I would like to use for long hikes. Is this an easy unit to use? Is excessive scrolling required to obtain certain information? Will it show me how to get back to my starting poing?
541544
The Dakota is fairly easy to use, but Garmin is infamous for helpful instructions so "playing with it" is an excellent learning method. I don't think you'll find scrolling requirements excessive. As to showing you how to get back to your starting point ... I'm not clear whether you're considering the 10 or the 20. Both offer a track-back option. The maps that are provided WITH the Dakota are next to useless. Adding decent maps to the 10 is a hassle, the 20 allows adding maps with a micro SD card. With one of those, a Dakota 20 can probably get you back to the trailhead (or your car) backtracking the path you took. The Dakota is fairly easy to use, but Garmin is infamous for helpful instructions so "playing with it" is an excellent learning method. I don't think you'll find scrolling requirements excessive. As to showing you how to get back to your starting point ... I'm not clear whether you're considering the 10 or the 20. Both offer a track-back option. The maps that are provided WITH the Dakota are next to useless. Adding decent maps to the 10 is a hassle, the 20 allows adding maps with a micro SD card. With one of those, a Dakota 20 can probably get you back to the trailhead (or your... » Read More The Dakota is fairly easy to use, but Garmin is infamous for helpful instructions so "playing with it" is an excellent learning method. I don't think you'll find scrolling requirements excessive. As to showing you how to get back to your starting point ... I'm not clear whether you're considering the 10 or the 20. Both offer a track-back option. The maps that are provided WITH the Dakota are next to useless. Adding decent maps to the 10 is a hassle, the 20 allows adding maps with a micro SD card. With one of those, a Dakota 20 can probably get you back to the trailhead (or your car) backtracking the path you took. « Show Less
541545
this unit has a "plot my course" icon that will draw out your course in real time and allow you to follow your path back to starting point.
541546
The Dakota is fairly easy to use, but Garmin is infamous for helpful instructions so "playing with it" is an excellent learning method. I don't think you'll find scrolling requirements excessive. As to showing you how to get back to your starting point ... I'm not clear whether you're considering the 10 or the 20. Both offer a track-back option. The maps that are provided WITH the Dakota are next to useless. Adding decent maps to the 10 is a hassle, the 20 allows adding maps with a micro SD card. With one of those, a Dakota 20 can probably get you back to the trailhead (or your car) backtracking the path you took.
1832956
I believe this would be the best unit for just about anything including navigating water courses. It is water resistant but some people have submerged it in water and it was fine. It has the best and most affordable map package available compared to other brands, the battery life with lithiums is pretty good in comparison. Overall a very well built unit with all the bells and wistles. The only gripe I had was the small screen size but I have gotten used to it. Hope this answers your question.
1447001
The map will zoom almost forever in either direction. As you do so, your trail will disappear from the screen. You might spend the rest of the hike finding it. I bought it only for the track feature, and find it useless. The cursor barely works -- you'll spend more time trying to press buttons than you do hiking.
41221
The Oregon GPS is a nice unit, fairly light, easy to read, user friendly and easy to navagate buttons. If your looking for a unit to use more detailed maps this unit is not for you. Its difficult to download maps from Terrain Navagator Pro and will only hold so many. If you are just going to use the Garmin 24 maps on the unit, which will cost you more money to purchase then I recommend this unit. If you like to fiddle alot with the unit be warned it uses up a lot of battery power so carry extras with you. I purchased the Oregon 550 and altho I do like it I wish I had spent the extra money and bought the 550T series or the Montana 650T. Hope this helps. The Oregon GPS is a nice unit, fairly light, easy to read, user friendly and easy to navagate buttons. If your looking for a unit to use more detailed maps this unit is not for you. Its difficult to download maps from Terrain Navagator Pro and will only hold so many. If you are just going to use the Garmin 24 maps on the unit, which will cost you more money to purchase then I recommend this unit. If you like to fiddle alot with the unit be warned it uses up a lot of battery power so carry extras with you. I purchased the Oregon 550 and altho I do like it I wish I had spent the extra money... » Read More The Oregon GPS is a nice unit, fairly light, easy to read, user friendly and easy to navagate buttons. If your looking for a unit to use more detailed maps this unit is not for you. Its difficult to download maps from Terrain Navagator Pro and will only hold so many. If you are just going to use the Garmin 24 maps on the unit, which will cost you more money to purchase then I recommend this unit. If you like to fiddle alot with the unit be warned it uses up a lot of battery power so carry extras with you. I purchased the Oregon 550 and altho I do like it I wish I had spent the extra money and bought the 550T series or the Montana 650T. Hope this helps. « Show Less
1300758
sue im not sure how your using your unit (in a car ) this is for hiking or walking not for driving i do believe. all i can say is when you get it go to a park and learn to use it it is not exact science it is a inexpensive gps that has worked great for me and do recommend it but learn to use it!
