I got two of these eTrex Legend GPS units for myself and my boyfriend to use hunting, geocaching and hiking. I got them new at Office Max for $119 each and they are still selling elsewhere for around $169.
They work great, easy to use for the beginner.
The downsides are the signal cuts in and out when in forested areas. Even if there aren't that many trees overhead, sometimes there's no signal.
If you buy this GPS make sure you know which MapSource products you can even load on it. Also, with only 8 GB of memory, you can only hold about 2-3 "regions" from MapSource MetroGuide. If you are traveling, you'd need to erase a region to load a new one.
Overall for the price, it's a good unit for the novice GPSer.

OK first off... this is 2006... what kind of new electronics uses a serial cable? Lets get real Garmin!

Now I should note that I downloaded EasyGPS and loaded waypoints for Geocaching through the serial cable without a hitch and zero configuration. Nice little program.

Good news is you can buy a converter which will allow you to use USB for your laptop. This cost me $13 bucks. Do a google and you should find several options.

A friend of mine has a Vista. You should know that the legend and the Vista use the *SAME* antenna, so you are not upgrading your reception if you buy a more expensive model. Our reception and navigation was identical. The higher end ones really don't do much for usability. They only give you some "niffty" features like knowing the sunset time, elevation, etc. Really these aren't things that will help you navigate. Color doesn't seem to be useful either (at least as far as geocaching goes)

The backlight is great at night, no problems whatsoever seeing the screen.

The only reason you would want to upgrade from the etrex is if you want a GPS for road navigation OR to get a better antenna.

I have had this GPS in very thick cover in PA and in my car and have never had a problem with getting satellites.

So in my opinion if your looking at the vista or this go with this, if you want to spend extra cash then get something with a better antenna.

I've had my Legend for 10 months now and am surprised I haven't reviewed it yet.
I have had occasion to use MANY different units, and by far this is the winner. I find that the price point can seem steep, but it is worth the price tag. I got this hoping to use it to scout for hunting and fishing, but found Geocaching to be a good way to learn my way around a GPS. To be fair, I've always been a map and compass guy but this is so easy to use I sometimes don't even carry maps.
-Waypoints are the easiest to enter of any system, and the many icons make it easy to identify waypoints on the map.
-Solunar tables are nice and can be computed for specific waypoints.
-Nice backlighting, a little dim, but will not ruin night vision.
-They say it's designed for left handed operation, but as a lefty myself, I find it easy to use with both hands.
-The trip computer is very nice, and you can cusomize the data to show what you want. I use this for computing mileage when making long trips for work, so it's paid for itself in mileage checks!'
I have NO complaints about this unit, though I would recommend getting a case/cover for the screen since it's so exposed.

I recently returned from a 3 day backpacking trip with this unit after haveing used to on short hops since purchasing it a month ago. I remain impressed, and more so after each use.

The unit has little frills, but delivers on ease of operation and functionality. It never lost signal during my entire 3 day trip through the foothills of the Apalachian Mountains in NE Alabama. I simply mounted it on my backpack and forgot about it. Each night at camp, I would turn it off and then restart it the next morning. Once home, I has able to download my entire route to my computer for armchair viewing.

Would I like a color and topo maps...you bet...but for this price, you can't go wrong with this basic workhorse unit.

If you've ever been involved with an activity that utilizes GPS, you've run into this little wonder. It's usually the recommended device for geocaching beginners and it does its job well. After having this over a year, I have added higher end units but this is still my wife's staple and she loves it. It has just enought memory to get some good maps of your location and those can be a life saver.
Complaints of accuracy are unwarranted because that includes variables such as satellite locks, weather, trees, ect. You have to remember that when you are looking for something with coordinates given to you - those coordinates were created by another GPSr by someone who may not know what they are doing. In other words, the GPSr gives you direction to a target and then a 20-30 foot radius in which to search.
I would recommend this unit to everyone.

Although not the most powerful GPS device on the market, it's certainly a lot of information packed into a tiny package. For the price, you can't beat the preloaded basemap to guide you along most highways and major streets. I got this one in lieu of the more basic eTrex or eTrex Camo. It's not that much more expensive than those two, and you get the basemap of North America. You can purchase the additional mapping software to get more detail, but the 8 megs of memory only holds a fraction of the amount of available map data. The extra software is handy for points of interest. You can load up the details of your city and quickly find a nice place to eat for a date, or just find someplace new to try. I was disappointed that the device cannot create routes to addresses and intersections automatically. It basically points straight at your destination and forces you to make your own path there. This can be fun when GeoCaching, but, if you're wanting to use this for navigation on the roads, go with a better model. The battery life is excellent, and time to find satellites is usually around 30 to 60 seconds (muuuch longer on low batteries).

I recently bought this as my first real GPS (had an old Magellan, but never really figured it out), and boy am I happy! Easy to understand (especially after reading the manual), simple to use in the field, and it interfaces well with my laptop and "Terrain Navigator" topographic map program. So much so that, on a recent trip to the desert in California, I set aside my roadmaps and relied entirely on the Legend connected to my notebook computer! Onroad, off-road, it didn't matter! The eTrex was a champ!

I would suggest getting the cigarette-lighter power supply, and networking it with a laptop computer if you have one. If not, it does have rudimentary graphics, but these are only helpful if you have another map to refer to.

All-in-all, well worth the price!

This is a large improvement from the cheaper etrex models as it has a built in map, much more memory, and comes with a serial cable to enable downloading from a computer. The map is not fantastic, but it does give you a decent idea where you are within a mile or so. Geographic features are recognizable at that scale.

It picks up satellites reasonably quickly, but seems hard on batteries compared to other handhelds I've owned. On 2 fully charged NiMH AA cells I can get about 12 hours of use.

This is the second GPS I have purchased. The first was a Magellan. It was nice, but I love the added features on my new Garmin.
The Legend is still fairly inexpensive as was the Magellan, but this model will download waypoints for me. I am into geocaching and this model is perfect for that hobby.
Although it wasn't bad on the Magellan, I do like the navigation between screens better on my Garmin. I also find it more user friendly when pulling up waypoints.

I chose this model because of the good reviews, modest price and availability of topographic maps for Alaska. Overall, it's been a great buy.

We use the GPS for backpacking and kayaking in Alaska. The first major trip we went on was in Katmai National Park, where we camped backcountry. There, it frequently was able to lock on 8 satellites or more. It was easy to set waypoints for campsites and river crossings, and handy to track our distance traveled, elevation, and heading. The size is perfect. It's about the size of a thick cell phone -- small enough to go in a pocket or even hang around your neck. The backlight is also handy.

The second trip was a kayaking trip in Glacier Bay National Park. I kept the GPS around my neck, where it was exposed to frequent rain and saltwater. It functioned perfectly the entire time, and was enormously helpful for pinpointing our position, marking possible campsites, and estimating paddling time.

My major complaint is the antiquated serial port cord. It took three computers before we found one with a serial port and that could see the GPS when we plugged it in. Once we did, the software was easy and straightforward to use. The topo maps are very useful, especially since they show small landforms like islands that are not on the basemap.

For those of you who want a GPS for your car, this model is really not designed for that and you will probably want a different model. This is a small device with a small screen and I can't imagine relying on it for driving directions. If you're looking for a GPS for backpacking, kayaking or other outdoors activities, I think you'll be very pleased, though reviewers who point out you need a clear view of the sky for it to lock in are correct (thick tree cover is a problem). It was an enormous help to us on our trips.

I got the Garmin Etrex Legend for my birthday a few months ago and I have had a blast geocaching! The Legend is small enough to slip in your pocket but is accurate enough to lead you right to the cache. My only complaint is that the screen is small and I have trouble seeing the details - but maybe that's because my middle aged eyes aren't what they used to be. I haven't added on any street detail software because 8 MB is just too little to try to fool with downloading any expensive mapping tools. I'm just happy with what it does and it suits my purposes quite well.

I bought the Legend back in 2004 and have used it on my Motorcycles and in my cars. It has never let me down, although it doesn't have the FM and Ranch Roads I ride my bike on I can easily tell where the main Highways are and never get lost. When I need a gas satation it tells me where to head. I always use it in my car when traveling. My Son also has the Legend, he lives in a large Metro area and uses it daily for navigation with no problems and really likes it. It doesn't have all the amenities of the higher dollar units but it gives alot of bang for the buck. I am very happy with mine and highly recommend it. Downside, I haven't had a serial port compatable computer in years.

