Looking for a decent hiking type GPS?

[newbiedmv]

Hey

I have a little Garmin GPS that got it display cracked and now seems about a 1/4 mile off.

I learned a long time ago Google maps won't work without a cell signal.

About 50% of the places I go only has rural service at best so I have to rely on it (it saved my butt on Guntersville a few years back).

Since it's impossible to see one before you buy now any recommendations?  Only criteria is that it's Water Proof.

I have a TomTom car GPS that's a pure P.O. junk from 2011.

[Fishes in trees]

I think that the rule on electronic devices on or near water is that NONE of them are waterproof.     They are all water resistant to some degree or another.  Sorry to hear about your Tom Tom.    I got a Garmin Nuvi around the same time period and while I don't use it very often, it works great when I need it.  The cheapest Garmin is the E-Trex and I had one for a while and I never got it submerged, so I can't speak to how waterproof it is,  I got it damp and rained on often and it never failed to work. I lost that unit when I left it in a motel room and when I realized it wasn't in the truck, I called the motel and they didn't know anything, so I'm guessing the cleaning help got it.

 Currently I have a Lowrance Endura Safari Outdoor GPS Navigator,  which does everything the E-Trex did plus it has better mapping.   I think I paid around $200 for it several years ago.  To make it do all the tricks it capable of, you need to buy the right mapping chip, which I never did, but the base model suits my needs well enough.  When I'm in my car, the Garmin NUVI is much better than the hand held Lowrance - mostly because I like the bigger screen.

[Tennessee Boy]

I would look for an app for your phone.  It's true that google maps will not work without a cell connection but there are other apps that will let you download maps in advance.  I have an app on my iPad called "Topo Maps" that will let me download USGS topo maps and will show my position on these maps.  I'm sure there are other apps work this way also.

[newbiedmv]

Thanks didn't know any of that.

Yep my Garmin is an e-trex. The lcd display got smacked by the anchor at some point. 

[wis bang]

Get the latest version of the GPS CSx60. Download the free state topo from the webs and go...

[newbiedmv]

Seems it's  discontinued.  Can't find specs or price.

The e-trex have gone up in price.

This might be an ebay buy.

Something about the lowest priced Garmin makes me skeptical.