Excellent and versatile GPS that I use for geocaching, driving, mountain biking, and hiking. I previously owned the Venture Cx and the display cracked due to my carelessness in the airline luggage. I upgraded to the new Legend HCx with the high sensitivity receiver and this unit significantly outperforms the older units. The new receiver fixes your location much faster and provides much better signal coverage. I noticed this as soon as I turned the Legend HCx on, as I was able to get a fix inside my house.
br /
br /The expandable memory option (Cx) of the etrex series allows you to store a tremendous amount of map info. I installed the TOPO and City Navigator Mapsets for the entire state of CA and I am able to switch between mapsets. When I am on the trail, I "hide" the other mapsets and "show"/use the TOPO mapset. When driving on the road, I switch to City Navigator to get turn by turn navigation to my destination.
br /
br /The only cons about the etrex series is that they have a small screen to view while driving and the menus/control button configuration are complex. I had to install my unit right on the steering column for driving. It took me awhile to learn and use all the features of the City Navigator and to switch between mapsets. But, for a pocket size all around GPS with excellent battery life, these are acceptable compromises.

This is the second mapping GPS I have owned, and it is nearly perfect for my needs. I can't believe how much better this eTrex Legend is than my old eMap unit. First, the bright color display is clear and readable in direct sunlight. My laptop wouldn't even be visible in those conditions. Battery life - there is no comparison! I haven't yet changed the alkaline batteries in 4 weeks of use (modestly heavy as it is a new toy). Finally, it is so sensitive that it has never failed to get a satellite position while indoors. Again, the HCx is a major improvement over the previous model where I could lose reception inside my car with glass all around and in open countryside.
br /
br /Pros: Light weight, small size, fits great in one hand.
br /Can be operated completely with one hand.
br /Display is amongst the sharpest and brightest I have ever seen.
br /Very intuitive and simple to use for anyone except possibly a newbie to GPS navigation.
br /Battery life seems endless.
br /Ability to map a route to a destination address entered at the unit with the City Navigator software installed - the entire U.S. and Canada detailed road maps and POI fit on a single 1 GB micro-SD flash card.
br /Useful in your car or outdoors for hiking, boating, fishing, snowmobiling, motorcycling, etc.
br /A true all-in-one GPS solution for a low price.
br /
br /Cons: Small display compared to Nuvi series and other non-outdoor GPS units.
br /No voice directions - it has two types of tones to alert you to pending and imminent turns.
br /You need to add $120 worth of City Navigator mapping software to enable the auto-routing by address or point of interest functions.
br /The click-stick 5-way joystick navigation device is not the easiest thing to use to move around the maps and menus.
br /
br /Overall I am very happy with my purchase and I expect to get at least 5 or 6 years of good use from this before I will be looking at replacements. Garmin quality and service has been excellent in my opinion; my eMap still works, though it will likely be relegated to a desk drawer.
br /

This is my second Garmin and I like the unit in general. The built-in maps though are beyond useless. I was on the Colorado River with this unit, and it showed me as being 400 feet off of the river. That is a pretty major error. My friend's GPS showed the exact same coords but his map actually showed us as being on the River. Yes, I know I am free to spend a ton of money on add-in map data, but really the base maps should be able to recognize the CO River.

Let me start off by thanking Garmin for making such wonderful products and Amazon for guiding me too them. Now, on with the review. Ok after looking at various reviews for many a different kinds of gps i had narrowed it down to 2, this of the Vista HCx. Now folks lets me lay it out for you. Unless you really need the altimeter, there isn't any point of getting the Vista for the $50+ that it is. Or unless you really like unity in your products, ex. all-in-1 design. The Vista comes with a electronic compass too but lets be realistic here folks who goes out and about without a REAL metal compass. what happens if the GPS dies on you? (although that be hard with 25+ hours of battery life, hehe) anyways unless you are committed to the all in oneness or have to have the other features then this is one awesome gps, it has everything you could ever need. You will need to buy maps separate but you can find them on amazon for cheap so its all good. Either way buy this gps, don't settle for less.