Being used by a 70 year old retiree who loves it. Great for calculating walk times and distances. Also looking forward to doing the caching.Amazed by all the features.Money well spent.

I bought the etrek legend to use as a basic navigational tool while prospecting. This one has all the bells and whistles I need without clutter. Anyone that wants to get into the "wilds" will appreciate the simple operation of this unit.

I did not purchase the optional "mapsource" software. I really don't like to rely on electronics too heavily so I use the National Geographic topo maps in hard copy form in conjuction with the lat/long from the GPS unit.

Not having known anything about GPS units, I did a little research and this seemed to be a good starter unit for the price. I wasn't looking to spend a lot since I wasn't sure if my daughter would enjoy Geocaching. This gives us all the features we need for our purposes. We have been out caching quite a few times and have found everything we looked for. Not to mention that the PC cable is a Godsend when you have to load all the coordinates into the unit. If anyone is looking for a good GPS for geocaching, I recommend this one, especially if you don't want to spend a fortune.

It appears to be a good item but I have yet to put it through its paces . The only thing I'm not that crazy about is the plug that links the GPS to the computer. It should have been USB or Firewire not a serial type. Also the web site is a bit confusing to find the right type of map for your specific needs.

I bought this GPS for geocaching purposes mainly. I have never used one before, but it has been fairly easy to learn. I do have a serial port on my computer, for transfering coordinates, but I imagine that could be a problem for someone who doesn't. I assume you can buy some kind of serial to USB cable if needed. The map isn't very detailed, but has served my purposes so far. Overall, I have been quite pleased with the unit and would recommend it to others.

I'm new in the GPS world, this is my first equipment (Etrex Legend), is very easy to use, the graphics are well done, a friend have a Etrex and we compare the 2 equipment, the Legend's software & graphics are better and, this equipment have a map with most common place of Venezuela-South America. In general,I love mi Etrex Legend and i recomend it to new users.

Manuel A. Hernandez Giuliani
Caracas-Venezuela

I received the Garmin eTrex Legend as a Christmas gift. I have enjoyed using it both in my car and while walking through town. It takes a minute or so to connect with the satellites and then gives you your latitude and longitude. While driving I let it hang from my neck so that when it is safe I can check it. If it was mounted on the dashboard I wouldn't be able to read it. The mileage traveled is easily read and compares closely to what you get on the car's odometer. I have found it fun to use thus far. I need to use the instruction book to learn some additional features.

Needs better factory installed base maps. Before buying, beware the computer interface cable is NOT a usb cable and may not be compatible with most laptops. You will be required to purchase an expensive adapter cable to upgrade or add maps to this unit. It seems to be atv friendly,(you should purchase an optional topo map,at an additional cost, that is still not the best) the tracking while offroad is good, I have even been able to place the unit in a shirt pocket and get acceptable results. Battery life is around 8-16 hours depending on conditions. Before purchasing visit a quality sporting goods/ outdoor store and ask to see the demo units, and find out what accessories are available as well as the prices, maps, cds, cables, and mounts are all great to have and very hard to find for many units.

I recently buried my Legend after two years of service. I used it for canoe, backpack and motorcycle navigation, and for plot relocation. The basic GPS is, like all eTrex units, well designed - small, lightweight, waterproof, with an easy-to-use, fairly intuitive user interface. (I have often wished Apple had hired Garmin to write the iPod interface.) The GPS receiver is pretty good, but has been eclipsed by the new SiRF receiver used, for instance, in the Garmin GPSMap 60Cx Handheld GPS Navigator. You should definitely consider a SiRF receiver if you will be in cities, forests or canyons. The display in the eTrex suffers from small size, low resolution, and being black-and-white. It adds up to an almost unusable map. This is a manageable drawback; no GPS will replace a good map because they all have tiny screens in comparison to the average road map, and maps are all about organizing spatial data. With the eTrex, I found that I used the navigation and trip computer screens much more than the map screen. As for getting data into and out of the eTrex, it's a bit of a headache. The interface is serial, which is very slow if you're used to USB devices. The cables cost a fortune - if you buy Garmin's brand, a full set of power and data cables will cost half as much as the GPS! Most map software these days can communicate with this model Garmin, but it often takes quite a bit of labor to figure out how. The eTrex does work well with the Garmin proprietary map packages, but those packages were designed for use with more high-end units so the eTrex doesn't utilize their features as well as it might, especially since it only has 8MB of memory. In comparison the GPSMAP 60C takes up to 2GB of memory, enough to load an entire Garmin CD with room to spare. Finally, my eTrex died because the screen stopped working. It happened gradually, and occasionally comes back to life if you give it a good knock, so it must be a loose connection of some sort. I believe this reflects poor vibration resistance, so I can't recommend this unit for motorcycle use.

This is a great entry level GPS with reasonable features for the weekend user. I might have overlooked it, but my son bought one last Summer and loved it. My conclusion is that it is a great value. The serial cable (included) may be a put-off to someone expecting USB, but it works reliably and set-up was a snap. Startup scans are pretty quick if the view is unobstructed. The 8 MB memory sounds a bit short compared to the $300+ models, but I found that's more than adequate for most trips. The display resolution is good for the price; it's not the super-crisp color, but it's fine for a day in the field. Like every electronic system, it takes some getting used to the controls, but after you do, I found it instinctive to use. Are there things I'd like to improve, you betcha. But for the price, it's great. Couple this with a program like EasyGPS and you have a great system for the casual-to-semiserious user.

This is the 7th eTrex Legend I have purchased in the past three years with no regrets; I personally think that it currently represents the best value-for-money GPS on the market for field-engineering applications and the more technically inclined, who prefer to work with coordinates rather than street addresses. Together with Garmap and Mapsource software, it meets every one of our engineering needs. The dash-board mount is a must for those using it a vehicle and the cigarette cable is a general necessity as battery life tends to be limited.

The biggest weakness with the unit is the rubber band around edge hosting several of the control buttons which, on heating and frequent use, has a propensity to stretch, snap and peel off. The carry case does, however, provide a longer life and is worth the money.

The other weakness which is irritating for right-handed users is the position of the mouse button on the left, due to its design as a military device to be carried in the left hand.

It's a shame that the device works with a serial cable and not USB, as it necessitates a USB - RS232 adapter for most of the new generation PCs and notebooks.

But, for just over $100, I will continue to buy this unit while it's still on the market.

Just like all new gadgets the start up and usage was easy with basic functions and hard as the functions become more advanced. So far the road maps have been better than I expected. One con is that the signal is lost often.

The fact is that there isn't a better GPS unit out there for this price. We bought it for geocaching and I highly recommend it to anyone who is just starting out with geocaching. As we have become obsessed with geocaching we have begun to see it's limits and actually just bought a higher end Magellan to use as our primary GPS unit.

Still, if you're not sure that you're going to love geocaching (or be using a GPS unit a lot for whatever you are buying it for) I would highly recommend starting with this GPS unit. It will get you up and running. You can download to it, it has some memory and gets good reception. It also is fairly user friendly, even my 11 year-old can use it.

Some things to consider...

*It does use a serial connector instead of a USB port (I don't even have a serial port on my laptop).
*It loses reception in heavy foilage areas more easily than the Magellan.
*It takes a long time to track the satellites to get started (sometimes up to five minutes).
*The compass only works if you are moving at a fairly good pace, so it is not very useful.
*A minor annoyance is that if you are running it on the cigarette lighter adaptor (which you must buy seperately BTW) in your car and you turn the car off or unplug it, it will turn itself off in 30 seconds. I'm sure this is to save on batteries, but it is annoying as heck when I forget to hit the button so that it doesn't turn off and I have to wait for it to track the satellites and get going again.

Initially I was looking around for a inexpensive GPS receiver to act as a telemetry unit for my R/C vehicles. At first I was seriously considering the basic "Yellow" eTrex, but after looking over the features and the cost differential, I thought that the Legend was a better choice. Thing is, with the additional features, there comes the additional uses :-)The reason I chose the Garmin unit was due both the size (about the size of a cell phone or a pack of cigarettes) and weight (5 oz), which is perfect for my needs.

