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Garmin eTrex 20x Hiking GPS Review

The Garmin eTrex 20x is your best bet for an cheap,  defended, outdoor ready hiking GPS. There are more expensive models, and smartphone alternatives, but for a lot of hikers, the eTrex 20x will give you the best bang for the buck. Hither's why I recommend it.

If yous detect this guide helpful, you can help support this site by ownership the eTrex 20x with this link to REI. Yous go a discount upwardly to 10% with an inexpensive REI membership and costless shipping. It ends up existence cheaper than buying from Amazon, there are benefits to buying from REI, and y'all help support free hiking guides for everyone.

Be certain to cheque out my review of the newer eTrex 32x model too.

FYI – Some Good REI Outlet End of Season Deals on At present

What the Garmin eTrex 20x Is and Is Not

The eTrex 20x is a small, outdoor gear up mapping GPS unit of measurement. You can follow a pre-made rail or road, or navigate to a waypoint. Or you lot can navigate by looking at the loaded maps on the small color screen. It'southward waterproof, rugged, and outdoor gear up (so dissimilar about phones, you lot can drop information technology without shattering the screen).

If you read the reviews for the eTrex 20x (peculiarly on Amazon), you'll come across that many people give it low stars and complain well-nigh the maps. Garmin'due south marketing makes it seem similar y'all can get-go mapping hikes out of the box with this thing, and information technology's not true.

Garmin includes a base of operations map, which will basically tell y'all what metropolis you're in and what interstate is shut to yous. It's pretty worthless, BUT Just Only you can get complimentary topographic maps and load them on the unit very easily. No demand to buy expensive Garmin maps. And Garmin provides a free program called Basecamp (Windows and Mac) that's a great tool for planning routes and loading them onto the unit of measurement. I use it all the time.

Here's an example of the very detailed and costless topographic trail maps y'all tin can become for the eTrex 20x.

And then with the free maps, and Basecamp for planning, the Garmin eTrex 20x is powerful tool. It's small, rugged, and easily helps you navigate the trails. Whenever someone asks me for an inexpensive GPS recommendation, I tell them to get the eTrex 20x. I acquit one myself and use it in addition for my Fenix and smartphone (because I'grand a freak about having backups).

When I was younger I might've eschewed the use of something similar this, but equally I become older, I capeesh knowing exactly where I am at whatsoever given time. I wouldn't hitting the trail without it. – REI Reviewer

Garmin eTrex 20x Video Review

Why the eTrex 20x Is a Nifty Hiking GPS

It Has the Crucial Navigation Features

The basic function of a hiking GPS is to follow and record tracks and waypoints, which the eTrex 20x does very well. No bells and whistles, but y'all, a map, tracks, and waypoints. Skip the bluetooth, WiFi, and other stuff. Just more things that can run your battery down and/or potentially fail.

There are some basic functions that I look for in a hiking GPS, and the eTrex does all of them well. Here'south what it does:

• Allows yous to follow a GPX tracks that you lot've downloaded off the internet
• Allows you lot to create your own hiking tracks and routes in (gratis) Garmin Basecamp and ship them to the eTrex 20x
• Marks waypoints to salve important places
• Navigates to a waypoint
• Tracks you progress, speed, time and distance
• Allows you to salve your hikes to your estimator or online on Garmin Connect
• Has map browsing and navigation capabilities
• Has 3.7gb of internal retentivity to hold enough of maps

In addition to those basic functions, the eTrex 20x has some bells and whistles that I similar.

• If yous plan a route in Basecamp and send it to your eTrex 20x, the unit will alert you with a wake and chinkle when y'all need to turn or change your rail (to stay on the road).
• Information technology has a proximity alarm that will wake and chinkle the unit of measurement when you get shut to a waypoint or coordinate.
• It tin can take a wide variety of free topographic (and other) maps. I use these great (free) topographic maps.

The GPS Is Solid

A GPS status screen lets yous know what birds (insider lingo for satellites) you lot're receiving.

A hiking GPS is really only equally practiced every bit the point it can go, and the eTrex is solid in that section. Information technology picks upward a signal very speedily (actually quicker than some of the more expensive units that I tested). In improver to standard GPS signals, it also has WAAS, which can improve accuracy. You can also enable GLONASS back up, which is Russia's version of GPS. Enabling GLONASS allegedly improves your accuracy past up to 20%. I enable GLONASS and WAAS and it works bully. If you lot desire to save battery, you lot can also turn those features off.

