I purchased a yellow Garmin eTrex GPS about a year ago. My main reason for buying it was because I learned about the sport called 'geocaching', and, knowing little about these devices at that point, I purchased one on the advice of a couple of friends. I used it heavily for for about 5 months before coming to some conclusions about this device's capabilities.

I will first list the yellow eTrex's good points:

- It's cheap-- one of the cheapest GPS receivers you can find.
- It's easy to find-- you can buy one at Target, or at most any sporting goods store.
- It's durable. You can drop it several times or dunk it in water, and it'll still work (dry it out first before you attempt to use it again).
- It has an interface to hook up to your computer to download new firmware and to download geocaching waypoints, if you have the need for this.
- It's easy to use and very intuitive for first timers.

Now, its drawbacks. Realize that I am rating this device from the viewpoint of a geocacher, and we're probably the most demanding users of GPS receivers out there:

- It is not an accurate device if you're attempting to get a definitive lock on a waypoint within 50' of your goal. Once in the general search area, the signal will likely bounce around and give you wildly varying readings. For example, if you've entered a waypoint and get within 50' of your search area, expect to find readings bouncing around from 5-50 feet with each step you take. I used this unit in varying terrain, under varying tree/bush cover, under varying weather/cloud conditions, and in varying temperatures, with the same results. I was able to obtain two other samples of this receiver, and those tests came up with the same results, so I surmise that my eTrex wasn't just an errant sample of these receivers. Upgrading the receivers' firmware did nothing to help the accuracy.

Granted, my experiences with this receiver probably won't matter that much to most of those who will purchase this unit for tasks such as finding your way around while camping, hunting and hiking. For those uses, this unit will work just fine. However, if you're a geocacher and want a GPS unit that will pinpoint your goal effectively, without bouncing your readings from 5-50 ft. as soon as you walk two steps any direction, you will want a GPS unit that has WAAS capabilities (wide area augmentation system). I now have a GPS receiver that has WAAS, and it provides a much more stable lock when in the area of my intended goal.

In short, I found this unit to be frustrating to use for geocaching. There are other GPS units that will provide more stable signal-lock than the Garmin eTrex for close to the same price.

Before you lose the patience to read through the rest of the stuff, I would strongly suggest that you get yourself a PC interface cable and download free GPS software from www.easygps.com or pay for one at www.expertgps.com (with additional features)

With so many GPS in the market, it is confusing which one to buy, unless you are clear about what your needs are.

I jotted down a few points as to why would I really need a GPS:
(1) Never to lose my bearings on hikes
(2) Keep track of where I went and share this data to others
(3) Keep track of altitude
(4) Get to know of sunset and sunrise times so that I known when to get back to Camp and when to start the next day
(5) Speed at which I walk and estimate the amount of time I would take to reach my destination

etrex satisfies all of this.

What is that I do not like about the etrex
(1) Altimeters are not accurate (in any GPS), so get a barometric altimeter in addition to a GPS
(2) Something miserably wrong with Sunset and sunrise timings. My GPS shows sunrise time as 18:51 and Sunset ast 06:30 (???) and it is inaccurate even if you transpost it. Etrex loses a * for this
(3) Useless in heavy tree cover (in any GPS)
(4) Battery life could have been better

Despite all that, I am very happy with my etrex, it cost me exactly $100, meets almost all the features that I am looking for.

Many of my friends ask me this question - Are you sure that this GPS works in India ?

Ofcourse, it does, it is a GLOBAL positioning system ! I have used it in US, Canada, Singapore and Korea and works everywhere, even in the forests in western ghats in India.

So you just heard about this sport called "geocaching," and you think it would be fun to try it if only the recommended GPS gizmos were not so expensive? Ignore the recommendations and grab an eTrex.

This unit will not find angels on the head of a pin, and it is not the perfect, ideal unit for geocaching. If you are already a GPS/geocaching fan, spring the big bucks for something with more oomph. But if you're a beginner, the eTrex a relatively small investment in a new sport that you may not even enjoy, and it will get your started. Then, when you are ready to upgrade (or quit geocaching), eBay (or the friends you have lured into the sport!) are ready to take it off your hands.

I've used mine for 16 finds and 1 hide so far, all 'beginner' caches of 1-2 stars of difficulty. Many have been in GPS-unfriendly areas such as wooded areas and near power lines. The eTrex has performed as expected on each of those caches: getting me within the noted range of error (usually 10-30 ft) so my dog's nose and my eyeballs can do the hard work. In a few cases where I thought the eTrex must be 'off,' I later went back and found out I was standing on or next to the well-hidden cache & didn't even notice it!

Battery life seems to be fine; I'm still on my first set of batteries, a month after purchase. I am also a fair-weather geocacher, so mine has not had a chance to prove or disprove its water resistance.

The unit will hold 500 'waypoints,' which is more than enough for a beginning geocacher. Unless you buy the cable to connect it to your computer, you will probably never enter that many waypoints before you are ready to upgrade your equipment, anyway. I have the cable, and I still only have 250 nearby caches marked in my eTrex so far.

A large disadvantage of the eTrex compared to some of the more expensive models is that you can't show streets, etc., on a map screen. You can, however, import waypoints from your GPS (or right from geocaching.com!) into Google Earth and then print out satellite pictures that are better than those expensive GPS units will provide anyway.

This is my first GPS unit, purchased soley to enter the sport of Geocaching--see geocaching dot com--and recommended at that website as the cheapest GPS unit that would allow you to participate in this new sport of finding items placed by others by longitude and latitude.


Well, the unit certainly works for that, although you have to either manually set a waypoint location, then modifying its latitude and longitude by manual entry, and I can only apparently find a SERIAL cable to connect it to a PC, and Mac's don't have serial ports.

But it's been a blast and money well spent, with some unintended uses I've discovered, such as:

! Easter egg hunts for geeks. This year I placed Easter egg caches around town and my 12 year old went on an Easter Egg hunt by finding them based upon waypoints.

2. You need a first class pedometer? I like walking, and you can set a waypoint as soon as you get out of the car, and leaving the unit own it'll tell you your average speed, total distance walked and time, all at once. You can use it to measure walking trails, the trail around the lake you walk three times a week, etc. I mean why pay $25 for a pedometer that you have to set your stride into the machine when you can get THIS for under a $100?