Performance wise, this unit has exceeded my expectations by a considerable margin. Before my purchase, I was reading some of the other reviews, and it seemed that many of the other purchasers were suggesting that the unit works best on clear days in open areas. While that level of performance was what I basically was after, just for laughs I decided to see how well it could do under less than ideal circumstances. One day I took it out while it was a combination of fog and light rain, and it still tracked OK. There was some hint of signal degradation, but nothing significant. Next, I took it under a tree canopy during the same afternoon. That actually did cause a noticable drop in reception... accuracy went from my units average of 25 feet to 65 feet, but it did still track. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised! Accuracy on a clear day is usually within 25 feet, although I have had it drop to 15 feet on especially nice days.

Durability is not an issue. As noted above, I had it out in a light rain; no problems. Likewise, I had it mounted to the rear spoiler of one of my nitro powered buggies while running it around in a local park, and it didn't even phase it.

Screen is small, but the images are crisp and personally I can live without the color. While I could see how the size could be an issue for some, I found it to be acceptable. Perhaps Garmin or someone else could create a screen magnification tool like that used with the Nintendo Game Boys? I think that would resolve the issues that older users or people with less than good vision might have with this unit.

The other area that I was pleasantly surprised with was overall ease of use. The unit itself is pretty intuative for the most part. Most of the manual is devoted to pre-plotting navigation courses, and correspondingly this is where the lump of issues is probably going to be for the end-user. Still, I didn't have any problems in this area. Actual interface to my PC was painless. Plug in the interface cord to the COM port, hook in the GPS reciever, and that's it. Actual download times from the PC to the GPS unit is a bit slow side, taking about 30 minutes or so to load an 8 Mb regional map into the unit.

Overall, I have been quite happy with this GPS, and would not hesitate to recommend it.

I was hesitant to buy any mid to low end gps, because always have a few reviews saying someone can not get reception very well. This unit works great in my car, and even will work sitting on my sofa in the living room. Amazing, and good price on this little unit. I am satisfied. Can't wait to use it more this summer when it is more comfortable to be outside.

Great navigating tool for us horseback riders! Great for tracking time and miles on the trail. Now I know how many minutes are spend moving and how many are spent stopped. Tracks miles and direction. Great tool I won't go riding with out it. I just wish the batteries could be charged like my cell phone instead of alway's needing rechargable batteries and a charger available.

great product. fun and easy to use. Have bought 4, 2 were gifts. Pc cabel also works with othe e Trex models. Use it for geocaching.

I have had this unit for many years and it has been wonderful. I use it for rough-in surveying in my work, and also put it on the handlebars of my quad when I go trail riding. It has taken many hours of rough abuse, and yet it still works perfectly. It is even tolerant of getting wet... I usually just rinse it off with the hose after a long day of trail riding.
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br /It's not good for in-car navigation.. the map is very hard to read on the small screen. But for trail riding, hiking, biking, etc... you can't go wrong. It also has a serial port which allows you to download tracks to Google Maps and Streets Trips, and import maps from the Garmin MapSource software.
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br /Our office has about 8 of these units, and I don't think a single one has failed yet.
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br /I definitely recommend this unit.
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I was very happy with my garmin etrex legend, for about a year. I used it offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, in the bayous of Louisiana, Texas, etc.
It was perfect for hiking, and especially geocaching. Then the screen started acting up- first it got a bunch of vertical lines, then just started blanking out completely. I emailed garmin, since their customer testimonial page RAVED about customer support- explained the problem in detail, then waited, waited waited. Finally I was told to reboot it(hard Reset) or reload the software. I emailed again, again explained that it was a hardware problem, not a software problem. Was told to send it in for a fee of $125. I ONLY PAID $136.00 TO BEGIN WITH!!!so, long story short, save your money for a higher end gps if you cant afford a disposable unit.

I've used many GPS units in my geocaching adventures, and this is a great model. It's easy to use, it's accurate, and durable. I'm a gadget geek, so I'd like it to have more customizable features. If you're looking for a reliable, easy to use model, this is the one for you.

Product met and exceeded my expectations. I ordered the eTrex for my wife to use in her conservation work, primarily for mapping. I have to admit, I am always taking off with it for geocaching adventures! I love the ability to download to my computer, as well as the ability to upload geocache waypoints. The downside is that I had to buy an rs232 adapter for my laptop since it only has usb, but a small price to pay for the performance I am seeing!

I have never used another GPS, so I cannot compare to others, but the Garmin eTrex Legend is everything I wanted in a GPS for the price I was willing to pay. I use it for hiking and geocaching and it's perfect. I did have to read some online sites to help me make better use of it (the manual has a lot of information, but presented with an assumption that you know how to use GPS).
I love how easy it is to get to the menu items and selections I want with just a click or two. I use rechargeable batteries and after several hours of use already, the capacity still shows full. I did lose satellite under tree cover which I assume is normal. I use the included cable to upload and download information to my pc which is very useful. Overall, I am extremely satisfied.

I use it for geocaching and while hiking/camping. I loved the ease of use and durability. I dropped it many times and it bounces around my jeep and keeps working great. Plenty of waypoint storage and memory.

When I opened it I foud it had a serial port connection. Unfortunately my laptop was not built in 1991 so it only had USB ports. Garmin will sell you an adapter, for $60.

I would recommend this GPS for geocachers out there as a dependable hand held unit. If you want a car or truck GPS forget this product. It loses signal very easily inside anything, i.e. your vehicle. Outside with a clear view of the sky is no problem, even with overcast skies. Enjoy!
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For hikers and Geocachers looking for a low cost GPS unit, this is the one for you. I purchased the eTrex Legend after a recommendation from a friend and I'm glad I did.
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br /Used on some long hikes, the unit tracks routes well and creating waypoints is very user friendly when compared with other hand helds. Slight signal loss during heavy tree cover but nothing I wouldn't expect from a low cost product.
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br /If you have money to burn, then investing in a more robust unit maybe the way to go for die-hard gadget fans. But if you are shopping on a budget, this device will be plenty for what you need. I won't hike without it.

I have had this GPS for almost 3 years, and it is still working great. I mainly use it with Microsoft Streets Trips on my laptop when traveling to get directions while on the road. However, I also use it when hiking or camping. This unit has been dropped, splashed with water, sat on, but it still works. I have had no trouble getting a signal lock. Only place I have ever had trouble was in the Redwood Forests of California, but that pretty much explains itself. Overall great unit.

The eTrex has performed flawlessly for us. Especially useful for geocaching, the ability to upload detailed topology has helped greatly. The layout of the buttons and mini-joystick make using the eTrex easy. Zooming in to 20 feet is a great help, and the large on-screen navigation compass makes it easy to find the target.

I like the Legend a lot. It's perfect for geo-caching which is why I bought it. Much easier to use and enter coordinates than the yellow model. Map features are nice even without the software program option. My only complaint is that the computer cable is an outdated serial port adapter, but my (and probably your) computer uses USB connectors. It's worked well for me on all of my adventures and is very easy to use. The instruction manual is helpful and there are many features I haven't even used yet. So far so good. I love the product and you can't beat the price on Amazon!

Bought this for Geocaching and it is working great so far. It was reasonably priced and has good features and good performance. I just wish the maps that you can download were not so expensive (~100) - almost as much as the unit itself!

I purchased this GPS to take it with me on my of road motorcycle, the recepcion its great even though I'm carrying in my fanny pack with other tools. I also like the way you can personalize each page.

I bought this so I could map routes on my motorcycle. One day my instructor asked me to calibrate sensors on a wind resource assessment site. I used the gps functions like elevation, compass, and coordinates for the calibration. As I left I dropped the GPS in the field where the tower was located. It sat face down in the dirt all winter. Last winter Iowa had a lot of snow dumped, I figured that if I ever found it it would be junk. Months later in spring the class went out to the site and someone found my gps, I cleaned off the screen of dirt and hit the power button, to my surprise it fired up and started tracking satellites! Apparently the waterproofing seal really worked, and normally I don't think these devices are meant to survive the kind of punishment I put it through, but it still works perfect today.

