User Review: Garmin eTrex Legend

Garmin eTrex Legend
Above: The current eTrex Legend, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed January 18, 2007 by Rosh

Rating:
Price Paid: $150

This review is slanted a little; the performance measured has been in Alaska which tends to be colder than normal use and with worse GPS satellite coverage.

I got the Legend because it had the map memory I wanted without all the bells and whistles I didn't need. After a year of use, I really don't use it that much.

Pro:
-GPS positioning is much easier than calculation with a map and compass.
-Map storage inside the unit
-GPS features like average speed and route tracking

Con:
-Battery life is no more than 1 day of constant use. I use lithium batteries and still get no more that 12 hours. This, of course, means that you have to carry spares.
-The screen disappears in the cold. I have taken it skiing and would not have been able to use it if necessary.
-Although you can store many maps, the Legend will go slow like a sick turtle crossing a maple syrup lake in winter. I limit myself to no more than 4.
-Don't forget that you have to purchase that $100 map software...
-The antenna is not very perceptive. I have had my Legend cut in and out during the course of a trip. My buddy had his turn off after he put it back on his pack, antenna facing in instead of out.
-The maps used are not very detailed. I am a dot at the end of a line, normally surrounded by parallel lines. I go back to my paper maps quite frequently while considering why I bought the GPS in the first place.

In the end, I'm glad I have the Legend because I like to turn it on and mark certain spots (the trailhead or car) so I can return there. I do not use it for continuous use anymore...