3. Lots of useful information, such as it's exactly 30 miles as the crow flies from home to office, but 48 by road.

WARNING: Do NOT let your teenagers have this in the backseat of the car, unless you want to hear, "Dad, you know you're going 82 miles an hour", only to look down and find that you are. This unit is EXTREMELY accurate measuring your speed on the highway.

So, I'm just BEGINNING to find out uses. Sure, this unit doesn't have street maps, and it's not color, and it's got a lousy computer connection with optional serial cable. But for under a $100 it get's you into the world of GPS and I'm constantly finding ways to use this little sucker.

So get it!

I run a lodge in northern ontario,and to get to work i travel by boat.Each day we travel 10 miles in and 10 miles back.Often this trip is made at 2 or 3 in the morning.Fog,rain,or snow the e trex always gets us home.On the lake we travel there are many bays and islands,and in the worst conditions,when you can not even see through the windshield we depend on the e trex to guide us back to safety.The backlight is great in the dark.The track back feature is by far the easiest to use.

I have had this model for several years and am now considering upgrading. It does a great job of pointing me in the right direction when I'm headed somewhere new. Good for geocaching, although under heavy tree cover it can be far off the mark. To get the most out of it, you really need to hook it up to a computer so you can download/upload data. For the PC, I recommend ExpertGPS.

I found the eTrex very easy to use - no manual necessary, despite the fact that it's my first GPS. It's also small, lightweight, and easy to handle. I bought it for openwater kayaking, and I like how little space it requires in my vest pocket. It it NOT completely waterproof, as the Garmin site claims, however. The battery compartment does not seal tightly, so it cannot be submerged even for a few seconds without the risk of getting the batteries wet.

I really like them, and this model is slightly improved over previous ones. It has an additional screen that conveniently displays additional information. It is easy to use and accurate. The first one I owned failed due to a software glitch, but Garmin provided me with a patch. I especially like the ability to download waypoints from my topographical program.

Get the carry case so the screen does not get scratched up.

I am a heart patient, and I need to keep track of my walking excercise program. I bought this eTrex about 5 months ago because it has a trip odometer, time elapsed, and average speed functions which give me all of the information I need. It will lock onto a signal inside my RV, albeit with diminished accuracy. When you go out for the walk, though, it tracks with an accuracy of about 15 to 20 feet. Battery life has been good. It is very easy to use, and it is perfect for my needs. I would highly recommend it for anyone who needs to monitor their walking (or perhaps bicycling) program. Your doctor will be impressed with the records you can give him/her.

It's a great unit for someone who would like play around with GPS. More advanced users will be dissapointed with it's lack of features.

The eTrex has the ability to make your own maps right on the screen and that's about all it's good for. Each landmark you place on the map can only have 6 characters and must be unique. If you were to purchase the optional data cable you could make these landmarks on the pc and transfer them over. This makes things easier because you don't have to actually travel to each landmark to create it on your map.
It has a tracback feature (so you can retrace your steps) but if you were to go on a trip for more then a few hours the memory quickly becomes full.

If you want a gps to play with for the weekend, this unit might interest you. If you were to use it any longer, you quickly realise how limited it is.

Do yourself a favor and get the model or two up with downloadable maps and more memory.

Great GPS for the price. Went mountain biking and hiking and it worked great!! The manual was rather complicated, and don't buy the instructional video, it's worthless.

So my buddies hooked me on geocaching...but I don't really have any other use for a GPS than this wonderful pasttime, so I couldn't see spending $200-$400 for the same types of units. This was the cheapest one I could find so I bought it. I have never been happier with a "tech" purchase. Not only is it perfect for geocaching, but the thing is incredibly durable & reliable.In my haste to get to a newly posted nearby cache, I left my relatively new eTrex on the hood of my truck. Two minutes later, to my horror, I saw it bouncing off the asphalt at 35mph in my rearview mirror. It suffered nothing but a few dings on the yellow casing. My reverence for Garmin was born, seeing as my wife would never have allowed me to buy another GPS after that bonehead move.As for performance, if you don't need a road map overlay, there's no reason you shouldn't get this unit. It's accurate, and easy to use, even with one hand. Thanks to Garmin for this wonderful, DURABLE product. It's even waterproof, though I haven't accidentally dropped it in a lake yet.

I purchased this unit to try "Geocaching." It was recommended on the geocaching.com website as an inexpensive, entry-level unit. It has fulfilled and exceeded my expectations. It has a very short "learning curve." It took me less than 30 min. to initialize the unit, learn how to input a waypoint, and start a "GOTO." ( This is the method used to find a location according to GPS coordinates.) Within an hour of opening the package, I found my first Geocache!! I highly recommend this unit to anyone who wants basic GPS capability without all the frills.

I own 3 GPS receivers and I will say Garmin did an excellent job. The receiver is much more sensitive to satellite signals than my other GPSs. Just don't expect too much from this small unit with tiny screen and very slow CPU for screen refresh. It will drive you nuts to use it for street navigation. It is suitable for back trailing in the mountains. For street navigate, I strongly suggest that you hook this unit up with a laptop but make sure that GPS is set to NMEA and the software GPS setting is also correct. Conclusion, don't street navigate with this unit alone and don't buy a no brand GPS under $90 because you will not be happy with the reception. Eddy

We bought this for geocaching, looking for something inexpensive and reliable. So far we've been thrilled. Inputting information is rather like using a cell phone, which is not a problem for our use. The unit itself is lightweight and comes with a long strap, which you can hang around your neck as you push foliage out of the way. We have found accuracy to be extremely high, and it has always gotten us within ten feet of the cache. Battery life has been excellent. I am sure that for more complicated or remote adventures there are better units, but for our simple needs, this has been perfect.

I've used a few GPS units over the years and have had my little yellow ETrex for a couple years now. It's been a great companion.You don't get many of the features of the higher priced units - no map overlays - compass only works while you are moving - accuracy +- 15 feet or so - unable to pan.What you do get though is impressive. Battery life is awesome, I go on weekend camping trips and usually run Saturday and Sunday without changing batteries (NI-MH rechargeables). I'm hooked on geocaching and preloading in geocaching waypoints means you are always a couple miles away from an interesting spot you never knew was there. Use it when visiting new places and always know how to backtrack the way you came. Play with the trip odometer, estimated arrival times, and my favorite; meet up with your camping buddies giving them nothing but Lat/Long coords and no directions.I've read a few complaints about getting a signal and I don't get it. Mine gets a lock within a minute or so and only loses it if I'm in REAL tight canyons or dense forest, but quickly reacquires with the next patch of open space.Anyway, if you want to get a quality starter GPS unit without blowing the budget, especially if you have kids, try geocaching (search the web) and get one of these. One thing, get yourself some rechargeable batteries, once hooked you won't want to turn it off.I just wanted to share while I came back to Amazon to upgrade to a ETrex legend (I'm hooked and want a map and panning) and thought I'd add my 2c in to someone getting their feet wet.

