Well, it confirms that I'm a gadget geek, but at least it gets me out of the house.

[Zenmervolt]

I decided that as long as I was going to be in Harrisburg for most of the foreseeable future, I should take advantage of being close to the Appalachian Trail and do some day hiking. Also, figuring that, even though I've never had trouble following a trail, I would probably use the "I don't want to get lost" excuse to be lazy. So I bought a DeLorme handheld GPS and hit the trails.

It's actually a fantastic motivation tool. Being able to look down every half hour or so and see the "distance to finish" dropping makes a very nice motivator and gives a feeling of accomplishment. Also, now that I have it, I feel like I have to use it to justify the purchase, so I'm already planning more hikes, which can only help get me back into the shape I was in during college.

Shameless snapshots from the 8.6 mile hike. I think the half-mile over the boulders took longer than the other 8.1 miles.

ZV

 

[xanis]

Ah, the Appalachian Trail. Unfortunately, I live on the other side of the state... otherwise I have a feeling I'd be outside a lot more.

 

[Kanalua]

PN-20 or PN-40?

I've got the PN-40 and LOVE it...best GPS I've ever used.

 

[Kanalua]

Nevermind, I can see in your pictures you went with the PN-40...great piece of handheld machinery...

 

[Nik]

Cool pics ZV You should try GeoCaching.

 

[imported_Imp]

Is there an advantage to getting one of these over a car-GPS?

Don't have either, so have no idea. Will be getting a car one soon.

 

[amdhunter]

ZV, you look nothing like I expected you to...lol I imagined you were some 50-something bald dude with a wrench and Corvette with 1/2 engine installed.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

The PN-40 is a GREAT unit. Make sure you get the data subscription and it is awesome.

 

[Kanalua]

Originally posted by: Imp
Is there an advantage to getting one of these over a car-GPS?

Don't have either, so have no idea. Will be getting a car one soon.

Two totally different beasts. Car GPS is, generally, strictly an in car device. you tell it where you want to go and it gets you there.

Handheld GPS, while some may work as an in car navigation device, the handhelds are generally for the great outdoors. Handhelds are, in my opinion, what GPS is really about. Using it stay stay on track of a hike. Biking and tracking your route, or mapping out a new route you've never taken before. Marking spots to come back to later if you are going off the trail. Geocaching, hiking, biking, ATVs, motorcycling, snow mobiling, water-sports, etc...

 

[deftron]

Whens MacRocK ?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: amdhunter
ZV, you look nothing like I expected you to...lol I imagined you were some 50-something bald dude with a wrench and Corvette with 1/2 engine installed.

You are not the first person to say something like that. I've had a few clients (I'm a software consultant) get the same impression over E-mail.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Kanalua

Originally posted by: Imp
Is there an advantage to getting one of these over a car-GPS?

Don't have either, so have no idea. Will be getting a car one soon.

Two totally different beasts. Car GPS is, generally, strictly an in car device. you tell it where you want to go and it gets you there.

Handheld GPS, while some may work as an in car navigation device, the handhelds are generally for the great outdoors. Handhelds are, in my opinion, what GPS is really about. Using it stay stay on track of a hike. Biking and tracking your route, or mapping out a new route you've never taken before. Marking spots to come back to later if you are going off the trail. Geocaching, hiking, biking, ATVs, motorcycling, snow mobiling, water-sports, etc...

I travel a lot, so I have both. I can expand on your answer a little.

While a handheld could be used for in-car navigation in a pinch (the DeLorme units come with basemaps that include roads as well, other handhelds usually require the purchase of extra software), they don't route nearly as well over roads as dedicated automotive units. On the other hand, automotive units typically don't have the ability to pull in things like topographical maps with hiking trails on them.

Generally, you want a dedicated in-car GPS if you are navigating by car and a handheld unit if you are going to be hiking or doing things offroad.

ZV

 

[scott916]

Looks like a hell of a a nice hike. I've had my heart set on a Garmin for a while, how does the PN-40 compare?