Best travel navigators by user reviews

In fact, the travel navigator consists of components that were allocated to mobile phones in the early 2000s. Such devices have a small display, made with obsolete technology, a modest margin of RAM and far from the most powerful processor. But more such gadgets and do not need. Much more important is the fact that they show a detailed map of the terrain, and also have a very good reception signal from satellites.

Which navigator to choose

Garmin

The only company that continues to mass produce tourist navigators. Its headquarters are located in the United States, but in Europe there is a separate office - it is in the UK.The main feature of the devices from Garmin is the use of very detailed topographic maps. Navigators display every path, every hill, every forest grove. .. Also many Garmin tourist navigators can boast of an external antenna, thanks to which with signal reception there are no problems even in small caves.

The best budget travel navigators

Garmin eTrex 10

A very modest gadget, the purchase of which should be thought only in the case of lack of funds for more expensive models. The image here is displayed on a 2.2-inch display with a resolution of 128 x 240 pixels. The screen is monochrome, which will already cause certain difficulties with viewing the map. But such a low-power device functions from one set of batteries for a very long time. Its body is waterproof, which should save the device even if it gets into a shallow river.

You can save 50 routes in the memory of the navigator. Each of them can consist of up to 1000 waypoints. An important feature of the device is the GLONASS support. One can only regret the lack of a slot for a memory card, because of which it is not possible to download additional maps. Yes, and the internal antenna makes itself felt - from time to time there may be interruptions in receiving a signal.

Advantages:

• You can save a large number of routes;
• Compact size;
• Waterproof housing;
• Long battery life;
• Recognizes signals from GLONASS satellites;
• Minimum weight( 142 g).

Disadvantages:

• Internal Antenna;
• Monochrome display;
• Not very reliable fastening;
• In the backpack or pocket there are random movements of the joystick.

Garmin eTrex 30

Tourist navigators are very expensive. Garmin eTrex 30 is somewhere at the junction between the budget and the middle price segment. In this case, the average consumer of the cost will be terrified, because for the same money you can buy a great smartphone. But he certainly will not be able to work in the mode of GPS-navigation 25 hours in a row, while the product Garmin is quite capable of this. And it does not need to be charged - in the future it is enough to change the set of batteries, after which you can continue your journey.

Unlike cheaper navigators, eTrex 30 received a magnetic compass and a memory card slot. The first greatly simplifies navigation, and the second allows you to load additional cards on the device. And still there is the possibility of data exchange between devices, but this is not so important - it is unlikely that in our country you will find nearby another fan of Garmin products. Another should be noted 2.2-inch screen, which became a color. Its resolution is 176 x 220 pixels.

Pluses:

• Color screen, albeit not very large;
• 1.7 GB of internal memory;
• Presence of a slot for microSD card;
• There is a magnetic compass;
• Long battery life;
• You can save 200 routes from 2000 waypoints;
• Protected enclosure;
• Supports GLONASS.

Disadvantages:

• Internal Antenna;
• Accidental movements of the joystick in the backpack;
• Slow drawing of the map.

Best travel navigators for medium and top price segments

Garmin GPSMAP 64ST

Perfect choice for those who want to go with a navigator somewhere to go fishing. This device is not afraid of water at all. Also you can change the cards by downloading the microSD card more suitable for your purposes. The device has a belt clip, which looks quite reliable. From the innovations you can note the synchronization with the smartphone via Bluetooth. From time to time all information will be stored on the phone, as a result of which it will remain with you even if the navigator itself is lost somewhere. It also simplifies the user's life by the fact that after a hike you do not need to spend time on the self-transfer of all data.

The diagonal of the color display here has grown to 2.6 inches. But the resolution remained minimal - it is 160 x 240 pixels. But internal components have improved, as a result of which the map is not drawn as slowly as on cheaper models. In general, the device most captivates with its reliability. Although in terms of functionality, it is not as funny as the younger products of Garmin.