I bought this unit after starting geocaching with a friend. This unit is exceptionally easy to use and if you have a average amount of knowledge on electronics this will be a breeze for you to use. It can hold 500 waypoints and has WAAS feature. This is a great unit for the Geocaching community! TFTC!

I tried both the Garmin eTrex Legend and the Garmin eTrex Legend Hcx. I also did a lot of online research and talking to veteran GPS users. I came to the conclusion that the manufacturers are trying to create a low-end market in GPS units (around $100) but at that price they cannot make a reasonably functional product. The most important feature of a GPS is to obtain satellite reception. If it can't do that, it's worthless.
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br /The eTrex Legend has spotty satellite reception at best. You have to be in a wide, clear area for it to work and will have to wait 10 minutes holding perfectly still holding the unit out at arm's length to get and hold a lock. Even people standing nearby will interfere with satellite reception. Even under perfect conditions, you are lucky to get 3 satellites or more (you need at least 3 to establish position). And forget about using it in a car.
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br /On the other hand, the eTrex Legend Hcx (with high sensitivity receiver) works extremely well and I've been very happy with it. My advice is that, if you try to buy a GPS at the low end of the price scale, you'll just be frustrated and will have wasted $100. If you're in for a penny, you might as well be in for $200 and get something that works. Get a unit with high sensitivity receiver. It costs more but it's the only way to get your money's worth.
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br /Also beware that if you buy a mapping GPS, the manufacturers get their markup on the proprietary map software they sell you. The preloaded base maps are virtually worthless. So figure on another couple of hundred bucks for maps. Be prepared to invest $300-$400. If not, might as well save your money.

I bought this to take hiking on the many pennsylvania trails. For that purpose it is absolutely useless. It just does not pick up the sattelites when you are under the cover of trees. It won't even work around my house which has many trees.

I decided to keep it however because I also use it when I walk or bike around the neighborhood and for that it works just fine.

One minor iritation - it takes quite a while (2-4 minutes) to pick up the satellites. This is a bit annoying as when i walk outside to start my walk or bike ride, I need to stand there and wait for it to pick up the satellites.

Just started geocaching and picked up this unit. Coordinates easy to input by hand and easy to "goto." But deleting waypoints took me a while to figure out. I had some problems getting service on overcast days that I didn't expect. I haven't tried to up/download any coordinates yet, but it sounds confusing. I like the basics on the unit, and especially the joystick control. I don't like documentation and lack of intuitiveness of the more complicated actions, like routes and downloading. Also got a carry case and glad that I did!

Excellent inexpensive unit with no software to worry about dealing with or buying (but you can if you want more detailed maps with more points of interest, etc). Has services and rest areas on major interstate routes as well as major roads including alaska already programmed in. Tracks well for hiking, kayaking, or major crosscountry driving, all of which I used it for already. Interface very easy to work with. The only addition I would make would be a larger memory for more detailed trails, waterways and smaller neighborhood roads, but you can add that by buying software if you need. Not ideal for driving because most smaller roads not programmed in.

Fantastic unit for hunting, hiking, Christmas tree searching, etc. We hike in the mountains and you can take waypoints as you hike then go to Google Earth and look up exactly where you were. Works the other way too. Input your waypoints and then tell the unit to navigate to it. Check the accuracy of your speedometer. Fun to use geocaching too.
br /There are things I don't like. It has the older chipset that loses signal easily. I have to put the unit on my dashboard because it loses signal in any seat of my car. I also wish it converted coordinates to decimal easily but it only uses standard GPS coordinates. I have to do a conversion each time from Google Earth's coordinates. There are some roadmaps but only major streets in most cities. Don't use this for address navigation because the maps are not very detailed. Wished it used a USB connection to a computer but it's using older serial port so many new laptops won't interface to it. Also, you have to move around for compass to work.

Downsides: RS-232 interface vs USB? How 80's. I'd rather have more accurate basemap data for the US. I don't plan to geocache in the Amazon anytime soon. And I don't want to pay $100 for additional map data.
br /
br /That said, I really like this device. It does what it says. The find function takes you directly to the cache, even my daughter said "oh, that was too easy!"

I have been using this model for some time, it is very good for hiking and biking, especially in open places, but not comfortable to be used in a car while driving.
br /For its price, it is a great deal.

This was a gift for my son to start Geocaching. The unit is easy to navigate once you get the hang of it. I found the manual confusing and difficult to follow. Once it sunk in then it was fine.

I wish it had an actual compass, as opposed to GPS derived headings. If you stop moving, it can get confused what way you are truly heading. We use this for GeoCaching, and had to set it to just go North up, and then use a magnetic compass to make sure we're oriented right. Overall though, I am rather pleased with it and give it a high four stars. It's sturdy, has been faithful and reliable, and really is pretty comfortable to use and navigate with.

I think this is well developed product. It's great for a beginning, and really easy to use. The one drawback is that it does not come with a USB connection, so it won't connect to my laptop.

I bought this GPS last dec when I was going over seas and was planning to do some hiking/off roading. Since I didnt need the mapping function too much, the waypoint marking and trail tracking features of this GPS worked very well. Even though some websites say that the WAAS function is only available in the US, the unit almost always found WAAS enabled satellites to give pretty accurate tracking information. Battery life also seemed to last pretty long, even with night use and frequent backlight usage.

I used this GPS all summer. First borrowed from a friend for a couple months and then decided to get exactly same one of my own.
My friend had his one for a while (i think two years) and recommended this eTrex Legend to me.
This GPS is not the best value or latest technology (check out the new "Cx" version of this eTrex Legend. note: "Cx" not the discontinued "C"), but eTrex Legend is the best one for the money, of you don't care for color screen and lots of memory for your maps. It is reliable and durable (Garmin makes good stuff), great screen (better then Magellan, sorry), and enough memory (8MB inbuilt) for uploading Garmin maps of all your hiking areas. You can upload and remove them with included computer COM port cable. (the newer C and Cx use USB, yeh that's handy)

The eTrex Legend is nothing fancy, but it does the job, day after day. I've used it for Geocaching, driving, and tracking hikes and walks, and it's equal to all tasks. Sure, I'd like a brighter screen and a USB port, but for the price, I just don't see how this unit can be beat.

This is a good, solid GPS.
br /The only time I've ever had any trouble with it was in a heavily wooded area, otherwise, it has always performed very well.
br /Fantastic features for it's price range.

It works great. Loaded other maps but the base map is fine for basic GPSing. Use it for trip directions and Geocaching. Works great. The memory is kind of small so you can only load certain regions at a time when using the add on maps. But it is a great device, easy to use and understand.

i have been using this gps for goecaching and it has been great. so far, i have been able to acquire a signal everytime that i have used the gps. it is easy to operate and handle.

Don't understand the negative reviews on this unit. When I got it christmas morning, I pop'ed a couple of batteries in it, turned it on, and stuck it in my coat pocket. Did a bunch of driving, walking, etc... It followed my every move. It will initialize and find the satellites from INSIDE my house. I love it.

i was given this as a present to use in my car while traveling. this is definitely NOT what it was designed for since it requires close attention to a very small screen. there are also additional costs associated with owning this unit. first, you must purchase maps to upload into the unit and they can be expensive. second, you may have to purchase a cable to connect the unit to the computer (they do not supply a USB connection so i had to purchase an adapter). the cost of the adapter from garmin is 2 to 3 times the cost of other manufacturers. in the end, this "present" cost me well over $120 and isn't really satisfactory for car use unless you have someone with you to operate the unit.

I owned the original eTrex, and two different eTrex Legends. The basic eTrex is a good unit, functional, reliable, and reasonably priced. This Legend adds some functionality such as basic maps and longer waypoint names, which is an improvement that should be integrated throughout the eTrex line.
br /
br /The problem I have had with both my eTrex Legends, however, is signal acquisition. Both Legends have had a problem acquiring and keeping signal even in wide open places with a perfect view of the sky. At times, it simply refuses to find any satellite at all. At first, I thought I had a faulty unit. But my second Legend has the exact same problem. More than once I've had the Legend fail me at a crucial time when I really needed it to work. I rarely had such problems with the original eTrex, so it makes me wonder if the antenna in the Legend is somehow inferior.
br /
br /The interface on the Legend could be streamlined a bit too, as it's a bit clunky to use. I could get past that, however, if my unit would just keep signal long enough to get me where I need to go.
br /
br /Overall, this has been a device that is great in concept, but somewhat disappointing in reality. For the price difference, I would buy the new eTrex Venture HC with the high sensitivity receiver. The HC has great signal performance, even in rough terrain. It seems to even work well indoors. To me, the ability to maintain a strong signal would be well worth the slight increase in cost.
br /

The GPS worked very well and amazingly fast, but I found the display harder to read than expected and hadn't realized that many small roads would not appear unless I bought additional software. It would be fine for hiking or boating but not great for auto travel. My choice would be to upgrade to one of the more expensive models with color displays instead of buying additional maps for this one.