I bought this unit to replace an older eTrex Legend model that I mount on my bicycle handle bar. As noted by other reviewers the HCx unit has enhanced sensitivity and very long battery life. My rechargeable AA's last at least 5 times longer than in the old unit. Also it never loses track when outside, and it will find lock in the house, something the old unit never did.
br /
br /As also noted by others, the built in base map does not provide much data. It's the same map that was in the old unit. I purchased separately the pre-programed street maps on micro SD card which provides full street and point-of-interest data for the entire country. (Google search "010-10679-50" for the best deal on this essential accessory.) I didn't by Garmin software maps because I use a Macintosh and Garmin has never supported the Mac. (They now have something they call "Bobcat" which is supposedly a Mac program to allow map manipulation and transfer. I haven't tried it.)
br /
br /Anyway I use National Geographic TOPO! maps on my Mac and can download (eTrex to Mac) track data and plot maps of my outings and obtain elevation profiles and ride distances. It's also possible to transfer waypoints and routes both ways with TOPO!.
br /
br /Another note regarding cycling; in the old unit I had to purchase a special back plate to allow it to clip to the handlebar mount. The new HCx comes with a clip that attaches to the back and allows it to slide into my old mount. (If you don't already have a bike mount kit, you'll need that accessory as well.)
br /
br /Another problem with the old model that's fixed in this new unit is that the batteries are securely clipped in with damping material attached to the clips. My old unit would shut down when I hit even mild bumps until I damped the battery clips with small bits of handlebar tape.
br /
br /Bottom line is that I'm very pleased with this device, but note that it is not complete without detailed maps. The street maps work for me; you may want other maps for other types of use.

I was very pleased with the Garmin Legend HCx. I am the owner of a Legend Cx (previous model) and bought this as a gift, and the "H" (for High Sensitivity) is a real improvement.
br /
br /I have found using the Cx model that often when driving, if the unit is near the center of the car and away from dashboard / windows, it will lose satellite reception, even while driving in wide open areas (experienced this in two different car models). THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH THE HCx.
br /
br /If you are looking for a GPS receiver for hiking, rowing and general navigation while traveling, like I was, I recommend this model.

This is my 5th GPS unit, and my 4th Garmin, including etrex Legend, eMap, Legend C, and now the Legend HCx.
br /
br /The Legend HCx is an ok GPS, but not currently good for hiking/backpacking. It has a bug in it that makes it inaccurate at sensing your speed when you walk less than about 2mph. While usually easy to walk faster than 2mph, when you're backpacking in the woods, it's often tough to average faster than that. The result is you can walk indefinitely at 2mph and this GPS will record that you've been standing still the whole time. It's odometer, moving time, and stationary time records are all incorrect when you've been traveling under 2mph.
br /
br /Mainly just a pain. It does consistently give your position accurately though, so it's primary purpose is fulfilled quite well.
br /
br /I've spoken with Garmin and they say they're working on a firmware update to fix this, although no commitment date was given.

This was my first time buying a GPS and I bought the eTrex Legend HCx after trying out two other models and returning them. The Magellen Xplorist 210 and the eTrex Legend (non HCx).
br /
br /At first I found the Garmin models to be a bit awkward in that the buttons and joystick are located above the display. However after some use they ended up getting more comfortable. One handed operation is a bit awkward. This was the only reason for a 4 star rating.
br /
br /It was definitely worth it to upgrade to the high sensitivity model and colour display. The maps are much easier to read and reception is greatly improved when inside a vehicle. The magellen model could not get a position fix while inside my truck while the Legend HCx can get a fix while inside my apartment!
br /
br /The autorouting feature is very useful and accurate, although it does not always take you along the quickest path.
br /
br /All in all I am very happy with this unit. Spending a little extra on the HCx model was definitely worth it. This unit is very versatile and functions great both on the road and on the trail.

I use my Garmin eTrex Legend HCx almost on a daily basis. It's true what people say about the base maps; they're not really good for getting around. With that said, this thing comes alive when you install the City Navigator Maps. Turn by Turn directions (not spoken), Points of Interest Locator, find and route to an address, locate a restaurant and more.
br /
br /Great example of use: I was not in my town and needed to find a Bank of America ATM so I wouldn't have to pay ATM fees at both banks. I whipped out my eTrex, clicked Find then ATM and it showed me all banks with the closest first. Scrolled down to the first BOA and clicked Navigate and the Turn by Turn directions popped up. Awesome.
br /
br /I also began Geocaching with my kids. We love it. Nothing better to a kid then finding hidden treasure.
br /
br /I am an avid mountain and dirt bike rider so I also own the handlebar mount on both bikes. Flying down hill and blasting across rocks, mud, and water this thing stays with me. I take the recorded Track and upload it to my favorite trail riding websites using the GPX format.
br /
br /There is plenty of onboard memory to save your "Tracks" and I never filled it with any ride I did. But I bought a 2G micro SD just in case. (I believe you'll need the SD card if you install any maps.)
br /
br /I am knocking off 1 star because my eTrex shuts down while dirt bike riding (not mountain biking). I am pretty extreme and do intense climbs over rocks which are jarring. Jumping down cliffs with harsh landings must be shaking the batteries loose and causing the unit to shut down. I've googled this problem and other people have experienced this too. There are workarounds with which people have had success. Like I said, on the mountain bike, it works great.
br /
br /Overall though, if you're in the woods a lot but still want to get somewhere using your car, the eTrex Legend HCx is a great unit. I am very happy with my purchase.

