Garmin GPSMAP 64

[LosDosSloFolks]

This unit is on sale @Costco through today only. (9-11-2020) Would like to know thoughts from members on the pros and cons of this model vs the s and st version.
I know the GB is 4 vs 8 which shouldn't matter for our day hikes but I don't understand the map differences and subscription details or even if they are needed for what we do. Thanks in advance for your time and responses. Sincerely, The Determined Luddites

[nonot]

@LindaAnn
see my signature

[AZClaimjumper]

@LosDosSloFolks
Thank you, I'm on it.

[nonot]

Hmmm, it's been years since I've checked that page. On newer Garmins you literally just copy the download file onto the Garmin's base directory.

The complicated instructions on that page only apply to the older Garmin models...pre 2015?

[LindaAnn]

@nonot Lol, I don’t think I’ve ever paid much attention to what anyone has put in as their signature. Didn’t notice the link in yours at all.

[The_Eagle]

Ever since HAZ Tracks and then RS came out, my garmin 450 has been sitting in a box.

The biggest advantage to the smartphone is the larger bright screen. I could never see the garmin screen in the sunshine.

My 3 yr old smartphone is waterproof/resistant, but I treat it like it's not.

If you decide to go the Garmin route, I believe Steve @nonot still has downloadable topo's here on site. They are on my garmin.

edit: don't start a reply and go to lunch. I see Steve has replied

[CannondaleKid]

When looking for a replacement after accidentally running over my 62ST back in July I was not too enthused with the price of any of the Garmin 6x series so I looked around for other options.

Coincidentally my 5+ year old Galaxy S5 phone seemed to be slower with every update so I thought maybe instead of throwing the $$ at a Garmin 64, 66, or whatever was to upgrade the phone and hopefully get the benefit of more accurate internal GPS.

And so I bit the bullet and got a Galaxy S20 5G. Only after the fact did I realize that when 5g was added to the S20 it needed the space where a micro-sd card would go, which means the is NO capability for added storage. If only I had gotten it a few months earlier before 5G.
(The TOP of the line S20''s are larger phones so they have room for 5G AND a micro-sd card but I didn't want a bigger phone or to pay the extra few hundred $$.)

Not long after I got the new phone I realized the internal GPS wasn't noticeably more accurate than my S5, particularly elevation. So much for that thought.

So I went back to looking for a dedicated GPS again and Amazon just happened to have a reduced price Garmin eTrex 30x (now replaced by the 35x?) for $180, which I figured was much more acceptable than the high $ ones.

It's smaller than the 62st and yes, has a smaller screen but it's small enough to keep it in a shirt pocket. While it is slower to refresh than the 62st that isn't a big deal because I usually turn it on at the start and off at the end, rarely looking at the screen in between.
If I'm in an unfamiliar are and want to look at a map I pull out my phone and I can view from preloaded maps of ALL the AZ National Forest Topo maps, USGS Topo for ALL of AZ, as well as Satellite maps for areas I'm most likely to hike.

About maps on the eTrex 30x... rather than purchasing additional maps I installed the FREE AZ Topo map available right here on HAZ... many thanks to the efforts of @nonot!

EDIT RE: @The_Eagle "edit: don't start a reply and go to lunch. I see Steve has replied"
Same here... except in my case I was trying to watch a recording of the Tuscan Grand Prix Practice while responding.

[Grasshopper]

I recommend an android phone.

For less money you get a larger screen. You can download all the maps you want for free. Plus it comes with a camera! You can play music too. Plus other useful apps.

You don't need to activate it as a phone.

I spent 3 seconds researching, this looks great. I'm sure there are other/better options if you put time into looking.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/verizon-pr ... Id=6360411

@LosDosSloFolks :
This comes from someone who swears by his now older Garmin Oregon 600 touchscreen which has an 8GB MicroSD Card loaded with the Garmin 4 state (AZ,CO,NM,UT) Southwest 24k (7.5 Topo) Maps installed for hiking, but I do now agree with chumley- forget the Garmin handheld receiver option and go with a phone where you can download the HAZ Route Scout app and a/r HAZ maps and posted hike routes as needed.

In my opinion, it's a very time consuming (learning process and setup) and more expensive option to go with Garmin. I have more to say to further justify my conclusion, but here I will spare you and others any more detail

[Grasshopper]

I'm having trouble ascertaining which model doesn't require the $100-$200 additional cost for maps. Their website is very vague. Which one is good to go as-is in your opinion?

I did not want to leave you hanging on this since you asked but my previous reply message/comments still apply.

My recommendation(s) for the Garmin GPSMAP 64 suffix buy options:
GPSMAP 64s ( https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/14002 ... 0#overview )
2.6-inch sunlight-readable color screen
High-sensitivity GPS and GLONASS receiver with quad helix antenna
3-axis compass with barometric altimeter
Wireless connectivity via Bluetooth® technology¹ or ANT+®
No 100k (15 minute) and No 24k (7.5 minute) Topo Maps for Hiking Included but this model has an up to 32GB MicroSD Card Slot
(Buy and download 24k TOPO Maps to the MicroSD Card from Garmin.. 4 states SW- https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/27612/pn/010-C1134-00 )

GPSMAP 64st ( https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/14002 ... 0#overview )
2.6-inch sunlight-readable color screen
High-sensitivity GPS and GLONASS receiver with quad helix antenna
Preloaded TOPO U.S. 100K maps Note: I don't know if these preloaded 100k (15 minute) US topo maps are loaded into the device's Memory or if they are loaded into a MicroSD Card included in the device (a question to be asked of Garmin C/S or maybe the answer is noted in the online spec details for the 64st?)
3-axis compass with barometric altimeter
Wireless connectivity via Bluetooth® technology¹ or ANT+®

Also, for my personal AZ "on trail and off trail" hiking, I would prefer to hike only with 24k (7.5 minute) topo maps and not hike with the100k (15 minute) topo maps, but many people do so. The advantage of Garmin's loaded 100k maps is that you have the whole USA 15 minute topo maps included. With the 24k maps, from Garmin you pay separately for ~4 states 7.5 minute topo maps.

