Garmin eTrex Venture Cx

$249

by Kevin Arnold

Mark Wiens

BEST FOR BEGINNERS

Never used a GPS before? Check out the refreshingly straightforward Venture. On day hikes and quick overnighters around British Columbia's southern Coast Mountains, testers with limited GPS knowledge found the cell-phone-size Venture's simple menu system the most intuitive to operate. Its relatively big (1.3-by-1.7-inch), bright color screen is also one of the easiest to read, especially in harsh sunlight. 6 oz; garmin.com

Bonus: With 32 hours of battery life, the Venture dusts the competition—at any price. Bummer: It lacks an electronic compass and barometric altimeter.

• The Goods: Road Trips
• Women's Essentials: Travel Gear
• The Goods: Hiking

2009 Summer Buyer's Guide GPS Devices Reviews

Garmin Oregon 400t	$599

2008 Summer Buyer's Guide GPS Devices Reviews

Garmin Colorado 400t	$600
HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion	$450

2007 Buyer's Guide GPS Devices Reviews

Magellan CrossoverGPS Gear of the Year	$549
Garmin eTrex Venture Cx Killer Value	$249
BlackBerry 8703e	$450
Bushnell Onix 200	$250

2006 Buyer's Guide GPS Devices Reviews

Garmin GPSmap 60CSx Gear of the Year	$500
Magellan Explorist 210 Killer Value	$179
Brunton Atlas MNS	$359
Magellan Explorist Xl	$449
Garmin Rino 530	$500
Suunto X9i	$549

2005 Buyer's Guide GPS Devices Reviews

Garmin eTrex Legend C	$375
Magellan eXplorist 500	$399
Motorola i860 with Trimble Outdoors	$300

2004 Buyer's Guide GPS Devices Reviews

Garmin GPSMAP 60C	$482
Magellan Sportrak Topo	$269
Suunto X9	$699
Lowrance iFinder Pro	$209

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• Revolutionary New Gear Outside Magazine, October 2009

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• I, Cyborg Outside Magazine May 2004

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• Because It’s There. (Sort of.) Outside Magazine, June 2008

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