The Legend HCx connected to the satellites from inside the house, car and the metal shed as advertised. Accuracy excellent. Definite improvement to the Legend. You will need to buy a micro flash card. The price was enhanced by $30 off when approved for Amazon credit card. Two thumbs up all round.

This is my 2nd Garmin. First was the Garmin eTrex Legend which I bought 4 years ago, and is still working! However, the newer chip used in the latest purchase boots up faster, picks up signals faster, and is much more sensitive. Tree foilage has not affected signal receival unlike the older model. It also helps with a higher memory capacity for bigger maps and the color screen is really an upgrade.
br /

I was a little skeptical about the benefits of such small GPS device, but I wondered about the easiness of operation and the sharpness of the screen. I took this one fishing with me and could detail the location of all the good spots and comeback the day after. This has being a very good purchase, I am in process now of adding more memory and buy the detailed maps in Mexico.

My first GPS device but after loading the North America City Navigator I have a very portable, very powerful navigation device. Whereever I am on the road I can find just what I need. The screen is easy to see, the interface is intuitive, just one neat little package.

GPS unit works excellent. I tested the accuracy and it was well within spec's. Unit was delivered as promised.

I bought the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx an up grade from my eTrex Legend. I'm very happy with it. Been Geocaching with it and it gets me right on the spot.

I needed a GPS for hiking, and this unit has work out well. It also is excellent as a GPS for auto traveling. Price was right. Fast shipping.

I got over the small screen because the color and detail was so much better than my old one. And it very quickly locked onto satellites, even inside my house, which my old one could not do.
br /
br /But I needed it to transfer live GPS data to my laptop, running Terrain Navigator software to record the track, in my four-wheel-drive vehicle as I explored back roads in Arizona. It would work for a few minutes and then would freeze. I spent a lot of time with tech support and finally returned it. I went back to my old Magellan GPS as it worked OK.
br /
br /But otherwise I really liked this new Garmin.

Good product. Picks up signal very well.
br /Only problem it only works with Garmin maps.

Interesting story ... but I'll keep it short. I bought an E-Trex Vista Hcx back in March, but lost it on my very first kayaking trip in September! Well, I liked it so much, I ordered another one ... very pleased that I was able to save $40 on the one I purchased in March. But, when it came in the mail, I noticed it was a different color. Anyway, I eventually realized I had made a bone-headed mistake and purchased an eTrex "Legend" Hcx instead of the "Vista." No wonder it was cheaper! Anyway, I'm still very happy with the Legend and the only difference, that I can tell, is the Legend doesn't have the Barometric Altimeter or the Electronic Compass (which means you don't have to be moving to get a reading). Four stars instead of five only because it seems the Legend Hcx doesn't find satellites as quickly as the Vista Hcx ... but that just may be my particular unit. On the positive side, when I called Garmin and explained my story, they gave me another unlock code for my City Navigator NT 2008. I was very pleased with Garmin's customer service and the fact that I didn't have to spend another $100ish on a map.

Having the job that I do, I am constantly in and out of buildings and vehicles, as well as on land and water and under thick tree cover. This Garmin has worked better then the other oen I owed and the two others that I was giving to by my employer. This one has alot more bells and whistles on it then my last Etrex Legend(the blue one). The color option/brightness is great for both day and night. Battery life is awesone. the only thing I wish is that it had a better detailed map of the highways(but like anything else you always have to pay for upgrade programs). It takes less time then the etrex legend to boot up and lock on to satalites. Well worth the investment

I purchased a 2008 U.S. Topo Map and a 2 Gig SD card with this product and I am very pleased with the end result. The basic map on the GPS was practically useless but then I bought the product knowing that. I use it primarily for Geocaching right now but in the very neat future I will be using it for scouting and hunting also and hopefully it will serve me as well for those purposes.

This is the perfect GPS for Mountain Biking. Right size, is rugged and with a little inovation I was able to mount it to the stem of my bike using the case that I ordered and some Velcro strips/wraps and it actually looks quite good. It does not look gaudy or too makeshift. It appears as if it was meant to be mounted on the stem.

I've owned this and the previous CX. The HCX locks on to satellites very quickly and hold the signal indoors or in built up areas. Very good for hiking and the like. Trouble is that I mainly use the trip computer functions and the display is too volatile jumping around between speeds. Not good as a triip computer, buy the less sensitive CX for canoeing, biking etc.

