What type of GPS

I know very little about GPS. I understand how it works but I haven't used one. I'm looking into them and I'm looking for advice as to what works best for the offroader/day hiker. How are they off of the main roads when on trails? How easy are they to learn/use? Do they interface with home computers for mapping and saving information for later use?

Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you. Tom  

I you suggest a mapping hand held. I have a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx and it is sweet. You can load TOPO maps in it and see where you are on and off road. Garmin has a new one out called the Colorado 400t that comes preloaded with TOPO maps fr all of US. They make other mapping models but you want one with the external stub antenna (like two mentioned above) as they have better sensitivity in deep woods where you do not have a good veiw of sky. Most car type GPS's are "lost" when they get off road because their base map and logic is not designed to track off road while ones above can to either.  

Thank you. This helped alot. When I've talked to saleman They don't seem to know the capibilities of the items they sell. They only tell you what they think you want to hear.  

I have been using Garmin hand held GPS for over 10 years. They have never let me down. I even have one they make that you can wear on your wrist. If you hunt it is on your wrist under your coat and there is you need it to get back or to even retrace your route. With a TOPO function on top end models you can see where you are in woods and terrain. It is pretty sweet.  

Thanks. I'd been looking at the models made for street. I thought that I'd probably have to buy extra topo maps. I do want a model that is portable so that I can hike/hunt what ever away from the vehicle with it. How are the base maps that are incuded? Are they adiquite, or do you need to upgrade them? Are the expensive? Do they interface with a home computer?  

Basically you are going to need a hand held one because as I stated earlier, most car models do not have the ability to navigate off road. Their logic and maps will not support it. (if they are not on a road, they are lost) With my 60CSx when you want it to plan a route for you it will ask if you want street mode or direct. (it can route you on streets) As far as preloaded TOPO maps vs not, you have to load TOPO maps on a SD ram card on 60CSx but the part I like about this vs a new unit that has them preloaded is that you install the TOPO maps on your computer and can view and zoom them with great detail if planning a off road outing anywhere in US. You select the maps sections you want to upload and use them on handheld. DO not worry about memory to do this as it will hold more maps data than you will ever use at once even over a several state area. With unit with full TOPO maps built in, you can not view them on your computer. If you look around you should be able to find a Garmin 60CSx for around 300 to 350 new. It fits nice in your hand and easy to use. I also prefer the user interface (multiple buttons) on it vs on on Colorado but pick what you like.  

Thank you! I went to  an outdoor store where they sell both of these models that you've mentioned here. They agreed with everything that you just said hear. I got to look at and play with both (and a couple of others too)of the models that you mentioned above. I liked both of the ones you mentioned but I think I prefer the 60csx because the screen was much brighter and easier to read. I also liked the buttons better that the touch screen on the Colorado-T.

The external chip with the maps sounds good too. What kind of software do you need to be able to  use them on a home computer?  

Garmin makes TOPO map software. You load it on PC and then you upload maps of your choice to GPS unit or its ram card. Garmin has 2 versions of TOPO out in channel. The older version is 2003 (which I have) but it includes all of US, Hawaii and Alaska. It is also "open" software in that you can install or up load it to as many GPS's you want to that support it. The 2008 version is mostly a update and tweak but it comes in sections (east and west) and is locked in that you can only install it to a unit that has a Garmin KeyCode with it. (when you buy a 60CSx there will be a keycode in box to let you use software with that device but it will not work with others without a new keycode. (it is the new TOPO software causing this not GPS unit) Both version are nice to use and 2008 has been tweaked a bit but they are based on US survey maps and hilly and mountains do not change and most trails have been there longer than 5 years so the 2008 version would include new roads and trail not in 2003 but otherwise basically the same. You can find both versions on Ebay often but 2003 is a safe by there because license goes with software CD on that version and it does not have to be unlocked to use even on a PC while newer version does for both PC and GPS unit. I hope I did not confuse you.  

This helps me also, thanks, I found a refurbished GPSMAPS 60CSx on overstock.com for $280