Many have said I will say it Garmin is the way to go. There are several options out there. The etrex is basic fro the most part. As others have said it is not that great in heavy cover.

The GPSmap 60CSX is an awesome GPS. It hooks up fast and is very user friendly. My dad has one and we used it a lot.

I just got a Colorado 400T. I love it. It is not the most user friendly but fairly user friendly.

You wwont go wrong with on of those two.

Ferret...

I've got a Garmin 60C....have been looking at getting an Oregon 400T.  I'm interested in how well you Colorado locks on, compared to the 60.

I've also heard the touchscreen Oregon series do not have the vivid color and screen contrast of non-touchscreen models. Any opinions?

I have the Garmin Map 76 csx  works better than my old map 76, this one doesnt lose sat. under canopy. it also has altimeter and other flying instraments. very versatile for me,i can use it on my boat and in the field.

I use the e-trex base model with the high sensitivity antenna. It picks up the satellites better than the older models. I don't know if the larger more expensive models with external antenna's pick up better but I have been told that they do.

I've got a Garmin Etrex and it does what I need. I'll mark my starting point if in a new area and mark an area that I may want to hunt in the future. Other than that it usually stays in the pack when I get familiar with an area. It picks up satellites reasonable well in the woods if you stay stationary and let it lock on, but gets sporadic if you start walking in heavy canopy. It is very useful for finding submerged fishing hotspots too.

I've had two Garmins. Very user friendly. I have an older Garmin Geko now. It doesn't have a lot of extras on it but it's small size is a big plus. You can get one on the auction site at a very low price.

I use the Garmin Rhino 530.  Best investment I ever made.  I use it for everything.  My buddy, Mike Orton introduced me to this little baby for an Idaho Elk Hunt.  We were in uncharted waters there the this unit shined!

Thanks Everyone for the input I think I will try to get a 60CSX if I can find one. All the stores around here are sell the touchscreen models and I dont think i want one of those with hunting in the cold.

One to consider is the Delorme PN-30.  Great maps, and for $30/yr unlimited digital maps downloads. Works great in dark timber. Comes in Green or Realtree (if that matters)  REI has  them on sale for $225.

I dont know much about GPS technology but I can tell you that on a cell phone Touch screen technology = battery eater.

On both cell phones and GPS I would opt for non touch screen b/c that eats less battery.

Use the Garmin 60Cs only one I have ever had so no comparison with others (experience). But I have had no trouble with the Garmin.

Thanks Everyone I made a purchase and bought the Garmin 60 CSX today it should be here tomorrow. Thanks for everyones input.

Good stuff in this thread. I too use a Garmin Vista Hcx and it rocks! I can lock signal anywhere, like sitting in my office.

One other thing I would suggest. If your unit uses AA batteries (most units do) buy and use  lithium batteries. Yea, they are a little more $$$ up front but they run longer, are lighter in weight and are less effected by the cold (battery killer #1). I have been eyeing the Garmin Oregon (400T,550T,ect) series. Anyone own/use? Looks like a cool unit!

Regardless of which GPS unit you carry, buy a quality compass and learn how to use it. A GPS can become uncalibrated (it happen to me once...) and things get interesting when it's pitch black and it say's your at your waypoint but in reality your still deep in the woods.

JL

I looked at the Oregon series also but was concerned with the touch screen during the cold weather since the screen requires the heat from your finger tips, I would be taking my glove off and on just to use the Garmin so that was a draw back in my opinion I like to keep my fingers warm when hunting.

Not sure about the 60 but if using lithium batts with Vista HCX there is a setting in set up where you should click on LITHIUM they say it is required for optimum use.

I will be sure to check on that. How much longer do the Lithium batteries last vs the reg. batteries

In warm weather alot. I used mine in Oz this past Sept, on 12hrs a day and in 14 days still lots of juice. Up here when wolf hunting at minus 20 I go through 1 set of lithiums every 6-8 hrs and regs last 4-5hrs so not big diff in cold. They say lithium not effected by cold but whoever wrote that one does not know what cold is!

Garmin 60csx is the best i have used.  Check this site out.  i have bought on line from them and have stopped in the store a couple times.

http://www.thegpsstore.com/

I've used a Garmin Etrex Legend for the last couple of years with great results. Never really had a reception problem even in the heavy cover we hunt elk in. I usually just turn it on and stuff it in my pack and use it for a track-back if really needed, or to mark the animal.