I noticed that REI sells 17 different models of Garmin GPS and only 3 models of Magellan GPS. It made me wonder what types of GPS people are using.
If you use a GPS in Quetico, what brand of GPS do you use?

I have a Garmin 72 that has served my outdoor needs for the last several years. I don't download maps or do anything fancy with it. I mark the rock piles that I fish on in the summer for walleyes and the humps I fish in the winter for lake trout. It is nice to find a spot in the winter on my first hole instead of drilling a dozen holes with a hand auger. I use it a lot when hunting out west. It sure is nice to have a tool that gets me right back to my truck or 4 wheeler. Especially when it is dark or you have a lot of extra weight on your back. I also have a compass and know what my back azimuth is so I can at least get back to the road but my Garmin hasn't failed me yet. It's been wet, hot, cold, dropped, and stepped on.

Garmin 64.

Garmin GPSMAP 62st with Garmin Upper Midwest Fishing Guide chip installed. I have looked at upgrading to the 64t, but haven't yet seen a feature that makes me pull the trigger.

We go double-tool, as I'm a big fan of using tools that serve more than one purpose. So we have a pair of Garmin RINO units that are full-color, loadable GPS units that are also GMRS two-way radios with a 28 mile range (theoretically - in reality it's 10-12 in QPP conditions). And the radio integrates with the GPS so you receive a signal from the other unit when they broadcast and shows you where they are on the map screen.

Love them.

First question is how much you want to spend. I've got a Garmin etrex 20 which is relatively inexpensive, but I love it, though take that for what it's worth because the only other GPS I have used is an iphone with Motion x. I spent the money and got the subscription to satellite photos. The screen is a little small for my old eyes, but it's good enough. I like it that it is a rugged unit, waterproof to 3 feet, runs about 24 hours on a set of rechargeable AA's.

Very happy with my Delorme PN-60. Going on 3 years now.

Hard to beat the TOPO North American Maps that go with Delorme. Super easy to use. I have all the camps and portages as draw layers for the Quetico, BWCA and WCPP.

I have had 3 handheld Garmin GPS units over the years. My latest is a Garmin Montana 650T. I bought the USA road chip so it's a turn by turn unit for my vehicle. It has a built in topo map that is 1:100000 scale. This was too big for me so I bought the 1:24000 topo chip for upper Midwest. This really helps when out in the woods to have a moving shaded topo map this size. I'm going to buy the Red Pine PaddleNav chip that has the BWCA/Quetico campsite, portages and many lake depths.

Garmin x 2.

Silva.

Garmin - with Red Pine PaddleNav

Delorme PN-60 here too. Although I've never actually needed a GPS in Quetico. I only use mine to send a daily "all ok" message out via my SPOT, which is paired with the GPS.

Thanks for the replies. Looks like many people use Garmin. I was wondering about making maps for GPS and I could only find instructions for Garmin and Lowrance, I couldn't find instructions for DeLorme.

Garmin, almost a standard in personal GPS's. Popular, lots of styles and price ranges, good software package for map work.
I use a Delorme, PN40se and PN60, because it has a more powerfull software mapping program (been using since Topo3), North America Topo 10, XMap 8.
similar to Kiporbys' map, with campsites, portages, trip tracks added by me. With a subscription it can display color aerial imaging, USGS Quads, NOAA Harbor Charts, for areas so covered.

Garmin 64 series and Delorme PN60, are about as good as can be got in pocketable/portable GPS. Other makers have good GPS units, but lack mapping and software support.

butthead

I use Gaia GPS on my iPhone... Works great!

Garmin Oregon 450 with Garmin "TOPO - Boundary Waters" SD card

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/prod63349.html

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/prod91300.html

Garmin 62st with Inland Lakes Boundary Waters and Appalachian Trail. I add custom maps as needed. Heavily used, the only problem is the buttons are starting to show some wear around the edges (so the white paint is showing through). Everything is backed up into Basecamp.

quote CardinalNation: "Garmin Oregon 450 with Garmin "TOPO - Boundary Waters" SD card


https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/prod63349.html


https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/prod91300.html"

Oregon 450
Boundary Waters TOPO
Links, easy to do and a courtesy to site members.

butthead

We go high tech. I use a map/compass. Old school, sorry.

quote MrBreeze: "We go high tech. I use a map/compass. Old school, sorry."

+1

Rarely use a gps in the BW, but when I do it is GARMIN ALL THE WAY!

Garmin 62ST for me.

