"Hunter appreciates easy operation of eTrex"  

Prior to my hunting trip to Alaska, I purchased an eTrex at an Oshman's in Hurst, Texas. On previous hunts, I have used a (competitor's) GPS, which took an engineer to operate. The eTrex was very simple to operate and very user-friendly. I got a caribou and took a reading at the kill site. After packing out meat for about a mile and a half, I used the eTrex to go back to the site. Unbelievably, I returned to the site within feet. This unit is incredible, easy to use, and very accurate. I even used it on a commuter flight 200 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska, and on a float plane flight 50 miles southwest of Illiamna, Alaska. My destination was 3,243 miles from my home in Colleyville, Texas. I never had any emergencies, but I could have directed a float plane to my camp sight.

Thank you for such an incredible product.

G.K.

"eTrex aids firefighters in Montana"  

Just passing on a note of thanks. I recently got to test my eTrex unit to its fullest. For over three weeks, our team from Alberta was down helping out on three large fires northwest of Missoula, Montana. Working in very rugged terrain, the GPS was crucial to getting to landmarks in and around the fires, getting crews to where they needed to be, and guiding in the air support to help us out on the ground with water drops. The little eTrex did its job with flying colors. Day in and day out, I was using the eTrex in really extreme conditions: dust, smoke, heat, water and numerous "hard landings." One time, my unit did a hard landing of over 150 feet! That little yellow case is really easy to find against blackened trees, and it showed no signs of being any worse for the wear.

This unit is a keeper. Thanks for a great product.

M.G.

"Fishfinder 240 and eTrex find the best fishing spots" 

I have been fishing on my home lake more than 15 years now, and I guess I don't know it as well as I thought. I heard of the rebate offer for the Fishfinder 240, so I got one, took it out on the boat, just playing around a little bit, and I came across what looked to be an old underwater bridge. I said "what the heck," so I started to fish it. It was the very best day I ever had on the lake (lots of fish). The next day I wanted to repeat it. I spent over 10 hours and two tanks of fuel looking for that spot. I never did find it again. After seeing the new eTrex, I got one. I was able to find the spot once again. Now anytime I want, I just go right to that spot. Thanks for making me a better fisherman.

Ted in Texas

"eTrex takes on bike trails in Costa Rica" 

I am the webmaster of a mountain biking group in Costa Rica, Central America. Our group's name is Ecociclistas. We have been documenting our trails on our Web site for about a year. I recently acquired a GARMIN eTrex to document the waypoints on our rides. I purchased the eTrex because of its size and price/performance. Since the purchase of the eTrex, we have documented our rides with ride descriptions (in Spanish), waypoints, altitude and pictures and scanned 1:50,000 maps of the area. I have copied the waypoint info. manually onto the Web pages. People with no prior knowledge of the area have successfully done the route despite its many intersections and a ride sequence that is difficult to explain with words. A list of all the routes is at: http://www.axioma.co.cr/mtb/rutasmtb.htm

R.A.

"eTrex is an ideal shipmate for offshore sailor"  

I am a long time handheld GPS user - my first unit was a Magellan 110 in 1992 and it was about the size of of a brick. Aquisition time was about 10 minutes, roughly half that of the battery life! Now I just have a GARMIN eTrex, and as a year-round offshore sailor in Northern Europe, I can safely say it's the first handheld that can put up with the damp and wet AND offer ease of use. The eTrex may have been designed for treking enthusiasts, but it's the short-handed professional delivery skippers that are going to get the most out of it. Long live the eTrex!

 "Hang gliding with eTrex"  

I'm a commercial photographer based in the Boston, MA. area. Two years ago I picked up your GPS II Plus, and I loved it for my applications, but it was a little bulky. Two days ago I was in a local retail store (Sports Authority), and I saw your new eTrex. A very nice, compact unit for half the price of my GPS II Plus. Same features, very intuitive button functions, and it locked on in 15 seconds – at least it did today! I'll be in Florida in March shooting and flying for the United States Hang Gliding Assoc. Magazine. I plan to have the eTrex on my control frame for photo opts. The unit is perfect for the slow speeds we fly and great for taking me to declared goals. The ground speed display confirms if I'm cross or flying with a nice desired tail wind. Thanks for a great little package.

M.V.

eTrex, just right for kayaking  

I just purchased a new GARMIN eTrex from West Marine. I have been waiting for some time now for a good waterproof, small GPS. I have a large sailboat and on it, I use a competition's product and a GARMIN GPS III Plus. These units are more than enough for the sailing that I do, but I also do a lot of kayaking, and neither unit was what I wanted for that. The new eTrex fits the bill just fine. It is small enough and waterproof, easy to use and easy to view – a really great product. I am sure that a lot of kayakers will jump all over this product. Thank you.

B.C.

"eTrex aids canine search & rescue unit" 

I am a member of Search One K-9 Detection, based out of Tualatin, OR (just outside of Portland). We are the largest canine search and rescue group in the state with 12 state- certified dogs at this time.

The reason for this letter is that in the past year we have realized the importance of using GPS units in the field. Several times, when we could get a fix in the forest, it has helped get a few of our teams out of a jam. Several of our members have aqcuired several different units with mixed results. The variation in complexity and difficulty of use has been frustrating. The president of our group just bought the GARMIN eTrex and it is a hit! With its ease of use, its ability to acquire a position in the thick Oregon canopy, and it being waterproof (the bane of our existence) as well as its small size – we love it!!!

Our group covers the entire state of Oregon and SW Washington, responding day or night, 365 days a year. When we do respond, we work in teams of 2-3 persons, a K-9 handler and 1-2 support persons whose responsibilities include radio communications and map and compass. Here is where GPS units are starting to be used by our teams. I envision our teams with the eTrex units and our SAR coordinator at the command trailer with laptop computers using map programs to keep track of the teams in the field, assessing search probabilities. The GPS would be invaluable.

O.G.

"Has eTrex, will venture"  

I just bought my second GPS unit, the GARMIN eTrex, after owning a GPS II for the last three or four years. You guys just get better and better. I've used my old GPS II for updating TOPO maps, tracking game trails, 4 wheeling, ATV adventures, hiking, and just plain having fun. It can be so useful to load in campsites and then be able to find them day or night, no matter what the weather. We've found abandoned ranch sites, mines, hand-built dams on desert washs — and only with your products can we go back and explore them again. I can't wait to take my new eTrex out for a workout. Keep up the great work and for sure I'll own three.

M.H.