Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Recommended GPS Units?
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hiawashe |
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unshavenman |
butthead: "kjw: "Why spend money on GPS. Download offline maps under your Google Maps app on your phone. You can put your phone in airplane mode and access your Google Map. Your phone will not use much battery power in airplane mode. For Boundary Water use that is enough along with paper map." I agree with Butthead. My iPhone does not come with me into the BWCAW or Q. |
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butthead |
hiawashe: "What chip do you need to buy?" Depends of the unit. Garmin's use SD Micro 32gb max. More specific's about the GPS and what types of maps desired go a long way. butthead |
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butthead |
kjw: "Why spend money on GPS. Download offline maps under your Google Maps app on your phone. You can put your phone in airplane mode and access your Google Map. Your phone will not use much battery power in airplane mode. For Boundary Water use that is enough along with paper map." Often replacing a smartphone is more expensive in $$$ and much much more for the lost data. Once I buy a GPS it is mine no phone plan or resulting bill. Very good recent models can be bought used, often under $100. A handheld GPS like a Garmin 62 is more waterproof and durable and will function with a few extra AA batteries. Folks like me prefer a stand alone mapping/navigational/position finding tool. butthead |
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cycle003 |
It’s easy to record your track in those apps. I like having a big screen. Smart phones also have pretty good cameras and many other functions. I usually don’t take it out of airplane mode in the BW. Yes, you do run the risk of ruining or losing your phone. GPS units are more rugged. I used to bring an older phone, but I now bring my main phone. Even though it’s supposedly waterproof, I put it in a waterproof case, and I loop the strap around the Ram mount in the canoe or put it away. My wife sometimes uses a soft, floating waterproof case to protect her phone. Older phones seemed to have more issues than newer ones. Some older models had slow GPS chips or had touch screens that were affected by water and didn’t work well in the rain. They also seem more sensitive to cold and condensation. I now make sure to keep my phone in the tent, especially on cool damp nights. |
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MoosilaukeJohnny |
Being at these falls…looking up the river - was all it took to know that I just had to get up that river to Sag - around and down through Alpine and ending at the eastern end of Seagull. So we scheduled a trip for July of 2020…and, well, we all know how that went! But we’re on for 2021…and are very excited! But with the passage of 45 years comes many changes…including those in the landscape/riverscape itself and in my memories (and/or lack thereof) of this. It is with this in mind that I’m now actively researching GPS units. Having never owned one of these, I’m now finding myself confronting a confusing morass of products. My goal is to purchase something that ticks off the correct boxes for a multi day river/lakes trip - while avoiding other features which might not be necessary and which could/would only add to the cost, bulk/weight, and complexity of the unit. It is with the above requirements in mind that I’d like to ask other GPS owners on this forum: what would you recommend? Thanks! |
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plander |
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butthead |
For more detailed information from users on this site. Personal choice for me needs to be stand alone functioning, not an app on a smartphone. Button operation not screen taps. Ability to work with a computer mapping program for map building. Good waypoint and tracking functions. A Garmin GPS 62-66 series or the Garmin eTrex 22-32x. butthead |
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schweady |
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schweady |
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Savage Voyageur |
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kjw |
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Blatz |
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PVnRT |
Have been recently playing around with it a bit and finding it fitting my needs well. Am setting landmark map waypoints like portage locations and campsites for upcoming trips. Will strap to PFD and use only when feel necessary. |