I just got mine and I'm extremely impressed with it. It's very easy to use (hint - download the instructions from Garmin's website and read them while you're waiting for delivery - this one is newer and does more than those instructions say, but it works the same way and you will know how to use it before it gets there). It's accuracy is more than what I expected. I can mark a waypoint and it will guide me to within 10 feet of it, sometimes within 3 feet. This is far more than what I need but nice to have that level of accuracy (in WAAS mode). It doesn't have the features of more expensive units but it has everything I need, and everything you would need to get you unlost in the woods. It doesn't do maps but I didn't want that anyway. You can't beat this unit for the price.

Got this GPS in 2000 as a fancy toy. Reception can be irritating, but it seems to do better than most -- it's locked on 5 birds / 20 feet in my living room. Battery life is great (I used NiMH rechargables), the screen is great, interface is intuitive, etc.I've decided to give one to my dad for his birthday.I definitely recommend the PC cable w/ 12V adapter (part #010-10268-00; double-check Amazon's recommendation), as there is a lot of free and not-so-free mapping and waypoint management software (TopoGrafix, for starters).It holds 500 waypoints and ~ 1500 trackpoints (10 tracks). In 3 years of long (~ 60 mi) rides, long car trips, etc I've not had a problem with the memory limits.The price is right, the unit works great, and it's plenty of GPS for my knocking around. And, for the record, I can get readings in commercial aircraft -- just hold it up to the window and give it time to acquire.

The eTrex is a good GPS device for the beginner user. I have recently got one and found it very easy to learn how to use it. It does everything you would expect a GPS to do, which is basically marking points and getting directions and distances.

After a few months of usage, however, you realize a couple of drawbacks, which are basically:

1. Small memory - after a few hours of usage, especially if you are moving fast, the memory on it will get used up completely. It will not trace a trip if it is more than one day long.

2. Short battery life - it is amazing how much battery the eTrex eats up. If you are just leaving it on, it may last more than a day, but if you are constantly using it, you will need spares.

3. Bad reception - I don't know if other GPSs are better, but if you put this one in your pocket, forget about reception.

As a cheap locating device, this is good. But if you need something for serious usage, I think there must be better devices. Then again, this is the starter model, so I think it achieves what it proposes itself to do.

I am VERY pleased with this little unit! As I have stated, it gives you lots of bang for the buck. I'm just a casual walker, and the WAAS-less navigation is plenty accurate for me. In fact, the accuracy is frequently within 20-25 feet of a waypoint even without WAAS. Heck, if I'm within 25 feet of something and can't see it, I deserve to be lost! I use it to record the distance I have walked as well as the track, which is all I really need. It's nice to have the Lat and Long, also, just for that "Star Trek" flavor!The unit is great for driving as long as I keep the unit laying at the front of the dash where it can maintain a lock on satellites. I don't actually navigate by it, I just use it to have a bearing on where I'm going and record trip mileage. No, I don't play with it while I'm driving!!An external antenna jack might be nice, but I wouldn't see the lack of one as an adverse characteristic. Since the unit is designed and marketed as a low-cost, basic, introductory unit, one wouldn't expect to need an external antenna hookup.I would like to see capability for on-board charging of rechargeable batteries, since you get maybe one full dawn to dusk day of use before the batteries start getting low.The only problem I have noticed, and this seems to be common to most all GPS units, is difficulty maintaining a lock under heavy tree cover. Again, however, this is not entirely unexpected and I don't consider it a detriment (at least for my applications). Signal strength from the satellites doesn't exceed "X" watts and GPS antenna sensitivity has to be limited at some point. Under the right circumstances, ANY unit will lose a signal.I definitely give this unit two thumbs up! If a person expects more out of it than it can deliver, they may actually need one of the more sophisticated units. But for the casual walker and gadget geek (I am both) this is the deal of the century!

I am a new geocacher and this device is perfect. Even children can easily understand and operate this device. It is accurate to 10-15 feet of the cache in the city. It is dead on when there is little or no interference (West Virginia). I've even dropped it a couple of times and it still works like a charm. It is highly recommended in the forums of geocaching sites as well! A great device for the price.

as many people here, I decided to became a geocacher and got this device for start - it absolutely satisfy me needs and includes so many language versions that everyone can pick up his native. I do recommend to buy this GPS.

I have had this unit for several years and it has performed adequately. It's repeatability is usually about 30 feet. It's easy to use, but doesn't take maps.

But despite Garmin's claims, it is NOT WATERPROOF! I took it sailing, where it got splashed. Then I noticed it stopped working and there was water in the screen. When I got home, I tested it by holding it under water in my sink to see where air would bubble out from. This test showed no bubbles(leaks). Confused, I decided it must have sucked the water in through a hole somewhere. So I filled the sink with HOT water. Sure enough, as the air inside warmed up, bubbles began streaming out of a little hole built into the back of the unit. This test also proves that if this GPS is warm (like from being in the sun as you might be when you're using a GPS) and then it gets splashed with cold water (70 degrees here in FL), it will suck that water up through that little hole and destroy the GPS. To clarify, the hole is not a flaw in my unit, it is very intentionally molded in to the case.

I am extremely dissapointed in Garmin, and since they claim the unit is waterproof when it is not, I don't know how I'm going find a new one that truely is.

My advice, if your GPS is really going to get wet, is to do the hot-water test and see if it leaks air. If so, return it.

I bought this item for my 13 yr old son and he has been using it for geo-caching. It is a great unit for the price and a great way to enter the sport of geo-caching. He actually decided to do this instead of saving his money for an X-Box 360...it's nice to see him outside instead of in front of the TV.

This is a great basic GPS but it is not color as indicated in the Product Description. The one pictured is eTrex Venture CX.

