not for canoe trips, for road trips.

i want something that is VERY easy to use and wont break the bank.

or, should i just get a smart phone and use an app?

pre thanks.

I've used several different auto GPS, including Garmin, TomTom and Magellan, and they all seemed very similar in features and functions. None were complicated to use. I never used any advanced features like traffic info. The only problems I ever encountered were for out-of-date maps, and the updates cost about as much as the units.

I think any budget auto GPS will work fine.

I have owned then from the beginning when they turned off the scrambling signal for civilian use. I have had 4 Garmin units and really like them. Go to REI in Bloomington to check them out in person. Get a Garmin. The features on any of the entry units will fit your needs.

I now only use my Smart Phone. It is quicker and more accurate, and I do not need to worry about updating the maps. I have an older Garmin, and you can have it if you'd like. I purchased a lifetime map upgrade for it a couple of years ago.

one more thing. i need something with a larger screen...damn eyes.

quote kanoes: "one more thing. i need something with a larger screen...damn eyes."

My eyes are poor as well, but I'm ok with the TomTom that I've had for years now. I do like the voice prompts for when I don't want to take my eyes off the road, or when I'm not paying attention to the screen. Others will say that they hate the voice prompts.

Another consideration that didn't matter to me is if the voice prompts include the street name. I don't really care either way, but my wife prefers the ones that actually say the name of the street.

Bought a Nuvi 2557 LMT just before Cathy and I left on our May excursion. Very happy with it, very acurate, the Active Lane Guidance was great on freeways in large cities. Free lifetime map updates, what's ahead feature made finding gas and food on the road easy.

butthead

PS: I mostly leave the voice nav muted, but do have Yeti voice, "UUUURFRRR HUUHHHHH", that's right turn in normal human. bh

quote butthead:
PS: I mostly leave the voice nav muted, but do have Yeti voice, "UUUURFRRR HUUHHHHH", that's right turn in normal human. bh"

Only Butthead! Anyway I too have a Nuvi and couldn't live doing what I do theses days without it. I'm thinking I might upgrade to the one Butthead is using or one more for trucking, mine was $200 with lifetime maps.

We used a Tom Tom on our road trip to Alaska. It worked well. But then again, it's hard to get lost on the Alaskan Highway.
And of course we changed to French voice prompts when we were going through Canada. Faites un virage à gauche à 1 km.
It was most useful for finding the next gas station.

It would be pretty cool if the GPS could have dogsled audio, e.g. "gee" and "haw" for right and left (or left and right???). I have not mastered dogsled language yet. I think "haw" is right and "gee" is left. At least that is what I taught our dog.

Hopefully it is correct. Otherwise, people will think the dog is dyslexic when I take the dog out for walks at the end of our driveway, trying to decide to go right or left.

Tomster

Garmin. Wide screen. Lifetime maps. Plenty of hard drive space for future updates. That said, I'm still very happy with our 255W that is relatively ancient. Its only shortcoming is drive space.

quote kanoes: "not for canoe trips, for road trips.

i want something that is VERY easy to use and wont break the bank.

or, should i just get a smart phone and use an app?

pre thanks."

TOMTOM makes a small one for 80 bucks

quote butthead: "Bought a Nuvi 2557 LMT just before Cathy and I left on our May excursion. Very happy with it, very acurate, the Active Lane Guidance was great on freeways in large cities. Free lifetime map updates, what's ahead feature made finding gas and food on the road easy.


butthead

PS: I mostly leave the voice nav muted, but do have Yeti voice, "UUUURFRRR HUUHHHHH", that's right turn in normal human. bh"

I know youre a techie ken....why did you go with that model instead of one of their less expensive 5" screens....like the 50lm? different tools available?

Upgraded after years of good use from an older 255W. About as large as I wanted to see on the dash, better traffic warning with the included "Garmin Real Directions", ability to use custom maps, Active Lane Guidance, Points Of Interest (on my trip it indicated historic POI's and brewpubs well). Got 5 years of heavy use from my old unit and was happy till it died. Right on accuracy except in the Cherokee Indian Reservation SE side of the Blue Ridge Mts. the only uncharted area I found so far. Still happy with the choice and used whenever I drive, if just for the more accurate speedometer. Came in very handy with locating gas stations and hotels, by using the What's Ahead sidebar. You can also set an area avoidance to route around cities or areas you do not want to travel thru, by blocking the area to avoid on the displayed map. I'm sure other units offer similar features, this one fit my needs and most wishes for navigation. Never lost signal, even in some deep canyons traveled out in the mountains!

50LM has most of the same features, just a bit older model, far as I can tell, "Real Voice" being one change.

butthead

PS: Comparison chart bh

thanks ken.

Garmin Nuvi 255W user. Plenty big for 'older' eyes IMO.

Have used the smart phone apps but the battery tends to wear down pretty fast so you have to leave it plugged in if you want continuous GPS.

Purchase the lifetime maps if you plan to keep and use the GPS for awhile.

I like the GPS units because it is easy to find the closest gas station, the closest restaurant (choose your favorite ethnicity), closets town, tourist attractions which are near your current location.

A smart phone can do these other things to, but I think you have to open another app or two? And if you need to use the phone, as a phone, you aren't using the GPS function while talking.

Either one works (phone or GPS).

The only trouble I have had with the lifetime maps is...
...bringing the unit in to update the maps.
I have the traffic option on mine too but it often will crash the unit...or at least that is my guess.
Might need a software update, I don't know.
Garmin NUVI is hands down the way to go... (2 cents given)
I too have an old one that you can have...if I can find it.

Thanks for the comparison page, butthead. I am occasionally tempted to upgrade the old 255W, but don't know which of the newer ones I should turn to for the features wo which I have grown accustomed. I love the 255W except for the now-limited storage space. That reared its ugly head when we flew to Oregon earlier this month and it dawned on me that it had quit working for me because the latest map update I had performed was the "Canada and Border States" group. Arg.