I bought the eTrex Summit to use as a bike computer, since I was tired of those obnoxious units that you can buy that require a "pickup" on the wheel of your bike. With the eTrex Summit, I can get a very accurate acccounting of the length of my bike rides, get an idea of the elevation changes I've encountered, max speed, average speed, you name it! If I get bored while riding (not likely!) I can always pull up the track display and watch it drawing the little trail on the display. One hint - be sure to set your eTrex to battery saver mode. I did this and was able to ride all summer on one set of batteries. This is a cool unit and well worth the money.

I have several GPS for different uses. The most professional one is a Raytheon Chartplotter 630 on my motoryacht. The E-Trex Summit I bought to use for trekking and to mark the GPS location on dive trips with dive operators. They are VERY reluctant to reveal the GPS dive location. I found no difference in accuracy to other GPS. What is completely amazing is the sync time until all satellites are mapped and its ability to work by partly covered satellite horizons. The E-trex Summit syncs in about 15-30 seconds for normal use. The larger units all need 5-15 minutes!!! I have already ordered another one as backup for my boat. Two AA batteries or NiMh cells will run for more than 24 hours. The GPS III+ needs 4-5 times the batteries! The digital compass and barometric pressure/level display are very practical features and very accurate. This is not just a toy.

i was amazed at the accuracy! after i got my unit i discovered that i finally made the right choice. the SUMMIT is the only handheld out of dozens available on the web that had a true electronic compass that will show direction without needing to moving making it ideal for our camping trips.not only i understand how to use it but my 8 year old loves it and i let him venture off a little further than i normally would. another very unique feature is a true barometric pressure altimiter. i am not a big climber yet but this unit will track my progress. i am definatly a happy customer!! d.w.

I bought my eTrex Summit for Forest Fire GPS mapping support. I knew I would get a +/- of 12'-20'and for most forest fire support this is acceptable to us. I also use it for the altimeter at our helicopter landing fields, once calibrated it seems to stay relative based on at least 100 meters from the cal point.pIt is great for recreation, has all the waypoint and track/route storage you will need. The "Geocaching" treks are great with this little gizmo. It is a great starter for the kids too! They are not intimidated by it and find it fun to play around with. I am so greatful that it is waterproof and for a second or three it floats!pI have been using it in my geophysical surveys to gage the general elevation change from a known surveyed-in well head elevation and have seen 1.5' accuracy relative to the survey point calibration. With a 1/2 to a mile-ling line this us very useful and you don't need to bring survey equipment with you. This is a great navigational tool! We input well locations and/or our planned survey lines and nav to them and end up where we wanted to be based upon an aerial photo review.pThe odometer and speedometer are sure to surprise you in that they are very accurate considering most GPS units can track a vehicle, of any kind, up to 1,500mph to 1,800mph, ha, ha.pI do wish that the "Auto" calibration process would keep up with me after I have calibrated it once and have not moved more than three or five miles away from the cal point. It seems to loose it's cal quickly. This is a problem if you are not in a position to do a field cal on the fly, if you don't know the elevation or the altimeter.pI wish it had a WAAS upgrade! This would give me a 2-3 meter diameter of accuracy.pI may need to buy a WAAS gizmo and retire this one.

My eyes were wide the first time I turned on this unit. I couldn't believe that it was talking to satellites in space. pThe up side: It is fun technology! I've enjoyed having this unit on my bike. It's actually replaced my bike computer, because it gives far more and greater information during the ride. The down side: I have been disappointed with it's performance hiking. Under heavy forest canopy and deep mountain valleys (typical trail conditions in the Pacific Northwest), it has a very difficult time finding the satellites. pThe pluses outweigh the minuses on this one. Just don't expect miracles on the trail.

Well, its not really a toy... but who cares? Anyways I first got this becuase it was the cheapest GPS on the market (around $$$). I thougt this product would really be bad because right after I bought it I learned it had no mapping abilites! But then I got it and I have three words: This is cool! Although I use it more as a real GPS for my long haul bike trips, but just a ride around the neighborhood is cool. It is SO light and small and I love the automatic BARO pressure (See, when you're a pilot you have to adjust the altimeter barometer pressure manually - Also note: I don't use this for aviation). But, I don't like how it chews up batteries!

I use the eTrex Summit on my bicycle. I get my trip distance, net climbing, speed, average speed, time of day, sunset, etc from this unit. I also hook it up to my laptop and mapping software for road trips. Now my wife doesn't yell at me to ask directions! Of course, I'm a gadget junky and INVENTED reasons to buy it. If you're going to use it in the car, though, I'd suggest getting the combo cigarette lighter adapter data cable as the batteries wear down relatively quickly.

I am an avid hunter,before buyýng my gps a did an extencýve search for the best suited one for my needs.there is no questionbrthat the eTrex Summit has all I ask.the electronic compass is thebrmost important future.When I hunt I always go deep in the forest.brI used to have some terrible lost instances,I tell you getting lost in deep forest is no joke at all.now with my summit in my pocket I am the kýng of forests.the poiter page future is also extra advantage the summit has.Any hunter or camper should own one for hýs or her securýtýy.

I AM STILL WAITING TO RECEIVE THE TWO GPS UNITS I ORDERED ON 9-25-08
br /I SURE HOPE TO HAVE THEM BY XMAS !!

I just recently got this unit over the summer. This thing is great!! The barametric pressure watcher is perfect for camping, hunting, and other outdoor activities. This also shows the elevation profile. This is a neat little tool and most of the people who like the outdoors will love this.

I use it when I go sking, so I see how fast I can go, I use it for biking, so I can tell how far I have gone. I can be in the middle of my two story house and still get a signal (It takes about 10 minutes though) Outside it will pick up a signal in under 30secconds. Its Great!p Pro-Easy to usebr -Lots of infobr -Can be used for rec/workbr -Very accuratep Con-Sucks up batteries fast

I've checked this GPS out in the toughest test and I guess you get what you pay for, this model can display the profile for up to 25 miles on the screen , but when you download the data the profile is very hard to re create on the PC, I've tried using several kinds of download software and then Harvard Graphics or excel , with the same result, a horizontal scale problem.pEvery check I have made on its accuracy shows no problem , just this end of the line processing, perhaps I'm the only user trying to print off the profile

I really love my Garim GPS 12. It is easy to use and move between screens and features. The Summit is not as easy to use. It is not as convenient to identify way points, does not work with mapping software and its display is to simple. It was not a step up but sideways. I use it in conjunction with my GPS 12 mostly just to keep the track log.

Just keep in mind that if you buy this product, you will not have the capability to load any Mapsource data, or any map data at all. The unit does not come with even a rudimentary database, and although there is an optional (and riduculously overpriced) PC interface cable, you won't be able to upload anyting into the GPS unit. No street maps, no topo maps,... nada. Other comparably priced units have this capability, which seems to me to be absolutely essential if you actually want to use a GPS unit to be able to navigate, which, let's face it, is the only reason that you would buy one.