I really have no major complaints about my Garmin eTrex (lovingly called "the yellow eTrex"). The interface is simple, and the unit is small and light.
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br /Some may wish they had gone a step up to a model with the thumb-stick for easier interface navigation. I was one such person, and I have to admit that the thumb stick is much easier to use than the up/down buttons that you're limited to with the yellow eTrex.
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br /Buyer beware when it comes to USED yellow eTrex models. Many versions of it were sold that were not WAAS enabled. You can ask a seller if the system menu has an option to disable/enable WAAS. If not, you're looking at a slightly less accurate model (but if the price is right for you, it shouldn't matter too much).

I love this product and would highly recommend it. The eTrex is the most affordable Garmin GPS, but still provides everything I need (it just doens't have the maps that the more expensive ones have - but usually there are no maps when you are hiking anyhow).

I have used the eTrex in Scotland when hill walking. It has picked up satellites 95+% of the time and has been an invaluable tool for helping me find my way back when I get off track. I would highly recommend. Besides being useful as a bread crumb trail and for marking waypoints, it is also fun to see the summary statistics for each walk -- total miles, avg. speed, elevation, etc. etc.

I also used the eTrex in Southern, Illinois, where there is thick tree cover. I picked up satellites about 75% of the time. This was still good enough to get my group back to our car when we got off the beaten path.

Ed

My philosophy has always been that the fewer bells and whistles you have on a gadget, the fewer problems you'll have with it. This holds true for the basic yellow Garmin eTrex. I've owned this little guy for nearly three years now and love it. Some people like to have preinstalled base maps and that's fine. But as long as you know the coordinates for where you're going - whether it's buried treasure or a hotel on the beach - the eTrex will work like a charm. You can find the coordinates of destinations on a number of websites.

The menu and buttons are very easy to negotiate. The battery life of 20+ hours (on two AAs) is good. I get good readings under moderate tree cover, but heavy cover could cause occasional problems. The only features you might want that the basic eTrex doesn't have are the internal compass and altimeter. The compass might help with geocaching, but isn't absolutely necessary with general travel. I keep a good Suunto A-10 compass around my neck anyway. The eTrex will give you direction and altitude, but it's calculated from the GPS satellites instead of internal mechanisms.

This unit is a good choice if you don't want to spend a bunch of cash and just need to gadget for camping, hiking, or geocaching. Before flying out to Arizona a couple of years ago for vacation, I pre-entered coordinates for hotels, national parks, and historical sites. I placed it on the dashboard of the rental car and it got me where I needed to be just fine. No need for fancy pants base maps.

I originally purchased the Geko unit from the local Shack. This was my first experience with GPS and I was pretty well hooked. I was out of town at Best Buy a few weeks later and picked up the yellow Etrex for the same price. They talked me into the warranty for the extra 10 bucks. I bought it for search and rescue training, and for an upcoming trip to Central America where we will likely find ourselves hiking thru mountainous terrain. I have been testing the unit for about 3 mos now. Great unit. Get one, and get yourself some good rechargeables and you are in like Flynn. Spot on accurate, and the ability to know where you are, anywhere on the planet, at any time, and in any weather for a fixed investment of $100.00 -- Impossible to go wrong here.

For my first GPS I selected the Garmin eTrex. Easy to use to mark waypoints and find them later. Have not had to use it in the dark yet. Setting up routes is nice just to know the distance between two points. I recommend this to anyone who needs something lightweight and simple.

There's nothing really wrong with this product. It is mostly what I expected when I ordered it. But as someone else pointed out, Amazon is advertising the wrong device! The eTrex personal navigator is NOT color, does NOT have maps, and does NOT have a USB connection for your computer. To interface with your computer, you need to order a strange sideways looking cable that connects to a serial port. They have adapters from serial to USB, but the port on the device is not typical. I would suggest buying the device first and then ordering a cable.
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br /This is fine for a startup GPS device, specifically for geocaching. It's very simple. All it does is point you to your waypoint, which is great when Google Earth can't get you close enough. However, if you are expecting any mapping at all, you're looking at the wrong eTrex.
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I certainly won't say I don't know how I lived without this unit, and I can see how this little basic GPS has limitations depending on your lifestyle and expectations. But is EXACTLY what I needed. There is no way I use it up to its full potential, but knew that would be the case. Just wanted something to help me with knowing how many miles I"m covering on my daily hikes, changes in altitude (difficulty of hikes), keeping track of my route and time, etc. Every once in awhile my dog and I bushwack, and with this I can always find my way out of a tangle of underbrush, or back towards home should we lose sight of our obvious landmarks. Where we live is an area where people do geo-cache and I've thought about doing some of that while I'm out there, but haven't gotten beyond the thought yet. One day we'll venture beyond our immediate home area where the landmark's are strange and unknown and then this unit will really prove itself. Oh, and as to the matter of batteries - I use this unit about 90 minutes every other day and the first set of regular alkaline batteries lasted about 6 weeks. The unit kept saying the batteries were okay, but when it took a noticeably longer time to boot up and easily lost signal when under only slight cover, I knew it was time to replace them. So just keep aware about battery strength so you don't find yourself in strange territory without power.

This unit is outstanding for runners, less so for cyclists. I have my standard running loop programmed in as a "track"; I just cycled it one day and saved it in the memory. Now, if I carry it while I run, it tells me how far I've gone, how much further I have to go, and how fast I'm going. It's easy to carry in your hand, too.

For cycling, it is an excellent tool for going new places. I simply go to the internet, find the lat & long of the intersections where I'll be turning, enter them into the etrex as "waypoints" and program in a "route" that connects them. Then, the unit gives me the distance to the next turn and displays a big arrow when it's time to make the turn. It's a lot easier to use than carrying a map with you. The distance-traveled and speed features are not as useful; it's easier and more accurate to have a cyclocomputer measure that.

The big downfall for any kind of navigation is that you need to enter the lat & long of the intersections using the kludgy interface. It would be a lot easier to hook it up to a PC-based map, yes. If you have made the trip once, however, it will retrace your steps for you, which is a nice feature.

Signal strength is adequate. It works best if you stand still from the time you turn it on until the time it finds the satellites. Battery life is decent; I put it on "battery save" mode, which I imagine tracks the satellites less frequently, but gives me decent directions none the less. There is a backlight.

All in all, Garmin eTrex GPS with Waterproof Exterior (Yellow) is cheaper than one of those watches that use GPS satellites to measure your speed, and a lot more functional. If you need to do a lot of navigation on known roads, this is not the unit for you. For running, however, it is a great tool; that's why I give it 4 stars.

