Best Handheld GPS?

[mudflat]

Looking for bigger screen, best GPS service in wooded areas, mapping features, terrain, etc. Best bang for my buck. Have several 20 year old Garmins, anything better than Garmin these days?

[Duck cutter]

I wouldn’t think anything could beat a Garmin.

[JABIII]

I run a Garmin Inreach. $25 a month. Never used it after 3 years. Hope I never need to. it is my backup backup from EPIRB and PLB...

[Frank1]

Garmin rino's are my go to

[BugBuster]

Anything Garmin

[ecu1984]

I think I have a brand new Garmin handheld in the box with a color screen and latest maps.
I'll look when I get home

[Palmetto Bug]

I use Garmin stuff but I wish they would rethink their ergonomics. My dog tracking unit is bulky and has a small screen that I have to dig out my reading glasses to see. I've had GPS units that were similar form factor. Their newer model dog trackers will project to your cell phone, which is a great idea. It would be better if Garmin would try to make the unit shaped like a phone with a full sized screen.

The menu trees aren't very intuitive either. It takes me too long to find anything.

But even with that criticism, Garmin is the gold standard

[scdiver]

Another Garmin vote, run the Alpha 300i dog tracker but use it as a GPS in remote areas where don't have cell service.

You can download topo or Satellite shots to use when you don't have Maps capability on your phone. I assume the other handhelds do the same with Maps Etc.

I use if offshore often to communicate if the boat doesn't have Starlink capabilities.

[mudflat]

I'm looking at the Montana units. They are 500.00 and up, yikes! But with not being able to see close up, the 5in screen sounds nice. If I were to forget or loose my cheaters, then my others would be useless. I buy cheater classes at the dollar store for 1.50 a pair, I stash them everywhere, including several in hunting bags.

[huntinghagen#12]

I have a couple Garmin units. I use OnX on my phone more than anything and usually keep the GPS as a backup.

[mudflat]

Phone service is spotty, very spotty. 3 cell phones had no service at one area. Francis Marion, BFE! Wadamacon creek off the North Santee to be exact.

[huntinghagen#12]

Phone service is spotty, very spotty. 3 cell phones had no service at one area. Francis Marion, BFE! Wadamacon creek off the North Santee to be exact.

You can download areas on OnX before you get there, your phone's satellite will do the rest.

I've used OnX without phone service every where from Africa to Montana.

[huntinghagen#12]

"Offline Maps" is what you're looking for on there. It's pretty easy to setup.

[loud1]

I’d just use the onx offline maps.. it’s cheap. Not as accurate as a garmin as far as tracking goes tho but pretty close.

[wiz18]

X4 for OnX offline. I keep a battery bank in my bag. Also carry a compass if everything else goes south.

[acebasinman]

I carry a garmin, but use OnX as well most of the time. Beware though that the compass in the iphone and sometimes the gps (where it says you are) is prone to glitching. Definitely agree with bringing an old school compass. Sometimes have to shut the iphone down and restart.

[Glenn]

Any of the phone based GPS mapping services such as OnX, Spartan Forge etc have the ability to download area maps. GPS still works with your phone in airplane mode and the map and all you data are there and you can continue to drop waypoints etc and it will all sync back up when you get back online.

The only benefit to the inreach is the SOS chicken switch and ability to text via sat comms.

[acebasinman]

Airplane mode or not, downloaded map or not, the compass in the iphone is way off about 10% of the time.

[JABIII]

The only benefit to the inreach is the SOS chicken switch and ability to text via sat comms.

Yep. I did the text thing once, but it is too much of a pain in the ass.

If the epirb doesn't get it done, I doubt Garmin will, but I try. USCG are as good as it gets...

I found OnX to be way, way off on property lines back in the day. I am sure it has improved by now.

[scdiver]

Can connect your inreach to your phone and use garmin messenger to text like normal from your phone.

I use onx downloaded map in combo with my alpha as well.