I like it. I kinda wish I had sprung the extra $ to get the Vista to get the digital compass. If you are not moving, you can not really tell the direction. Other than that, I very pleased. Easy to see at night as well as bright light. Button function takes a some practice and coordination, but not too bad once you get use to it.

I use this for road biking. After you get the hang of it, it is perfect for directions and ETA. Probably doesnt have the featuers that teh more expensive ones have, and also doesnt seem to be as sensitive as it claims. I however really enjoy it and would recommend to someone who just needs something to help bike around areas that they are not familiar with. Paying anything more than $200 would be ridiculous.
br /
br /Also, update the basemap with one of the Garmen map sets. $50. Using the mapping program you can create your own routes. It can be cumbersome but well worth it when you are in the middle of NOWHERE county not knowing which direction to head next.

Either you wanna go on road or off road this is the way to go, Great maps, great load times. this thing does everything thing!!. Been doing Geo cashing for a month now and ITs pin point accurate. You can go wrong

It is a great GPS, but the software maps are HORRIBLE and extremedly EXPENSIVE.
br /I got this GPS to be able to go hiking. I have a wife and a 14 months child. We go to the ocassional weekend hike and I don't want to get lost.
br /I also have a Garmin Quest, and I thought I could take advantage of the same manufacturer.
br /what a waste.
br /It is an expensive piece of technology and still you are going to need to buy paper maps and carry them with you. Garmin's TOPO maps don't even show the paths in the national parks!!!!
br /Creating routes is a pain, as it is with all garmin products. Saving routes from tracks, which should be a one click deal is also just impossible (when are these guys going to start listening to the users?).
br /My car maps from Garmin (for the Quest navigator) just don't work and they never will, so I still need to take my other unit with me to get to the parking lot. That or buy an extra set of maps for garmin for even more $$$$$$. But they are a rip off. They are inacuarete, they tell you to drive trhoug private propierty, they insist that you go trhoug areas that have been closed due to construction and it is really difficult to convince tha GPS that it needs to recalculate the route avoiding that particular spot.
br /I have to admit tha the GPS reception is great, but for wat? Most my hikes are in state or national parks following quite well marked trails, and my other GPS unit also gets good reception even under some folliage. This extra unit is a luxury and Garmin doesn't make it worthi trying to force me to pay hundred of extra dollards in maps. How much is going to cost me each excursion? I am going to send this one back until this guys come down with the price of their Software.
br /

Found this unit to be very easy to use. Setup took a little time, but it gave me a chance to become familiar with the unit. You can customize it for how you are going to use it and it acquires the satellites almost as fast as you can get to the first screen. Like many others however, I found the included maps almost worthless and had to upgrade, and even those maps were not extremely detailed and not great for off trail treking. Trip planning can be done however on other mapping programs and transfered and overlapped on the Garmin.

I am very pleased. I had an old GPS III plus, and this one is much faster, clearer, and easier to work with. Very happy with the total price being less than anywhere else.

Good product so far. Basic mapping is very basic for road map/directions and the upgrade is expensive ($130) for a $200 product. Garmin instructions included in original purchase box are very basic. I would have liked more detailed directions to use this GPS. Otherwise, the product is durable, great screen color, long AA battery life. Easy to use buttons and scrolling once you get a grasp on the menu's.

This GPS is unbelievable!!!!!! I can't believe the difference the high sensitivity receiver makes. I recently was in Venice Italy and even in their narrow streets, I never lost satellite reception. You have to ask yourself if someone gives this product less than three stars do the work for a competitor.
br /Mark

I found this product to all that it was advertised to be and then some. I am very happy with Garmin.

I love Garmin (Ihave a Nuvi 350 and it's GREAT), BUT I returned this unit due to a faulty chip that kept switching modes, etc. When asked if I wanted to exchange for the same, I declined, as the item was not easy to navigate i.e., user intuitive. I'm sure that some programmer had fun, however I don't want to devote the rest of my life trying to use it!

I have been trying to unlock the city navigator NT that was purchased with this unit. I have tried everything I know. The web site is terrible and trying to email product support does not work. Buy something else. This is terrible.

If you are not looking to spend much then this product is for you. Keep mind do not expect much from it either. This is a classic example of you pay for what you get. The graphics and detail are so horrible you could not find your way out of a paper bag with this device.
br /
br /I used it twice and returned it without hesitation. This is not the device I was expecting nor wanted. Don't waste your time and money on this product. If you must have a GPS device then save a bit longer to spend more and get something that is worth buying.
br /
br /To put this in perspective this is like using an old school Nintendo compared to what's out there today. Hope this helps make your decision.