Garmin eMap Hiking GPS

  • Tracks current and average speed, location, and distance
  • Automatic track log lets you retrace your path in both directions
  • Includes maps covering major American roadways
  • Large, backlit display for nighttime navigation

Save yourself the humiliation of having to stop and ask directions on your next lengthy road trip: invest in Garmin’s eMap. The eMap GPS receiver will give you fairly accurate mapping information, directions, and even help you manage and track your journeys.

For those unfamiliar with the term, GPS (global positioning system) involves 24 satellites that circle the planet. At any given time, the eMap makes contact with at least three of them to determine everything from speed to location. So, as long as you’re motoring around the great outdoors, you’ll be in the know.

It features a detailed 120 x 160 pixel display, backlighting for nighttime navigating, and easily navigable controls. With the eMap’s simple cursor control, you should be up and running with almost no effort. Considering this unit only weighs 6.7 ounces, it could easily be the best roadside companion on long drives–or local trips if you’re that directionally challenged.

If you’re going to do some serious pioneering, you’re also in for a good deal of choices. You can catalog 500 waypoints, 2,000 log points, and 10 saved tracks. But there is a downside to all this power in the palm of your hand: Garmin supplies you with only basic mappings of major roadways and intersections. If you’re looking for city-street maps or more detailed coverage, get the checkbooks ready. Garmin sells optional MapSource CD-ROMs that will provide enormous amounts of map data, showing streets, alleys, and even restaurants. A series of different Map CD-ROMs are available and cost, on average, about 0. When all is said and done, with hidden costs, you can expect to spend upwards of 0 to get everything you’d need out of the eMap. –Dave Thomas

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Lightweight
  • Large, crisp display
  • Room for extra memory cartridges
  • Map data fed by satellite good for North America and parts of Europe

Cons:

  • Detailed maps are expensive
  • Batteries last only about 10 to 12 hours

The size of a small, flat calculator, the eMap contains a 12-parallel-channel global positioning system receiver and weighs a mere six ounces. Even with its compact style, the eMap boasts an extra-large display for showing more map data and the same power you’ve come to expect from Garmin hand-helds–even while operating for up to 14 hours on two AA batteries.

The eMap features an internal base map containing information on North and South America including state and country boundaries, lakes, rivers, streams, airports, cities, towns, coastlines, and U.S., state, and interstate highways. In addition, the eMap provides exit information for the federal interstate highway system. With the eMap, you will know when you are near services such as food, lodging, and service stations.

The eMap is compatible with Garmin’s line of downloadable MapSource CD-ROMs including U.S. Roads and Recreation, WorldMap, U.S. Topo, and MetroGuide U.S.A. When paired with the MetroGuide U.S.A. CD-ROM, the eMap has the ability to look up address and telephone number information for nearby services and points of interest. The eMAP will store 8 or 16 MB of downloaded CD-ROM information at a time depending on the size of the cartridge you use in the unit.

Designed with all types of users in mind, this unit will take you from the car to the hiking trail and beach without missing a beat.

List Price: $ 242.84

Price: