best handheld GPS for around £200

[stickbow]

Hello everyone
I am going walking in Scotland and Wales later this year and I need a good GPS unit with some clear mapping maybe O/S and I wondered if anyone has used these before for walking, and opinions on the best one would be useful in helping me choose.
Cheers..

 

[rik_uk3]

http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/about/news/2013/os-mapfinder-android-app.html

 

[ged]

I've never used GPS on land, but earlier this year I had a look at a few units to see how thing had moved on since last time I looked. Before I started looking, I'd more or less decided that I'd buy something.

But I became so terribly frustrated by the whole sprat-to-catch-a-mackerel thing that after a few days I gave up on them.

I'll stick with my paper maps and a compass. A lot cheaper, and a lot more reliable.

 

[Tank]

I am not a GPS expert, I just use my gps for walking and geocaching, I have a Garmin Etrex 20, which is around £120. it comes with a very basic (if not completely useless map) however you can buy Garmin Birds Eye Select maps for £20 it allows you to select 1,500 sq km of coverage for an area you want (you dont have to use in one chunk) and these maps are far more detailed.

I am sure there are other here that can tell you a lot more. but this is my 2 pence worth.

 

[Toadflax]

I haven't used one in 'in anger' but recently got a Garmin eTrex30, and have been playing with it around the local area for a few days. I'm not sure if the extra cash for the 30 (compared to the 20) was worthwhile, as I'd always carry a compass with me in any case. So far, I'd say it is a useful adjunct to good old map and compass, but not something to be relied on.

As mentioned, supplied maps are a complete waste of time, so look for the free maps with contours from Talkytoaster - not as detailed as official OS, but not bad at all and they are regularly updated.

If you have your own OS maps have a look at this thread (http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120395&p=1497600#post1497600) for my suggestions on how to get paper maps onto the Garmin. I have been getting very good results, as I wanted to get some of my collection of 1:25K maps on.


Geoff

 

[Shewie]

I've been using a Satmap10 for the last four or five years, great bit of kit for confirming where you are when the fog and cloud comes in.

I used it in 2012 to walk across Scotland and found it really useful in areas when navigation got a bit tricky. I don't use half the features they're capable of but it's fantastic for what I need.

The map cards seem expensive at first but you can get some good offers direct from Satmap or through other retailers. I went for the north GB map at 1:50k and I've never needed to buy anything else.

 

[rik_uk3]

£200 will buy you a good smart phone like the http://www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-m...uId=398-8016&pageLevel=sku&_requestid=1080191

OS Landranger Map tiles (1: 50 000 scale): 100km[SUP]2[/SUP]: £0.69 each
OS Explorer Map tiles (1: 25 000 scale): 100km[SUP]2[/SUP]: £1.99 each

Download to your phone so you can use them 'off line'
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop/mapfinder/mapfinder-android.html

 

[Teepee]

I am not a GPS expert, I just use my gps for walking and geocaching, I have a Garmin Etrex 20, which is around £120. it comes with a very basic (if not completely useless map) however you can buy Garmin Birds Eye Select maps for £20 it allows you to select 1,500 sq km of coverage for an area you want (you dont have to use in one chunk) and these maps are far more detailed.

I am sure there are other here that can tell you a lot more. but this is my 2 pence worth.

I have one too. Very light, great on batteries. The basic features are all I need but the digital map is nice to have as a quick location checker.

I got mine for silly money on a lightning deal from Amazon.

 

[janso]

I've been using a Satmap10 for the last four or five years, great bit of kit for confirming where you are when the fog and cloud comes in.

I used it in 2012 to walk across Scotland and found it really useful in areas when navigation got a bit tricky. I don't use half the features they're capable of but it's fantastic for what I need.

The map cards seem expensive at first but you can get some good offers direct from Satmap or through other retailers. I went for the north GB map at 1:50k and I've never needed to buy anything else.

Another SatMap advocate here; have had a Garmin buried in my top lid for years in case nav got sketchy. Been using SatMap for a few years now with a north and south 1:25000 map card and can honestly say its brill - there's a reason why MREW and SARDA utilise it. I also have viewranger on my phone which is really good.
The downside for both is the initial expense which does get easier with use! I'd recommend using a few before committing to buy to get what's right for your needs. I obviously don't have to say anything about having the primary skills of map and compass....


Sent from my hidey hole using Tapatalk... sssh!

 

[kiltedpict]

Satmap Active 10 for me too.