Garmin Colorado 400t review

UPDATE: I’m recommending the new touch-screen Garmin Oregon 400t instead of the Colorado. It has a superior interface, along with almost all the other good things found on the Colorado.

UPDATE 2: This model has been discontinued. For more current recommendations, please refer to our handheld GPS buyers guide or our Garmin handheld GPS comparison chart.

The Garmin Colorado 400t is one of the first in a new line of handheld GPS receivers from Garmin. With an entirely new interface, it is very different from the eTrex and 60/76 series units.

Before we get into the details of the review, lets compare the major differences between the four Colorado models:

• 300 – Worldwide basemap with shaded relief, no pre-loaded detail maps
• 400t – Worldwide basemap with shaded relief, U.S. topo maps pre-loaded
• 400i – Worldwide basemap with satellite imagery, U.S. inland lakes and navigable rivers charts pre-loaded
• 400c – Worldwide basemap with satellite imagery, U.S. coastal waters and Bahamas charts pre-loaded

To see how the Colorado 400t stands up against other Garmin models, check out my Garmin handheld GPS comparison chart.

Compare prices on the Garmin Colorado 400t

Since this is a landlubbers blog, I’ll ignore the marine units. So the key question is whether to buy the Colorado 300 or the 400t. The 400t is a great unit for those who don’t already own Garmin’s Topo U.S. 2008, since it comes with those maps pre-loaded. Otherwise, buy the 300 and save some money.

I covered the Colorado pretty thoroughly in my hands-on Garmin Colorado 300 review, so I won’t repeat all those details and screen shots here. I highly recommend checking it out for a thorough look at the unit’s pros and cons.

More Garmin Colorado 400t reviews

• Numerous consumer-written Garmin Colorado 400t reviews have been posted at GPS Now.
• Consumer-authored Garmin Colorado 400t reviews are also showing up at Amazon.
• One of my favorite GPS sites, GPS Information, has posted their own comprehensive Garmin Colorado 400t review.
• A Garmin Colorado 400t review on the Colorado Wiki gives it 3 out of 5 stars.
• GPS Lodge has also posted a Garmin Colorado 400t review.
• Calipidder.com has posted a detailed first look at the Garmin Colorado 400t, with quite a few screen shots.
• About.com gives a 4-1/2 out of 5 star rating in their Garmin Colorado 400t review.
• GPS Magazine has posted a thorough review of the Colorado 400t, though they were testing a pre-production unit.
• Modern Hiker reviews the Colorado 400t.
• Geeks to Go reviews the Garmin Colorado 400t as well.
• The Hopp Stop offers a brief Colorado 400t review.
• G4TV reviews the Garmin Colorado 400t.
• The National Geographic Adventure blog posts a very brief Garmin Colorado 400t review
• The Mississippi Geocachers Association has thread going on Garmin Colorado 400t reviews; scroll down a bit for a detailed one
• A summary of Backpacking Light’s Garmin Colorado 400t review
• The Garmin Colorado 400t makes Camping Life’s 2008 Gear of the Year list
• A brief user-posted Garmin Colorado 400t review
• Singletracks reviews the Colorado 400t (and bike mount!)
• I’ll be posting more hands on GPS reviews as they appear, but in the meantime, here are some…

Other Garmin Colorado 400t resources

• A PDF version of the Garmin Colorado 400t owners manual
• GPS Fix is a blog that focuses on the Garmin Oregon and Colorado series
• A Garmin Colorado mini-site
• Compare the Garmin Colorado 400t to other Garmin handhelds
• A comparison of the Colorado and Oregon series
• And another Oregon / Colorado comparison
• Compare the Colorado to the Garmin 60CSx
• An FAQ by Garmin
• Another Garmin Colorado FAQ — see GC16 for info on multiple geocaching views
• There is a Garmin Colorado message forum at Yahoo!
• And another Colorado forum
• The official Garmin Colorado 400t web page

Compare prices on the Garmin Colorado 400t at these merchants:

• Find the low price on a Garmin Colorado 400t at GPS Now, where shipping is free on orders over $99 (and the upgrade to overnight shipping is dirt cheap!); order by 5 p.m. Central Time for same day shipment.
• Check the current Garmin Colorado 400t price at Amazon.
• Get the
  Garmin Colorado 400t Hand Held GPS Navigator with US Topo Maps
  at TigerGPS, where you get free shipping on orders above $250.
• Find the
  Garmin Colorado 400t GPS
  at REI.com, where satisfaction is guaranteed and members get 10% back on eligible purchases.
• Get the Garmin Colorado 400t for an amazing price on eBay.
• Check out our GPS deals site for current specials and rebates on a wide range of GPS receivers