Garmin GPSMAP 60CS Water Resistant Hiking GPS Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Read all the reviews at GPS sites and then try the GPSmap 60CS out for yourself. You'll see why everyone is so impressed. Garmin's eTrex models were a nice design, but users had to put up with several compromises (limited memory, poor screen, relatively weak satellite reception, etc.) that limited their functionality. The GPSmap 60CS effectively addresses many of the limitations of the eTrex lineup, despite it also being a relatively small, light, rugged device.
Hopefully the following will be helpful to individuals debating whether or not to purchase the GPSmap 60CS. I purchased mine soon after the model was released and think it's overall the best handheld GPS you can buy.
PROS:
- Solid construction (made in Taiwan) with a nice overall "feel". You're getting your money's worth with this GPS.
- Rugged. My main concern about a color GPS was fragility, but I've already dropped mine a few times and suffered no ill effects.
- Nice screen. The 256 color transreflective screen makes a huge difference in using the GPS and I could now never go back to using a monochrome model. The color maps are very easy to read, not only at night but also even in direct sunshine.
- Good battery life. Depending on how much the backlight is used I see anywhere from 10 - 20 hours of use between charges of my two NiMH AA batteries. With the backlight kept off, some people have reported almost 30 hours of use with alkaline batteries.
- Intuitive controls and menus. Even if you've never used a GPS before you'll probably be able to use the GPSmap 60CS right out of the box without consulting the (well-written) manual. There's also a nice (single sheet) color "quick start guide" that gets you up and running in less than five minutes.
- Acquires satellites quickly (fixes position usually in less than a minute) and maintains tracking fairly well.
- USB downloading of Garmin's optional maps is relatively fast. Also accepts serial cable, so I can still use the GPSmap 60CS with an older (non-USB) computer.
- Optional accessories unlock the true potential of the GPSmap 60CS (but count on spending at least another $200 - $300 on maps + accessories). The AutoNav Kit includes a nice beanbag mount to keep the device stable on the car's dashboard, a cigarette lighter power adapter and a CD with the - essential - residential street level maps of the U.S. and several major Canadian cities. I also bought bike mounts so I can use my GPSmap 60CS on my mountain bikes. It's nice to be able to explore the great trails in Marin County and the rest of California without having to worry about getting lost. (It's also easy to then later download your route from the unit to your desktop computer so you can keep a record of a trail if you want to go back in the future.)
- Amazing degree of customization. Background/text colors, sequence of presented screens, orientation of maps (north up vs. track up), metric/imperial units, backlight level, tones, WAAS mode, text language, backlight timeout and a number of other options can easily be turned off or on.
- Present position-to-address routing. Gives turn by turn directions to any addresses that are typed in on the "Find" screen (if you have purchased the optional maps). Having this "autoroute" ability in a GPS as small as the GPSmap 60CS is incredible. The unit also automatically recalculates a new route (but unfortunately takes half a minute or so to do this) if you wander off the previously chosen route or miss a turn. While I will never throw out my paper maps, since getting my GPSmap 60CS I now almost always use GPS when driving to an unfamiliar address. The directions are almost always reliable, but sometimes the suggested route is a bit more circuitous than necessary. It would be nice if Garmin could update the firmware to easily allow users to specify a route that goes by way of an intermediate location.
- Ability to leave "track points" i.e. an electronic breadcrumb trail that can be followed back to your starting point.
- Great speedometer/odometer for bicycles, etc. Thanks to my GPSmap 60CS, I now know that the speedometer for one of my cars is off by 7%! Lists odometer, trip odometer, maximum speed, moving time, moving average, stopped time, overall average speed, total ascent, maximum elevation, current elevation, distance to destination, time to destination, estimated time of arrival and a lot more. It's also easy to customize which fields are displayed.
- Replaces those ridiculously overpriced GPS units sold for cars and can be easily moved from vehicle to vehicle.
- Nice industrial design - about the size of a small walkie-talkie or a large cell phone, but the GPSmap 60CS looks good and feels comfortable in the hand.
CONS:
- If you travel a lot, the built in 56 MB of memory used for storing downloaded maps will be constraining. 128 MB would have been better and the ability to read from CF or SD cards would be ideal. On the other hand, reading from external memory cards would probably have decreased battery life. Furthermore, maintaining simplicity and reliability by forgoing expansion cards may have been a good decision in a device that will be subjected to the abuse that a handheld GPS will frequently see.
- Basemap included with the GPSmap 60CS is very limited. You really need to buy Garmin's residential street level and topographical maps to use the device to its fullest.
- Residential street level and topographical maps cannot be displayed simultaneously.
- Users cannot easily specify plotting alternate routes (e.g. if recommended route is blocked with construction, traffic, etc.).
- Autozoom mode tends to zoom out too much, forcing users to zoom back in to see street details when following a route. I ended up just turning autozoom off.
- Attaching external power supply doesn't recharge NiMH batteries (very minor complaint).
- Alarms aren't very loud, especially for vehicle use.
