I am just looking to get into useing a GPS (never used one before). Does anyone have any suggestions of a brand/ Model that would be suitable for both BW and Backpacking?

I am looking at the Garmin Trek 30. Looks to have pretty good features and is probably at the top end of what I am willing to spend on my first GPS unit.

Any help would be appreciated.

P.S. I am going to duplicate this thread in teh gear forum for more hits.

I have a garmin 60csx and have love it. Garmin is a good option.

When you get it, I would suggest trying some geocaching, it's free and will give you some good practice.

what is your intended use? what do you expect out of it? will it be used to replace maps, augment maps? They are all good if you match the use to a specific unit.

I have a DeLorme PN-30, I only use a GPS as a backup to maps. Rather than spending ten minutesd or a half hour finding my way when unsure, turn it on, problem solved quickly. Turn back off. For a week long canoe trip in Woodland Caribou I only had it on maybe a half dozen times, never for more than a couple minutes.

Mine is a Garmin GPSMAP 62st with 2010 LakeMaster MN microchip.

Although these's a McKenzie map in front of me and a compass hung around my neck, the gps is in the RAM mount and turned on 100% of the time when we're on the move, mainly to serve as a diary of our travels... not necessarily for navigating.

Once home, connecting it to my Mac and using Garmin BaseCamp and Google Earth to edit and archive trips is pretty cool. The gps saves not only the route, but the time of day at each point, along with elevations, distances, etc that serve as wonderful memory aids and future trip planning tools.