Once again, thanks for the review. I will stay with the 66i for another year, and look at this next winter.

You can search for all POIs very easily if you select the search function then all POIs then the three hash marks on bottom right. This will allow you to spell what your looking for without a specific category. This is best if you don't know what category your search item may be listed under.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Nice tip, I didn't know that, thank you!

Thank you for your review. I was on the fence, and now I know I'm not happy with the direction Garmin went with the handhelds. Thank you for saving me $$

I really like your reviews, and this one was no exception. You did a really thorough job on describing it without going in to extreme detail, which is a good idea in my opinion. I ended up buying the 700i a few weeks ago, and everything you said here lines up with my own experience. I'm probably gonna be the guy who doesn't go on the "trip to Mt. Everest", I'll be luckey if I do a couple of small mountains around San Diego county where I live. However, just in case I get back in shape, (I'm 70), I might push it to more robust hikes. I really am happy with it so far, especially happy about the SOS feature, just in case, but I somehow didn't realize I could have bought the mini Garmin for that, I believe, and maybe gone with a cheaper GPS unit to boot. Thanks again for a really thorough review, and shame on Garmin for not supporting you more. I think you do a fine job on these reviews. Marc Trainor.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Glad the unit is working out for you, it's a solid choice. Most folks aren't really going to push it to extremes, and then it's great. I was just playing around with mine and the screen is really sharp. Outside of a smartphone it's probably the best you can get. Anyway, thank you for the support and if you discover anything interesting with it, please share here. There's not a ton of info out there on these units yet and I know a lot of folks find any insights helpful. Have fun out there!

Great review as always. I have been interested in finding out more on this unit since it came out. Still loving my 66i though.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

You're welcome, and yea, I think the 66i is a much better bet for most hikers.

Very nice, assertive, useful review.

Great review, very helpful, thank you!

First I want to thank you for your reviews, still the best I've found on this topic.(and i'll circle back to that) I'm actually (apparently one of the few) motorcyclists who like to camp in the back country, and do short hikes. So I'm always looking for the GPS unit that can read turn by turn on the 'dash' on the interstate, help me keep my bearings riding in the desert, or keep in my pocket to keep me on the trail. And ideally handle SoS so i don't need an other unit. I was hoping this would be that guy... but i don't think they're there yet, and certainly not close enough for the price, I think you'll understand the chief reason I come back to garmin, or inreach over my smartphone is the physical buttons (as well as the battery life and bright hi-contrast display) Whether gloved on the bike, in the rain, or in a sand storm there just no contest between physical buttons you can hit with muscle memory. So I'm sad to see the 700i doesn't have at least a few basic function buttons. And then theirs the battery issue... A lot of the adv rider crowd use the zumo but again no buttons, not ergonomic in the hand, don't fit in pockets, and they're power hogs. And last i checked none have the SoS. Right now i'm using the 66i, (final decision after watching your review) but I wish that could handle rode navigation, had a slight larger screen, so its easier to read while driving, and of course i do wish they'd bring their UI up to say the 2000's. ;>. Garmin if you're listening: please make something like the 700i, but maybe 10% smaller when held vertically, with 10% more physical battery (at least 30% more life) and the basic function buttons. With the multi-path accuracy of the SR. The touch screen for scrolling and zooming is nice, but if touch means even 4% increased power draw I'd rather skip it. The last thing that would be clutch, if you could customize the settings between powered and unpowered.. so you set it to taste when it's on the cradle on the bike its bright, high contrast, quick rendering, and increased pinging, and default to turn by turn view ... then as soon as you pull it off everything is slower, lower power and defaults to topo view. Anyway as promised back to the beginning I keep looking for reviewers in the extended moto community and no one comes close to your videos and articles for my money, so i keep coming back to you. Thanks for all your work!

@Hikingguy

Жыл бұрын

I appreciate that and thank you... and agree 100%, I wish Garmin would just make a better and universal GPS with buttons. It's the number 1 reason why I still own a Garmin GPS for the backcountry. As many times as I try, the touchscreens just don't perform in the rain. I'm about to test a unit from TwoNav ( www.twonav.com/en/ ) that might solve the problem, but, Garmin, c'mon, lets have some innovation with these handhelds. A new GPSMAP unit is due out at some point (it's been a few years) - hopefully it will knock our socks off but not holding my breath...

Thanks so much. Brilliant explanations without hiding issues depending on the goals. You let the user make his own opinion. Great job again!!

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Yea, try to share the pain points too. For some folks the issues might be acceptable given their usage. 👍

Always a good report thanks. From Canada.

