My first ever GPS unit was a Garmin eTrex and, paired with Memory Map to compliment the very basic base map, served me well for mountain biking, hiking and fell running. It was a sad day when it bounced off my bumbag’s waistband, somewhere in the vicinity of Helvellyn Lower Man on a Bob Graham Leg 2 recce, never to be seen again.
Launched just in time for this year’s Outdoors Show, it’s great to see that Garmin has revamped the eTrex range and, as soon as we get our mitts on one, we’ll let you know how they shape up. In the meantime, here’s what Gamin have to say.
The new eTrex features an incredibly user-friendly interface, impressive ergonomics and enhanced map capacity (supporting the latest and most sophisticated Garmin cartography and software), which ensure it's easier than ever to explore the unknown — whether you're hiking off the beaten track, taking the kids camping, or making your first foray into geocaching. These new features, along with up to 25 hours of battery life, make the new eTrex more versatile and easier to use than ever, while maintaining its legendary toughness and durability.
"When we set about developing the new eTrex range, our aim was to establish a new gold standard for the most successful outdoor GPS of all time," explains Martin Resch, Garmin's EMEA product manager for the outdoor sector. "We asked ourselves at the start of the process: where next for the eTrex? By talking to many hikers, walkers and geocachers we realised that even at the entry level of Garmin technology, our fans want a device that maximises what Garmin offers in terms of cartography, and that reinforces their ever-increasing passion for geocaching. It also needs to be so simple to operate that outdoor enthusiasts of all abilities can use it."
Go paperless
Take this powerful pocket-size GPS device with you on your next geocaching adventure and leave the paper print-outs at home. The new eTrex series enables the easy download of geocache locations and trail points straight to the unit using its high-speed USB connection. The eTrex stores and displays all the information you need, including location, terrain, difficulty, hints and descriptions, which means no more manually entering coordinates and no need for print-outs.
To start paperless geocaching, simply upload the geocaching GPX file to your unit and start hunting for caches. Caches can be downloaded from OpenCaching.com, a free online community for creating, sharing and finding geocaches around the world.
Save money and have fun
For the budget-conscious consumer looking for a basic handheld GPS device, Garmin offers the new eTrex 10. This compact GPS is armed with a sunlight-readable monochrome display and worldwide basemap, making it easier than ever to know where you are and where you're heading. eTrex 10 is the perfect device for families who want to join the growing community of geocaching, so why not tempt the kids away from the TV to try this great high-tech outdoor treasure hunt. It's also robust enough for an avid hiker to mark favourite trails and waypoints.
Maps for all
View a wide array of detailed topographic, marine and road maps on eTrex 20 and 30, thanks to the enhanced 2.2" 65K colour, sunlight-readable display. Sold separately, choose from Ordnance Survey maps, Garmin GB Discoverer and BirdsEye Select, Garmin TOPO maps to hit the trail, BlueChart® g2 marine maps for a great day on the water, or City Navigator® maps for turn-by-turn routing on roads.
Download BaseCamp™
A free utility that enables users to plan and manage trips, routes, tracks, and waypoints and transfer them between computer and eTrex. The advantage of BaseCamp is you can use your maps straight away from the pre-programmed microSD card, as no installation or unlocking process is needed. Just plug the card or your GPS into the computer and start planning, with optional 3D view on PC or Mac. With Track Draw, users can see an elevation profile of the trail to determine the difficulty of the hike or geocaching adventure.
Stay on course
eTrex 30 takes all the features of the other two models and adds a built-in 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass, which gives your heading even when you're standing still or holding eTrex at an angle. This model also features a barometric altimeter which tracks changes in pressure to pinpoint your precise altitude, plus the capability to transfer data wirelessly between compatible devices. Our flagship new eTrex was designed for all outdoor enthusiasts who want easy access to the most detailed navigation data, but in a compact handheld unit.
Garmin's new eTrex devices are expected to be available in the third quarter of 2011. The eTrex 10 and 20 have a suggested retail price of £109.99 and £179.99 respectively; whereas eTrex 30 has a suggested retail price of £229.99.
