Before my GPS purchase, I considered a number of Magellan units in addition to some in the Garmin E Trex series. I finally decided on the Garmin Map76.pIn addition to being relatively easy to use, I preferred the slightly larger screen of the Map76 over the other units. Since I was purchasing the unit to use while sea kayaking, I found the screen on the Map76 was much easier to read in the sunlight than the smaller screens on the E-Trex models. In addition, you can upload map data into this unit. (Although the unit includes a basemap, Garmin also manufactures a number of optional mapping products which cover roads, waterways and topographical features in more detail). For kayaking, I use the optional BlueCharts which is essentially like having Nautical maps at your fingertips. (These are sold by regions and tend to be a bit expensive however).pThe tide station/prediction feature on the Map76 was also an important deciding factor. With this unit, you have the ability to get tidal predictions for virtually anywhere in the US at your fingertips.pThe Map76 often receives criticism on the low amount of memory for uploading map data. The tradeoff however is that it also drains the battery power at a slower rate than those that boast more memory. (I also considered the GPS Map76S which has an added electronic compass and more memory, however after a trial use from a friend's, I found the Map76S unit to drain battery power far too quickly for my intended use. The Map76S was also about $100 more in cost). Although the Map76S was a slightly upgraded Map76, I didn't feel the extra features of the 76S were worth the added cost, especially with the faster rate of the battery drain.pI've logged over 500 miles of sea kayaking with this unit and am very satisfied with its performance. I find the memory capability in the Map76 is adequate for uploading maps for day trips and the balance with the battery drain is also sufficient.pAlthough it is waterproof, I highly suggest a transparent waterproof bag for using while kayaking to avoid salt water condensation corroding the battery leads.pGarmin also offers toll free phone and email technical support for their units and software.pThis unit makes a great paddling partner.

The Garmin GPSMap 76 is a nicely thought out and solidly built device that works great if you're willing to learn how to use it. It has super-sharp graphics, a fair amount of detail, good satellite reception and accuracy, and nice additional features like tidal and sun rise/set information. Oh, and it's waterproof and it floats. I've had mine a few months and have gotten good use out of it while driving around northern California and city hiking in San Francisco, and i'm just starting to look at geocaching.
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br /This should be obvious to most people but, for the price of this unit, you are not going to get a GPS that puts your seat belt on and gives you turn-by-turn directions in your choice of voices. You have to be a bit of a gadget-head (or, at least, not a gadget-phobe) to figure out how to use all of the 76's features like navigation or the surprisingly detailed trip computer. The menu-driven UI is rather terse and doesn't have built-in documentation. Luckily, the GPSMap 76 allows you to work in simulator mode so you can put it through all of its paces from your living room.
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br /The 8Mb RAM does seem light, but GPS Mapquest format must be very efficient in storing data, because that actually works fine for most localized uses. If you travel around a lot and want to keep two or more locations memory-resident, you might begin to feel the pinch. As others have mentioned, some of the stored topo and location data is rather high-level and you can spend ~$90 for a CD set that will provide more detail. That seems to me to be a reasonable price-performance investment.
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br /The only thing i've found in this unit that i would consider a bug is that the user has to tell it what time zone to use. I would think that it would figure that out based on its location. Minor detail, though. One other thing -- the 76 doesn't come with a carrying case so you're out a little more money buying a pouch for it. Great deal for the money though, and a solid product overall.

The MAP76 is a well-designed and well-made unit with a lot of useful features. In particular, the external antenna, WAAS and DGPS capability, and wide input voltage range make this a great GPS for doing consumer-level mapping.pThis unit has Garmin's new quadrifiler antenna which really improves the ability of the GPS to lock onto satellites under heavy brush and in rugged terrain. There really is little comparison to the etrex units on all the testing I have performed in real-world conditions.pThe user interface is typical Garmin and it won't take you long to figure out how to use the GPS. The unit is fully water-tight (well, except for the battery compartment itself) and I have yet to see any complaints about leakage. It also floats which is definitely a useful feature for those thinking about using it for canoe tripping.pThe accuracy is rather astounding, again in comparison to older etrex units I have used. The unit consistently and quickly locks onto satellites and often receives the WAAS info even in northern Ontario; accuracy is remarkable when WAAS is recieved.pI have used this product extensively for doing trail mapping and design. With an external battery and antenna such as the Mighty Mouse II you get very accurate data and the tracks are extremely detailed compared to previous products. The MapSource information leaves a lot to be desired but with GPS Utility and a bit of time you can do whatever you want. The only thing I would like to see on this unit is some form of pluggable memory such as SmartMedia; hopefully that will be available on future products.

You will need to buy Map-source maps ($100+) to make this thing worth the purchase. I needed GPS for boating but the base maps are rudimentary, ie; no inlets, rivers, shoreline detail or lakes. It is although very accurate and easy to use, nice big screen and good reception. If you need GPS now this unit is an excellent value. I payed $199 a month ago and now its $169 but that's my problem.

