My husband is going to buy the Garmin GSP 86i. He likes that it floats and so this is the one he wants (he lost a gps once in a lake in the middle of the BWCA). What are your thoughts on the Garmin GSP 86i?

An excellent choice!
I've had many sold some sitting on 4 handhelds now. Most used is a 62st. I use the Basecamp mapping program more than the GPS. I posted, and will update now and then, a list of waypoints, trails, routes that can be used, BWCA and Quetico.

butthead

Is the mapping program for the gsp 86i good? He likes this one because it can float, is a gps and it has spot thing. I want a new gps and he wants the inReach capabilities. We have always liked garmin

Have you looked at the differences between the 86i and 66i? I have always been led to believe that the higher the number the newer and better the device. In this case, the 8xx series takes a slightly different direction from the very excellent 6xx series, in that their emphasis is on marine charting, such as the BlueChart G3, and connectivity to onboard marine systems. If there is a desire to connect to a computer, using Garmin's BaseCamp software, these charts will not be compatible. I get that you desire to add inReach capabilities. The 66i would do this, too, and includes excellent TOPO mapping. Plus, it will accept other lake depth map chips as well, perfect for BWCAW use. My next upgrade (from my 64st) will be the 66st, basically a 66i without the inReach features, as I already have a separate DeLorme device for that.

My husband doesn't want the 66i. He wants a floating one.

Canoearoo: "My husband doesn't want the 66i. He wants a floating one."

Might or might not be a solution for him, just a thought: My camera is waterproof but doesn't float - it's on a lanyard around my neck.

I an pretty sure the 66i and 86i will both float. 86i has more weight countered with more volume than the 66i, both have the same IPX7 water rating. Both have the same map options and capabilities, same screen and battery.
86i is sold as a "marine handheld with Inreach", the 66i "GPS handheld satelite communicator".

I know the 66i can use Basecamp and Birdseye, they come included. I do not know it thats the same with 86i. Far as flotation it would be easy to buy a flotation lanyard or make one, they both have the same water immersion rating. For canoe travel land based topos have been much more useful to me than marine charts, both of my old Delorme GPS's could use each.

The 86i has an edge in price, but I'm not sure it will work with Basecamp and/or Birdseye that I prefer over marine charts, though it does list compatibility with custom mapping.

I'm more familiar with the 66i than the 86i but Garmin makes the best consumer grade GPS's in my opinion. I use a snap in RAM mount on my canoe so flotation is not considered. I believe a GPS forum member has an 86i, this would be the
butthead place to find them

butthead

Thank you for the thorough review I appreciate it

butthead: " place to find them


butthead"

If what you say is correct, I am completely confused with what Garmin is doing. The InReach Explorer+ doesn't (can't) use Basecamp. It uses a cloud based system. My assumption was that was the direction in which they were moving. Also, if you are pinging your route to family and friends, it needs to be a cloud based system. Now that they have developed more robust InReach models they are back to Basecamp?

Is the cloud based system a one-off for the InReach Explorer? That would seem like development overkill. Or can the new models employ both mapping systems?

By the way, a big bonus for using InReach is getting current weather reports.

butthead: "I an pretty sure the 66i and 86i will both float..."

The tech specs on this page from MEC says that the 66i does not float. That said, it's one of the last things I would look for in a gps.

You all convinced him to get the 66. What float attachment do you recommend? We don't want another GPS at the bottom of a lake.

Not difficult to make one like these the yellow one look like a BDB with a clip and some floats.

Any marine store will have floating key fobs that would work.

butthead

Canoearoo: "You all convinced him to get the 66. What float attachment do you recommend? We don't want another GPS at the bottom of a lake. "

Whatever you decide, I would start with a good long lanyard. A small object like that will be barely visible in in the water in some conditions even though it floats.

The 66i will come with a lanyard. Pretty quick and easy to use a small carabiner to clip it to a thwart. I'm considering doing the same if I do go to the 66st, since my tried-and-true RAM Mount has gone to providing a spine clip holder instead of a cradle for mounting the latest gps units, and I'll trust that just a little less, at least at first. Combined with a clamp base on the thwart and a double socket arm to pivot any direction desired, and it's not going anywhere.

schweady: "The 66i will come with a lanyard. Pretty quick and easy to use a small carabiner to clip it to a thwart. I'm considering doing the same if I do go to the 66st, since my tried-and-true RAM Mount has gone to providing a spine clip holder instead of a cradle for mounting the latest gps units, and I'll trust that just a little less, at least at first. Combined with a clamp base on the thwart and a double socket arm to pivot any direction desired, and it's not going anywhere.
"

That's what failed last time.. the clip gave out and the gps flew into the lake

Canoearoo: "That's what failed last time.. the clip gave out and the gps flew into the lake"

Sad to hear. It hurts just to visualize that. But I can see how it could happen, especially if it didn't 'click in' completely. I've done it on the trail with the carabiner-equipped spine clip that came with the unit.

Yeah, the cradle for the 62/64st is totally bombproof. I couldn't believe that they didn't bother making one for the flatter-style 66/86 series.