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Its superior battery life and extra memory capacity (once you buy a micro sd card) would be worth the small price differential that exists currently. If you don't want the altimeter, the Venture HC could be a good alternative.Although I'm very satisfied with the Summit HC, unless I could get one at the price I got ($120), I think I'd go with the Vista HCX. Garmin wasn't much help- said which one you use is user preference. It's easy to use, accurate,compact, lightweight and has a very viewable screen. Figuring them out will take some time to sort out. With the altimeter, it can detect if I've got the GPS on the floor or if I'm standing up with it.
However you need to be able to calibrate it frequently at known altitudes to have reliable accuracy. It can be viewed without the backlight sometimes and requires only a very low setting on the backlight when it is needed. They perform similar functions but are different. Mapsource seems better at organizing tracks and routes, but Basecamp is much better for printing up maps.I like having the altimeter, both for being able to more accurately measure my altitude (if I've been able to calibrate recently) and for being able to measure barometric pressure. The poor basemap is to be expected and I wanted a detailed topo anyway so got a Garmin topo map of the western coastal states. I'm quite pleased with this GPS.
The GPS comes with Mapsource software and the map comes with Basecamp. The GPS altitude seems to be within about 30 feet and varies considerably (I live at about 1325 feet and have seen GPS altitude readings range from 1295 to 1345 feet.
It has the most needed basics: sensitive antenna, electronic compass, and lasts a long time on commonly available AA batteries. It isn't a touch screen clone of an iPhone, but it gets the job done simply and reliably. I purchased this for my sister to start Geocaching. The internal memory has enough room for a large area of topo maps, but does not have expandable memory (the only downside with this wonderful GPSr).All in all, an incredible bargain.
The 24mb internal memory of the HC isn't for the diehards. I enjoy my HC and feel it is the best under $200 pocket navigator out there for hunters,fishermen, and day hikers. The owner's manual is sufficient and the unit's controls are well placed. I feel that Garmin and other GPS manufacturers could provide a better base map. It's handy for marking hunting, fishing, and navigation points. The HC is good for making your way through unfamiliar terrain. Like other less expensive GPS units, the base map is very much lacking in detail. A very serious navigator would probably be happier with a unit that has an SD slot for quickly adding more detailed maps.
We bought the maps so we can use it on the road, too. We're very happy. If I had wanted that, I could have spent more for a different model. I wasn't looking to invest $600 in a unit without even knowing if my husband would enjoy geocaching. This does everything we want/need it to do, and for the value it has some really cool functionality.
I was looking for a basic GPS unit for a gift for my husband that we could use to start geocaching. My father has used to for geneology, to mark coordinates of gravesites. There isn't turn by turn navigation, but again, that's not why I bought this unit. It was easy to figure out how to download the cache data into the unit. Granted, there are better units on the market with more features, but I wasn't looking for a $600 model that could do it all.
but after finding out that he does, and using this unit for many excursions into random fields and wildlife areas- we are REALLY happy with the value for such a great unit. But, I also didn't want to spend a lot on a unit.
I should have got the nuvie or the oregon. I bought it expecting 2009 technology- it isn't. It works O.K., but I don't find it very "intuitive", the buttons aren't labeled. It would be nice not to have to download maps every time I go somewhere different. The satelite pickup seems O.K., but not "lightning fast". Being my first GPS, I expected a lot from this unit-fueled by all the rave reviews, no doubt. I bought the topo cd so I could download maps and was immiediately dissapointed in the limited memory of the unit. I bought this because it got good reviews and was worried about getting something with a touch screen.
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