The ETREX Legend can not process WAAS information, contrary to Garmin's advertising.
br /
br /Garmin is guilty of lying and false advertising on their website. The U.S. Government changed WAAS satellites in August 2007. Reputable GPS manufacturers notified their users of the changeover and provided firmware or software update patches to address the problem. Garmin chose to mislead their current and prospective customers.
br /
br /When I asked them about it, they told me that it was the United States Government's problem, not their GPS receiver. Later, they told me that they were working on an update, but it was taking longer than they thought.
br /
br /When asked why they were not even acknowledging a problem on their website, they did not have an answer and still have not informed their users or prospective purchasers.

We bought this for fun and it is. Moderately user friendly it is good for geocaching, but not very useful as a general GPS devise.

I wanted a GPS to note down the lats and longs to the places I visit (places of birding importance). I am in India and the default US maps are of no use to me. I am not bothered about it. The Garmin serves its purpose in recording lats, longs and elevation. It has additional features such as speedometer, odometer, etc, which is not my need. It shows your position with the best accuracy of 11 metres radius (as far as I have tried so far).
br /
br /I knew that this particular Garmin model does not accept Google Earth Pro. However, I thought there should be other means of uploading maps to it. This is something I am yet to explore. But, the major draw back is the computer connectivity. It comes with a serial port, which my laptop does not accept. I have to now find out some adapter for this.
br /
br /Other interesting features of the GPS are marking waypoints, tracking your route, and panning the map after you record your track/waypoints. The instrument has a joystick which you can use to pan, or jump menus in the "Main Menu" window. It's been just three weeks I got this GPS, and the joystick has stopped working in one direction. I can not pan the map down. I haven't used it roughly, the poor mechanical thing appears to be too sensitive.
br /
br /Overall, it serves my purpose of getting the co-ordinates and elevation. If you want something more, like compatibility with Google Earth Pro, good computer connectivity, etc, then this is not the model. You may be interested in Garmin eTrex Legend CX or Vista.

This GPS will do just about anything you want for a reasonable price. You can't communicate with it, but you can track back to your vehicle, mark waypoints, and find all but the most forest- or slot canyon hidden geocaches. Great little unit.

I bought this to do a little geocaching, and have been very pleased with it. It is very easy to use and is a great size to carry and use one-handed. The settings are convenient and allow flexibility in what kind of information is viewed. Needing glasses more and more every day, there's only one thing I wish was different; I wish I could get the coordinates to display just a little bigger!

I recently bought this GPS unit to participate in my newest hobby - geocaching. It's helpful to be able to upload waypoints rather than manually typing them in. My sister has a Magellan GPS in the 400 series, and the accuracy between them is about the same. I'd gladly buy this one again. =)

This is my first GPS unit and I have used it for about a month. I use it mainly when kayaking on lakes to track time, distance and speed. The eTrex works great in this capacity. It handles water splashing with no ill effects. My only gripe is that it sometimes takes awhile to acquire the satellite signals and if you don't have a clear view of the sky it loses signal. The eTrex is very easy to use once all the buttons are identified. Battery life has been great. I was looking for a small, waterproof, inexpensive, easy to use GPS and the eTrex Legend does that and more. I would buy it again.

I bought the Garmin Etrex for basically an extra GPS for myself. We have gotten hooked on the geo-caching and a GPS is important to have. My husband has a Garmin 350 and what is bad with that is that it is a touch-screen, so when you are walking with it in your hand, you will most likely hit the screen. So it's really a pain. With the Garmin Etrex, that won't happen. You have to push a button in order to move from one screen to the other. I have used it now eight times and the coordinates were right on the money!!! Would recommend it if you are wanting to geo-cache!
br /V. Longworth

I bought this to take hunting and hiking. The downside is the time it took to learn all the features I wanted to use. This is not a car level gps but isn't intended to be. Others are correct that under trees, if not holding it level, you'll lose signal, but it was quick to pick it back up. Gets me to with in 10 feet of the points I marked. I'll get a lot of use out of it.

Given it's size and portability, I'd say this device performs well. Reception, however, can be a problem; sometimes it takes forever to lock on to satellites, sometimes it's just impossible to get a lock. This is my first GPS; if this is your first too, then it's a good buy. Otherwise, move onto something better (more accurate, better reception, more memory, faster startup). Don't be fooled by the image - YOU DON'T GET A MAP -; this device has very little memory and if you're traveling to Europe you won't be able to put much into it. I use it for orientation (North, South, East, West); if you download the coordinates of your points of interest from Google Earth and store them in memory you're ok without maps (there are parts of the world, like China, for which it's very difficult to find maps). Bottom line: Entry level GPS; not for serious trekkers or explorers, but good for travel 'aficionados'.

.......in earlier reviews. It cannot pick up accurately if you are too close to buildings, under trees, etc, but i really dont know too many inexpensive GPS units that work under those conditions. For the price an excellent choice.

This is really neat - if you drive for business and need to note GPS references, it's an economic alternative to the much more expensive options. It tracks your mileage, speed etc. I haven't upgraded to street names yet, but I may well do. Good buy, very pleased.

I already had a GPS for my car, but was looking for a small, inexpensive handheld GPS to use for geocaching. I wanted to get my twin grandsons interested in the hunt. Love the Legend, it is very accurate and ready to use out of the box. In some ways I like the simple maps and use it on the interstates often. Got my grandsons on a hunt or two and they are hooked. Their mom asked me what unit they should buy and I immediately replyed the Legend. It is basic, inexpensive and easy to use, what more could you want.

My buddy bought one and we started geocaching. I immediatley ordered this same one. Easy to use. May lose a signal in a heavily wooded area but..... that is to be expected. go to [...] to learn more.

This has been one of the best purchases I have made.
br / I have put this unit to the test for over three years, as my GPSr for geocaching, on the handle bars of my touring and mountain bicycles, on the dashboard of my truck (with the 12 volt power cord) and interfaced to my computer, using Mapsource software, GSAK (geocaching Swiss army knife) via the "can't live without"Keyspan High Speed USB Serial Adapter ( USA-19HS )!
br /The only bit of a problem I have encountered was with the rubber gasket coming loose, but fortunately for me I live within driving distance of Garmin headquarters and since my unit was still covered under warranty, the folks at Garmin replaced the unit and there has been no problems whatsoever thereafter.
br /I do highly recommend getting a transparent screen protectorUniversal Digital Camera LCD Screen Protectors for All Screen sizes up to 3.50" X 4.25" for the display and aGarmin Carrying Case for eTrex and Summit (010-10314-00) and aVehicle power adapter for 010-00190-00 and of course Mapsource software from the manufacturer.
br /I am hoping to get a Garmin GPSMap 76CSx Mapping Handheld GPSfor Christmas, but I will still be using the Legend on my bikes and as a backup for geocaching trips.
br /Of course this GPSr works fine with a PC (using the Keyspan adapter) but as far as I know will not "talk" to a MAC.
br /See ya'

The title says it. I got this unit for a good price and it has performed well for me..

Great unit, easy to use, and can withstand abuse by middle schoolers.

