Garmin eTrex Vista Handheld GPS Navigator

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 2 x 1.2 inches ; 5.3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000058BCR
• Item model number: 010-00243-00
• Batteries: 2 Lithium Metal batteries required. (included)
  

By : Garmin
List Price : $299.99
Price : $279.99
You Save : $20.00 (7%)

Product Description

Amazon.com Review
Garmin's eTrex Vista GPS receiver is smaller than its popular eMaps, but far more powerful. The Vista offers more memory, more features, and more convenience than any other GPS hardware in this price range.
Don't be fooled by the product's small screen. Although smaller than the display used in products like the eMap, it has a higher resolution, letting it show more information more crisply. Small text can be difficult to read from a distance, but there are "big number" options available to make important data like your speed easy to read.
It's this configurability that makes the eTrex Vista so special.
Map page (shown with optional MapSource topo detail).You can easily set it up to suit your needs, regardless of the situation. Menu choices are highlighted and confirmed with a small joystick near the top of the unit, providing an elegant interface for navigating a formidable amount of options. Our only complaint is that the joystick used to access all the product's features is offset to the left, making it nearly impossible to control using only your right hand. When the joystick is held in your left hand, however, every control is within easy reach of your left thumb, freeing your right hand to hold a flashlight, walking stick, lantern, or anything else.
This GPS unit's diminutive size and weight, not to mention its rugged design, make it an ideal hiking companion. It's waterproof in up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes and is generously coated with shock-absorbing rubber. The barometric altimeter keeps a historical record of your ascents and descents, graphing elevation changes so you can easily track your progress.
Elevation pageThe ability to store waypoints, points of interest, routes, and other information means you can blaze your own trail and always find your way back to camp.
Best of all, 24 MB of internal memory makes it possible to store an enormous amount of data from Garmin's optional MapSource CDs, turning the eTrex Vista into an interactive road atlas. The memory isn't expandable, but 24 MB is enough to store street-level data for entire states in some cases.
A serial cable is included for transferring the maps from your PC to the GPS unit, but it's terribly slow. A USB connector, sold separately, transfers data in a fraction of the time.
The eTrex Vista was very accurate in testing, especially in a car on the open road. Accuracy diminished somewhat when the device was used in heavy tree cover or a dense urban area, but not enough that you're ever going to get lost or miss an exit. Used side-by-side with an eMap, the eTrex Vista kept up in update speed while displaying even more information on the moving map than the eMap did, cementing its position as perhaps the best all-around handheld GPS unit money can buy. --T. Byrl Baker
Pros:

• Small and light without sacrificing features
• 24 MB of integrated memory stores reams of detailed maps
• High-resolution screen displays sharp text legible even at extremely small sizes

Cons:

• Can't be used one-handed when held in the right hand
• Smaller display is hard to read from a distance, as when the device is placed on a dashboard

Go wherever life takes you and never get lost! The Garmin eTrex Vista handheld mapping GPS provides all the navigation tools you will need when you depart on your next adventure. This GPS comes packed with important traveling features including a barometric altimeter, an electronic compass, a detailed basemap of the Americas, and more!
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Garmin eTrex Vista Handheld GPS Navigator

 

Technical Details

• WAAS-Enabled
• Same Features As Grm0025600 Etrex Legend Plus A Built-In Barometric Altimeter ; Electronic Compass
• Compass Provides Bearing Information While User Is Standing Still
• Altimeter Determines Precise Altitude ; Provides A Graphic Profile Of User¿S Trip
• Contains 24 Mb Internal Memory For Storing Detailed Map Data

