Hiking GPS units – Garmin eTrex Venture HC
Hiking GPS units – Garmin eTrex Venture HC
As we have expanded our portable GPS testing program, many readers have requested GPS buying advice and ratings on hiking handhelds inspiring the team here to hit the trails. We purchased a variety of models from Garmin and Magellan to evaluate. (We have heard from a smaller, though no less passionate, group of golfing enthusiasts, but the GPS team will not be hitting the links this year.)
Trails have been trekked, dozens of geocaches found, and testing has been completed. We are now working on buying advice and Ratings. As promised, we’ll have the hiking GPS information live this month, leaving ample time for holiday shopping.
As we get the big pieces together, our first review is of the affordable Garmin eTrex Venture HC. We found the eTrex Venture HC to be a great entry-level handheld device that is well-suited for the casual hiker or someone just getting started in geocaching. The other units evaluated are significantly more expensive, with additional features and in some cases much slicker overall packages. However, we found the eTrex Venture HC was equipped with the features that will matter most to the typical weekend adventurer.
Read our Garmin eTrex Venture HC first look for the full story. We’ll have much more to report on hiking units in the days ahead.