Great Basic GPS for Historical Genealogical Research
br /
br /One of the strengths of GPS technology is the myriad uses of a hand held GPS device, ranging from hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, camping, and a host of other outdoor applications. Many hunters and fishermen also enjoy the many features of a good GPS device. I have even used my device to report nesting pairs of eagles and pollution sites.
br /
br /While I also use my device for these other activities, I also use my GPS frequently in my historical and genealogical research. Selected examples include reporting (or finding) the precise location of a gravestone of interest in a very large cemetery; accurately reporting locations of gravestones or small family cemeteries that are located well off the road and in some cases completed overgrown with thick brush and coverage; using waypoint features to pin the boundaries of very early deeds or historic locations; doing field surveys of historic or family sites; translating historic locations back and forth between maps, aerial photographs, and actual boots-on-the-ground field surveys, and many similar applications. In one of my own applications, I have accurately reported the sites of over 79 grist mill locations dating from the late 1700s, and well as a number of very remote Civil War entrenchments. Many of these sites are now only accessible by kayak, canoe, or hiking in, and GPS makes finding theses sites a snap.
br /
br /The Garmin eTrex Legend is a very affordable, nicely featured GPS unit for first-time users for not only a very wide range of traditional outdoor recreational activities, but all of the historical and genealogy applications I have listed.
br /
br /* I liked the durable, compact, waterproof design; the easily understood menus and controls; and the fairly easy to read map displays. It feels great in my hand, and the battery life is very good.
br /
br /* A major selling feature for me was 8mb of memory to hold plenty of waypoints, routes, tracks and such, as well as the ability to download a reasonable number of USGS topo maps or other mapping software. (Advanced users will need more storage)
br /
br /* Users doing historical or genealogical research will want to download topo maps in order to achieve the full potential of this device.
br /
br /* The unit comes with a handy lanyard and belt clip pouch, but I also bought a windshield mounting device, and also a mount for the handlebars on my mountain bike.
br /
br /If you are a first time user without needing advanced features, this is a great GPS for not only your routine recreational use, but also for the historical and genealogical applications I listed above.
br /
br /This was my GPS of choice for years and I highly recommend it to first time users. I moved up to a more advanced model with more technical features (60CSx), but I still carry my Garmin eTrex Legend in reserve and as a loaner for my field research partners.
br /
br /CHT in Virginia

This is my 2nd one. The 1st one has been pounded for 3 + years on the handle bars of an ATV and still working. Of all the lower priced GPS pocket units this one is a great value.
br /
br /NOTE: Get the Mapsource TOPO software to take full advantage of this unit !

Being a boater/explorer I've seen,tried,owned,reviewed,researched studied about every handheld gps unit there is. I bought the Garmin Etrex Mariner when it first came out.At that time I also found the Garmin MapSource Points of Interest (POI) CD on sale (~2001) for ~ $[...]. I paid $[...] for the Mariner and used it for several years just fine. The Mariner only has 1mb memory, so one is limited in how much detail can be installed, and there is no mapping. The etrex Legend has 8mb onboard memory (no ssd card) and can do selective mapping, but I have found that to be quite adequate. With the POI CD (now costs $[...] and maps are at least as much) I have downloaded on the Legend complete data (Points of Interests, Businesses, Marine databas with lights, ramps, lakes, rivers, landmarks and still have ~ 40% memory left for recording tracks, routes and waypoints. The secret here is to use the POI CD on your computer and select only the map areas you will use. You don't want the whole world,just where you are going. To fully utilize the Legend you have to study and practice with it for at least 8hrs, then use it frequently to stay tuned up on it--there are many layers of resources in this little unit. Its not a turn by turn deal, but a true navigational poi database guide. Pocket sized, long battery life (controllable power consumption), attractive, really easy to use once learned. I find the grey scale (adjustable contast/brightness) easy to read in any light == why pay another $200 for color?

This product is consistently being advertised as having a high degree of accuracy because it is WAAS-compatible.
br /
br /It is not.
br /
br /Quite some time ago, the WAAS satellite protocol was changed. Garmin has not updated the firmware for the etrex Legend, and since that time, having WAAS compatibility enabled will cause this unit to lock up after 15-40 minutes of usage. This information is directly from Garmin tech support.
br /
br /Since the change occurred quite some time ago, and it is a relatively simple fix, I can only conclude that Garmin has no intent of upgrading this product.
br /
br /DO NOT BUY THIS IF YOU WANT WAAS-LEVEL ACCURACY. ADVERTISING THIS PRODUCT AS BEING WAAS-COMPATIBLE IS FALSE AND MISLEADING.

This is a nice compact unit with pretty blue plastic and a lanyard so you can hand it on your neck. That's the end of the positives.
br /
br /The big, really big, negative is that this thing has such poor sensitivity that unless you live in the desert and no bird or plane ever fles over you, you will have problems getting it to work because it will not find satellite signals.
br /
br /OK, mild exageration. I live in mid-Michigan and it actually has found enough satelites to work if there was nothing above it. However, the moment you go under a tree, any tree, you will lose your signal and you will not get it back until you move out from under the tree. I think that if you put your hand over the Etrex Legend you will lose your signal.
br /
br /This thing is well named because a legend is often a myth and not based on fact. It is certainly a myth that the Etrex Legend is a useable GPS.
br /
br /Garmin should be deeply ashamed for selling such junk.
br /
br /

I bought this unit for Geocaching. I have grown tired and frustrated of losing satellite signal under any sort of tree cover. We are finally decided to sell it for a better unit.

I bought an Etrex legend 4 years ago, for the last 18 months I've had intermittent problems with it not working.
br / Now it's dead.
br /
br /Negatives:
br / Not very durable
br / Very poor reception under tree cover, Magellan is better here.
br /
br / Bare bones map, for a good map you pay $100 more.
br / Minimum memory, only 8 MB, so if you do buy the map, you can only put
br / a small portion in at any given time.
br /
br / Comes with a serial cable, most USB to serial adapters don't work
br /so if you don't have a serial port you have a problem.
br /
br / If you're using it for geocaching, you can't mark which ones have been
br / found.
br / Also the screen shows the gc.com GCxxxxx code which isn't helpful.
br / You need to have a PDA or paper printout of all the caches prepared
br / ahead of time
br /
br / Drilling down thru the menus to get to the trip computer page is a pain if there are several caches nearby you'd like to see some info on each of them.
br / After 5+ years Garmin should improve the features,
br / they have done nothing.
br /

I bought the eTrex Legend three years ago to replace an older model that I passed on to my son. The price was right and it came with Garmen's software, a car lighter power cable and a protective case. A big improvement was the ability to run the unit off of the car's DC power while driving toward the final location and then run off of battery while on foot. However, I did notice that it seemed to be less capable of getting a good signal and would frequently bounce all over the place in the woods. Now it has a propensity to lock up after a few minutes of usage. I've read from earlier postings that this has something to do with outdated WAAS protocols. Clearly if this is not something that Garmen has fixed in the firmware, the product will be useless. I found that the only way to unlock the unit was to remove the battery cover and pull out a battery and replace it. Sometimes the "reboot" and reacquire process takes a longer period of time than the unit will function before locking up again. I am now looking for another replacement, hopefully one that will make it easier to go paperless.
br /
br /

The built-in basemap is very handy. It makes this model much more useful than the basic eTrex.
br /
br /This GPS works fine as long as it has a clear view of the sky. Once the built-in antenna is obstructed by *anything* such as a shirt or get mis-oriented by dangling vertically from one's neck, it can easily lose the signal.
br /
br /The more expensive Legend Color has a better reception system, but you really pay for it.
br /
br /If you don't mind either holding this flat or placing it properly so as to keep the signal, it is a good unit for a good price. If you have higher expectations for reception, you'll need to spend a couple hundred more to get the better antenna class.
br /
br /I picked this one because it had a higher resolution screen than the Magellan models of the time.
br /
br /This is also not the best GPS for driving, as the screen is too small to be read while on the move. It will do OK, but you'll find yourself looking down for too long. It is more suited to hiking and biking, and to keep on hand in the case that you get lost.

