GPS for geocachers
Geocaching is an extremely popular sport, and I’d venture to say that over 99% of geocachers use a GPS. But which one to choose? I’ll narrow the field, look at choices in multiple price ranges, and delve into other uses, mapping software, etc. You may also find it helpful to check out my Garmin handheld GPS comparison chart. By the way, all the units below have a high-sensitivity chipset for superior reception under canopy and in natural or urban canyons.
Budget GPS for geocaching
The Garmin eTrex Venture HC has a sunlight-readable color screen and the ability to accept detailed maps, such as the free Garmin-compatible topo maps available for most states. It comes with a USB cable for transferring waypoints, tracks and routes to and from your computer. The retail price is $200, but I typically see it selling for about $115 to $130.
A lower cost model, the Garmin eTrex H, has a monochrome screen and you lose the cable and the ability to load maps. The eTrex H is available for around $80 at the time of this update. I highly recommend getting the Venture HC instead.
Another budget model worth considering is the Geomate.jr, which comes with 250,000 caches pre-loaded!
Mid-range GPS for geocaching
I’m going to recommend the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx as a mid-range unit. The Legend HCx has a color screen and expandable map memory. Plus, it supports turn-by-turn routing, making it useful for city navigation in your car as well. You’ll need a mount, City Navigator software, and preferably a power cord, but then you’re set up for turn-by-turn routing. The retail price is $269.99, but as of this posting the Legend HCx can be found for around $180.
Alternatively, the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx improves on the Legend HCx, adding a barometric altimeter and electronic compass.
The best GPS receivers for geocaching
There are several choices here. Each offers paperless geocaching, giving you the full cache description, recent logs and more, right on your handheld.
For a big touch-screen, great interface and grab n’ go convenience, I recommend one of the newest Garmins, the Oregon 550t. It combines a high resolution, touch screen interface with pre-loaded topo maps of the entire U.S. It also has a built-in 3.2 MP geotagging camera. As a new unit, the price is still right around the MSRP of $599.99. I have a review unit in hand and should have a review posted by the end of November. In the meantime, you can read my hands on Oregon 400t review for a closer look at the Oregon series.
Another recent introduction, the Delorme PN-40 can accommodate aerial imagery and real USGS topos. It has a smaller screen than the Oregon (albeit more legible in most daylight conditions) and comes with powerful but complex software. At the time of this posting, it was available for around $300.
Finally, the brand new Garmin Dakota 20 is a smaller version of the Oregon. Once its been on the market for awhile, it should start to show up at a discounted and very attractive price.
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