Garmin 800 v Satmap active 10 v Garmin trail GPS

letap73
letap73 Posts: 1,608
edited March 2012 in Road buying advice
I have a heart rate monitor and a bike computer with cadence included - so these are not primary concerns for me. When cycling I like to take random routes, navigating by road signs - however I do come unstuck quite often especially on minor roads. If I am not too bothered about cycling related functions, would a GPS designed for trail walking such as the Satmap active 10 or Garmin - Montana, Oregon, Dakota, etrex etc be a better option than the 800. I would like the ability to navigate back home or find alternative routes on the fly. So which of the above options be the best bet for me?

Comments

  • craker
    craker Posts: 1,739
    Even the most basic GPS should get you home as the crow flies - I was ebaying etexs at the weekend and they go for silly money - £20 or so, decent little unit. Mine managed to fall off my bike at 30mph yesterday and still works fine :)

    Alternatively smartphones, depends how much money you want to spend.
  • letap73
    letap73 Posts: 1,608
    Money is not an issue, I would like to see a map - either OS or alternative. A decent battery life would come in handy -( are smartphones ruled out?). Would be happy if the GPS is multi-purpose: useful for hiking, in the car etc.
  • DrKJM
    DrKJM Posts: 271
    If you aren't running it all the time and just want to check where you are and how to get home, AND you've got a 3G signal or locally stored maps, then a smartphone is ideal if you already have one as the outlay is zero. If you want to track where you've been it can zip through a battery though.
  • MaxwellBygraves
    MaxwellBygraves Posts: 1,353
    After being in much the same position, I chose Edge 800. It isn't perfect but I would recommend it.
    "That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college! " - Homer
  • alihisgreat
    alihisgreat Posts: 3,872
    DrKJM wrote:
    If you aren't running it all the time and just want to check where you are and how to get home, AND you've got a 3G signal or locally stored maps, then a smartphone is ideal if you already have one as the outlay is zero. If you want to track where you've been it can zip through a battery though.


    Getting your expensive smartphone out of your back pocket wearing winter gloves can be a bit of a risk when moving... and its a hassle to stop every 5 mind when you get lost - I've done it many times
  • Paulroth
    Paulroth Posts: 44
    Take a look at the Bryton Rider 50 - which does all the same stuff as a Garmin 800 (except touch screen), yet you can find for £200 or less.

    Went through a similar decision process as yourself a year ago, bought a Bryton Rider 50 and am very happy with the unit as well as the GPS navigation, maps and tracking function - as well as all the metrics to analyse both on and off the bike.

    Paul
  • samsbike
    samsbike Posts: 942
    Does the bryton hook up to strada?(strava?) as polar dont
  • Solis
    Solis Posts: 166
    I use Garmin on the bike and Satmap on the hills. Satmap is a great bit of kit for walking but will not give you the route finding facilities and is a big lump to mounting on the bike.
  • alihisgreat
    alihisgreat Posts: 3,872
    samsbike wrote:
    Does the bryton hook up to strada?(strava?) as polar dont

    you should just be able to export a GPX file and then import it to strava.

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