Every time a GPS thread is brought up many people say a GPS is not reliable as a map and compass. I have had 3 Garmin GPS units over the years. My first one was bought a couple of years after they were available to the public in about 1985,( I think). They all still work, just upgraded to bigger and better and mapping feature. I have never broke, lost, ran out of power, stopped working, or anything the poeple say. I always bring extra batteries, keep it in a protective case on my hip. Here's my question, have you had your GPS...

1) run out of power or no extra batteries?
2) broke, cracked screen, or button, lost pixels, unreadable?
3) stopped working, crashed?
4) lost, set down and left behind?
5) dumped over the side of a boat/canoe?
6) dog ate it? :)

No to all of your questions.

I bought a Etrex many moons ago and 3 years ago I updated to a Garmin Montana. The upgrade is like going from a Volkswagen to a Cadillac.

Butthead helped me with some mapping installations when we were at Canoecopi. Couldn't be happier.

None of the above. I think it helps to have a reliable and fairly up-to-date unit (mine is a Garmin 62st), keep the mapping and device files current, use the best batteries available (I use Energizer Ultimate Lithium), and mount it with a system designed specifically for your model (RAM Mount systems are bombproof).

None.
My firm belief is naysayers have no GPS experience. First unit I used was a Garmin GPS12, bought in the 90's. One is always in my pack, hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, and canoeing. Even used to keep track of parking locations in places like EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh. Never had a failure. Knowledge and experiance alow the user to consider power supply, how many batteries will be needed, and secure mounting/attachmens are simple. Odd how many fishlocator users bemoan the use of GPS/Spot/PLB units.

Said all along they are not necessary, but a great piece of gear to add to basic navigation stuff. Some just like to fault things they do not use or understand.

butthead

Last year (2015) I was pushing the canoe out from a portage (I was the stern paddler) and I stepped on something in the water. I reached down and picked it up. Well what do you know, it was my GPS that I evidently dropped while loading the canoe. I can verify that it is waterproof. It's a Garmin Oregon 450. I can't tell you how many times that I have used it to verify my position on a map. It is really helpful if you are on a new route and trying to find a portage or a campsite. I would never take it without having a map and a compass but it sure does save time and I like the tracking feature to show others my route. I don't leave it on 100% of the time, especially in familiar territory, but it is clipped to my PFD which I always wear in the canoe. Use good batteries! Also I found out something new on my Cherokee Lake trip 3 months ago - it has a battery type selector. I put new batteries in it twice on the last day only to find that 20 minutes later they were supposedly dead and the unit kept powering down. I had switched from lithium batteries to alkaline batteries for the last leg of the trip but never changed the GPS setting so it was getting a false reading. I would never trip without it.

So Northwoodsman dumped his GPS over into the water but it was good to go because it was waterproof. So that's edit 7-0 so far.

I've carried 4 GPS units on trips so far.
1 ancient garmin that was only good for confirming map location & nothing else. No problems with this unit.
1 etrex legend ( I think? ) which the navigational joystick developed an issue during the trip. Was able to work around it, but panning on the map was useless. Could only zoom in/out.
1 etrex vista hcx which replaced the legend. Used for 6 years including this August in the BWCA. Lost somewhere between the southernmost landing on Saganaga and my house in NE IL. The rubber wrap was starting to feel loose & unglued.
1 etrex 30x which replaced the vista. So far so good.

Lithium batteries are awesome and I usually have a set last an entire week's trip of having the unit on during the day while traveling to keep a log.

I became ready for a GPS after a backpacking trip to Colorado in September 1996. I had a USGS topo map of the area, south of Eagle, Colorado (near Vail), and a compass. The route taken was down the Clear Water trail in the direction of Gold Dust Creek. We basecamped in the valley and took day trips along various trails in the area. After spending the first day doing some trout fishing in the stream adjacent to where we were camped, the inspected the map for other potential fishing opportunities when our eyes were drawn to an alpine lake perched in a notch perhaps 1200 feet above us. We could also see trails that seem to lead there.

The next day, we set out in search of the "hidden" lake and soon found the trail marked on the map that should lead us to this "promised land." Unfortunately, after an hour or so, the trail disappeared under a scree field and a collection of other debris. Determined to continue on our quest, we decided to climb around the obstruction in hopes of finding the trail on the other side. So after another hour of scrambling and climbing, we did cross another trail. Elated at our good fortune, we merrily strode down this new trail, any time expecting this magical lake to appear around the next bend.

Well, it is a good this we were traveling at a controlled rate of speed because about 20 minutes down the trail, we abruptly found ourselves at a dead stop on a ledge. Peering over the edge, it appeared to be about a 1500 foot drop to the bottom.

We did backtrack to see if we could discover the whereabouts of said lake, but never found what was ultimately labeled "Phantom Lake." From that time forward, I've traveled with a GPS ... starting with the Garmin 12. Since I started using a GPS, if there was something on the map I wanted to get to, I have always be able to find it.

But to answer the questions you posed ... no, I've never had any of the issues listed. The only "failures" I've experienced were not the fault of the GPS. They were produced by heavy canopy cover and/or my presence in slot canyons.

dd

p.s. To give you some idea of how rugged the country is around "Phantom Lake," the Air Force lost an A10-Thunderbolt (Warthog) in the area about 6 months after I was there. It took them 3 weeks using all of the aerial technology available at that time and a coordinated ground search to find the wreckage. It was ultimately found near Gold Dust Peak.

no to everything as well

but I've never had an incident with a map either
even ones that got wet were still usable
I prefer maps because I can see more on a map,
print them out exactly as I need per trip
and where I travel the maps I print are the same info the GPS will display,so there really isn't an advantage to the GPS other than it pinpoints where I am

I keep upgrading and have 5 now. All Garmin starting with 3plus,e-trex vista,60csx and finally a 62s. I have two 60csx's and feel it is best and all I really need. The vista's toggle wore out and tracking on the 3plus quit working. I like the extras on the 62s but think the electronic compass is always on with this model so it is harder on battery's. Always have spare batteries on your person with any gps. Had to chuckle when Zara wrote that the only advantage of a gps is that it pin points your location!!

The closest I have had to a GPS failure was not being able to get a satellite off and on all day because of weather and having wet trees overhead. My partner had a newer GPS and he had signal all the time.

quote Marten: "I Had to chuckle when Zara wrote that the only advantage of a gps is that it pin points your location!!"

because a map will do it too?

seriously, knowledge of the movement of the sun & moon, location of stars, knowing how to use a map with compass, or even a map by itself can pinpoint your location.

it is just that for most people, a GPS will do it quicker and with less error, which is what I meant.

but happy I made you chuckle

Pretty sure that admonishment regarding not learning to use a compass or relying on electronics does not apply to this particular thread. The OP is simply looking for data regarding any times that gps may have failed a person. A question of whether a group has ever lost all of their compasses or had all of their maps blown away might be the best parallel.

sometimes it can be difficult if you are in a low lying area, paddling often involves low areas, while on the Kinnicinnic I was not able to get a read of where I was, and in Canyonlands, the former is OK, follow the river and you are not lost, the latter could have been serious if I didn't have a map

Yup, ZS. That's maybe more along the lines of what is being asked. Not a problem in many areas of the BW, I don't think. Maybe in the eastern stretches?