06-03-2008, 01:57 PM
I don't know anything about car based GPS, but do have one for hiking (geko 301) and do have some experience using one in the woods. My guess is that the feature set is completely different, and that they are not "all the same". I can't remember ever seeing anyone in a hiking or biking or canoeing/kayaking forum talk about using a car based GPS off trail. It will work out of the car (assuming it has battery power), but may not really do what you want:
1) does it save waypoints?
2) does it have a track log? can it track back?
3) can you upload and download waypoints and tracks to your computer?
4) what kind of trip computer/data will it offer for your run?
5) what kind of receiver and antenna do they have for use under tree cover or in hills, etc? Easy to get a signal on the road; much less so on a trail.
It is possible to get a hiking based GPS and mount it in your car. They sell plenty of different mounts for that. Many have onboard street maps; some may even have turn by turn directions (again, I have never looked for that feature on a hiking GPS). The garmin 60 series have large screens and lots of features, so I would at least look at those.
1) does it save waypoints?
2) does it have a track log? can it track back?
3) can you upload and download waypoints and tracks to your computer?
4) what kind of trip computer/data will it offer for your run?
5) what kind of receiver and antenna do they have for use under tree cover or in hills, etc? Easy to get a signal on the road; much less so on a trail.
It is possible to get a hiking based GPS and mount it in your car. They sell plenty of different mounts for that. Many have onboard street maps; some may even have turn by turn directions (again, I have never looked for that feature on a hiking GPS). The garmin 60 series have large screens and lots of features, so I would at least look at those.