Overview
Of the new eTrex range, the eTrex 10 is the most basic model and therefore the cheapest. It's great for basic navigation but it's in black and white and the routes are very simple so if you want detailed and colourful maps I'd suggest buying the eTrex 20 or the eTrex 30. The eTrex 10 was built tough and is meant to withstand dust, dirt, humidity and water. It gives you trip statistics such as speed, elevation and distance to the next waypoint. The eTrex 10 offers a vast array of features including a compass, trip computer, sun & moon, profiles, hunt & fish and geocaching.
Features
-The trip computer includes lots of features such as an altimeter, trip odometer, your current speed and moving time. The only feature that we questioned was the altimeter but we soon discovered that it worked fine. After hiking to the top of a 634m peak, the altimeter read exactly that, 634m!
-Sun & moon is a feature that tells you what times the sun and the moon set/rise every day, wherever you are in the world.
-Profiles allow you to customize your settings based on how you are going to use the device or what activity you'll be using it for. For example, the settings might be different if you are using the GPS for geocaching or for fitness purposes.
-Hunt and fish is a feature that is very useful for hunters and fishermen because it tells them what the best times of day for hunting and fishing are.
-Waypoint manager allows you to create and edit waypoints. Waypoints are locations you record and store in the device.
-Route planner is a feature that allows you to choose your route and edit it.
-Garmin Basecamp is a free software that is downloadable from the Garmin website. It allows you to customize your routes on a computer and load them onto the eTrex 10 with the USB cable that comes packaged with the device.
-Geocaching is an activity where you use your GPS device to play hide and seek with containers called ‘caches’, which are placed all over the place. There are currently ‘caches’ in over one hundred countries in the world and on all seven continents. There are more than five million ‘geocachers’ worldwide.
Pros and Cons
Pros
-Simplistic yet comprehensive mapping- The eTrex 10 comes with a worldwide basemap already loaded on.
-Battery life- The eTrex 10 works for 25 hours on only 2 AA batteries.
-Dashboard style menu makes it easy to navigate the GPS' features.
-Waterproof- Can sit in up to one metre of water for up to half an hour (However, I didn't test this simply because I didn't need to put my GPS in water).
-Garmin Basecamp is a very useful and fun software that makes everything a lot easier.
-Geocaching- Another fun way to get into the outdoors.
-Value for money- For only $115, the eTrex 10 is a bargain.
Cons
-Simple, black and white maps.
-Took some working out when we first bought it.
The Verdict
The eTrex 10 is a very basic and affordable device that was built to withstand the elements and is very dependable. It's a very compact little package and I was impressed with the weight- virtually nothing. It has a very generous battery life of 25 hours considering it only takes 2 AA batteries and this just adds to the dependability of the device. It shouldn't die on you while your on the trail providing the batteries are fresh.
It' beats it's predecessors dead. Despite it being simple, it's a lot more modern that the models that came before it. The Garmin team has worked hard to improve their eTrex and that's exactly what they've done. It's lighter, more compact, functions better and is easier to navigate.
The screen is very readable in any light because there's a backlight that allows you to dim or brighten the screen. It proved to be a very useful feature while travelling at night or in the dark.
It may not be the most detailed GPS device out there but for me, the simplicity of the device is a good thing. You'll be disappointed if you were looking for detailed maps. The eTrex 20 and eTrex 30 are better options if what you're looking for is detail.
In conclusion, the Garmin eTrex 10 is a tough little device that is very helpful on the trail and you certainly won’t be lost anytime soon as long you keep it handy. It provides more ways to get out there through geocaching and can help you to get more out of the outdoors and have lots of fun.
Sam.