[AZClaimjumper]

I've read all the prior replies & am wondering if you've made a choice?
I've never used anything except my 62ST & loaded it with 24K maps, WEST & SOUTHWEST. I almost bought the 64 on CostCo but changed my mind & decided to stick with my tried & trusty 62ST. My phone is a 4G Flip phone & has no applications. And I haven't had a TV since they changed from analog to a digital signal.
I bought & applied Invisible Shield to the screen. After more than a decade there still are no scratches on the GPS screen. I use rechargeable batteries rather than alkaline. I also keep my GPS physically secured to MEeee when out hiking because ONCE, I almost lost it.
When driving I use the Garmin 2597LMT GPS & an old Garmin Dash Cam 20 which records video & audio.

[LosDosSloFolks]

@Grasshopper
Thank you kindly Hank. I believe I am armed with plenty of Garmin knowledge now. Greg

[Grasshopper]

I've never used anything except my 62ST & loaded it with 24K maps, WEST & SOUTHWEST.

You can answer a question I could not in my last reply message 9/11pm: Since you own a GPSMAP 62st, it came with the Garmin 100k USA Topo Maps. Does Garmin load these maps into the device memory or did they provide a MicroSD Card with these 100k maps loaded on? Also, the GPSMAP 64 is an upgrade to the GPSMAP 62, so this upgrade should provide an easier to read in sunlight display and also provide a ~faster processor and also include the additional Russian satellites (GLONASS receiver with quad helix antenna). I also see that Garmin now has a market upgrade to the GPSMAP 64 with their GPSMAP 66.

[joebartels]

@LosDosSloFolks
Enjoy your Garmin. My 450t still sits in a drawer because it's one of the few electronic devices to survive the outdoors. If your results differ you might hook up with @kingsnake, I think he has an annual video where he beats an innocent Garmin to a pulp.

[LosDosSloFolks]

@joebartels
Actually, the consensus of two knowledgeable souls on this forum was to get a cheap smart phone but not use it as a phone, but use it to hold the RS app and also have camera functions. This is likely what we will do even at the risk of being drummed out of the Luddite Union.

[trekkin_gecko]

@LosDosSloFolks
you could even use your new phone as a phone

[LosDosSloFolks]

@trekkin_gecko
Heresy!

[Grasshopper]

Here is an additional way to pass the time pondering our previous HAZ Forum comments on "What is the Best GPS?"
[ What's the best GPS? ]

[AZClaimjumper]

@Grasshopper
The 100K maps are loaded into the GPS internal memory which I disable when I'm not in Arizona (SW 24K map) or Nevada (West 24k map). I've installed a 16GB SDHC card & loaded with Arizona from the SW 24K map & Nevada & a few California bordering maps from my WEST 24K map. This way I don't have to change the Garmin 24K SDHC card when I go geocaching in Nevada today & CA next week. The 16GB card doesn't have enough storage on it for the entire SW & WEST 24K maps. Garmin Tech Support suggested to MEeee that I not use an SDHC card larger than 16GB, I don't really remember why, but that is what I'm sticking with.
YES, the 64 vs the 62 has the capability of seeing GLONASS satellites & the other things you mentioned. Elevation relief lines are every 100' of elevation on the 100K maps; every 40' on 24K maps.
When hiking be certain to keep your GPS physically attached to your backpack or to yourself, they are easy to lay down & forget about when geocaching. I'm going to start a topic about losing GPS's, I'm wondering how many here @Hike Arizona have lost their GPS because it wasn't attached?

[Hansenaz]

I for one would like to hear from anyone who has done the "Garmin I understand" to "smart phone I don't understand" transition for outdoor navigation. Greg, that may be you in a week or two.

[Grasshopper]

I for one would like to hear from anyone who has done the "Garmin I understand" to "smart phone I don't understand" transition for outdoor navigation.

and yes, I am one of those! For me, turning 75 years old day after tomorrow and now beginning to resist much more change in my life, it is mostly just me not wanting to invest the additional time to learn much more new stuff unless I have too. Now having years of investment time in trying to learn and become more familiar with the now more ?old school? Garmin world of GPS Receivers and the often times frustrating PIG that Garmin's BaseCamp is, I will now continue to use and am satisfied that the Garmin stuff meets my present outdoor hiking needs.

[Hansenaz]

@Grasshopper
I understand Hank. Though I've learned to use HAZ Route Manager/Editor instead of Basecamp. I only (and rarely) go back to Basecamp to find (very) old routes I've walked or planned because it's easy to display "everything". I don't think I can do that in Route Editor unless it's posted (someone tell me if I'm wrong). Since I currently only use my little Etrex20 to record routes and to see if I'm near my pre-planned route or waypoint, the simplicity and battery life wins.
I know that a cheap Android phone could do the same (and more), but I'd like to understand the travails of the transition.