Wandering around an unfamiliar territory can be exciting. Say you’ve moved into a new apartment and you want to wander around. Or you went hiking and got lost from the group. It can be thrilling at first. But wait till it’s time to go back and you just realized that you are lost in the middle of nowhere!
It’s not easy to track your steps back since you’re in a new territory. But if you have the Garmin etrex 30x, you’ll be able to find your exact location and destination in a jiffy. We are going to review this GPS navigator. And we’ll tell you why you should get one yourself one of these.
Let’s also dabble in some of the pros and cons, so you know what you’re getting yourself into. And is it really worth it? See our etrex 30x review below.
What We Love the Most
Aside from the pros, here are the key features that made us fall in love with this convenient handheld GPS navigator.
1. Compass
If you want to go old school, this unit will indulge you. It has a built-in compass. So it’s an alternative way of tracking a location. If you need just a simple bearing and not a map location, a compass is quite handy.
Moreover, the built-in compass has a toggleable WAAS setting. It can correct errors when moving from one satellite to another.
2. GLONASS compatibility
This will give you an increased satellite coverage. It’s compatible with the Russian counterpart of GPS, the GLONASS. So it can easily track areas that are inaccessible with a GPS setting.
GLONASS is said to be more accurate when it comes to northern and southern latitudes. Thus, it’s more efficient in tracking places located in Greenland and Patagonia.
3. Altimeter
The altimeter is quite handy and useful for climbers. And this GPS navigator is equipped with one. It uses air pressure to determine the altitude. It can also provide you with positional information so you’ll be able to locate your position.
It can be the ultimate outdoor GPS navigator. So even if you’re climbing peaks, you will have a lot of use of this bad boy.
4. Display
This unit fits a 65 k resolution. So it’s still readable in sunlight. You’ll also have a vivid and clear view of the maps with the navigator’s 240×320 pixel resolution. You might even see it from a distance.
What is a Garmin Etrex 30x
It’s a handheld GPS navigator. It consists of a 3 axis and a barometer compass. This nifty gadget is equipped with enhanced memory storage and resolution. It features a 2.2-inch colored display for easy visibility. And in case it gets soaked in the rain, you don’t have to worry because it’s waterproof.
This handheld GPS device is quite versatile, it can also be mounted on cars, trucks, SUVs, and even boats.
Garmin Etrex 30x- What to Expect
Let’s take this GPS navigator under the microscope. We’ll dabble on some of its features. So you’ll see if it can be a perfect fit for you. So let’s take a look at the advantage or the pros of this navigation tool.
Portable and compact
As mentioned above, it’s a handheld device. So expect it to fit right into your pocket. It’s light and portable so you won’t have any excuse to leave it at home. That’s why it’s also an ideal navigation tool for your camping and hiking adventures. Aside from being waterproof, it will not take much space in your hiking bag.
It only measures about 1.4 x 1.7 inches, and it features a 2.2 inch (diagonally) display. But it still can provide a visible view. Visibility isn’t an issue even if it’s compact.
Long-lasting batteries
Normally, the GPS navigator batteries can last for 24 hours. The unit uses 2 AA batteries. But of course, it will also depend on the usage. That’s why it’s advisable to carry a supplemental battery in case you run out of power shorter than a day.
Waterproof
As we have also mentioned earlier, it’s waterproof. That’s why it’s reliable and can be used for rugged situations such as camping and hiking. But take note that even though it’s waterproof, it does not mean that you can submerge into the water or lake for a pong time. The unit can defy being submerged for 30 minutes, longer than that it can fail.
Also. The weakest link of this unit is the screen, so it’s best to outfit it with a screen protector to make it last longer. It also protects the screen from getting scratches, especially if you’re out in the wild.
You may also like: Best Camping Multi-Tool
User friendly
If you’re a beginner or you aren’t tech-savvy, you’ll love how easy to use this GPS navigator is. You do not need to be a tech geek to figure it all out. It is easy to transfer maps with this gadget. And it can be transferred directly from Google maps. That’s why this is also one of the best options for beginners.
However, if you are already a pro or a seasoned hiker or camper, you might want to upgrade to a more high-quality topographical map. And this device allows you to do an upgrade. You just have to settle the additional charge.
Downsides
One of the downsides of this GPS navigator is its memory. You’d likely be needing an additional SD card.
The memory that comes with your purchase is likely basic and might not suffice. Thought is already an upgrade from the previous model. So if you are more into detailed topographical maps, you’ll be needing additional storage. Keep in mind that this GPS navigator is compatible with 32 GB and which uses FAT32 formatting.
And as much as the displays are clear and vivid, we wished it had a touch screen. It could have made the device more convenient and modern.
Garmin Etrex 30 vs 30x
The etrex 30 x is an upgraded version of the etrex 230. You can expect a higher resolution and a more vivid display. It also features more storage. Compared to the 1.7GB of the etrex 30, the 30x has a 3.7GB.
Etrex 30 vs 30x, which is better? We always love the upgraded versions, the 30x will provide you with a more readable display. And of course, the more storage there is, the better, especially if you want to use high-quality topographical maps.
Final Say
The etrex 30x can be your ultimate GPS navigator when you’re climbing, hiking, or even climbing. And the good news is, it doesn’t cost that much. And it is packed with great features that are worth more than its price.
You’ll never be worried if you get lost again while following the bunny in the woods!
You wish it had a touch screen — why don’t you review the Garmin etrex Touch 35 it etrex Touch 25 models? They’re about the same size and gave a slightly larger screen and that screen is a touch screen.