Been looking at the Garmin Vista HCx. Does anyone have this unit and what do you think about it. How detailed are the topo maps you can get for it? Just wondering if it is worth the money or if a cheaper one would be ok.

I've looked at some of those HCx model Garmins. I have to say I'm really impressed with them. They do a GREAT job locking on to satellites and keeping locked on to them. They do it at a wonderful price too. If I could afford one I would have bought me one already.

The maps you can get are fairly detailed. It all depends on what kind you get too. I have Topo maps for my GPS, they aren't the best, but they aren't the worst either. They had to compromise some on quality to make them fit on the GPSr's. Still, they are very good.

The City and Street maps you can get for them have an auto-routing feature on them now, and it works right in the GPS. It makes it work just like the ones they make for cars, minus the talking. You put in a destination and it'll show you turn for turn how to get there. A real nice feature.

I think you'll like the Vista CSx a lot if you get it.

Thanks Archer. Yeah I am having trouble convincing my self it is worth $300 slus another $99 for the topo maps. Thats a nice chunk of change, especially since I am just wanting it for a toy pretty much. Just something to use on the 4-wheeler to try and find a way to link trails together.

Once you get one, you'll find a hundred different uses for it.

Do some shopping around tho, you should be able to find better prices, especially on the maps. I bought the 2008 version of the topo maps when they first come out and got them for just under $70.

I've used mine for mapping trails, marking interesting overlooks, nice camping spots, places to picnic at, all sorts of things. The great thing is being able to bring that information back and upload it to the computer, and have icons showing the types of locations you marked right on the map.