Garmin e Trex Summit GPS

Paul Cummings
Reviewed: 20 July 2007

GREAT BIT OF KIT

light, water proof

usual GPS weakness in woodland (loss of signal), very occasional brainstorm of putting position 1000s of miles away for a few seconds.

I use it for recording distance / ascent on my walks rather than for nav. Loses signal in woods (and can't cope with ascent gained during lost signal, but does add distance???). Altimeter works very well, always within about 10m, much better than my altimeter. No urge to upgrade to something sexier. Eats batteries when compass switched on.

Battenberg
Reviewed: 22 January 2007

SUPERB BIT OF KIT, BUT ASK YOURSELF WHAT YOU WANT IT FOR?

A Lightweight dedicated GPS that fits in the palm of the hand, good screen, splashproof, good backlit display, great features with altometer, compass and barometer, can connect it to a Computer if you want to. Breadcrumb trail feature is excellent in an escape/retreat situation. Overall a very good and recommended unit

No maps, sometimes takes an age to get a fix, needs a proper line of sight with the sky, doesent fair well hanging around your neck as it cannot always get a GPS fix in your shadow. Munches batteries like a starving dog. Buttons can be a bit fiddly and so can the software till you get used to it. Take time to learn how to use it before using it in the field!!

Overall, a very good unit. I bought one of these when they first came out after getting lost on my mountain bike in a forest for 6 hours in winter. Never again!!! It has its shortcomings and I wouldnt go on any serious walks without a map and compass in my pack as well. It cannot display maps. My pocket PC running memory map is a more usefull device for the odd bit of walking but can crash and is not up to the weather. You need to understand fully how it works and how to relate the DATUM back to your map before this unit really come into it's own. Barometer and altometer and compass are all really good features so are the trip statistics it can give you. Would need to consider usage before buying it again as technology has moved on and I have been spoilt with GPS mapping on OS 1:25k maps with memory map. However,all said, you'll never find me up a mountain or on a walk without it - it's on my camping checklist under 'essential kit'.

PS...Remember the spare batteries !!!

David Hamilton
Reviewed: 10 August 2004

WHAT A TREMENDOUS BIT OF KIT

Lightweight and weatherproof
Accurate and reliable. Tremendous in locating where you are exactly. Yesterday I was up a Munro in dense cloud. There was nothing to take a bearing from and although I knew the general direction (up!) I didn't know where we were. The Etrex gave me our grid reference which was very reassuring and showed us the way to the top.

Could do with an audible alert as you approach waypoints.
It is thirsty on batteries BUT you can turn the compass off to save power. Anyway I use 2 rechargable batteries and get about a day and half's walking from them.

Really good bit of kit that impresses everyone. Glad I went for this model. Unlike some I think the compass is pretty useful! The altimeter is very satisfying in terms of seeing what you've climbed.
More you use it easier it becomes. If you're getting this, make sure you get Memorymap or similiar too. Connecting the GPS and mapping software is really amazing and frankly the only way to do it.

john mcallister
Reviewed: 06 October 2003

GREAT

Never get lost again.
Altimeter
Size- not too small and it's not a brick.

Eats the batteries like smarties!!
Probably due to the compass which i don't find particularly nesscessary.

Great piece of kit.
I was attracted to the altimeter when i bought it, but find I only use the unit to check my location.
It has saved my bacon twice already.
I bought mine for £130 on ebay, which is about half price.
I find the battery life nowhere near the 18-20 hrs claimed in the manual.
Overall pretty great but too many features for me

Sean Gamage
Reviewed: 10 September 2003

IT EVEN WORKS ON BUSES...

Lightweight and rugged. Location data appears reasonably accurate. Can work in vehicles, providing close to a window. Good range of electronic maps available for up/down loading data; useful route planning tools in their own right too. Pre-loading way points is an excellent feature and handy once out there. Go To function also handy when landmarks sparse (e.g. top of Kinder), or finding tent after pub on Dartmoor.

Can give some spurious maximum speeds (21.something m.p.h. over the moors carrying a pack?! Hmmm, not me mate.) Battery life highly variable. Pricey, but check e-bay. Some reports a bit pointless for UK, but it's a global product. Could manage without electronic compass.

Never had to use it in anger, but it's a great recreational toy; hope that's all it'll ever need to be!
Only one I've ever used, so cannot compare it to competition. Looking at the price and features it appears to represent good value.