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OT- Tom Tom portable GPS units

M

Mike (WA)

Well-known Member
Wife rides horses in the backcountry (Cascade mountains) a lot. I got her a Magellan GPS several years ago, and I guess its kaput.

I know they've come a long way since then- maps, voice directions, etc.- but she used hers mainly as follows: turn it on as she starts riding, and it keeps track of your route- so to get backhome, just retrace the route (or go back a different route, but watch to see that you're still heading toward the truck).

Do the ones today have that capability, or are they just animated road maps? Looking at a Tom Tom XL 335- its 25% off today at Staples. Any input appreciated.
 
Tom Tom generally gets bad reviews (in accurate maps/directions). A co-worker had one and returned it for a Garmin.

My parents have a Garmin that I have used a couple of times. It only got off once and that was on a rural highway in northwest Nebraska. It thought I got off the highway and kept telling me to turn into pastures and fields to get back on the road.

I don't think their particular model has the capability to trace a route like you describe, but I think Garmin makes special ones for hikers that have that added ability.

When my parents were shopping for one it looked like Garmin and Magellan were both good quality.
 
We have a Tom Tom that we use in vehicles, works great, but it would be almost useless for riding in the woods, does not leave a trail, at least that I know of. We also have a couple of hand held Garmins that work well for what you are describing, which is very similar to what we bought them for. I just googled the XL335 and it looks like an automotive unit. I also have notice that my GPS's have not worked very well lately, maybe give her old one another chance!
 
i think what you might be wanting would be an hand held gps like you could get from cablles or any place with hunting supplies. i would look at a garmin etrek because the higher end models you can purchase topo maps to download on them. you are also able to set way-points so you can get back to where you started or return to a place you visited before
 
Look at the Garmin Nuvi 500 or 550 they work on and off road. They are waterproof and have built in topo maps.

They may not have enough battery life. I think 4 hours. Otherwise look at gamin.com. They have a full series dedicated to off road.

I have 3 gamin units. They just keep working.
 
Forget about the Tom Tom - it contains only highway maps. It works great on public roadways (I have one...) But soon as you venture off road it is pretty much useless.

Instead consider a hand-held mapping GPS from Garmin or Magellan. Then load it with the topo(s) for the areas your wife will be riding.

For offroad stuff I use a Garmin 60CS mapper loaded with the NY state topo (NY state is free download from gpsfiledepot.com). It's easy to use and deadly accurate.
 

I have a tom tom, and it does have the "home" feature, but it will not necessarily take you home using the route that you used to get to your destination.
 
Thanks for the input. Come to think of it, I bought the Magellan in a hunting and fishing store. Maybe I'll see if I can resurrect it.
 
Mike -

Forgot to mention: When I venture into unfamiliar area I always carry TWO handheld GPSr's - my Garmin mapper and an older, basic (non-mapping) Magellan. Before setting off I create a waypoint at my starting point in both units. I then shut down the Magellan and tuck it away. The mapper I however keep active during my wanderings.

My reasoning is should the mapper ever fail, I still have the backup GPSr with my starting point stored. Can use it to at least guide me in the right direction back to my starting point.

Incidentally also carry a paper map and compass and a couple extra sets of AA batteries for the GPSr's, "just in case".
 
I have a Tom Tom - My friend down the road has a Carmen we both download updates from Google maps

just in where my house sets is a bad area for Satellite reception It gets me to most places, but some may be a half mile off.

Even googling my address puts me a half mile away up the road on an old gas line.

Intersection across the street ( I'm looking at my house), tells me to turn left and my driveway is to the right about a hundred feet. I get to the gas line and "I have reached my destination"

As mentioned the Home part isn't the best on my Tom Tom as it will sometimes bring you back a different route after reaching destination and punching the return home button.
 
I have a Garman Nuvi 500 I think, You can turn on or off the trail of where you have been. It seems to be accurate to about 10 ft off road. I have used it horseback, and it works good. Battery life is the issue, about 2 hrs. Surely one designed for hunters would have better batteries.
 
Have a friend who is a Ranger in Arizona. Does lots of backcountry riding and patroling in mountainous and desert terrain.

He has used a few and now prefers his Garmin GPSmap 60. He uses it for his official and unofficial riding. It has a larger display so easier to use when riding. The display is black and white but transfers to color on computer. You can print out all the stuff on your route such and even chart the elevation changes which looks like the Dow Jones chart. The newer model 62 has a color display if you want that.
 
Garmin is a piece of crap. Once the batteries go dead you have to wait until they are charged to turn the unit back on. - and get this they have to be fully charged.

The unit cannot be used while the batteries are charging.

Not a very reliable unit. Goes out just when you need it.

DON'R BUY A GARMIN
 
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