Customer Reviews

I bought the Meridian Platinum and the Garmin Vista to do a technical comparison. They are both great units with similar price and features. I also tested the next level down: Meridian Gold and the Garmin Legend with similar results. Here's my take:
If small size and high resolution are important to you, buy the Garmin.
If you prefer a larger screen, larger buttons, a floating unit, or something that can be viewed beyond an armslength away, get the Magellan. If you require reading glasses, avoid the Garmin.
Here is a list of specific comments:
- Size: Garmin fits easily in a shirt pocket. Magellan is 114% larger by volume and is better suited for a fanny pack or large coat pocket.
- Weight: Magellan is 51% heavier.
- Display: Magellan display is 66% larger, viewable beyond an arm's length. Garmin not viewable beyond an arm's length.
- Pixels: Garmin has over twice as many pixels.
- Resolution: With the smaller display and higher pixel count, the Garmin screen resolution is about four times greater.
- Both are waterproof. Magellan floats...Garmin doesn't.
- Reception: Magellan had slightly better reception, probably due to larger internal antenna.
- Screen protection: Magellan has a raised frame around display to help prevent scratches, but it also collects lots of dust on the screen as a result.
- Maps/waypoints: Low resolution for the Magellan made small map features difficult to discern. Garmin much easier to read with a large variety of highly detailed map symbols/icons.
- Features: Similar for both, but the Magellan had a few extras I liked: audible alerts for turns, a "windshield" navigation view with waypoints drawn in the "distance", a "speedometer" view with dial, sun and moon location displayed on the compass dial.
- Buttons/knobs: Garmin's buttons are all on the sides and are very small. You won't be able to operate them with gloves. I like the little joystick for the left thumb very much, but folks with clumsy hands will not. Magellan's buttons are large, easy, and labelled.
- Magnetic compass: Garmin must be held flat for this feature. Magellan's compass works in any position. (With motion, separate heading indicator works at any orientation on both units.)
- Battery life and accuracy: About the same for both.
- PC cable/DC car adapter: Garmin slides onto the back. Magellan has an awkward screw-in device.
- Mapping Memory: Garmin has 24 MB ready for upload from mapping software (sold separately). Magellan requires additional memory card...
- Owner's Manual: Garmin provides complete owner's manual. Magellan only provides a quick-start manual. Complete manual is electronic and divided into two files.
- User interface: I found the Garmin software and menus to be slightly more intuitive.
Result: I wanted a small unit for outdoor activities and occasional automobile travel. I like small, high-precision devices with lots of detail. I kept the Garmin.
I also ordered the car dash mount, DC auto adapter, belt carry case, and MapSource MetroGuide USA CD. I have been very pleased with each of them.

Before purchasing my eTrex Vista, I had never owned or used a GPS Unit but I had read a considerable number of articles on GPS and before I finally made the decision to buy, I spent several weeks reading whatever I could find with respect to user reviews, editorial reviews and so on! Simply put, the eTrex Vista is a super handheld GPS Unit. It is easy to learn ; use and it has the best features of any comparable unit. It's very small ; weighs only 8 or 9 ounces with batteries but don't let the size fool you, it's a powerful unit and performs beautifully in open country, desert areas and on the water. It does have it's problems in heavy cover, as do all other hand held units. In the open country, desert or on water, this little beauty locks on to five or six satellites every time. From what I now know, the only other unit I would recommend is the eTrex Legend and that's only if you feel you have no need for an electronic compass or an altimeter. Personally, I love having the electronic compass available and I have found that I enjoy using the altimeter as well. You already know all the features this unit has or you would not be trying to make a decision on buying it but I'll touch on a few of them. The built in 24 mb of memory is great. It's just enough to download detailed mapping software for one state or for two or three large cities and their metro areas. I find the electronic compass very useful when trying to return to a Waypoint, especially when hiking or wandering around in open country or a desert area. Following a route backwards is no fun and can be boring as well. Note, the electronic compass can be turned off when not in use, to conserve battery life. I rarely have it on, except when returning to or trying to find a Waypoint. "Battery Life" that's an issue that no one seems to cover honestly but I will! If you turn on the unit at the start of a field trip, hike, whatever and leave it on, which maybe necessary if you start out trying to locate a previously marked Waypoint, etc. and you leave the electronic compass on, as well, you will get a max of between 10 ; 12 hours of battery life. That's a Fact! If anyone tells you different, it's BS! I now know several others people with Vistas and that fact is consistent with everyone of them. If you turn the compass off until you need it, if you need it at all, on a particular outing, you can extend the battery life to about 14 or 15 hours. If you don't start out trying to find a Waypoint and you only turn the unit on to mark your starting Waypoint and possibly a few other Waypoints along the way and then turn it on for your return only, you can count on between 15 ; 18 hours of battery life. But either way, let's get real people, batteries are cheap, even quality alkaline batteries. Hell, if you buy them at one of the super stores, you can get them in packs of 24 or even 48 for about .45 cents each. That's darn cheap and they certainly are not so heavy that you can't carry a half dozen extras on your person. Two final observations. One, as mentioned, this unit works great in open country and on the water, etc. but it's not the right choice for use in a vehicle. Certainly it can be used in that capacity but if that's primarily what you will be using it for, I suggest you look for a unit that is designed for that purpose. Two, I'd be willing to bet that whoever design the Vista is left handed because the so called "Click-Stick" is on the left side of the unit which makes it almost impossible to use one handed, with your right hand. The reason being that the thumb on your right hand covers the screen when using the "Click-Stick" and you must be able to monitor the screen when using the "Click-Stick". Fortunately for me, I was able to teach myself to use it one handed, with my left hand. It was awkward at first but to my surprise, it didn't take very long to get comfortable with it. Since most of the population, by far, is right handed, I'd say that Garmin definitely screwed up, placing the "Click-Stick" on the left side of the unit! All in all, I love the eTrex Vista. It's a little pricey but then again, how much is your safety ; peace of mind worth to you? If the "Click-Stick" was on the right side, instead of the left side, I would have give this unit a strong five star rating!