Advantages:

• 8 GB of permanent memory;
• Ability to use microSD card;
• Saving 200 routes from 10,000 waypoints;
• Powerful antenna;
• Presence of magnetic compass;
• Support for GLONASS;
• Interaction with a smartphone;
• Waterproof housing;
• Possibility of recharging AA-batteries.

Disadvantages:

• Not a very long time;
• Very high cost;
• The screen could be better.

Garmin Astro 320

Most of all this device is similar to any walkie-talkie. But there are already used two external antennas, one of which can be detached. This design has allowed not only to improve signal reception, but also to introduce support for EGNOS and WAAS technologies. The manufacturer claims that the Garmin Astro 320 will display your location wherever you are. The only exceptions are those cases when you dropped deep into the ground.

The 2.6-inch display installed here has a resolution of 160 x 240 pixels. Traditionally, such low parameters have been chosen in order to draw maps quickly enough. Although many buyers notice that it would be time for Garmin to switch to modern technologies, which would improve the picture, and the battery life would be the same.

Advantages:

• Presence of magnetic compass and barometer;
• 200 routes from 200 waypoints;
• 1.66 GB of permanent memory;
• Two very powerful antennas;
• Support for all modern navigation technologies;
• There is a slot for microSD;
• Waterproof housing;
• 12 channels of signal reception from other devices;
• Possibility of recharging AA-batteries.

Disadvantages:

• Not the best display;
• No interaction with the smartphone;
• Not everyone can afford it.

Garmin Monterra

Many will say that this navigator is unreasonably expensive. Even smartphones are cheaper! But they are primarily created for entertainment, whereas Garmin Monterra can theoretically save your life! The creators endowed their creation with a waterproof and impact-resistant body, thanks to which even climbers make their choice in favor of their device. If suddenly there was some trouble - the navigator sends a signal to help other people using the GSM-module for this.

For the first time in the history of Garmin, it does not use proprietary firmware, but the Android operating system. At first it worked very badly, but after the third update the functioning became much more stable. The screen uses a 4-inch LCD panel with a resolution of 272 x 480 pixels. Such a low parameter is chosen in order to ensure an acceptable operating time. And yet it is not as high as it would be desirable, especially against the background of the three AA-batteries used here.

Pluses:

• There are Bluetooth and Wi-Fi modules;
• You can install a memory card;
• There is built-in memory;
• Full Android on board;
• Saving a large number of routes of 10,000 points in each;
• Built-in GSM-module;
• Ability to listen to music and use the camera( 8 megapixel);
• Support for GLONASS;
• Inside there are an accelerometer, a barometric altimeter and a compass;
• The maximum for the navigator functional.

Disadvantages:

• Three batteries last for a while;
• Incredibly high cost;
• The screen spontaneously reacts in the rain.

Which tourist navigator to choose

1. If you regularly visit the outdoors in an unfamiliar area, then you can not do without a tourist navigator. Of course, you can try using a smartphone. But it will be discharged faster, and its maps will necessarily be less detailed. And the smartphone does not have an altimeter and some other sensors that are available in Garmin Monterra and some other most expensive GPS-navigators.

2. If you do not have money for such an expensive toy, then you can take a look at the Garmin GPSMAP 64ST.This is also not a budget option, but you will get a good screen, confident signal reception and instant drawing of maps. Something similar is offered by the Garmin Astro 320, which has two antennas and the ability to receive signals from GPS transmitters( which, for example, are built into a collar worn by hounds).

3. Well, as for cheaper options, there are no solutions among them, which could be called justified purchase. Garmin eTrex 10 will quickly disappoint you with the inability to download other cards, as well as its slowness. Garmin eTrex 30 in this regard shows itself with a slightly better side. But this navigator can not be called fast anyway. And we should not forget that there are a lot of offers from Garmin in this price category, but they are all approximately equivalent.