With the rest of the GPS devices shifting to color, the large bw screen on this unit means money well spent. It's fast enough for practically any use. I've been using it in South East La. post-Katrina, Where those piney back woods were often blocked by debris. In New Orleans I used it to avoid blocked roads and to mark entry points into closed areas. I live hear, and the suroundings were so disturbed and displaced that even my own home-town was very disorienting. The backtrack and routemaking features are lifesavers. The screen is easy to read. The low draining BW screen also allows longer battery life compared with other color units I've used. Looking for a dashboard mount and auto power adapter right now. A photojournalist, I keep it in my camera bag.

This is a great gps, especially for marine purposes. I searched around and researched before deciding on purchasing the gpsmap 76. I find the preloaded base maps to be very sufficient and fairly detailed. It's waterproof and submersible, what else could you ask for. The only downfall is that it's not colorized, but big deal. It's quite easy to see when you're standing in direct sunlight. This is one of the best gps devices out there for this price range. It's well worth every penny, and comes highly recommended.

I had previously used GPS units, but never knew the intricacies of one until purchasing the GPSMAP76. The base maps that are preloaded on this unit are awsome. It is extremely user friendly. If you are technologically in the dark and are scared about newer electronics such as this, this unit is perfect. The manuals walk you through everything.
br /I have had a blast planning trips, geocaching (google it), and I can't wait to get on the water with it. I put it to the test when I was in some beautiful back country in the northern portion of lower Michigan. I googled some coordinates of where I wanted to go, and connected the dots on some really awsome 4x4 trails. The accuracy was incredible.
br /The only downside I can think of is the lack of expandable memory. However, I can't see the need for any additional software. Like I said, the basemaps are full of detail. I can find a McDonalds that is 20 miles up the road off an interstate exit! Also, it is a little bigger than the eTrex series, but that's because it's a "mapping" unit. It still fits easily into my Columbia jacket pocket.
br /The GPSMAP 76S would have been nice, but I was trying to be very price conscientious. Overall, I'm stunned and I love it.

Having owned over 6 Garmin GPS products, and now having the 76 that provides accuracy beyond belief, makes this product a real winner. Read all of the options, the WAAS is clearly next generation. I have used it on land and sea, in both cases there was no comparison to previous models. It is all here, you need look no longer.

With the internal quad-helix antenna (as opposed to a simple patch antenna)and the external antenna port for an optional active antenna, you can get great signal, even in the worst circumstances. After reading all the comments [...] I chose this unit and have been extremely satisfied. I have been able to get reception while driving in a valley under tree cover. I have even gotten reception holding it up next to a window on an airplane (way cool!). The 8MB of memory is enough to hold the map of the entire Bay Area. The compass is sensitive enough, so that a few steps in any direction will give you an accurate heading. The altimiter is accurate to within 10-20 feet when it has a 3D lock with good signal. It's acquisition times are short and the darn thing even FLOATS! I had to choose between this unit and the Vista (the other top of the line Garmin) and chose this unit for its reception sensitivity. The only other unit with "better sensitivity" was the feature-poor Garmin III+. br I have not been dissapointed with the Map76. One thing, be sure to hold it vertically for the best reception (as opposed to the patch antenna units which must be held horizontally).br Also: I have found that this, and other Garmin units, interface well with the MapSource and the TOPO! software for dynamite route and waypoint planning. Great Toy!

After spending a lot of time reviewing the various alternatives for handheld mapped GPS units, I came to the conclusion that I needed a unit with a quad helix antenna and preferred a Garmin product. I initially targeted a GPSMAP 60 but discovered that for my purposes the GPSMAP 76 was a better value. I don't need the extra memory or USB interface that the 60 offers, so I went with the 76 and have not been disappointed. I definitely recommend it.

I am an avid snowmobiler and needed a GPS to help navigate the wooded trails in the winter. Ilookaed at alot of GPS's and thisone was the best fit for me. it has 8MB storage, Lasts a long time on one set of alkaline AA's, and is made by a reputable company. I bought a carrying case with it and plan on buying a RAM Mount to mount it on my 1999 Skidoo MXZ 600.

So I finally got around to upgrading my trusty 3 year old Garmin 12XL to a new GPSMAP 76. I played with one of the Magellan 330s at the local store for comparison but found that once again I simply prefer the Garmin user interfaces. I also picked up the MetroGuide CD. I figured if I was going to upgrade to a mapping GPS, I'd really want richly detailed maps. Surprisingly, I've experienced no buyer's remorse whatsoever. The GPSMAP 76 is nothing short of miraculous! Garmin is to be commended for the improvements they've made to their product line over the years.pThe internal quad-helix antenna is excellent. Position accuracy is superb, screen resolution is vastly improved, and the extras such as tidal and celestial info are a really nice touch. The optimal fishing/hunting time predictor seems like overkill but I'll bet there are users who swear by it. The routing and tracking functions are well thought out and much improved since the 12XL was released. WAAS is sort of a mixed bag. I find that that whenever I lock onto WAAS signals, the estimated accuracy gets a few feet worse. It's never reads more than 20-25 feet off total but it's still the opposite of what I'd expect. Regardless of what the estimated error reading is, the accuracy always seems much better than it lets on. I've been using it a lot for geocaching lately and it invariably puts me within 5-6 feet of the caches.pThe MetroGuide CD is quite nicely designed for a Windows product (I'm a Mac fan!) It contains substantial improvements over Delormes Street Atlas 4 Mac which was the last CD based mapping product I owned. It's fast and accurate (I understand that they just updated all their maps) and the integration with the GPSMAP is excellent. You can easily transfer all waypoints, routes, tracks, or maps back and forth between the GPS and your PC (or VirtualPC for Mac fans). You can also connect your GPS to the serial port and dynamically track your whereabouts on your laptop screen but I find this arrangement a bit cumbersome. There are just too many wires and batteries to deal with. For me having an easily readable, high-resolution, zoomable map on the GPS is the only way to go.pThe only complaint I expected to make was with regard to the limited 8 MB map storage space. It turns out that 8 MB will hold pretty much the entire San Diego, CA and San Francisco, CA Bay Area. If I were driving across the country and wanted to investigate every nook and cranny I might be concerned. Otherwise it's perfectly fine for now.pGreat product, great price. Happy navigating!

The GPSMap76 is a great unit! More functions than I'll ever be able to figure out how to use. Contrary to the what the writeup says, the unit does fit into my shirtpocket. So far, only two shortcomings. 1) Not rechargeable (2-AA batteries) and 2) the manual seems sparse on details of "how to". All-in-all 4 stars. A REALLY GOOD UNIT!!

This gps locked on to satillites even in remote Utah canyons, is intuitive and works well. I am very pleased.

Loved it right out of the box. Well thought out, user freindly. Used it for geocaching and it took me within 6'. I could see other peoples tracks in the snow that missed the geocach and never found it. Very little bounce on most trips. Easy to download from the computer, I would recomend this one to anyone unsure about how to get started. This one is easy and true.

I bought this product to use with my boat and because the features made me believe it had all the lakes. After opening the box I discovered the lakes where I live are not included! I called the customer service and was told I needed to download the lake portion for $150.00. NO THANK YOU!Garmin GPSMap 76 Handheld GPS Navigator

My husband and father both have this unit. It's really handy to have on road trips and to use while Geocaching. From our experience, it does take a while to download map information onto the unit, and a color screen would be nice, but for $200, I think it's a good value.

I bought the GPSMap 76 because of its quad helix antenna. Reviews of other GPS receivers frequently complained that the satellite signal was lost in trees or under heavy cloud cover. I have yet to lose the signal when outdoors. It can even usually get the signal in my wood frame house.
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br /I originally just wanted an odometer for hiking but decided to get some mapping capability. I have used the GPSMap 76 for hiking, driving and biking. It's not optimized for any of those uses but is pretty good as an all-around unit. If I need a street navigator on a regular basis I would get a unit that specializes in that function. The GPSMap 76 does not calculate routes but you can use the path tool in Google Earth to draw trails, convert them to GPX files with KML2GPX then download them to the GPS receiver. I have found this invaluable when hiking or offroading in unfamiliar areas. It also traces your path which you can upload to your computer and view exactly where you went in Google Earth. When on a long drive I mount it in front of my speedometer and it becomes a map, electronic speedometer and altimeter.
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br /I got the topo maps (pre 2008). Even though these maps are about 30 years old, the streets shown are usually useful for driving. However, when zoomed-out they are very slow to load and too cluttered (the 2008 topo map has very inaccurate street maps). I often use the built-in map for driving but that leave out some major roads.
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br /It's a little large and could really use an SD card slot to save trails. Otherwise it's a good GPS receiver.

Excellent quality / price relation. It has many useful features. Easy to use. The pc cable provided works great ( even with linux - gpsman software - ).

The product was used and still had some way points in it, which I deleted. It was in like new condition and worked perfectly. All literature and cables appeared to never have been used. I did email the vendor with a question about software for this product and received a prompt response.

My husband says the GPS works great, and it will serve his purposes. He likes to fish, hunt and ride horseback on trails. I tried to consider other people's reviews to get the best price on a model that would meet his needs.

this makes no sence garmin says the list price for the gps map 76 is only 321$. I dont get about this is that the vista was released at the same time if not later than the gpsmap76 and The both have the same exact list price so why is the gps76 so much more expensive. Also eopinions says your sellin it for 199$

I JUST BOUGHT THE GPSMAP 76.THIS IS THE FIRST GPS ITEM I HAVE EVER OWENED.I BOUGHT IT FOR THE BOAT THAT I JUST BOUGHT SO I WILL ALWAYS KNOW WERE I AM IF I NEED HELP.THE DAY I BOUGHT IT MY DAUGHTER TURNED IT ON IN MY CAR.I WAS AMAZED THAT IT TRACKED MY CAR SPEED,LOCATION,AND DIRECTION,AMAZING.IT ALSO KEPT A RECORD OF OUT TRIP HOME,AVG SPEED,DISTANCE ETC,,,,,,,,,,,,,GREAT PRODUCT FOR AROUND [price].