What GPS should I buy for Ocala

[slam]

I am looking for a handheld GPS to use in Ocala National Forest. I would like something taht will show me a heads up or "yellow brick road" view when I want to return to my starting point.

Please tell me what you have used and what you sugest.

[slam]

Sorry just did a search and found what I was looking for.

[Pat]

What did you come up with?
Patrick

[slam]

I think I am going to to a Garmin GPSMAP 60. I also looking at the Magelan Explorist 200

[backinsaddle]

If you get the Garmin, consider this: http://www.garmin.com//cartography/mapSource/topo24knpcentral.jsp.  It has most of the Ocala Forest trail system already programmed in...the few times I've been to Big Scrub, pretty much every trail I was on was already programmed.  I have a 76CS, I absolutely love it.

[slam]

Thanks for the info. I am used to using a GPS on my boat and I like the heads up roadmap view when I am traveling. Does anyone know of a handheld that will let you do this with tracks?

[Moose]

I've got the garmin 76c and love it.

http://www.atvflorida.com/forum/index.php/topic,537.0.html

[Chillinthemost]

Garmin Etrex legend works for me

[backinsaddle]

Not sure what the "heads up roadmap view" means.  Can you elaborate and I can tell you if mine does it?

[slam]

No problem. The Garmin marine units have a page that looks like you are driving don a 3d road when you are following a course. That way you can see approachung turns in real time.

[Chillinthemost]

My Garmin 128 in my boat has that and thats the page I nav with. In the woods its different there are no straight lines to a waypoint. You would use the plotter page in the woods. I highly suggest a mapping gps it helps a lot in a place as big as ONF most of the big old trails and all the forest roads can be downloaded to it and you always know exactly where you are.

[Da_Mtg_Man]

Garmin Etrex legend works for me

Ditto

[backinsaddle]

See page 44 of the manual "The Highway Page": http://www.garmin.com/manuals/GPSMAP60_OwnersManual.pdf

Is this what you're referring to?

[v303x]

Also ditto on the eTrex Legend from Garmin. Does everything I want.  Very nice unit, but it's discontinued.  My brother in law has the 76cs, very nice ($$$$).

If you have the means (again $$$$$), then the Garmin 276c is for you.  However, you need a better mount for it (www.cycoactive.com) like the Touratech.

Cheers,

David

[slam]

Thanks for the info guys. Looks like the hwy page is what I was looking for but it does nto work with tracks only with routes.

The 276c looks awesome but I think it may be to big for my bike. I bet it would be easy to read though.

[backinsaddle]

As others have said, it depends on how much you want to spend and the bells and whistles you want.  Probably the only thing you really need is a gps that shows the direction you should travel to your destination.  I like having the mapping feature...if the gps says to travel north, but the trail zig zags all over, with the mapping feature you can keep track of where you've been/going.  Plus I save and upload all my tracks so I can see where I've been in the forest.  I looked closely at the 276c, but came to the same opinion you did...it's too big for my bike.  The 76 was the perfect choice, has probably all or close to all the same features in a more compact package.  I think the color option was definitely worth the money.

[sk8r_dude]

I have the 276c mounted with a RAM Mount to my handle bars. With the TOPO 24 east loaded, it shows the trails in ONF. I have used a few GPS's and the 276c, although expensive, is the best I have seen. It's great viewing a color screen while trail riding.

[suburbangirl]

To let you know about the GPS.  Garmin is the best on on the market. But make sure it has  a base map - This will have roads in it, and you can add to it later on down the line.  If you don't have a base map, you can pretty much only leave a bread crumb trail.   We've found that the Bass Pro Shop has the best selection.  Good luck.