I bought mine in 2002 for $300 and was happy with it, but it almost completely fell apart in 2005. First thing to go was one of the battery clips. Because this is a bad design, the battery clips sometimes get pushed too far in and then your unit starts behaving strangely (lots of vertical lines on the LCD) or stops working. I had to bend the clips back out too many times and one of them finally broke. This should have springs, not clips. Second thing to go was the rubber covering on the buttons on the side. This was followed very shortly by the covering on the push-button stick. The unit is now not usable and returning it to Garmin for repair costs as much as getting a new one.
br /I was hoping that by now Garmin would come out with a GPS unit that did twice what this one could do for half the price, but there isn't enough competition apparently. GPS chips are a dime a dozen and my Samsung cell phone can do more than this unit can do - but the software isn't written for hiking and such, so you're stuck until someone comes along and fills this niche and outcompetes Garmin and Magellan. I'm still waiting to get another GPS to replace this one- come on competition!! For now, I'll just use my cell phone.
br /

I had this unit for about a week, and the GPS functionality worked great. My main complaint is the connectivity. It comes with an RS232 serial cable, which is ancient. If you want to use this with a Mac, or a PC without this connector, a $20 adapter is necessary. With that in mind, you might as well spend an extra $35 and get the eTrex Venture HC. It has a high sensitivity chip, USB connectivity, color screen, 3 x memory, geocaching mode, etc.
br /
br /Garmin is brilliant in differentiating their products just enough that makes you want to spend $35 for the next model up. In my opinion, they purposely crippled the connectivity on this to make the more expensive model within reach. RS232 serial is ancient, and I don't believe it's any cheaper for Garmin to produce this unit with RS232 over the 12 year old standard mini USB connector. It's their prerogative to sell what they want at the price point of their choosing, but I would not recommend this unit. Pony up $35 more and get the Venture HC.

Have used this unit since Oct 2003 for hiking and in my genealogy research on my family and for others. The unit will loose satellite reception in dense woods but most of the time it will work. The go to feature is good for finding your car you left on the side of the road or a lost cemetery you entered as a waypoint from a USGS map. The built in base maps are fun to play with, but I find useless in the field for me. I set the zoom feature to AUTO and don't see any map features most of the time. As the Legend is an older model unit, I would recommend you spend a few additional dollars and get one of the newer Garmin handhelds. If you want to use the unit in conjunction with your computer, get a model with a USB port (mac users need the USB interface). And if you want to have some fun shopping on amazon.com, look at amazon's UK website and read the recommendations there. The British reviews are helpful, polite, and witty once you get the hang of their jargon.

I've been using the eTrex for about 2 months. All GPS functions work marvelously. However, the PC cable is a 9 pin female serial connector. I haven't had a computer with this kind of connector for over 7 years. Since I wanted to download my datapoints to a navigation program, I bought a "Serial to USB" connector from Radio Shack for $40. After installing the connector's software, my laptop recognized the connector cable, but not the eTrex connected to it. Best bet is probably to go with the Garmin cable for $60. Which is outrageously priced. Why they can't catch up with the real world of USB connectors is a mystery. For handheld navigation though, it excels.

We just started Geocaching, and this little guy is very helpful in finding those hidden treasures. It doesn't suck up batteries too quickly, and the features are helpful for what we use it for.

I have owned this unit for about 6 months now. I added on the MapSource Topo maps because I use this GPSr for Geocaching. Wile this is not the top of the line GPSr it does the job for me with little problem at all. I have had some problems with getting signal a few times, but no more problem than I have had with other GPSrs. Over all I like this GPSr with the added maps.

The Garmin eTrex is a good little handheld GPS for the most part. It has a fairly sharp screen, a decent backlight, and has a good amount of channels to search with.
br /
br /Oddly enough, they designed the unit to be completely operated with the left hand, which is somewhat inventive, somewhat neat, but somewhat of a curse. I like the fact that I can play with a GPS while pouring coffee, typing an email, or washing the car. But if you're not needing your right hand for something else, it's more of a hassle. The unit has a little thumbstick that you have to contort your thumb around to use, which isn't all that bad, it's just not the greatest either. Also, it has buttins located on the sides you have to fiddle with, which as I said, it's all nice, one-handed operation, but after a while it can feel crampy and tiring if your inputting info or coordinates. It would be nicer if there where a way to use one or both hands if you wanted, sadly, the one handed design kind of limits the ease of use to someone like me. I've never needed a free hand while playing with a GPS.
br /
br /The eTrex allows the user to shut of the GPS unit inside to save battery life while putting in info too. I'm not sure whether it saves battery or not, but it seems like a good, innovative idea. The unit stores alot of different info, and comes with a patch cord to connect to a pc and load more detailed maps. (thought the patch cord is an old dated type that many notebooks don't even support) Once you learn to get around the eTrex's menus, it's an easy and customizable GPS that's easy to read even though the screen is fairly small, and easy to operate -if the one handed design doesn't annoy you.
br /
br /Now, my only other issue with this GPS is it's just not very sensitive. I rode home for 10+ mintes with it on, and sat around at home with it on for about 30 minutes, and only got around 2 satellites. This was a huge concern for a while, but it seemed like maybe it learned what satellites it's looking for and it was able to aquire several satellites very quick. However, in a car, in a building, or under trees etc. it's likely to lose it's signal or have a weak one. This isn't really a surprise, but I own another GPS that isn't an expensive one either and it does a much better job of aquiring satellites, and it's older.
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br /So, in all, it's a decent GPS unit. No doubt it woud serve anyone just fine without needing to spend $400 on a unit. If you don't mind possibly losing signal on occasion and don't mind the one-handed operation aspect, it's a good buy. But for me, I found the one-handed design to be useless and more of a hinderance than anything. Also, I like to get on my GPS and play around with it, or find out what my homes elevation is etc. But I don't want to have to go outside when it's 12 degrees to do so. I suppose I might be picky more than anything, but preference is why we buy and enjoy the things we do.

First let me say that although I have purchased 8 Garmin eTrex Legends, I use the Garmin Colorado 400t. So why all of the Legends?
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br /I love Geocaching! And like many of the things that we love, we want to pass it on to others. After tons of research I have chosen the Legend as the perfect GPS for beginning Geocachers. I have given them to friends, family and Boy Scout troops. Yes, there are GPS receivers on the market with more features, but at a much higher price.
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br /If you are new to Geocaching or are looking for a GPSr for someone who is, the Garmin eTrex Legend gets my recommendation!

It is an excelent piece of equipment; handy and easy to use. I dropped it a couple of times with no consecuences. Problems: the batteries wear out too fast: no more than 5 or 6 hours of continued use, and the compass does not work unless you move.
Overall: excelent

This is an excellent and very durable (the term "crash-proven" is appropriate...) unit. The available bike mount fits most handlebars (for oversize bars, e,g, carbon, just use "tie strips"). The mounting bracket is simply a replacement for the battery cover. The read out has an optional "large numbers" setting that makes all of the data highly readable. It is an excellent replacement for the standard bike computer with of course the GPS features as well. After the ride, download your trip to Google Earth, and you can review your ride and make plans to extend or modify the ride the next time.

Easy to setup and easy to use. I haven't been lost yet! :n)

The Legend is really easy to use and the features are great. The accuracy of the Legend is also very good. I am very satisfied with my purchase. There is nothing about the E-trex I would change.

This is our second one of the Etrex Legend, after years of use in saltwater swamps, etc. it finally died and we wanted another just like it. It works great and you can save many waypoints as desired. We loved it because it doesn't autosave the waypoints you don't really need saved.

I bought this used here on Amazon back in Oct 2003 and has worked without problems.
br /This GPS I use for Geocaching and it works great. I added the MetroGuide Map, I believe, and get nice street level detail unfortunately the 8 Megs of RAM is not enough to hold all of the LA area but it does hold quite a bit.
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br /This is NOT a GPS that you really want to use for driving. There are many other GPS that have Turn-by-Turn, Color diplays, Touchscreen, ect... But it does very well for hiking, walking and bike riding, ect...
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This is a good product for hiking, etc. Not too good for driving in a car

I'm very pleased with the accuracy and reliability of this GPS receiver. I've had to rely on the manual more frequently than I expected to and the mapping feature really isn't very useful, but for the price I paid, it's a great unit for my primary passion - Geocaching!!

I wanted a GPS unit for hiking, biking and kayaking but did not want to spend a lot of money..Got this for around $125 and am very happy with it.

Works well, sensitivity is good given the price. Seems to eat batteries for breakfast, tho.

The unit works fine but I feel the letters are too small in a small screen. I also feel browsing thru waypoints is a bit cumbersome. I hope the joysticks does not break in time. Otherwise great for the price .