1845651
Hello This Bushnell Backtrack GPS is a simple, personal navigation device. It primary goal is to help you get back and not get lost. A normal GPS will guide you from point A to point B so on and so fort. Here is what it says on the back. Record your Track , Find your way back. Mark up to 5 locations and get back. Record and access your trips online from any mac/pc Reach beyond cell service Never get lost again. with the easiest to use personal location finder. Just mark the location and the backtrack feature will help you get back. In addition , the backtrack D tour allows you to track where you have been and easily upload your trips to a computer via USB for saving sharing and more. its GPS made simple. Backtrack Features 1 mark it 2 go anywhere 3 get back time , altitude , temperature, digital compass D tour Features Track Course Taken Length of Trip Speed of Trip Elevation along trip Temperature during trip In short Bushnell Bear Grylls Backtrack D tour should log hdop/vdop satellites in view and save / transfer it you your computer. Like in description this is GPS made simple. I would not recommend using it instead of GPS. It looks like you need something more advanced such as full GPS for you needs. I hope this helps. Andrew
2244517
As to #1 I'd rather use an Android App. GPSLogger works great and can export its data in all sorts of formats, google earth included.Not totally sure what you mean by #2 but I always put the device in my pocket all vacation long and then used the included software to export the data. Again all sorts of formats are supported including google earth.Overall I love the little device, good battery live, excellent connection to the the GPS satellites.
1584827
I use mine as a backup to the larger Garmin on my boat. For boating however, I purchased the Garmin Blue Chart (North America) on micro sd card format. The waterways and shoreline depicted on the provided topo basemap lacks any reasonable or useful detail for navigation. You can add your own waypoints (i.e. fishing spots, obstacles, etc.) with either mapping system. AA batteries alkaline or rechargeable (it comes with an external charger for rechargeables).
21956
You have to buy Garmin's Topo US software in order to make the unit usable for hiking. It is available from Amazon. I'd say the important difference between this and the eTrex is size/weight and price. If you don't mind paying the extra money and carry something just a bit bigger and heavier, the 60Csx is a superior unit. I also use it in the car and on the bike. You can have both Topo and City Navagator software on it at the same time. You will need another memory chip into the 60Csx. I have a 1G chip that holds all the Northeast road and Topo maps.
1777402
This is a simplified GPS unit. It will show you latitude and longitude but it is feature / operation poor. It is meant as get back to where you came from in case of getting lost. It does have a compass. If you plan a hike / excursion a GPS is recommended. If you are a casual hiker who is afraid of getting lost, this backtrack simplified GPS will do.
1573581
Yes. The screen is customizable to show up to four different categories of data, or you can scroll through data that shows direction, either lat long or MGRS, total distance down to the tenths of a mile or KM, waypoints, home base, elevation, and distance to a waypoint, speed, as well as other datapoints. Best GPS for hiking and such if you don't have the few hundred $'s for touch screen models. Really quick satellite capture, works well in every situation I have been in while hiking around the mountains and valleys and thick forests of the Colorado Rockies. I've never had an issue with sat capture, or loss of signal to show me where I am in the world. Recently used in Germany and Poland without an issue.
1149354
No!The map it comes with is utterly useless for hiking. Plan on ponying up at least $50 at the Garmin store to buy something usable, or $100 for something really useful.Buyer beware - the pretty color maps that appear in the pictures of the device are either (1) the useless map that comes with the unit or (2) something that was purchased separately.This is a great unit, but unfortunately I found out the hard way about its map deficiencies.In fairness to Garmin, when I registered the unit, they were nice enough to send me a 10% off coupon that I subsequently used to buy the New England map. No!The map it comes with is utterly useless for hiking. Plan on ponying up at least $50 at the Garmin store to buy something usable, or $100 for something really useful.Buyer beware - the pretty color maps that appear in the pictures of the device are either (1) the useless map that comes with the unit or (2) something that was purchased separately.This is a great unit, but unfortunately I found out the hard way about its map deficiencies.In fairness to Garmin, when I registered the unit, they were nice enough to send me a 10% off coupon that... » Read More No!The map it comes with is utterly useless for hiking. Plan on ponying up at least $50 at the Garmin store to buy something usable, or $100 for something really useful.Buyer beware - the pretty color maps that appear in the pictures of the device are either (1) the useless map that comes with the unit or (2) something that was purchased separately.This is a great unit, but unfortunately I found out the hard way about its map deficiencies.In fairness to Garmin, when I registered the unit, they were nice enough to send me a 10% off coupon that I subsequently used to buy the New England map. « Show Less
1588912
This is an excellent unit for that purpose. It has all the features for personally navigating across a terrain. BUT you're going to have to find a chip or a download for your area of the globe. You have to have the proper software maps.
1292711
I have been using this model (710) for awhile. I hike in both deserts and forests and found it gets a good lock no matter where I am. The big perk for me is that the maps are all preloaded. Try doing a multi-state trip with a Garmin and you realize what a convenience it is. The international maps are also good. I used it in Germany in 2013 and it was quite helpful and accurate. In the end, you can't go wrong. It does the basics well.
349072
Well if you are like me you keep experimenting until you figure out what works. There are lots of options, lots of screens, so it can be confusing. But the GPS workout screen is the second screen of the four main screens. Use the mode button to get to the second screen. On the second screen press and hold the Lap/Reset button to activate the GPS then before you take another step press the Start/Stop button. Start hiking now. When you finish press the Start/Stop button and hold down the Lap/Reset button to turn off the GPS. Don't get in the car and drive away without turning your GPS off or your are going to mess up your data when you download the data from you watch. You can see your distance as you hike and you can also see it on the map when you download your data to the runtastic website. That's what works for me, hope it helps.
1521539
Thanks a lot. It's helpful but I already bought it. I want it for trekking and have never owned a GPS of any sort before so I suspect I'm in for a lesson or two! i guess I'll return it if it doesn't measure up.
1267614
I did some research on the YakTrax site and it looks like there are Pro and Extreme versions that would be more suited for hiking. I am a hiker so I was considering these but now I'm thinking that I should get one of the other versions.