Re: Good GPS for multi day?
- From: "Tony S." <email_tonys@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:12:30 GMT
"I2Run" <no_i2run_spam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:7aidnZ05CcyGVVHUnZ2dnUVZ_jmWnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Tony S." <email_tonys@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ZkLyl.29$zg5.4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
| What would be a good GPS for either a multi-day adventure race or
| extended fast-packing? The main functions I'm looking for, off the
top
| of my head, are:
|
| 1) continuous recording of as much data as possible for later
| downloading
what is the total duration you are looking for?
Looking at it for fast-packing in the Catskills for now, a probabe 5-7
day trip later this Spring. There will be good drop-bag points for food
(and batteries), but I don't want to go crazy with those, and would
prefer a single drop bag in the middle. So I'd need the GPS to run as
long as I'm hiking then turning it off at night, with enough batteries
to last a few days.
The second function I want to use it for is off-trail exploration and
mapping, and this is where waypoints could come in handy for emergency
purposes. Mainly it's for after-the-trip analysis, since I like to use
my traditional navigation skills. I would use it more like Dot, putting
it in the pack and forgetting it mostly.
My Garming Forerunner 305 can go on for 10+ hours between
full recharges. That is good for more than a week of running.
(I think my backup 205 does that too, but haven't verified)
| 2) good real-time displays including dist traveled, speed, long/lat
Both 305/205 models have them
I guess this is a choice between the smaller running/biking models and
the more full function units. Though what Dot said about using waypoints
on these smaller models kind of rules them out.
| 3) long battery life and ability to swap batteries since no recharge
| would be possible
You can get a solar charger if you don't have access to electricity
in a building and don't have car with you. You would be carrying
bigger devices if they have swappable batteries.
As much as it would be nice to have a wrist unit I could also use for
running, I think something that lets me actually change the batteries
would be much better.
| 4) waypoints for establishing various food caches
I haven't explored but 205/305 have some kind of tracking,
probably not what you are looking for anyway. Sounds like
you are looking for some kind of device for hiking and Dot's
link would be more useful.
Yea, but thanks it's good to hear of the smaller wrist devices'
limitations from users.
| 5) as small and light as possible
How small? 405 model is the latest and smallest for running and
is size of a wrist watch. 205/305 are bigger, but still reasonable.
I don't know what I mean by small. I was just hoping that something out
there could meet all the basic functions I need without being
unnecessarily feature-laden or heavy.
| Something like an emergency signal to a satellite ability would be a
| plus. I'm thinking anything with a map display would be too large or
| consume too much battery, but not sure about this. Just starting to
| look, so any ideas or sites to check things out would be helpful.
| Thanks.
I do the mapping part after the runs and Training Center software
is OK for the most part. But runningahead.com has online upload
and integrated with google maps. These are way much better than
the Training Center software.
Probably your cell phone would be most useful for emergency use.
A cell phone would work from some ridges and mountain tops, but is still
to unreliable in the mountains, even though reception seems to get
better every year. If you're in trouble, you might not have the ability
to climb up the nearest ridge, which may or may not have reception
anyway. I'll check into something like SPOT that Dot mentioned. Thanks
for all your thoughts!
-Tony
.
- References:
- Good GPS for multi day?
- From: Tony S.
- Re: Good GPS for multi day?
- From: I2Run
- Good GPS for multi day?
- Prev by Date: Re: Weekly Idiot Report
- Next by Date: Re: Good GPS for multi day?
- Previous by thread: Re: Good GPS for multi day?
- Next by thread: Re: Good GPS for multi day?
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
Loading
