Which GPS

[WestNDMuleys]

Hey guys I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction here. I use OnX maps on my phone and have backup power to charge it while I am out hunting or scouting. That being said I would like to get a GPS that I could use strictly for emergency purposes. Basically I just need something I can mark my truck just in case I lose my way and my phone is dead/no service. Not looking to spend a ton just looking for something to get me back to the truck. Any thoughts?

 

[highcountryfever]

Check out the bushnell back track. It sounds like the perfect solution for you.

 

[WestNDMuleys]

Thanks! have you had good luck with this one?

 

[nripepi]

Are you afraid of your phone breaking? If not, why not just another backup battery and only use it in the case of an emergency? How about an old phone?

I ask the same question all of the time and don't know the right answer. Sometimes I carry the extra GPS, but if I know the area well I do not.

I am sure you are, but for others reading that use their phone as a GPS, make sure you are in airplane mode with the GPS on and your battery should last sometime.

 

[DW]

Etrex

 

[WestNDMuleys]

I just want it for the case of when I don't have any service. Which is pretty common where I hunt. But I may be mistaken, can a person use their gps even without service or even when it's in airplane mode?

 

[muleymaddness]

I'm in the same boat and use my phone only with battery backup. I have had it go dead with no backup, but luckily knew where I was. Problem was I had my kill shot marked and then the battery died. Anyhow - I got sidetracked.

Something I just thought of. What if you only use phone, like I do, and the phone gets wet from rain or snow somehow and you kill the phone???

 

[usahunter]

>Thanks! have you had good luck
>with this one?

Excellent basic GPS, only 3 waypoints but simple to use and it's on a lanyard that I wear around my neck, around $60

 

[WestNDMuleys]

Awesome!

 

[nripepi]

Here is what I do.

1) Use a waterproof case on your phone.

2) use my phone for GPS solo, by putting it in airplane mode and then turning on the GPS. It uses a fraction of the battery, could easily go for 12 hours plus straight. I do turn it off often, unless I am creating a track. You do not need service for the GPS to work in most apps. If you want the maps, you have to download the maps to your phone prior to your trip. I use backcountry navigator and you can download the topos and aerial photos very easily.

3) carry multiple battery back-ups. If your phone allows you to change batteries (most new ones do not) than you can carry extra charged batteries. On my current phone, I carry a charged USB battery pack and then charge my phone when needed.

4) depending on where or what I am doing, I may carry my GPS. That's an extra 8 ounces and then extra batteries for that GPS?

 

[Wiszard]

Bushnell Backtrack. Buy 3 new batteries for it before you leave on your trip. Mark your waypoint then shut it off. If you get lost, turn it back on and find your way. It doesn't give you the same route back to the waypoint but uses an arrow to direct you in that direction. Very simple but effective. I think they are like $50. It may take AA or AAA batteries. I forgot.

Steve

Cancer doesn't discriminate...don't take your good health for granted because it can be gone in a heartbeat. Please go back and read the last line. This time really understand what it says.

 

[usahunter]

>Bushnell Backtrack. Buy 3 new batteries
>for it before you leave
>on your trip. Mark your
>waypoint then shut it off.
>If you get lost, turn
>it back on and find
>your way. It doesn't give
>you the same route back
>to the waypoint but uses
>an arrow to direct you
>in that direction. Very simple
>but effective. I think they
>are like $50. It may
>take AA or AAA batteries.
>I forgot.
>
>Steve
>
>Cancer doesn't discriminate...don't take your good
>health for granted because it
>can be gone in a
>heartbeat. Please go back and
>read the last line. This
>time really understand what it
>says.

If I remember correctly it also tells the distance back to your waypoint and it has a compass.