- Removing the GPSmap 60CS from the cradle in the beanbag mount is somewhat awkward.
- Altimeter tends to drift quickly and requires periodic recalibration.
All things considered, the GPSmap 60CS is an amazing GPS. It represents a quantum leap forward and is a great value given the features it offers. I'm extremely selective about the things I purchase and would rather spend a little extra to get the best. The GPSmap 60CS was an obvious choice and I expect it will quickly become the most-recommended handheld GPS unit on the market. This model now makes almost every other GPS on the market (including Garmin's own eTrex lineup) look dated by comparison. If you can afford the extra $200 or so the GPSmap 60CS costs compared to the midline eTrex models, you won't be disappointed.UPDATE (September 6, 2004):
Using the GPSmap 60CS daily since Spring 2004 has reinforced my belief that my previous review is an accurate summary of the most important good and bad points of the unit. This GPS recently paid for itself when it saved me from missing a flight after I got lost en route to an unfamiliar airport. (I had left the GPSmap 60CS in my suitcase. After missing a turn and getting hopelessly lost I simply pulled over, unpacked the GPSmap 60CS and let its autoroute function guide me quickly back to my destination.)
The only significant limitations are the unit's inability to plot a route via an intermediate point/specify detour routes and the limited memory available for map storage. It appears that Garmin has deliberately chosen to cripple the functionality of the GPSmap 60CS in order to "encourage" customers looking for those features to purchase more expensive units like the new Garmin Quest. Garmin could easily upgrade the GPSmap 60CS memory to 256 MB (the added memory would cost less than $5) and include the detour routing abilities of the Quest, but then why would anyone buy their more expensive units? It's a shame, because the GPSmap 60CS is in many ways a better design than Garmin's more expensive units. (Small, light, works with AA batteries, rugged, maps can be uploaded via either USB or serial cable, etc.) I would have been willing to pay more for a version of the GPSmap 60CS with more memory and revised routing software, but I doubt that we will ever see these improvements made.
While I remain quite impressed with the GPSmap 60CS, my sole interaction with Garmin's customer support department was very disappointing. A couple of months after I purchased my unit, Garmin emailed me, announcing that they were releasing version 6 of North American City Select. This version finally includes street level coverage of Canada and updates the map and business data for the U.S.A. I emailed Garmin to receive what I thought was a free update, only to find that they were demanding a fee of $75 for the update. Only individuals who had purchased the software within a month of the new version's release were to be given free upgrades. Garmin's mean-spirted support policy has definitely dampened my enthusiasm for this company and leads me to wonder if they will stand behind the product should something ever go wrong. Just something else to consider if one is in the market for a GPS.
If I was a teacher, I'd issue Garmin the following grades:
GPSmap 60CS = A+
Garmin support = D-

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The GPSMap 60CS is packed with navigational features, but Garmin knows that a great device has to go beyond a simple color display to be the cream of the crop. With that, Garmin has upped the ante on this lightweight, rugged, waterproof unit, offering a 256-color, highly reflective display that provides easy viewing in almost any lighting condition, including bright sunlight. This transreflective TFT, 2.6-inch-diagonal screen provides excellent viewing while maximizing battery life (up to twenty hours with typical use).
The GPSMap 60CS adds two premium features to the basic design of the less expensive 60C model: an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter, both crucial for highland adventures. These sensors, when combined with GPS technology, provide enhanced bearing and elevation readings. A barometric sensor with automatic pressure readings allows you to view changes in pressure for a set period of time. With the elevation computer, you can find current elevation, ascent/descent rate, minimum and maximum elevation, total ascent and descent, and average and maximum ascent and descent rate. The trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more.
The WAAS GPS receiver has an accuracy of 10 feet in North America. With the 50 reversible routes, 10,000 track points, and 500 waypoints, you're sure to have enough tools to find your way. A fast processor allows the 60CS to provide quick auto-routing, turn-by-turn directions, and audio alerts when the unit uses optional MapSource software, which can be stored on the 56 MB of internal memory. Downloading information is quick with the USB or serial port interfaces. By using the dedicated serial port, the GPSMap 60CS can share navigation instructions with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots. The four-position rocker pad and dedicated high-use buttons make navigating through the unit's features easy, even when your fingers are cold or wet.
The GPSMap 60CS is also packed with some extra fun features. An integrated outdoor calendar provides ideal hunting and fishing times, plus moon rise/set/location information. There is a dedicated geocaching mode for those of you into the popular, GPS community treasure hunt game. And finally, there are indoor/outdoor GPS games to help you and your friends enjoy the outdoors.
Garmin produces some key accessories for the 60CS. If you'll be on the road, Garmin's U.S. topographical MapSource CD-ROM provides the most detailed maps available. Or, for a combination of detailed U.S. maps and a car kit for mounting and powering your GPS, there's an automotive accessory pack for North America.
What's in the Box GPSMap 60CS receiver, basemap (Americas Recreational), MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager CD, PC/USB interface cable, lanyard, belt clip, quick start guide, and owner's manual.

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