I didn't have scientific way of testing the GPS versus other units, but I did do dozens of real world hike spot checks on the eTrex 20x, Fenix 3HR, iPhone seven Plus, and Oregon 700. Every time I checked, the eTrex 20x was inside 20 feet or so of all the other positions, which is skilful. And I confirmed that GLONASS improved accuracy a fleck. And just a reminder, unless you're geocaching, it's non that crucial to know exactly where you are. I generally utilise it to meet if I'yard on the correct trail, and that'due south generally pretty obvious.

The Bombardment Works Well

A d-ring twist opens the back panel where you can modify the AA batteries. This picture besides gives yous an idea of how meaty this unit is (compared to the AA batteries).

Starting time off, I love that information technology uses AA batteries. That ways you can just carry extra batteries when you need more juice. They can be rechargeable batteries, or the same erstwhile AA yous can arrive any gas station. No demand for USB chargers, solar panels, or anything else fancy. Carry some actress AA batteries in your pack and call it a mean solar day.

With normal alkaline AA batteries I go about 22-24 hours of batteries depending on my backlight effulgence and how much I utilize information technology.  When I used Lithium batteries I got between forty-50 hours of use. The lower number seemed to be when I was in canyons where it had to work more to lock onto a point. The 50 hours were in my "normal" hiking with ameliorate line-of-sight.

To maximize your battery life, turn off GLONASS, WAAS, and minimize the backlight.

Our eTrex 20x used only one set of AA lithium batteries to complete 93 miles in 9 days on the Wonderland Trail – REI Reviewer

Other Notable Features

You tin customize the information fields that you see, too as the order of the menu items and so that your frequently used functions are up pinnacle.

• It'due south waterproof and durable. You tin drop it and the screen won't shatter like a telephone.
• The software and buttons are simple and easy to employ.
• Yous tin can customize the data fields.
• It has sunrise and moonrise.
• The buttons are big enough to employ when you have gloves on.
• The screen is easy to see in brilliant daylight.
• It'south inexpensive. If you don't want to spend a ton on a GPS but you however want a solid unit, the eTrex 20x is your move.

What Could Be Amend

• If you're used to an Android or iPhone, the software on this unit will feel like a step back to Windows 95. If yous spend 5 minutes playing around with it, you'll figure information technology out.
• I get that Garmin sells maps, but in this twenty-four hour period and age, they should be complimentary. Garmin would probably be served better by having free maps and focusing on building great hardware. That said, you lot tin can become plenty of free maps to load onto the unit here.
• The screen is a bit small. I wouldn't use the eTrex 20x to plan all my routes, but you lot can use information technology to do that. It's much easier to plan your routes in Basecamp and send them to the device.
• It doesn't come with any mounts or a lanyard. Like shooting fish in a barrel enough to buy for a few bucks. I behave mine in the side pocket of my daypack. It's modest plenty to fit in your pocket.

Bang-up if your a hiker of any sorts – piece of cake to use, multifunctional, I like that you can update information technology and load files on for trips and change them out for other trips, great that yous can load hikes from where you never been, squeamish having peace of mind of non getting lost, batteries last a proficient long while, non heavy and easily packable – Amazon Reviewer

Comparing the eTrex 20x To Other GPS Options

In that location are a lot of GPS options, which is a great thing for us hikers. Here'due south how the eTrex 20x stacks upwards to the other GPS options on the marketplace.

eTrex 20x or a Smartphone

The eTrex 20x next to an iPhone seven Plus with Gaia GPS.

Your smartphone is probably thousands of times more powerful than the eTrex 20x. The screen resolution probably leaves the eTrex 20x in the dust. Simply phones are only adept if they work, and most phones aren't equally rugged as the eTrex 20x.

First, cell phones are notorious for going expressionless, especially in the backcountry. What typically happens is that you lose a jail cell signal, then your phone starts constantly searching for a betoken, which quickly drains the battery. You can solve this problem by putting the phone in flight way, but some phones don't allow the GPS to work in flight way. So information technology can get tricky. I typically use my iPhone in offline mode with Gaia GPS in addition to a dedicated GPS unit of measurement like the eTrex 20x. If you're interested in a Gaia GPS premium membership, HikingGuy readers get 20-40% off with this link: https://world wide web.gaiagps.com/discounts/#_r_hikingguy.

The other upshot is the durability of a smartphone. If your telephone isn't waterproof, y'all need to protect it from moisture (hands solved with a plastic sandwich bag). The bigger effect for me is the screen. Near phones aren't shatter-proof, and my sweaty hands have dropped a few phones, cracking the screen. I fifty-fifty tried rugged cases like the Otterbox, and still croaky them. The phone doesn't have to hit the ground with force to crack, it just has to hit at a certain bending or spot and a fissure or shatter.

eTrex 20x or a Bigger/Better Handheld GPS

Here's a college-end model that costs hundreds more. If you don't have a demand for the extra bells and whistles, it'southward probably not worth the coin.

The nice matter about the eTrex 20x is that it gives y'all the basic, near useful GPS functions in a small, cheap package. If you look at the more expensive models from Garmin, etc., they bundle in extra features that aren't important for most hikers.

For example, take a await at the high finish Garmin 750t, another handheld mapping GPS. For about $350 more than than the eTrex 20x, you lot get: a bigger screen (possibly worth it), a camera (which you probably accept anyway), topographic maps (which y'all can get for free), WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity (who cares on the trail), and some other minor features. Now peradventure i of these features is important to you for whatever reason, in which example become for it. Just if you just want a solid GPS for hikes, you don't really need all the bells and whistles.

eTrex 20x or a GPS Watch

The eTrex 20x next to a Fenix iii HR.

My master GPS device is a Garmin Fenix. I apply it for basic navigation checks, and likewise as a powerful workout tracker (I utilise it for running, hiking, biking, pond, etc.). I as well use the eTrex 20x. The eTrex 20x has a bigger screen, and is easier read and navigate from. Information technology'southward also a fraction of the cost of a GPS watch. If you're looking for a full featured device that lives on your wrist, the Garmin Fenix is the motility. If yous want a bones GPS for the trail, go with the eTrex 20x.

eTrex 20x or the eTrex 30x

The Garmin eTrex 30x looks identical (aside from the color). Discover the detailed topographic map screen that Garmin includes in their standard product shot. If I saw that on a product listing, I'd think the maps came with it too (the don't).

These 2 units are almost identical. The departure is that the eTrex 30x has a built in compass and altimeter, and the eTrex 20x does not. The eTrex 20x uses the GPS and movement to decide your compass heading. If you're standing nevertheless, y'all won't get an accurate compass reading. And the eTrex 20x uses GPS map data to determine your altitude, while the 30x actually uses a congenital in barometric altimeter. If those features are important to y'all, spend the extra few bucks for the eTrex 30x. Otherwise the units are identical.

There are also eTrex Touch on devices that have affect screens. I constitute the buttons on the eTrex 20x to work better for me than the impact screen, peculiarly when my hands were cold or wet.

Buying The eTrex 20x

REI is a good option to buy the GPS since you tin can return it hands. You can buy online or in the shop, and you can render to either selection too.

I highly recommend ordering your eTrex 20x from REI. You can probably get it for a few dollars cheaper on Amazon, just that comes with a risk. Commonly the eTrex 20x is sold through a third party on Amazon, and information technology's hard to return or get support on. With REI, at that place are no hassle returns, y'all tin become to a store and get help using it, and you go the REI member dividend dorsum.

5 star. Works smashing. Accurate. Corking price for value. – Amazon Reviewer

If you're thinking about buying the Garmin eTrex 20x, there's something important y'all can exercise to help support this site. Simply click on the link below to REI and purchase the unit from REI online. I get a modest percentage of the sale, which helps me keep the website alive and produce unbiased reviews and gratis hiking guides.

Check out eTrex 20x Reviews and Prices at REI

Setting Upward Your eTrex 20x

This is what comes out of the box, plus some paperwork and packaging. No mounts or lanyards are included.

When you lot first get the eTrex, there's non much to it, merely a unit and a USB cable (it uses a mini-USB connector on the unit). If you desire a manual, check out the online version which is easier to read than the miniature version they package with the unit.

Hither'south how to get started.

1. Head to Garmin Connect and setup an account if yous don't accept ane yet.
2. Install the free Garmin Express software on your calculator (Windows and Mac).
3. Start Garmin Express, put batteries in the unit, and plug in the USB cable.
4. Garmin Express should recognize the unit and ask you to register it.
   

   

   Garmin Express request me to annals my device.

5. Garmin Express will check for updates and brand certain your device is up to engagement. Go through all these steps to update the software (if prompted).
   

   

   Employ Garmin Express to check for updates. To send tracks and waypoints dorsum and forth to the device, use Garmin Basecamp.

6. Download Garmin Basecamp and install on your machine.
7. Download free topographic maps from your region from GPSFileDepot (or jump ahead to the topographic maps I use at GMapTool).
8. Follow the directions on those sites to install the maps onto your device. It's different for Windows and Mac, and dissimilar for each map service.
9. After you go through those steps to send the maps to your device, launch Basecamp, go to Setup > Maps and enable your new maps (and disable the default map if y'all don't want to see information technology).
   

