trip in greater detail. I'll have an iPhone along, but it is in a waterproof case, buried in the pack, possibly used just for a panoramic shot or a video, or the chance attempt at a connection by voice, or just in case. Not interested in having it out 24/7 like my completely waterproof and less costly gps unit.

Was in similar situation. Wanted a GPS for a bit of insurance against getting turned around and expending much of my limited energy on righting the course. Also have been finding I can't see detail on my printed maps as well as when was younger. Digital technology typically adds more stress to my life than I prefer, so I recently purchased what seemed to be the least complicated unit I could find: Garmin eTrex. That it runs on 2AA batteries was a big selling point to me, too.
Have been recently playing around with it a bit and finding it fitting my needs well. Am setting landmark map waypoints like portage locations and campsites for upcoming trips. Will strap to PFD and use only when feel necessary.

What chip do you need to buy?

hiawashe: "What chip do you need to buy?"

Depends of the unit. Garmin's use SD Micro 32gb max. More specific's about the GPS and what types of maps desired go a long way.

butthead

kjw: "Why spend money on GPS. Download offline maps under your Google Maps app on your phone. You can put your phone in airplane mode and access your Google Map. Your phone will not use much battery power in airplane mode. For Boundary Water use that is enough along with paper map."

Often replacing a smartphone is more expensive in $$$ and much much more for the lost data. Once I buy a GPS it is mine no phone plan or resulting bill. Very good recent models can be bought used, often under $100. A handheld GPS like a Garmin 62 is more waterproof and durable and will function with a few extra AA batteries. Folks like me prefer a stand alone mapping/navigational/position finding tool.

butthead

butthead: "

kjw: "Why spend money on GPS. Download offline maps under your Google Maps app on your phone. You can put your phone in airplane mode and access your Google Map. Your phone will not use much battery power in airplane mode. For Boundary Water use that is enough along with paper map."

Often replacing a smartphone is more expensive in $$$ and much much more for the lost data. Once I buy a GPS it is mine no phone plan or resulting bill. Very good recent models can be bought used, often under $100. A handheld GPS like a Garmin 62 is more waterproof and durable and will function with a few extra AA batteries. Folks like me prefer a stand alone mapping/navigational/position finding tool.


butthead"

I agree with Butthead. My iPhone does not come with me into the BWCAW or Q.

I’ll add another vote for using a cell phone with downloaded maps. I like Backcountry Navigator on Android and Gaia on iPhone. Those apps aren’t free, but there are some free options. Also, I think you can try for free the versions in which you can’t download offline maps, so it may be worth seeing how they work in civilization.

It’s easy to record your track in those apps. I like having a big screen. Smart phones also have pretty good cameras and many other functions. I usually don’t take it out of airplane mode in the BW.

Yes, you do run the risk of ruining or losing your phone. GPS units are more rugged. I used to bring an older phone, but I now bring my main phone. Even though it’s supposedly waterproof, I put it in a waterproof case, and I loop the strap around the Ram mount in the canoe or put it away. My wife sometimes uses a soft, floating waterproof case to protect her phone.

Older phones seemed to have more issues than newer ones. Some older models had slow GPS chips or had touch screens that were affected by water and didn’t work well in the rain. They also seem more sensitive to cold and condensation. I now make sure to keep my phone in the tent, especially on cool damp nights.