AboutChris Johnson Expertise I can answer most questions on equipment for outdoor activities such as walking, mountain biking, rock climbing and paragliding, in the UK. I`ve limited watersports experience so you`d be better off asking someone else these questions. Questions about the above activities themselves as well as about the equipment will also be answered as I`ve got several contacts who can pass on information. I`m a keen walker/mountainbiker/rock climber/paraglider pilot in the UK. I`ve been doing outdoor sports for about 15 years including trips to the French Alps and Trekking in the Nepalese and the Indian Himalayas. I`ve been buying and making outdoor clothing and equipment for about the same amount of time.
Experience Waking up at the foot of Annapurna South is something I won't forget. I would say that my first paraglider flight was unforgettable but every flight since seems to have been more unforgettable.
How are you? Thanks for taking questions from people.
My question is about GPS. Do you have much experience with them and what you think of them? I would like to buy one for hiking as well as for a toy (but dont tell that to my wife). Do you have any suggestions as to which one to get. I would like it to be 1) reasonably prixed (150 $ or less) 2) grayscale display 2)altimeter is a plus but not a must 3) medium quality background maps for North America and Europe 4) good battery life. I understand there are two main players out there: Garmin and Magellan. Is one better than the other?
Thanks a lot.
Eric
Answer Eric
I've been toying with getting a gps for a while but I'm glad I didn't. The reason?
Bluetooth GPS or PDAs with GPS bult in. If your going to carry something round then it might as well do other stuff too. The software is much more flexible, more easily updateable and easier to use (from what I've heard).
Obviously this depends on what you intend to use it for.
Mitac Mio 168 comes out well for my requirements but is more expensive, especially if you go for the tomtom mapping software too (voice directions when I'm out on my motorbike!)
The pure gps devices I looked at were mostly over £150 as I wanted one that would keep a good track too (for using when paragliding so you can go back and find a thermal you were in before) but recently the guys at the clubs have been using PDAs as detailed above. They get voice warnings of airspace restrictions or airfields they get close too!
So in answer to your question I don't know that much about sub $150 GPS as most of the functions on GPS of this sort you can get from a map (you should still use a map and know where you are, GPS just confirms this). Maps on pure GPS are not as good as on a GPS/PDA but good maps for these are usually expensive. Our local mountain rescue team members use PDAs with 1:25000 OS mapping data for recording search patterns etc. Looks very high tech!
There are loads of GPS based forums on the internet where people talk of nothing but GPS and many gps shops are now allowing users to rate the products too. If I was looking this is where I would start.
Good battery life is something you can pay lots for, sometimes more than a spare set of batteries!
Sorry I can't be more help.
You could always buy a PDA for your work which just happens to have GPS built in! ;0)