I bought this unit not knowing what to expect. Well it has exceded my expectations in every respect. First of all the one I just received has a newer software revision. It has WAAS and is software revision 3.10 which has a new screen which my friends with revision 2.* doesn't have. I looked on there website and they don't offer this revision for download so it must be something that just brand new usits offer. Well anyways...I use this with a program called ExpertGPS which overlays my tracked trails on an Aerial Photomap from Satellites. So cool. I can see excatly where I rode. Mine worked flawlessly in the woods. Now it is winter here and there are no leaves on the trees but I think it will work just as good in the summer. I got the bike mount and mounted the unit to my Yamaha Kodiaks handle bars. Workes great. Battery seems to last a very long time for me. I have used it a few days hours at a time and there still going. I am one very satisfied customer. Oh you need to get the serial cable to hook this to a computer to view your trails and edit your waypoints and many other cool stuff.

The GPS receiver came quickly and well-packaged. I have used in numerous times now and really like the compact size. I am getting used to the control button locations and uses and the unit seems pretty well organized for use. The buttons are somewhat harder to operate (require more finger pressure) than my older Garmin GPS 12, but it is a minor issue when combined with the lower cost and smaller size of the E-trex. It also means you probably won't activate a control button inadvertantly. I like the fact that it uses only 2 AA batteries (means I carry only two spares for emergencies). My older larger GPS 12 uses 4 AA's meaning I carried 4 more batteries with me (2 more in the unit and 2 more as spares). I bought the e-trex for its compactness and lighter weight. Thus far the e-trex unit seems quick to lock on, accurate and fits just about anywhere (pocket, daypack, etc). It provides all the basic information needed to navigate in and out of the woods and to save your favorite landmarks to return to. I would recommend it as a great starter unit and a good general use unit for someone wanting basic GPS performance in a compact size at a very reasonable price.

I bought the eTrex to begin geocaching. With WAAS turned on, it's plenty accurate for my needs. It has long battery life. It's easy to use with one hand.

It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of some GPS units, but for those of us who don't want to spend hundreds of dollars, the eTrex is perfect.

I bought this as a "starter" based upon some reviews I had read. It is accurate to 12-15 feet and is a great little device for geocaching (the main purpose I bought it). However, for the price you get the Chevrolet. If you want to have maps at your fingertips with the unit you must buy a bigger more powerful device (meaning more memory to load software/maps into). I found myself investing another $200 in "stuff" (case, cables, and Garmin's Mapsource Topomaps). Once loaded onto my laptop, powered up by a new "inverter" (an additional $50)in the car, and hooked up to the laptop (the Garmin) I was "loaded for bear". I knew exactly where I was, could navigate cross-country, could chart waypoints, plot routes, and establish plans to find the first caches. Quirky software made uploads and downloads (to and from the device)a bit problematic but I'm not sure it's the device or the Mapquest software. It will run out of storage space for logging routes if you leave it on for over about four hours. Batteries are a challenge but I used the cable that has the cigarette lighter adapter along with the serial port hook up for the laptop - thus it didn't eat batteries quite as much. Over a four-day excursion to Big Bend I changed batteries once as a result. Like I said, it's a Chevrolet and Cadillacs are better - and more expensive. As with any other device - it works with Garmin software best - so decide and explore software compatibility if you're planning on buying Streetfinder maps as well as Topo maps. All in all, I got a great prize (thank you Amazon.com!), a solid piece of hardware, and had one hell of a great time geocaching. If you don't know what that is, go to "geocaching.com" and learn! You'll get hooked.

If you need a basic GPS receiver, this is it. No complication, no headache. This is very similar to etrext legend, but no stick, no map and no area calculation. But you have a map page where you can view your waypoints and your active track log. Also notice that the box does not contain the PC interface cable. If you need to transfer data to PC, then order it separately, or buy etrex legend (its box contains this cable).

I bought this unit for my ATV Quad Honda Rancher and this thing is the best. Fits right on to the quad with a mounting unit I picked up at Amazon. It is not like a TOM TOM or a Magellen GPS but it will leave you a trail back to where you started from very easy to operate and you can save your spots so you can go back again. Also tells you the best hunting and fishing times from where you are and tells you when the sun will go down and rise so you know when to turn back before night falls. I bought it so I would not get lost and it has worked out perfect for me. Also tells you alt. speed you are going at and much more. When you turn it on for the first time it takes a little bit to get the sattelights, but after that it turns on fast. Takes batteries so if you go out take a extra set just in case it dies. It remembers where you are. Over all this unit is cost effective and if you get lost you will be happy to have this great unit to get you back. You do not want to land up somewhere for days with no food and cold temps. I am not a survival kind of guy so this is a must to have for me. I hope this reveiw was helpful.

I have found this Garmin eTrex GPS to be extremely accurate and reliable.
br /It fits well into the palm of your hand, and rarely loses its signal.

I used an old model of this unit during a weeklong kayaking trip along the Maine coast, and I recommend it highly for anyone going point-to-point over water. A kayak's a terrible place to navigate from -- no place to set out a chart, water everywhere -- so being able to simply point the boat at a waypoint is a comforting luxury. Put your waypoints in the night before you leave and enjoy the trip. Also, my unit was routinely wet but kept on ticking.

I bought this gps to use for geo-caching. I have been out numerous times and have not been disappointed with the performance of the etrex. It is easy to use and very accurate for finding caches. I recommend this unit for any beginning geo-cachers. You will not be let down!!

KNOWING WHERE YOU ARE ISN'T IMPORTANT!
Knowing where you're going is.

One hand operation.

One button for enter.
Two buttons for scroll.
One button for power/lite.
One button for page-back.

Uses 2 AA batteries.
Has battery-saver mode.

I wish I had this in the Boy Scouts.
I wish I had this in the war.
I wish I had this in the Disneyworld parking lot to find my car.

Can be hung around the neck when used with the 13" sold-seperate companion:
Garmin 013-00052-00 Lanyard, Etrex

Sold-seperate back-up companion:
Digital Compass, Titanium Finish

Sold-seperate back-up companion:
Lensatic Military Marching Compass

I bought the Garmin ETREX gps (yellow)and am very happy with it. In fact I went back to Amazon and bought two more, one for the wife and one for our son. It does everything it says it will do and more. Also very pleased with Amazon and the ordering,and handling. I have started to buy all my products through Amazon whan available.

