low budget gps recommendations

RidgeHunter said:
Yup I just carry the phone and MotionX gps app. That and an extra usb power pack and I’m good for days. And I’m just using an older apple 6plus

Edit to add that most times I’ve been out with someone else with a dedicated gps map we end up using my phone as the satellite maps are much better downloaded to the phone.
Click to expand...

I notice the Motion X is a couple of bucks which I don't m ind paying for if it does something more or better than a free app. How did you come to pick this one, have you been using it long is there any additional charge for maps?

Thanks in advance for any info you might have. I'm new to hunting and shooting so I am avid for knowledge.
 
visbuurt said:
Thanks for all the replys sofar I am concerned about my cell battery going dead so realy would like one where I can carry spare batteries going on a solo hunt .
Click to expand...

You can get a large (~20,000 mAhr) battery pack for not a lot of money. Charges a phone several times over. Yes, the dedicated unit can use AA's, but if you use it all day you'll need new batteries every morning. Either way you're carrying extra power. I prefer the Garmin 64ST I recommended earlier, but the cell phone solution really isn't a bad option.
 
Yeah Garmin GPSMAP 64 st, I carry the vehicle power cable to plug to my skidoo and in the summer Honda 4x4, don’t need batteries if you plug it but if you have to walk just in case bring aa batteries! I like it when I mount it on the handle bar and ride hands free no worries.
 
On Saturday, I am pretty sure Garmin gps was the only reason I got home safely, while me and my wife went ice fishing the weather turned bad and I couldn’t see anything, snow storm and I am thankful I have those tools and they are not hard to navigate just follow the direction gps directs! Nobody beats Garmin! That’s just me!
 
I’ve actually had it on my phone for 5+ years now at least. Not sure why I chose it. Probably cause it was cheap and I wanted to see what it would do.
Has held up pretty good. The “downloadable” maps that come with it aren’t great. I think it uses bing or something. But it does have the regular google satellite images as well. You can’t technically download those ones. But if you look at them before you leave it actually caches the images and you can pull them up when out of cell coverage.

I also then download a regular topo map of the area I’m going into just in case. But have yet to use that one. Always just rely on the cached google images.

It seems to do the same things as most of the major apps. Allows you to set different way points. Tracks your routes. Routes you to saved way points etc. there may be better apps out there but this one has served me well for a few years now.
 
A word of caution visbuurt. If you get a cheep GPS be prepared to get lost a lot out in the bush, you cannot skimp on your safety. But it's up to you and your hunting friends on how much your lives are worth.
 
track said:
How about a compass, much less money than a low budget GPS. I've used one for decades in uncharted territory and always brought be back to place of origin.;)
Click to expand...

Ain’t such a hot tool when running a river channel at dusk in a jet boat and following your previous track, or lying at anchor on the ocean in a gale and being able to confirm from bed on your phone your anchor is holding. Or any number of activities GPS wins, map and compass is a great plan B.
 
track said:
How about a compass, much less money than a low budget GPS. I've used one for decades in uncharted territory and always brought be back to place of origin.;)
Click to expand...

I carry a compass always, but as Ardent said, it's a poor substitute for a GPS in a lot of situations.

RiMP9 said:
A word of caution visbuurt. If you get a cheep GPS be prepared to get lost a lot out in the bush, you cannot skimp on your safety. But it's up to you and your hunting friends on how much your lives are worth.
Click to expand...

That's funny. 3 cheap Garmin etrex's have never let me and my moose party down yet. Hard to get lost even if you just turn it on and it tracks your progress, like I do...unless you can't follow the line back to where you started...
 
Ardent said:
Ain’t such a hot tool when running a river channel at dusk in a jet boat and following your previous track, or lying at anchor on the ocean in a gale and being able to confirm from bed on your phone your anchor is holding. Or any number of activities GPS wins, map and compass is a great plan B.
Click to expand...

I think it takes some real navigational demands to make the value of a GPS obvious. If your navigational needs are modest, and precision is not essential, it is hard to see the advantages GPS give. And until you actually use one for a while, you don't understand how many ways it can save time, and lots of effort and increase safety. I like a real mapping GPS if I'm going somewhere difficult. Lots of times a phone is enough. A good GPS is always enough. Map and compass backup is always understood to be necessary (although is anyone keeping track of how fast the north pole is moving lately?)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom