I had no intention of beginning my overview of the brand new Garmin eTrex Photo voltaic off this manner. However there it’s on the sprint of my truck, absorbing juice that’s bouncing off my shades as I drive dwelling this morning, and albeit, I’m slightly blown away. I’ve used loads of photo voltaic merchandise through the years and I don’t assume I’ve ever used one that’s this environment friendly.
However I digress. Within the final month, this little GPS unit has turn into a part of my every day life. I take it all over the place I am going, and have even created a customized mount for it in my 4Runner. I make it some extent to import and export routes and waypoints randomly all through the day. And, in the end, I’ve come to understand the truth that the unit requires me to place in slightly work to get what I want from it.
That every one mentioned, for those who take note of product critiques (and we do), it’s what’s been baked into the eTrex Photo voltaic ($250) that has been given as a lot consideration as what has been ignored of this minimal system. So, the next isn’t simply going to be an knowledgeable overview of my expertise with the unit, however a possibility to debunk among the lingering questions on the market.
Briefly: The Garmin eTrex Photo voltaic is a stripped-down, solar-powered handheld GPS unit that offers you easy-to-read data in an easy-to-use bundle. It additionally has multiband GPS, which supplies pinpoint accuracy and staves off obsolescence.
To learn extra on the spectrum of GPS-enabled units right this moment, take a look at GearJunkie’s Greatest Handheld GPS Units information for the chicken’s-eye view.
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Battery life
200 hours in normal mode; as much as 1,800 hours in expedition mode; limitless with photo voltaic -
Battery kind
Inner rechargeable lithium ion -
Weight
5 oz. -
Reminiscence
28 MB -
Display screen Dimension
2.2” -
Connectivity
USB-C / Bluetooth -
Sensors
GPS / GLONASS / GALILEO / QZSS / BEIDOU / IRNSS / Compass
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Photo voltaic cells in display powers system indefinitely in direct daylight -
Multiband GPS reception -
Actual-time climate imported from telephone
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Notifications don’t go away on their very own -
Black and white display
Garmin eTrex Photo voltaic Evaluation
So, One other GPS?
Not fairly. The eTrex Photo voltaic is a straightforward, stripped-down, solar-powered GPS handheld. Designed for the out of doors fanatic and arriving sizzling on the heels of the newer eTrex SE, the unit means that you can acquire waypoints, create routes, and entry them with ease by means of a collection of easy but particular menus. It’s, in brief, every part you would ever need in a GPS unit with out the entire superfluous bells and whistles of higher-end models.
However the actual shining star (no pun supposed right here) is the flexibility to photo voltaic cost the unit. This may give you limitless battery energy regardless of the mode you’re working in. And whereas I’ve but to succeed in limitless hours with the unit, preliminary testing exhibits nice promise. With a easy display, minimal processing energy, and restricted gizmos, the system merely sips juice, and the photo voltaic panel can simply maintain it topped off for prolonged expeditions.
Rounding out the spectacular options and advantages of the eTrex Photo voltaic is its multiband satellite tv for pc capabilities. Whereas usually a performance reserved for high-end GPS-enabled units, this tech has been trickling all the way down to the lots, and by with the ability to connect with completely different satellite tv for pc frequencies, you might be assured that your place is correct.
The eTrex Photo voltaic additionally has a devoted menu merchandise for geocaching, which it could actually do natively or by pairing the unit along with your smartphone and utilizing the Geocaching app. This makes the eTrex Photo voltaic a priceless instrument so that you can take within the outdoor by yourself, or when spending time having enjoyable with the entire household.
Pairing the eTrex Photo voltaic along with your smartphone means that you can entry expanded options comparable to telephone notifications in addition to climate and dawn and sundown occasions. It additionally means that you can plan your journeys forward of time.
This may be executed by means of the Garmin Discover app which additionally makes managing waypoints and routes simpler with out complicating the working system. The Discover app additionally means that you can work together with navigation apps like Gaia GPS to import and export data.
What It’s Not
I usually don’t learn critiques about merchandise I’m testing. I additionally keep away from message boards as a lot as doable. However I used to be wanting up a few technical specs on the eTrex Photo voltaic and located myself studying posts and critiques that simply didn’t line up with any of the advertising supplies from Garmin concerning the eTrex Photo voltaic. The unfavourable feedback had been spreading like wildfire. What was the deal?
Lots of people assumed the eTrex Photo voltaic and its disposable battery-dependent associate — the eTrex SE — had been going to be successors to the eTrex 22x or 32x. At the very least when it comes to having a shade display and what the working system was going to be.
However when the SE launched again in March after which the Photo voltaic in November, it turned obviously apparent that these had been extra just like the eTrex 10 — a barebones unit that targeted merely on doing what GPS units do finest: navigate.
That mentioned, it’s true that the eTrex Photo voltaic doesn’t have a shade display or characteristic turn-by-turn instructions. Sure, routes and waypoints might be imported to it, however you can’t add customized maps or TopoActive maps to it. Moreover, there isn’t a joystick to navigate by means of the menus. As an alternative, it has a multi-button strategy that individuals who’ve used the Foretrex collection will acknowledge.
However the longer I used it, the extra I spotted that it’s received every part I may ever need in a GPS unit, sans goofy fishing calendars or built-in flashlights. Do you’ve gotten a spot you wish to go to? It’ll take you there. Need to know learn how to get dwelling? The eTrex Photo voltaic has you coated. And typically that’s all you want.
Sips of Sunshine — An Expedition-Prepared Photo voltaic System
Having examined loads of out of doors gear through the years, I’m greater than keen to confess that some solar-equipped gear is a ache within the ass. You need to have panels angled simply the precise solution to get an honest quantity of solar energy pulled in. In the long run, it may be extra of a battle than a profit.
That’s not the case with the eTrex Photo voltaic. The primary time I walked out the door with the unit into the solar, I used to be pulling in 112% of photo voltaic depth. That climbed as much as 142% as soon as I positioned it and let it’s.
General, on common, if you’re strolling about with a transparent shot to the sky, you’ll be able to count on to internet round 70-80%. The quantity is all the time fluctuating, however the level right here is that the eTrex Photo voltaic’s receptors are depraved delicate and thereby efficient. That is if the unit is on or off. Sure, that’s proper — this little goober is taking sips of sunshine even when it’s powered down.
By way of beneficial properties based mostly on that efficacy, I picked up 19 minutes of battery life after 10 minutes of leaving the eTrex Photo voltaic within the solar. Garmin states that 1 hour of 100% photo voltaic depth will achieve 2.5 hours of battery life. One of the best ways to realize these sorts of outcomes is clearly by conserving the unit in a single place, however by all means — cost the place you’ll be able to and when you’ll be able to.
That being mentioned, if somebody had been to ask me if the photo voltaic characteristic is well worth the $100 upcharge from the Garmin eTrex SE, I must inform them sure. With the photo voltaic characteristic, you’ve gotten limitless hours of utilization. If there’s no solar, don’t fear — you’ve gotten a minimum of 200 hours of battery life. Which, not for nothing, continues to be greater than the 168 hours you’ll get with the eTrex SE.
Now, is that $100 value it for everybody? I wish to know that I don’t must depend on batteries for every part. I additionally wish to know that if I pull one thing out of my gear closet, I don’t robotically must cost it. Don’t neglect, you additionally get the multiband GPS characteristic that the SE mannequin doesn’t have.
In my life, I don’t know if I’ll ever want one thing that lasts greater than per week and not using a cost. However I do know there are many folks on the market who can profit from this characteristic. It’s essential decide if that’s you.
Battery Life
Throughout its completely different product traces, Garmin has been pushing prolonged battery lives in recent times. With the ever-growing recognition of the Apple Watch that may solely final a few days, it makes loads of sense for Garmin to tune their watches to run almost a month on a single cost. It has additionally made it some extent to level out that its newest addition to its Foretrex line has greater than double the battery lifetime of its predecessor.
The eTrex Photo voltaic is Garmin’s first solar-powered handheld GPS system* — nevertheless it’s not the primary solar-powered product. It’s been utilizing solar energy in watches to enhance battery life for the previous couple of years. Being that they’re a wearable system, this eliminates the burden of needing downtime to cost. Including this performance to the eTrex supplies the identical factor, which in the end enhances ease of use, reliability, and dependability.
However then you consider a handheld GPS just like the Montana 700i ($700). That factor comes off just like the holy grail of GPS models however solely has a battery lifetime of 18 hours. I suppose this leaves the door open for brand spanking new merchandise, nevertheless it’s a little bit of a head-scratcher. At $450 greater than the eTrex Photo voltaic, you’d assume it will be one of many first handhelds to get photo voltaic and multiband GPS.
Once more, I’m not right here to take a position why Garmin does what it does. I proceed to take pleasure in its merchandise.
*The Edge 540 Photo voltaic and 840 Photo voltaic are bike computer systems.
Multiband GPS Reception
House Pressure (I nonetheless can’t consider we named it that) is answerable for the 24 satellites that make up our GPS sat-nav constellation. They do every part from conserving these huge tin cans up and working to changing them as they both put on out or turn into out of date. Always, we now have 24 satellites lively in area, in addition to some older birds from earlier generations.
That is the place the entire concept behind multiband GPS comes into focus. For years, GPS has been counting on two frequencies of GPS — L1 (Civilian) and L2 (Army). In 2021, it began utilizing the L5 band for civilian use. We at present have 16 satellites in orbit utilizing the L5 frequency with the plan to have all 24 utilizing L5 by 2027.
A multiband GPS system, just like the eTrex Photo voltaic, can make the most of each the L1 and L5 frequencies to provide the unit an undeniably dependable and correct connection. This implies no leaping and lag — what you see on the display is as actual because it will get. It additionally means there’s a decrease propensity for shedding a sign and a better propensity for buying one.
This functionality additionally minimizes points with interference which might happen for those who go inside a constructing, are underneath a forest cover, in a canyon, and so forth. I dwell out within the woods and I had an accuracy of 6 toes with the eTrex Photo voltaic. Most individuals are pleased in the event that they get 16 toes, which is the usual with GPS-enabled mobile units.
When you think about the truth that the eTrex Photo voltaic is each solar-powered and multiband, it creates a good looking steadiness between fascinating and inexpensive.
Importing and Exporting Routes & Waypoints
Out of the field, the eTrex Photo voltaic has a easy, city-oriented base map baked in. This can be a profit, because it means that you can maintain the unit uncluttered from the get-go. However that doesn’t imply you’ll be able to’t add routes and waypoints to it, or export them to a different database.
I’ve been utilizing Gaia GPS for the final 3 years. It’s a strong route-making utility that means that you can share the routes you make in addition to entry the knowledge you save offline. I initially received into it to map out the unmarked off-roading trails the place I dwell and at a spot I wish to get bizarre at up in Vermont. Then it grew to be my place to trace my adventures.
Different standard mapping apps, comparable to CalTopo, work with the eTrex Photo voltaic as nicely (actually any that may export GPX tracks will work additionally). The method generally is a little tenuous at first, however when you get the grasp of it, you’ll end up importing and exporting with ease. The profit right here is the flexibility to load up beforehand tracked routes from different customers onto the eTrex, which you should utilize with out your telephone for a extra lo-fi mountain climbing expertise.
I received’t get into the weeds relating to the method, as it could be completely different from telephone to telephone, app to app. However you wish to export and import GPX recordsdata. These recordsdata are native to the eTrex Photo voltaic and can work with none points.
The entire course of feels slightly old skool. However the advantage of all of it is that it means that you can get acclimated along with your route. Which is one thing loads of of us neglect to do.
Geocaching With the Garmin Photo voltaic
Letterboxing, the duty of utilizing bodily instructions to search out hidden containers has been round because the 1800s. However seeing that GPS, as we all know it, didn’t exist till the early Nineties, geocaching didn’t catch fireplace till the early 2000s.
Just like letterboxing, with geocaching your objective is to discover a hidden container. The large distinction in geocaching is that you just use a GPS unit to search out the container. That container will include a ledger so that you can signal, however will greater than possible have a treasure so that you can take dwelling and replenish.
Geocaching has a large following and is kind of a little bit of enjoyable. The containers aren’t usually out within the open — they usually’re not solely within the woods. In some circumstances, they might be underneath rocks, tucked into holes and timber, or lodged in cracks in ledges. In different circumstances, they are often tethered to storm drains, situated underneath a bench in your favourite restaurant, or in much more complicated locations the place the actual diehards like to cover their cache.
To make use of the eTrex Photo voltaic to geocache, you’ll must navigate to the geocaching exercise on the unit and comply with the directions on the display. This may require you to register with Geocaching in addition to registering the unit with the platform. Geocaching is free to make use of for those who’re an informal geocacher, however there’s a premium subscription out there if you end up obsessive about it. Which tends to occur.
One main good thing about geocaching with the eTrex Photo voltaic is that it’s a primary alternative for the unit to be absorbing the solar. It’s additionally a ton of enjoyable by yourself or with family and friends.
Carry Choices
Garmin does a terrific job of providing carry choices for all of their handheld GPS models. From circumstances to clips, there are virtually a dozen methods to hold the eTrex Photo voltaic. Nevertheless, as a result of this unit loves the solar, I might advocate a carry possibility that retains it uncovered to the solar. It’s essential to do not forget that even when the eTrex Photo voltaic is off, it would cost if it’s within the path of daylight.
I initially thought of the Backpack Tether ($21). I quickly realized that by design, this selection solely benefited me once I had my pack on. So I went with the Backbone Mount Belt Clip ($10). This clip permits me to apply it to my pack, on my belt, on the collar of my shirt or jacket, or wherever else I may consider carrying the eTrex Photo voltaic.
Notifications
I’ve all the time been somebody who needs to remain within the know. Suffice it to say that no matter watch I’ve wants to have the ability to get notifications from my telephone. It’s a first-world drawback, and my ancestors would beat me mindless in the event that they knew what I’ve turn into. Nevertheless, I do know I’m not alone. None of us actually must have notifications on the eTrex Photo voltaic, until — nevertheless — our different units are tucked away. However even then, I’m unsure learn how to gauge the profit in opposition to the distraction.
The eTrex Photo voltaic shouldn’t be a touchscreen, which I like, however when it comes to notifications, it could actually make them extra of a trouble than they’re value. There’s no solution to swipe away your Ring digicam notification telling you that Amazon is at your home while you’re 50 miles from nowhere. With the notification taking over one-third of the display, it’s worthwhile to press a button to take away it if you wish to see what it’s worthwhile to on the display.
I don’t learn about you, however once I want to take a look at the display of my navigation system, it’s as a result of I’m in search of data. To not be distracted by my social life.
Room for Enchancment
For what it’s, I feel the eTrex Photo voltaic is likely one of the easiest-to-use GPS models on the market right this moment. It does an unimaginable job of conserving issues easy and simple to entry. If you’re out and about attempting to determine all of it out, that’s what you need. That mentioned, I wouldn’t thoughts seeing a pair extra options baked right into a future model of the eTrex Photo voltaic.
The Capacity to Cost Different Units
Being that the battery on the eTrex Photo voltaic is limitless, it will be a unbelievable addition to have the ability to cost different digital units off of it. It’s not know-how that Garmin at present makes use of in its through-and-through GPS models (although it’s featured on the inReach Messenger system), however it will be a wonderful addition to a tool comparable to this.
inReach Know-how
Garmin already affords this selection on quite a lot of its higher-end units. I might be keen to drop one other hundred on a unit just like the eTrex with that know-how onboard.
I additionally assume that it’s inevitable that individuals are going to need a photo voltaic possibility in a few of Garmin’s extra superior handheld GPS models. To not maintain choosing on the Montana 700i, however that unit is simply ready to get solarized. And it ought to. Worrying about battery life blows.
Garmin eTrex Photo voltaic Evaluation: Conclusion
Many moons in the past I labored for a big out of doors retailer, and earlier than that, I had been reluctant to get into handheld GPS models typically. However working there — it was unavoidable. As workers, we had been capable of borrow and take a look at out gear, and I had the chance to make use of a a lot older eTrex system once I summited Mount Washington.
Reader, I fell in love. It was nice to see the route I took in comparison with how different folks had gone up who had used the system earlier than me. However I by no means discovered a must make one a everlasting a part of my equipment. It wasn’t till I moved to the place I dwell now, surrounded by trails situated in areas with spotty cell reception, that I noticed the necessity to have one in my pack.
Suffice it to say that I’ve embraced this chance with the eTrex Photo voltaic. I’ve even used it to map out the extra standard routes I take my 4Runner on within the woods. However the huge takeaway right here is that you just get out what you set in with the eTrex Photo voltaic. It’s as much as you so as to add the waypoints and populate the bottom map. It’s straightforward to do, it simply requires pre-planning in your half.
So, for those who’re somebody who likes to go on out of doors adventures — of all sizes and styles — I might recommend that you just think about the Garmin eTrex Photo voltaic. With what you’re getting for $250, you received’t miss the turn-by-turn instructions or shade display. You’ll, nevertheless, benefit from the ease of use in going by means of the menus and utilizing the monitoring and waypoint options.
You’ll additionally benefit from the pinpoint accuracy and the truth that you don’t want to fret about charging it. Simply stick the unit within the solar if you’re out and about.
All in all, I hope this overview eliminates among the confusion and chit-chat concerning the eTrex Photo voltaic. I don’t consider that Garmin ever alluded to being something greater than the revolutionary mountain climbing GPS handheld system that it’s. Folks get wrapped up within the unsuitable issues, and it finally ends up catching fireplace and inflicting distractions. By way of handheld GPS models, the eTrex Photo voltaic would be the finest $250 you’ll ever spend.