If you are just getting in to GPS', I would highly recommend this unit. I have tried 5-6 different GPS models over the years, and the Garmin Etrex series is the most impressive. They are simple, rugged, and deadly accurate.
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br /The only reason that it did not get five stars from me, is that it does not come with a PC interface cable (although compatible), which takes it to the next level.
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br /I am not a novice by any means, but this GPS is in my pack, car, or hunting bag every single time that I go out. If it is not my backup, it is my primary unit because of its reliability and simple use.

This is a great little GPS for a new learner. It was easy for me to figure out how to use it and I've never used one before.

There's a reason that Garmin is still selling (a lot of) the eTrex after all these years, despite the fact that there are many other, full functioned, well-priced GPS units on the market. It's because for a great price you get a reliable, hardy, well-built piece of equipment. It is easy to use and perfect for the first time GPS user who maybe doesn't want to spend $200-300+ on something they may never end up using. It offers a great introduction to using a GPS and does pretty much what it says - tells you where you've been, where you're at, and where you're going. I owned one for about 5 years before upgrading to the GPSMAP60 CSX, and it served me well through many camping, biking and hiking trips. If you want a basic GPS that will take whatever you can throw at it and don't want to break the bank, I don't think you can go wrong with this product. Have fun!

I am also very new to geocaching, and I wasn't even sure that I was going to like it, so I couldn't bring myself to spend a bucket full of money on a handheld system. After talking to a few people at the local electronics store, this system was reccommended to me. What I discovered was a lightweight, yet rugged, EXTREMELY user-friendly device. Even my kids (9 and 6) can use it - that's a big plus for me!! We found our first cache in about 15 minutes.
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br /The only feature that I wish it had is the ability to track my coordinates as I move, rather than having to store them as a waypoint.
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br /Overall, I love the unit, and I can't wait to geocache with it again.

I have not used a GPS unit before, but purchaed this based on reviews. With nothing to compare it to, I can report the following: Although the instructions are straight forward, I found that the buttons are not so easy to navigate. I make many mistakes in programing and have to start over. I also found the this is not very accurate. At 500 feet, the GPS unit will show any direction. I have to get to within 250 feet of a way point to start getting any type of accuracy. If I did not know the direction of the way point at 400-500 feet I literally have to walk in circles and watch the unit point me false directions. Again at 250 feet it is accurate.
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br /I have used this in the UP of Michigan and it takes about 5 minutes to get the satellites up and running. Also, if you want to save the information on your computer you will need to buy the cords, about $20.00, once I purchased these I then found I would have to purchase the software, it was not free at Garmin, so that would be another $20.00. I returned the cords and did not get the software. So if you want to save your information plan on spending another $40.00.
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br / For my first GPS I think it is okay. I think if you are hiking, you would need to do a lot more research and probably spend more money to get something with greater accuracy.

I have owned my eTrex for several months now. There is a lot to like about it. I personally like using the buttons as opposed to a joystick. Once you figure out where to place your fingers and learn the menu system, you can fly through and find your desired input faster than with a joystick. There is a ton of configurability. I love the look and feel of it in my hand compared to some of the Magellan's. But I am here to warn people about a couple big gripes I have with the eTrex.
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br /One gripe I have is the eTrex's inability to pinpoint a waypoint or coordinate. "But my LCD display says 'Navigation Accurate to 9 feet.'" Don't believe it, friends. Even if I wait until the display tells me the WAAS fix is accurate to 8 feet or so and then record my position as a waypoint, if I try to navigate back to this point later, I am lucky if it gets me within 20 feet. For hiking this is no problem, but for geocaching it could be disastrous! Once you get to within 20 feet of your known waypoint or coordinate, the compass arrow literally has you walking in circles, never directing you to the exact location, or even within 8 feet!
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br /The other gripe I have with the eTrex is that it introduces noise "spikes" when using the "bread crumb" feature. When I enable the track recorder and go on a long hike, it will draw my "bread crumb" trail as I walk. But sporadically the track will show a "spike" ranging anywhere from 100 feet to over a quarter mile long. For example, if I am walking north in a straight line, suddenly the unit will think it is instantaneously a quarter mile to the West, and draw a track line to that point, and back, instantly, drawing a line to that point and back in the shape of an instant spike. Besides being annoyed by the picture of the spike, the computer also factors the spike into the trip odometer and maximum speed. It adds the round-trip distance of the spike to your trip odometer. This makes the unit worthless for hiking from trail to trail of known distances. So a 1/4 mile spike adds 1/2 mile to your trip distance. In a nine-mile hike, I estimate that the spikes added a little over a mile to my total trip distance. It also completely ruins your maximum speed reading. After my unit instantaneously "spiked" on my hike, it said my maximum trip speed was 102 MPH!
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br /I emailed Garmin and they suggested to do a master reset. Didn't help the spikes, but it did erase all my saved data. I even bought another identical eTrex unit. My first was a 2000-2005 version with V 3.30 software. The new unit displayed 2000-2006 V 3.53. Both software versions "spike." The problem must be well documented, because in Garmin's website if you search for "spikes" it directs you to a thread which says that this can happen if the unit does not have a clear view of the sky. Problem is, both the units I tried will spike even with a full, clear view of the sky in all directions. A third eTrex unit I tried had an LCD display which was so grainy/sparkly with very little contrast as to be unusable.
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br /So, if you plan to use this units Track Back feature and/or "bread crumb" recording, or intend to rely on it for accurate distance or maximum speed recordings, or intend to use it for geocaching, you will want to skip the eTrex.
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We are new to geocaching, and the etrex was recommended to us. We have never owned a GPS before, so this was all new to us. The unit is easy to use, the screens are easy to see, and the light makes things easy at night. The accuracy is usually within 12 feet. The higher priced models, we are told, have a smaller accuracy, but for the price and fun, this etrex is well within our needs. Awsome.

I've had my eTrex for a little over two years now. It is GREAT! I have used in when sailing (I can find my slip that I left), hiking, kayaking (it's waterproof), biking... combined with Waypoint Software, I can download my trip and see my profile of my hike. I even use it when on airplanes (although you shouldn't), it is great to see altitude, speed, and see your map on the software when you get home. We recently went to Kauai (Hawaii) and we mapped the hole island with our travels! More than enought memory storage.