Garmin is by far and away the best mfg out there as far as GPS. I have an Alpha 100, Etrex 20x, and am about to get a Rino. It helps when you have a good buddy working for Garmin that can get you 1/2 off anything : )

quote Grouseguy1: "Garmin is by far and away the best mfg out there as far as GPS. I have an Alpha 100, Etrex 20x, and am about to get a Rino. It helps when you have a good buddy working for Garmin that can get you 1/2 off anything : ) "

Ever try a Delorme PN60? I sold a Garmin 62st and kept 2 Delorme units. I consider them equal in performance, reliability, and features.
Stayed with Delorme for it's mapping programs.

butthead

quote butthead: "

quote Grouseguy1: "Garmin is by far and away the best mfg out there as far as GPS. I have an Alpha 100, Etrex 20x, and am about to get a Rino. It helps when you have a good buddy working for Garmin that can get you 1/2 off anything : ) "

Ever try a Delorme PN60? I sold a Garmin 62st and kept 2 Delorme units. I consider them equal in performance, reliability, and features.
Stayed with Delorme for it's mapping programs.


butthead"

Does the Delorme have some mapping ability that Garmin does not? I admit to being unfamiliar with them.

I like multi-tools.....and that carries over to electronics. For instance, My Alpha 100 not only functions as a personal GPS, but it can also track something like 30 dogs at a time (with the TT10/TT15 collars), as well as the other hunters in my party that have Garmin units. It's nice to look at your screen and see where the other guys in your party are, or the other canoe in your fishing group for that matter. It's also nice not to have to carry a GPS in addition to a radio.

The Rino 650 not only acts as personla GPS, but it's also a radio with NOAA weather stations. The radio rang eis something like 20 miles.

Both of these units connect to my Garmin Tempe (keeps temperature data), and my Garmin VIRB XE camera (can act as a locator, remote, etc.)

I admit I'm a bit of a Garmin fanboy, but with a close friend who works at corporate, and their allowance of friends and family discounts for employees.....it's tough not to. SO my opinions aren't completely without bias. My experience with Magellan products was less than spectacular.

Being a bird dog guy, Garmin is the pinnacle as far as dog tracking/training technology.

As far as just a basic GPS? I guess as long as it works.....thumbs up. I'm selling my Etrex 20x and Dakota 20 due to the fact they don't do much for me anymore.....as the other "multi tool" Garmins do everything they can and more.

Early adopter in the GPS field, From Garmin GPS48 to 64st, and all the PN models sold. The 62st and PN60 have very similar specifications and performance. I'm a geek and did my own side by side (literally mounted to the same clipboard), Geocaching. Still keep my old GPS12 for nostalgia!
Garmin has a huge selection, and work well. For my use, which involves custom mapping, the Delorme is better (a more powerful optioned mapping program set).
The multi purpose units work well but lack some capabilities that I use.
If "the best mfg out there as far as GPS" is based on number of models available, then I have to agree. GPS performance and reliability is a wash between them.

butthead

Best out there I guess was more from my perspective of combining units. I should have clarified hat. A single unit with the GPS capability of an Oregon, along with a Tri-tronics Pro 500 built in for dog training, was ground breaking for us dog guys.....I'm referring to the Alpha.

It's not just number of models available that is a plus, it's the uniqueness and pioneering of the models they have which impresses me. The Rino is pretty popular with the guys I deer hunt with, Even the old models that can be had for sub $100 on Ebay are very useful and reliable. I'm not sure of another product like it on the market, but I'm admittedly under studied on the subject.

As far as just the GPS function itself? I guess I have no reason to proclaim they are better than the next company. I've had great luck and have had no reason to look elsewhere. I bet the Delorme is nice, I checked out their website and was impressed.

My biggest complaint? Since they bought Tri-Tronics more and more of that product line is made in Asia. As a long time Tri-Tronics customer, that's upsetting.

FYI, the basic 100K US maps from Garmin have all the campsites and most of the portages. I also use Birds Eye satellite imagery. I'm not sure how much better a map can be than actual satellite images with topographic overlays. We all have our preferences though.

"FYI, the basic 100K US maps from Garmin have all the campsites and most of the portages. I also use Birds Eye satellite imagery. I'm not sure how much better a map can be than actual satellite images with topographic overlays. We all have our preferences though."

Yes sir, that makes a nice map! Check my first post.
Have built the same in BaseCamp. Sat and aerial imaging available in both.

butthead