   

   You can install multiple maps in Garmin Basecamp and easily switch between them.

10. Go through the eTrex 20x setup and customize other aspects of the device if you'd like. Here are some recommendations.
    1. Turn the Battery Saver on and gear up the screen timeout to 15 seconds.
    2. Plough off WAAS and GLONASS if yous want to save your battery.
    3. Cheque that your units are set correctly (believe mine came equally metric).
    4. Make sure your battery type is set correctly (alkali metal, lithium, etc.)
    5. Customize the information fields.
    6. Disable the default map and enable your new (free) maps

How to Use the eTrex 20x

 Works great subsequently it's setup and y'all actually learn how to utilise it. – Amazon Reviewer

The Interface

Not much to say here, aside that it's pretty simple to use once you lot get used to the buttons and menu. You can customize things similar the menu lodge and data fields shown. Here's how it works.

The joystick push button is your main move. Employ it to motility around the menus, and a press in on it selects an choice.

The dorsum push will walk you back to the main menu. A curt printing on the lower button adjusts your backlight and shows battery and GPS level. Long pressing this turns the unit of measurement off.

The carte is old-school but simple and easy to utilize. You lot can alter the social club of these items to put your frequently used functions at the pinnacle.

Planning Your Route

I highly recommend planning your route on your computer before you offset. It's much easier than planning a route on the pocket-size screen of the eTrex 20x. I have a whole article on planning your hike here. Once you have your road or track, ship information technology to your device.

It'southward very easy to program routes in Garmin Basecamp. The key is to download maps that are routable. This will allow Basecamp to automatically snap tracks onto the twists and turns of the trail.

It Works Like A Trip Reckoner

If you're used to a fitness model of the Garmin, the eTrex 20x works differently. On a fitness model like a Fenix, you lot striking outset, and it tracks your activity similar a stopwatch until you hit stop. The eTrex 20x works more like a car odometer. When you want to start a new hike, you lot reset the trip calculator and it starts recording while the unit is on. When y'all're done, yous salvage the track and reset the computer.

The trip computer is normally what I bank check out if I'm not looking at the map. It gives me the important data like fourth dimension and distance. You can customize this screen to meet your needs.

Post-obit a Route

In Garmin Basecamp yous tin create routes, which are similar to turn by plough directions on an automotive GPS. You merely create information technology, transport it to the eTrex 20x, and then navigate using the route. When there'south a plough or change in the route, the unit of measurement will wake and chime to alert you. I wouldn't rely on this as your sole way to navigate, only it'south handy.

Here I am post-obit a route send to the eTrex 20x. When I approach a trail junction, the unit chimes and the screen comes back on. It's not as slick equally a car GPS, but I can await at the majestic route line and figure out which way to go pretty easily.

Following a Track

Y'all can besides download GPX tracks (like the ones from this website) and view them on your device. Ship the rails to the device in Basecamp, so simply bring it upwards on the device. If you lot're on the purple line, you're on the track. Information technology's handy when you come up to an intersection and need to figure out which way to plough. And (obviously) squeamish if you're navigating off trail as well.

Post-obit a track is pretty simple, but stay on the purple line. I adopt this method considering it's elementary and works. When I come up to a junction, I just look at the screen and meet if I'k on my intended path. In this screenshot you tin run into that I've strayed off the trail.

Waypoint Proximity

You tin gear up a proximity alarm for a waypoint. When you become close to the waypoint, the unit will wake and chime. This is helpful for important locations on the trail, for example, and unmarked plow.

This is what the proximity alert looks similar. You tin set an alert for when you get shut to a waypoint. When the alarm goes off, you hear a chime and the screen comes on (from slumber).

Marking and Navigating to Waypoints

This is a bones function on most GPS units, and the eTrex 20x supports information technology also. You lot can mark a waypoint where you are, or use the joystick to curlicue around the map to marking a waypoint. You can and then navigate to whatever waypoint, with the unit's compass pointing yous in the correct management.

I accept used by eTrex 20x for two hiking/hunting/fishing seasons. It has proved to be a very rugged and reliable GPS. I bought it to geocache and it too proved to be very authentic. For off-trail use in heavy PNW wood, information technology was indispensable. Got me dorsum to the vehicle every fourth dimension. – Amazon Reviewer

Getting Aid With Your Garmin eTrex 20x

Unfortunately I'm not able to provide tech support for anybody who emails with an eTrex question. Here's where to go for help:

• Post on the Garmin Forum
• Bank check out the Garmin Reddit page
• Inquire Garmin

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