GPS for MTB Navigation

Is anyone here using a GPS for navigation purposes? It seems like a lot of the MTB related GPS units are more for the purpose of tracking your performance and route rather than for navigation purposes. Thinking about getting something like a Garmin 800. The unit costs $450 from MEC - would I have to buy expensive map packs on top of this as well? Would those map packs come with MTB trails already on them or is that something that I would have to download/purchase separately? I'd be using it mostly for riding terrain that I am not familiar with. Any insight would be appreciated.

I use a Garmin 62S. I think the gps's usually come with a basic base map. No trails.

I bought the backcountry map book base map since its the most complete for BC that includes trails, mostly hiking. You can also get free basemaps, you'll have to look into the latest since I'm sure its changed since I started.

Garmin has a free program - basecamp, there you upload your tracks. You can use this to compare your previous tracks.

Best way to figure out new areas is to get a real map, and use your gps unit to see where you are. Having a track allows you to get back to where you started so you shouldn't get too lost.

For mountain bike specific check out:
http://trailmapps.com/
Here you will find apps for your iphone with the mountain bike trails in Squamish, Whistler, NS, Pemberton, Hornby Ilsand and SSC. They're working on android apps. His apps are pretty slick, there are other apps available based on google maps that are free.

Best thing to do is just explore and collect the data!

This clubtread forum has tons of GPS info as well:
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=35

I use a Garmin 62S. I think the gps's usually come with a basic base map. No trails.

I bought the backcountry map book base map since its the most complete for BC that includes trails, mostly hiking. You can also get free basemaps, you'll have to look into the latest since I'm sure its changed since I started.

Garmin has a free program - basecamp, there you upload your tracks. You can use this to compare your previous tracks.

Best way to figure out new areas is to get a real map, and use your gps unit to see where you are. Having a track allows you to get back to where you started so you shouldn't get too lost.

For mountain bike specific check out:
http://trailmapps.com/
Here you will find apps for your iphone with the mountain bike trails in Squamish, Whistler, NS, Pemberton, Hornby Ilsand and SSC. They're working on android apps. His apps are pretty slick, there are other apps available based on google maps that are free.

Best thing to do is just explore and collect the data!

This clubtread forum has tons of GPS info as well:
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=35

Awesome - thanks! I have a bunch of those Iphone app maps already and they have been great.

In terms of me looking for a MTB-friendly GPS unit, I have recently gotten into the habit of tracking my rides with Strava but my iPhone has been pretty wonky with it so I am looking for a real GPS unit so I don't have to rely on the iPhone. I figure if I am going to buy a GPS it should have some sort of navigation functionality because the other ones just look like glorified bike computers.

In reality I would probably only be using the navigation functionality a small portion of the time but I figure it would be nice to have if I am going go buy a GPS anyways.

Awesome - thanks! I have a bunch of those Iphone app maps already and they have been great.

In terms of me looking for a MTB-friendly GPS unit, I have recently gotten into the habit of tracking my rides with Strava but my iPhone has been pretty wonky with it so I am looking for a real GPS unit so I don't have to rely on the iPhone. I figure if I am going to buy a GPS it should have some sort of navigation functionality because the other ones just look like glorified bike computers.

In reality I would probably only be using the navigation functionality a small portion of the time but I figure it would be nice to have if I am going go buy a GPS anyways.

the etrex is a nice unit.
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/catalog/product/compareResult.ep?compareProduct=63801[HTML_REMOVED]compareProduct=87771[HTML_REMOVED]compareProduct=87768

I run a Garmin Etrex 20 on most rides.

At home I use it to record tracks I can share with other people.

When I travel I download promising tracks so that I can ride without spending a ton of time navigating. I've found some great trails this way.

I run a Garmin Etrex 20 on most rides.

At home I use it to record tracks I can share with other people.

When I travel I download promising tracks so that I can ride without spending a ton of time navigating. I've found some great trails this way.

So it can do everything a cycling relating GPS could do (in terms of navigation and ride tracking, etc.) but just without all of the 'performance measure' type stuff like speed, cadence, heart rate, etc? This might be exactly what I'm looking for…

Is this something that I could throw in my pack and record my ride (if I am riding locally and dont need the navigation but want to track my ride) or would it not get a signal unless its on my handlebars?

I'm using the older Garmin Etrex HCX; it works fine on my bar, on my pack strap or in the top pocket of my pack, even under heavy tree cover.

What it didn't work well for was in vehicle use, eg backroads getting to the the trail heads. The screen is just to small and the controls to difficult to use while driving logging roads. For that I bought a Garmin Montana 650.

So it can do everything a cycling relating GPS could do (in terms of navigation and ride tracking, etc.) but just without all of the 'performance measure' type stuff like speed, cadence, heart rate, etc? This might be exactly what I'm looking for…

Is this something that I could throw in my pack and record my ride (if I am riding locally and dont need the navigation but want to track my ride) or would it not get a signal unless its on my handlebars?

Yes to both. It will give you performance data like speed, average speed, time, distance, etc… Just not bike specific stuff like cadence and no heart rate data.

If needs to see the sky so it should work in most packs. I find that since I have a mount on my bars 24/7 I just put it there even for rides I don't plan to look at it for navigation.

Ive got a Garmin Oregon 400 and need to buy a Topo map for it.
Recommendations of which program, and where to buy online?

Ive got a Garmin Oregon 400 and need to buy a Topo map for it.
Recommendations of which program, and where to buy online?

You could try this free map. It works quite well on my Oregon 600.

http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/

You could try this free map. It works quite well on my Oregon 600.

http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/

I'd second this. There are quiet a few threads on this board in gps and topos. I think syncro showed a comparison of the ibycus vs garmin vs backroad mapbooks versions.

Ibycus works amazingly for free. Backroad mapbooks look top notch and have data on trails, campsites, etc. I will be purchasing the back roads version this year.

Oregon 450. It was going for $200 on Black Friday. The unit will do a lot. It's is ANT compatible, has a large display, touch screen, barometer, etc. IMO best bang for the buck.

I hated the Garmin software for making maps of trails.

I have the ETrex 30 - the upgrades are most likely worth it if you can get it on sale. Barometric elevation and electronic compass are nice features.

custom maps work quite well too.

http://www.gpscity.ca/compare/etrex30[HTML_REMOVED]etrex20

you can also hook up the heart rate monitor and or cadence sensor and get almost the same data as your edge units (the edge record a every few seconds method for more detailed reporting)

I have the handlebar mount on my stem, the carabiner clip for hiking and the belt clip for geocaching.