Before I begin, I would like to describe the way in which I got this to interface with my computerand TOPO USA 2008. Connect to serial port and run 'hyperterm' give it any name and set the properties to 4800 baud, flow control to none. Set your serial data format on the garmin to NMEA from the main menu, go to setup, then interface. If you get something that looks like basic programming language, you are good to go. For example, if you get lines starting with something that looks like $GPGSV it is a good connection. IF you got a serial in to USB out adaptor cable and you get nothing but random characters, check your USB driver on the Hardware manager in System tab of the Control panel. It may not work with windows XP or just be corrupt. This will not let you 'find device' in GPS software. Be sure to reset the serial data format to GARMIN or HOST when done to work with map sofware. If hyperterminal says that there is another program using the telephony device (com 1) what you need to do is shut down any pda sync software or as I found out your UPS software that even if connected to a usb port may still be connected using com 1. You can use "process explorer" (seperate software) that can help you find whats using com 1 up in the Find-processes and DLL's box. Type 'Serial0' (serial zero) and search. Go to task manager and shut it down. If that doesn't work, just shut down everything that says owner EXCEPT explorer. Topo usa should now see the gps in the 'find device' box. After it found it the first time, I have not had any more connection problems on subsequent bootups. :)
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br /When I got this, I was mostly interested in that it had tracking coordinates (panning of the map) for use in finding locations out in the desert near Ft. Hancock, TX. I find that out of the box it was not very detailed other than the interstate and some larger roads but no help away from them as it displayed a blank. One thing I would like to have is that the unit have bigger number display of the numerical coordinates either on the map screen or in the navigation screen where the user is able to select various functions such as coordinates, bearing, heading, max speed, etc. Unfortunately, if you choose 'coordinates' for two of the large fields, you get two small coordinate displays instead of seperate N-S, E-W seperately which could be bigger and easer to read.
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br /Using the map screen, while using the selected panning function accessible by clicking on the 'list' next to the X button up top, the numbers are very small but take up only about 1/5 of the top of the screen. I would also like the unit to be able to change the orientation sideways to have a wide screen rather than tall so it could have room for larger numbers.
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br /As is out of the box, it is good if you are using it for hiking as you can simply get overhead shots of the land and get coordinates of the POI and you can enter them manually into the garmin using the joystick unless they are very many. Its like using your keyboardless phone to text one letter at a time. It looks similar to the screen pictures of lower end magellan units as seen on the box with only a waypoint and your present position. This is of course for visual reference of the screen picture only. The resolution is better of course. There is no display of rivers and lakes due to the small fixed memory (8mb) which is definately a minus as you can't expand it with external cards and can be a pain to figger out why it won't connect to the computer sometimes. Some say the TOPO USA software is also very pricey but its needed if you want any kind of detail in your map. Out in this area, it will show a limited amount of dirt roads and some of the ranches. I have not figgered out how to add some not shown for a more detailed map. It does however, show detail on elevation quite well.
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br /Now, for city use, it again is very limited out of the box showing major highways and avenues. If you want greater detail down to the street you are at, the TOPO USA does show this level of detail. However, it can look a little cluttered in such a small space with streets and LARGE labels. The elevation is now displayed with much detail.
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br /It does seem that now that I have about 5 Mb of maps ranging from Anthony Tx, down to Van Horn Tx, that it takes a little longer to acquire the gps satelites.
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br /One thing I have not figgered out or if its possible is if this unit can be synced with a camera for geocoding.
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br /Again, some features I would like to see in such units is the ability to turn the display 90 deg and have a watch like strap available for this model for use on a motorcycle, larger coordinate display in the navigation menu, and most of all, a less complicated interface that does not require "special" cables that makes it an exercise in frustration.

WE started to do Geo caching with it,we this Garmin Legend, i have 3 girls and we do it on the weekends .They love it always fighting who is going to lead us.So thank you

This is a toy, not to be confused with a real GPS device to be used in any situation where it would realisticly be depended upon for direction or location. It consistently could not reliably pick up the signals in little or no cloud cover in Banff National Park even near peaks on a recent trip, and is useless with any substantial cloudcover. It also has cumbersome, slow software that is anything but logical. It's a waste of money and not a serious instrument.

It's not about the GPS, or that it only holds 8MB's of memory (not a stick upgradable option but built in#, or it only locks onto a satellite if U R standing still in the middle of a foot-ball field, BUT most computers today come with ONE #9 female pin# serial-port plug/outlet for PC to a major/vital peripheral hook-up or 4 get your printer/scanner or fax and use it for your GPS hook up and buy their map disks at $100+ ea. But don't buy them ALL or your memory would have to be in the GB's range! If U have a PC with any peripherals like a printer that ONLY port is USED so no luck d/l-ing Garmin © software. Most newer PC's come with several USB 2.0 ports, or a cheap hub turns 1 USB outlet into many outlets/inputs, so why is Garmin selling a GPS kit for around $130 with the ONLY way to get Jack from your PC is thru a SP connector? If U want a USB that works to d/l maps think around paying $60 more for this: 'USB to RS232 converter cable' which it should have come with for the price but didn't. So I have a cute hand held GPS that only shows me MAJOR roads has a menu that takes days to figure-out and set-up, then lacks memory, has no way to up that memory with a 1GB card and flogs an ancient SP hook-up with NO CD map disk #teasers# to Joe Public. Clearance time or PP planning? My buddy saw my frustraion and asked me why I had bought a Garbage GPS, he is a pilot!
br /Spokane, WA.

My only issue with this item is the small buttons and small screen. Other than that, performs well. I use it for geocaching; mapping trails and hunting areas in the state park where I work; and research projects. The PC cable enables me to download waypoints into Delorme Topo to map my projects.

Unit works good. My only wish is that the backlight would be brighter, but I'm still very happy with it.

Ordered for my son right before Christmas and it was there in a
br /couple of days. Thank you. I would definitely order from here again.

He adquirido este dispositivo de la Garmin, y considero que cumple las expectativas funcionales. Tal vez por este precio no se puede pedir mas, se sabe que existen equipos con mejores caracteristicas de esta misma marca, asi que puedes comparar y escojer el mejor que se adapte a las necesidades del cliente. Por mi parte estoy satisfecho.

HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL. SHOWS THE MAJOR STREETS. CAN GET MORE DETAILS BY DOWNLOADING $75 SOFWARE.

nice unit- lots of features but small display is better suited to younger eyes ;)

It's a good basic GPS but there are newer technologies and features available now for almost the same price.

The eTrex Legend is my first GPS. This product has exceeded my expectations in ease of use and function.

Fantastic little GPS. We bought this to help with our Geocaching!
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br /Finding our way with it is simple and easy to learn...it sits on the dashboard perfectly.
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br /It's an adult treasure hunt "game". fun and exciting, we use it in conjunction with our metal detector!
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br /Go to www.geocaching.com to see what it's all about...this is not a commercial for the website just telling you what we use the Garmin GPS for.
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br /It's palm sized plus it has a lace to wear around the neck with a clip on the end to hold the GPS while walking.
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br /Recommend it for price, size, and ease of use. 5 stars from us *****

I purchased this GPS last year for Christmas for a friend and he loves it, uses it all the time. Great product!

Happy and satisfied with my latest purchase. I got it within the time I was told I'd get it and in perfect conditions.

No complains whatsoever.

Thanks guys!

WOW this is a powerful GPS with lots of features and it was delivered the very next day (2 days before it was expected)!! Great shipping....Great product!!It was a gift for our son's 27th Birthday....HE LOVES IT!! Now my husband wants one.

If you are a person who know how to work things its great but I had a difficult time understanding the directions and had to call someone for help and I still am unsure of how to use it

i bought this for my husband and he takes it everywhere. he wanted one for hunting trips.(he loves that it has info on best time to hunt and fish)but he takes it everywhere we go.

Not very accurate. Mine reads less than 50% accurate in an open area at 200 yards from the mark. The customer service is not very helpful, but they do a good job of explaining why the trinket errors and that it cannot be improved upon. I have mine for sale if anyone is interested. It is in a drawer in my garage.

This is the first GPS I've owned and have enjoyed it greatly. I have yet to have it track me on a car trip or follow a planned route. Lots to learn and do. This GPS will keep scratching my head for a while.:0)