Garmin Foretrex 201 GPS Review

Last year Kirk surprised me with a Garmin Foretrex 201 GPS unit for my Christmas present. Well, maybe it wasn't really a surprise, I had been wanting one for a long time. I have been using it now for nearly a year and have had a long time to test it and get a feeling of it's best parts and it's limitations.

I find I use it most on training trips, such as Rail To Trails, where I am in the open for long miles. It is also excellent for summer alpine trips for the digital compass. Knowing how fast we are moving is a great training tool. My favorite feature is the sunrise and sunset times, this has helped remind me to get moving many times this past year!

The Pros:

Incredibly light - under 3 ounces.

Tiny, it fits a female's arm perfectly. Has arm extension for bigger wristed users (ie. men).

Easy to use. Rechargable Lithium-Ion battery saves money. Runs for 15 hours in normal tempatures. Has an excellent battery life icon on the screen.

User friendly.  Comes will all accesories. Waterproof and durable. Two manuals: the 'what you need to know' and the indepth version. Works great in telling your distance and "breadcrumbs" trails for you as you walk.

Ability to customize what screens you would like to show, and to highlight the features you want.

The Cons:

Rechargable battery is an issue on long trips unless you carry a solar charger that fits it. You must get a 3D lock on the sattelites before you start out, if you don't you won't get a "lock". Being so small, this GPS is more a training tool than a navagation tool. It must be worn outside your clothing to get a good strong signal.

It doesn't work well in woods or near high voltage power lines. If it drops and then finds a signal your final trip distance will be off.

Cold weather can sap the battery, so if winter camping, keep it in your pocket when not using.

The ability to hook up to a computer is PC only, leaving us loyal Mac users out in the cold.

Overall I have been very happy with the Foretrex 201. It has given me what I need and nothing extra. With it being so small it isn't an issue to tuck it in my pack to have with me. I rely on maps and use the unit as a backup if I am confused on my location (which is how GPS should be used!).

You can get accesories for it such as bike mounts and a car charger (which is a light way to connect to a solar charger on trail).

If you have wanted the ability to know your MPH speed, your distance and simple things like that, but didn't want to spend a lifetime learning how to use a massive handheld GPS unit take a look at the Foretrex 201.

~Sarah