Garmin GPS: Pros and Cons: What do you know? I have seen the 400 and 600 that accept map chips. Battery life? Any responses are welcomed here:
I don't have a 62, but I do have a 530. Garmin designs their stuff to maintain battery consumption fairly consistent. After owning four Garmins, I can get about the same battery life ... just depends on whether you want to go with a factory rechargeable, or an alkaline system. I prefer the rechargeable as I plug them into my truck each night for a top-off. If I backpacked into the wilderness, I would go with an alkaline system as recharging options are limited. All things given, I like a model with an external molded antenna as opposed to an internal ... I have used both in snowstorms and like having the extra reception ability in a tree canopy and snowstorms.
I have a rhino 655t and used it on elk hunt in Colorado. The battery lasted a lot longer than I thought it would. I had it on most of the time. I do have a spare battery so I didn't charge either for the whole 12 day hunt. I did have to calibrate a couple of times when I knew it wasn't reading correctly.
Picked up the 62 after wasting 1/2 a day of one of my five days in the field looking for a water hole. The pocket compass will be in the bottom of the pack from here on out. The map chip is steller and I expect the tool will be used a lot. Thanks for all the input fellas.