I trek a lot in Nepal and it is very nice to have a record of the latitude, logitude, and altitude of places I have been.
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br /When I separately bought my connection cable for transferring eTrek data to my computer, it did not come with the necessary software, but eTrek sent it to me without charge later (I thiink the normal price is about $25 and I do not know why that was not included with the cable).

For a simple GPS Receiver, this little thing is a powerhouse. I use it for geocaching, and it's never failed me. Granted, under a thick canopy of leaves it's a little iffy, but from what I understand, every GPSr is. I really like the fact that it didn't cost me a bundle to get into the game. It also leaves me room to have to use my own senses and sensibilities.

I bought one of these instruments in 2001. Used it twice when I was in Lithuania, and once when I was in the Andes in South America. It quit working. I returned it to the company, and they made good on it, although it was beyoud the warrenty period. Good customer service

The eTrex is a FANTASTIC little unit that has served me well for years.
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br /It has great battery life, quality construction, and solid durability.
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br /My last trip was a three weeks backpacking trip in the mountainous New Mexico. I made a list of waypoints using notepad and the internet and input them to my device, while on the train. Of course, I still had a compass and paper topo maps, but this GPS made it a lot easier to find my way back to camp, during my day-hikes!
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br /Four caveats:
br /FIRST: Keep in mind GPS units are only for SUPPLEMENTAL information. You must still be able to navigate with a compass and paper map if you're going backpacking!
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br /Keep in mind, this unit is IPX7, meaning it is water RESISTANT, not waterproof. Despite what you may read in eBay auctions, Garmin does NOT make one waterPROOF unit. IPX7 means that the unit will sit just below the surface of non-flowing water for 30 minutes. Anything more than that is not guaranteed to be covered by warranty.
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br /Also, DO NOT BUY THIS UNIT. Buy the newer, but nearly identical, eTrex H. The high sensitivity reciever is a HUGE improvement over the old 12 channel gps recievers. High sensitivity recievers acquire satellites much faster and have much better reception. With an "H" unit, you can leave your GPS under a thin lid on the top of your backpack or use the unit under heavy tree cover.
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br /Finally, if you can squeeze just a little more out of your checkbook, I would recommend a COLOR unit. Color units have a longer battery life (TFT screens use less energy than the black and white LCD) and most colored units share the same interface as other colored units... a much simpler interface than their odd-ball black and white counterparts.

I was looking at the pedometers. I found this, and am extremely happy with it. Pedometers are limited in accuracy and function. This little guy is amazing. It has an odometer function, the accuracy of which is based on the signal strength the unit receives. I can usually get wonderful strength, and the unit is accurate to within 20 ft. Not only does it measure horizontal distance, it tells me the elevation of the hills I am climbing. I've since found out that in my 2 mile hike, I'm climbing and over 70 ft! It has a trip timer, so I know how long I've been traveling. I continue to find uses for it. No buyer remorse here!!

Bought ours used almost 2 yrs ago. Use mostly for geo-caching and hiking. Also fun to bring on road trips and observe elevation changes, average speed, etc. It doesn't have some of the bells and whistles the more expensive units have, but works fine for what we use it for. I do recommend using rechargable batteries though since it can burn through some AA's pretty quick.

This little hand held GPS unit is a solid value for the price. User friendly and does the job. No problems.

This is my first GPS unit and I bought it for the price and the reviews. It really is a great buy. Does what it's suppose to do. I am a novice hiker. I use this so at the very least if I get lost I will be able to find myself back to my car! Great buy for the price. Just don't forget to mark key waypoints so you could trackback.

Factory re-conditioned with a new product guarante. Great bargin, Great service, and a great deal and believe me I have had several of these things quit in the past although Garmin has always replaced them without my asking. They stand behind what they sell.

I bought this unit to take with me deer hunting. It did not track the satellites initially so I returned it. I had the same difficulty with the second unit. The seller couldn't explain why both malfunctioned so I just got my money back. My advice is to take 2 AA batteries with you, open the package, install them and test the unit before you leave the parking lot. I guess there are no satellites over Gray, Georgia.

I had an etrex for a year. It was durable, got it at a great price, and was generally happy with it. The only real problems were that the battery case screw jammed sometimes and the coordinate numbers were too small to read easily. It would have been easy for the designers to make them bigger - this is just a flaw. Otherwise it was fine and well in line with other sub $100 units

Our ETREX has been great, we walk all over Scotland, however we encounter a problem when we enter any wooded area, the ETREX cuts out, until we find an open space. Otherwise this piece of technology, has saved us many times, as we have a tendency to go off the beaten tracks, and since we walk mainly in the winter it is important that we are able to find our way back. Garmin this was one good xmas present that was bought, but please try and find a way for connecting with the satellites in the woods.

I purchased this unit after reading several reviews. Much like the difference in opinion people have when rating hotel rooms (on expedia ect) I went with the overall average opinion. I'm a middle of the road kinda person. Not expecting something I don't deserve, but not willing to settle with junk.
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br /This unit met all of my expectations: It's very light. The manual is easy to understand. I felt comfortable with all the features in a couple of days. It gets you from point A to B and back again.
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br /While it is not pinpoint accurate like some have complained, it is very dependable at 5'-30'. If you have trouble landmarking at that distance, you may want to reconsider heading into nomans land with only a GPS.
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br /I will be using the unit for BWCAW camping trips and mountaineering in the Pacific Northwest. I plan on having a compass and topo map with at all times, but am looking forward to using many of the great features on the eTrex.
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br /Good value. Easy to use.
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I received mine yesterday. It works fine. For some reason it took serveral minutes to get a signal the first time though.
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br /**Just a warning if you are an impulse buyer like me.**
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br /The Amazon add has details on the product and it shows a color display. That is the eTrex Venture Cx model. The one here is the basic. I was expecting color. My bad for buying so quickly without reading. duh.
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br /Also I expected a data cable. Any other product on the planet comes with one if needed. I just bought the cable today. With shipping it was $45. I didn't expect this either. Again. My bad.
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br /I'm sure I'll have fun with it.
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This unit works as they say. I only need it for location coordinates and it works great. I tried setting markers and waypoints to find my way back to a starting point, but the unit seemed to want me to return in a straighter line vs the one I walked. Many other features I have yet to use and may not need as I only need a location point. For the money, I got what I paid for.

