Garmin Oregon 300 review

UPDATE: The Oregon 300 has been discontinued. For current recommendations, check out our handheld GPS buyers guide or our Garmin handheld GPS comparison chart.

The Garmin Oregon 300 is one of Garmin’s first touch-screen handhelds for backcountry use. The Oregon 300 comes with a built-in worldwide basemap with shaded relief. Unlike the Oregon 400 series, the 300 doesn’t come with pre-loaded detailed maps. Don’t let that dissuade you though – there are plenty of free maps available for Garmin units. Here’s how this model compares to other units in the Oregon series:

• Oregon 200 (GPS Tracklog) – Simple basemap, no pre-loaded detailed maps; unlike other Oregon models the 200 has no barometric altimeter or electronic compass
• Oregon 400t (GPS Tracklog) – Built-in topo maps of the United States and a worldwide basemap with shaded relief
• Oregon 400c (Garmin) – Built-in BlueChart® g2 coastal charts and a worldwide basemap with imagery
• Oregon 400i (Garmin) – Built-in U.S. Inland Lakes and a worldwide basemap with imagery
• Oregon 450 (GPS Tracklog) – Worldwide basemap with shaded relief, no pre-loaded detailed maps, triaxial compass, brighter screen than previous models
• Oregon 450t (GPS Tracklog) – Built-in topo maps of the United States and a worldwide basemap with shaded relief, triaxial compass, brighter screen than previous models
• Oregon 550 (GPS Tracklog) – Worldwide basemap with shaded relief, no pre-loaded detailed maps, triaxial compass, geotagging camera
• Oregon 550t (GPS Tracklog) – Built-in topo maps of the United States and a worldwide basemap with shaded relief, triaxial compass, geotagging camera

To see how the Oregon 300 stands up against other Garmin models, check out my Garmin handheld GPS comparison chart.

Compare prices on the Garmin Oregon 300

I really like the Oregon series touch screen. It’s a superior interface and I recommend it highly instead of the Colorado series models. The touchscreen really is a joy to use.

But these high-resolution screens have visibility problems, especially in bright light. Rather than rehash everything here, please read my hands-on Garmin Oregon 400t review for a full look at the unit’s pros and cons.

More Garmin Oregon 300 reviews

• Consumer-authored Garmin Oregon 300 reviews are being posted at GPS Now
• More consumer-authored Garmin Oregon 300 reviews have been posted at Amazon
• A Garmin Oregon 300 review from down under
• MapToaster.com reviews the Oregon 300
• Trusted Reviews has posted a UK-centric Garmin Oregon 300 review
• Yet another Oregon 300 review from the other side of the pond
• GpsPasSion has an Oregon series review thread
• A video review of the Garmin Oregon 300:

I’ll be posting more hands on GPS reviews as they appear, but in the meantime, here are some…

Other Garmin Oregon 300 resources

• A PDF version of the Garmin Oregon 300 owners manual
• A Garmin Oregon message forum
• This tool will show you how the Oregon 300 compares to other mapping units
• This Garmin Oregon wiki has an Oregon FAQ
• GPS Fix is a blog that focuses on the Garmin Oregon and Colorado series
• A comparison of the Garmin Oregon and Colorado series
• And another Oregon / Colorado comparison
• Garmin Oregon training videos
• The official Garmin Oregon 300 web page

Compare prices on the Garmin Oregon 300 at these merchants:

• Find the low price on a Garmin Oregon 300 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 Oregon 300 price at Amazon
• Get the
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• Buy the
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• Get the Garmin Oregon 300 for an amazing price on eBay