Garmin nuvi 500, 550 Crossover GPS: REVIEW

We get many questions about finding a single GPS that does it all, taking you from car to trail to the lake or offshore. Oh, and geocaching would be nice, too. And, of course, it needs to be waterproof and have great battery life…oh and how about a removable battery to boot? Well, Garmin’s been busy on your behalf and the nüvi 500 series may be the ideal solution in the emerging "crossover" class of GPS systems. Like its nuvi relatives, the 500 and 550 models are sleek and easily fit into your pocket or pack as well as your hand for comfortable handheld operation with an impressive battery life of 8 hours.

 

Read more

Subscribe to the Rated4Stars RSS feed.

Garmin nuvi 205, 205W, 255, 255W Vehicle GPS: REVIEW

If you’re a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices — really good choices — in the top-rated nuvi line, Garmin’s not about to make your decision any easier. The 2×5 series, including the 205, 205W, 255 and 255W adds so many features to the 200 series that the term "entry level" just might not cut it any more. In fact, the 205/205W and 255/255W incorporate both higher-end features as well as features not even seen in some of their higher-end siblings. The result is a product that is marketed as an entry-level system, but in fact has a solid mid-level feature set, earning the 2×5 series even stronger marks than the popular 200 series.

Read more

Garmin Colorado 400t, 400c, 400i, 300 Handheld GPS: REVIEW

The past few years have seen dramatic advances in the GPS units we use in our cars, with intuitive, user-friendly interfaces and an ever-growing number of features. Though handheld units have certainly benefited from new, more sensitive GPS chips and other advances deep in their electronics, they haven’t realized the same sort of game-changing advances as their vehicle-based cousins…until now. Garmin’s Colorados series ushers in the next generation of handheld GPS units, offering a rich feature set while incorporating the ease of use you’ve grown accustomed to in the car, within a rugged, waterproof shell. Outside Magazine sums it up, "The Garmin Colorado 400t was born for serious backcountry time, and you won’t find a more user-friendly or durable handheld GPS" while About.com concludes that the "400t lives up to its promise of being a next-generation handheld GPS."
Read more

Garmin nüvi 750, 760, 770, 780 - REVIEW

Garmin has not stopped to rest following its successes with the immensely popular (and deservedly so) nuvi line. With the introduction of the 700 series, Garmin has redefined its top-shelf category, borrowing the sleek good looks of its entry-level nuvi 200 series, but packing it with its high-end features of the 600 series, and then some. The 760 has earned top honors from a number of reviewers, including Editor’s Choice from PC Magazine, which states, "The 760 sports a trimmer, slicker design and adds a number of cool new features and welcome refinements to the top-rated 600 series."

Read more

Garmin GPSMap 60csx Handheld GPS Navigator: REVIEW

We thought we couldn’t like a handheld GPS more than the GPSMap 60cs, this unit’s predecessor, but with the GPSMap 60csx, Garmin shows us how it’s possible to turn great products into legendary ones. With effusive accolades from owners at Amazon, Epinions and elsewhere, it’s clear that Garmin has incorporated precisely the right enhancements into its “refresh” of the 60cs to make the 60csx a truly outstanding, best-in-class handheld unit, so much so that we’ve bestowed it our top rating of 5 stars.

Read more

Garmin eTrex Vista HCx: REVIEW

Garmin’s eTrex series continues to be among the most popular and top-rated handheld GPS units available. The eTrex Vista HCx is well-positioned as a mid-range unit with brilliant color mapping, next-generation GPS chipset, a map card slot, a rugged waterproof casing, tremendous battery life, and built-in geocaching features. Owners from a wide range of outdoor sports, including hiking, cycling, geocaching, skiing and hunting, praise this unit as a proven and trustworthy backcountry companion.

Read more

Garmin StreetPilot c340 Vehicle GPS: REVIEW

Garmin’s StreetPilot c340 is the successor to the very popular and 4.5 star rated StreetPilot c330. The c340 keeps everything users raved about the c330 (including Garmin’s welcomed new user interface for its c-Series which we consider the simplest to use of all in-vehicle GPS navigation systems) and adds “text-to-speech” capability which tells you not only when to turn but also pronounces the street name (i.e., “Turn right on Main St” instead of “Turn right in 500 feet.”)

Read more