I purchased a refurbished model of the Garmin eTrex Handheld. I received it within the stated shipping period and in excellent condition. Upon opening the package, I thought there may have been a mistake. The shipped unit looked brand new. No blemishes or scratches anywhere.
br /Works and tested flawlessly when tested next to my Cuda 250. I purchased the handheld to be a backup for when I used a different kayak or travel to another island.
br /It took a bit of fumbling around to figure out all of the nuances. Although the manual was included..... who reads the manual anyway? :)
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br /A recommended product if you want a backup or want an entry level handheld gps. No bells or whistles needed, unless you're into that sort of stuff.

The Garmin eTrex is a no frills GPS that is perfect for new geocachers and hikers who need coordinates but not road maps.

We use this GPS when snowmobiling. Makes it easy to get back to your starting point.

Not only was this product packaged as advertised. It was delivered promptly and what a great product. When I hunt I go into very rough terrain and I go way in where most other hunters would never go. My new etrex always brings me right back to my truck or location I desire. Easy to use would be my thoughts and all outdoors people should have one.

Ive been using this in my small boat, and it has been excellent. I usually pop it into a ziplock baggy though, because my boat takes in a of water on windy days. I've flooded them in past by taking them diving, so find a waterproof phone case or something robust, then you can tuck it into your wetsuit if you like. Helps me find reefs while spearfishing.

The Garmin eTrex is a great handheld GPS for those who are looking for an inexpensive solution for geocaching or other needs. Simple and easy to use, this GPS is also accurate to within 3 meters. It also has a hunting and fishing feature which is a useful tool for the hunter and fisherman. As with most GPS's, it takes a little while when it is first started to find the satellites in your area but once it has locked on, then it starts up rather quickly.

For the money this is a great GPS. Easy to use and keeps us from getting lost as we cut trails on our wooded acreage. Works well in heavy trees.

This simple device is reliable for fixing positions. And If you know about coordinates, you can set it in, and bingo. You can compensate what it lacks of by using coordinates from a map while you paid unexpensive.

Compact, light, waterproof and carrying the GARMIN name of excellence, it's unbeatable in the catagory. I use it to drive a maping program on my notebook and then for hiking at my destination. Satalite aquisition is really fast even after driving hundreds of miles with the GPS off. Iv'e seen other
brands that seem to take for ever to find themselves under
this condition. I rated it 4 only because battery consumption
is higher than ideal.

This is a great tracker. It's great with local and it can convert to universal time. I love that it's waterproof. The compass is not my favorite. I am glad I bought it and it is popular with fellow science teachers and hikers.

The Garmin e-Trex was easy to use and did all that was expected of it for my local hunting adventures. Great value for the money.

I have used this device extensively since I purchased it, and I am quite pleased with the results.. As one who is new to geocaching, I have found the eTrex very easy to use, reliable, and it offers many functions. If you are new to geocaching, this is a perfect product for you.
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Been using it for 6 months already, and everything worked perfectly, just like it had to work, but suddendly the screen started to get transparent... Don't know why, since it didn't felt-down, though it got a little bit wet with the rain when I was hunting (it says it has a Waterproof exterior), but no big deal. I'm still able to use it, but I have to make an effort with my eyes... so, planning to get a newer one.

Got the gps to measure my walk of 6 miles (5 days / week). I've used it 6 times and have gotten no 2 distances the same. These are as much as half a mile off. I can count steps or watch the time and get more acurate distances. The moving average is not right, nor is the max speed.

This GPS offers MANY great features, including ability to interface with APRS Ham Radio position broadcasting. ( reason for purchase )

It's a simple device that does what it promises. You have to push the buttons hard to get the pages to change, and it takes some getting used to on how to do the different items, I wouldn't call the interface intuitive.

Excellent device for the person who doesn't want a myriad of seldom-used bells and whistles.

I purchased the Venture Cx and it stopped working. Called customer service and they said to send it back. Sent it out on Monday and had a brand new one delivered on Friday. Also included was a free car charger. That is what I would call customer service! The Venture Cx has been a great GPS!

This is my second gps, and is a very portable one. The batteries dure the double and are the half. Nevertheless, is not as accurate as the previous (a garmin xl12) for instances, in a point where the xl12 has an accuracy of 13 feets, the etrrx is about 20 feets.even so, for sailing is an excellent partner-

Great little gps, if you don't want mapping or other bells and whistles!

I got this GPS for my [...] birthday 2 weeks ago. It was awesome for about a day then the words became really light and you could hardly read them. We returned it to target and got another etrex. The words were darker so I was exited but then after an hour of use became light again, I tried new batteries but, that didn't help. Has anybody else had the same problem? Any adivce?

i-we- find this the best easiestbest priced gps out there.. about idiot proof.. we have hunters that get lost goin to the truck for beer.. not any more.....

I enjoy this product very much. I wish the shipping of this product was a little quicker. thank you

takes a little time to start operating, very good for the price a little trouble using it inside car

I wanted something small and easy to use. Basically just keep track of my route while hiking in the woods so I could find my way back to the truck.
This unit is slow, unreliable and has poor battery life.
It's a neat toy if you are walking around in your yard.
Save your money and buy a better model if you are really going to have to rely on it to find your way out of the woods.
Oh, BTW, even the slightest canopy or cloud cover and you'll lose your signal.

I tried to get this to work, but from day one it could never get a consistent satellite reading even in completely open space. I sent it back and tried it agian, still doesn't work.I was told if you have it in your pocket it won't work. I tried just holding it in my hand, still doesnt work. The technology is not there, I can't think of why anyone would want this if the material in a pocket stops a signal?

Hands off from this piece of junk! I had it less than a day when it, accidentally, fell from the kitchen countertop to the floor. Even though there was no visible damage body, the device went completely dead. It is unacceptable that a device for handheld field operation is that sensitive to handling, especially when it is made to look robust.
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This is a good basic unit. It gives you a wealth of data, in fact more data than I could ever use like time of sunrise and sunset. My one criticism is that I have to take about an hour to retrain myself on how to use it between trips. There is nothing intuitive about it. Another thing I noticed about it is that if you are taking a curvey path to your destination and say your destination is 3.5 miles up the path, this will not provide you with the correct distance. I think it must measure more or less as the crow flies.

My husband already had one of these, but says this one is much better and actually does alot more than his older one...FIVE stars in his book!