This is hands down the best review of this product i've seen thus far. Thank you

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! 👍

Thanks, first useful video on Montana 700

Very helpful video. Thank you.

Very useful as I am looking to upgrade my Oregon 600...

An example of an off-road trail through a USFS would be helpful for 4x4 drivers. I'd just like to see what the display looks like when following a trail through a forest or desert, and how it calculates a route.

@ugpee

Жыл бұрын

maybe you should try the Tread overland

Thanks for this review

Thanks! Excellent video and associated reviews.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful! 👍

Been waiting for this review. Well done as always.👍

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you thank you 👍👍

Excellent review

I took my Montana 700 for a week's worth of pretty extreme hiking in Lake District (UK) last week and I must say, it's exactly what I needed and couldn't get from eTrex or Oregon device I had owned before. I always bring a printed TOPO 1:25k map together with the compass and Montana 700 completes my setup flawlessly. I keep its display off most of the time as I know the direction in which I'm supposed to go, and sometimes, in very challenging navigation conditions, I verify or correct my bearing much quicker with Montana 700 than it would take me with the compass. I reckon, if I kept Montanta 700's display on all the time it would probably run out of juice pretty quickly, but the way I used it continued operating on a single charge for 6 hikes, around 40 hours in total. What I really like is that it (allegedly?) is going to support AA battery case. What I don't like that much is that there's no easy way to attach it to my rucksack, but luckily I found nice belt pouch, fits like a glove.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing, good to know. I didn't have a 700 to test (just the 750i) and I'm glad you're getting that kind of battery life out of it. I found the screen to be the main culprit with battery drain too. Guessing that if I killed the InReach sending and kept it in my pack like you did I could probably get much more juice out of it. Glad it's working well for you!

@PetterIvarsson

3 жыл бұрын

unfortunately only 700 supports aa-batterys which for me is really bad

Very useful. Thank you.

Very helpful. Thank you.

Thanks for all of your work on these GPS units. I used your Amazon link to purchase the 700i for motorcycling off road, hiking, and I wanted the in-reach function because I'm solo most of the time.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for using the link, I really appreciate it 🙏 And glad the guide was handy, I think it's a great fit for motorcycling / hiking combo. Hope you have fun with it.

@brianblack546

3 жыл бұрын

How is the garmin working for you? I need something for dirt biking out of cell signal

@pinkiewerewolf

3 жыл бұрын

@@brianblack546 The Montana works great. I still need a handlebar mount. The first Garmin Montana mount didn’t work. I’ve ordered a new one from Garmin the other day. As far as a GPS unit, I am very happy with it.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

@@brianblack546 Not using this one anymore, just using the 66i which is still solid. Think if you need touchscreen + InReach for a dirt bike, this is a good move. I check some recent reviews on Amazon, etc., but what I'm hearing is all good.

Just bought this monster 2 days ago. I decided to purchase the 24K topo micro SD card for southwest US. I live in Arizona and love to hike all over this beautiful state. I enjoy on sighting areas that I've not ventured into before, so the added detail of the 24K gives me a better idea of what I'm headed for. I've owned many of the older Garmin GPS models that are built the same as the 66i and I must admit I do miss the ability to just hook it on the shoulder strap of my backpack with the carabiner. This unit, with the silicone case that I added, its big,. It's awfully BIG! I have 30 days to try this thing out, and if I haven't lost all my bodyweight by lugging this television set around for a month, then I may keep it. I'll need to find a carry case that I can put on my belt & or attach to my pack. If I stuff it inside my backpack, even on the outside pouches I won't use it as much. Especially, in the beginning weeks, I want to enjoy the learning curve. Honestly, the only reasons I haven't returned it already, is I own a serious off road Jeep that I take off road and it'll be pretty cool to mount this brick on my dashboard and use it for that purpose. I took it up in the helicopter yesterday, I'm a flight nurse, and man that huge screen is awesome. My pilot shared all the waypoints we have in our system for rendezvous landing zones with ground EMS, police, fire etc so it was cool to use it in the back of the helicopter and compare it to his Garmin Area 760 up front. (This unit, despite how powerful it is, is not recommended for aviation use). So for someone who needs a very utilitarian unit that can go from trail to vehicle's, SUVs, etc and want to do it all with one unit, this is the bomb! When I show it to other hikers who have smaller handheld devices they all drool at the size of the screen, which I think for most people, once they get a taste of that visual, they'll be hooked. From my personal experiences, regardless of the size of the screen on the unit, by the time you're really familiar with it, you'll be well adapted to the screen size. Love the marriage with GEOS for obvious reasons. We constantly promote the use of GEOS supported devices for anyone going into the backcountry. Thanks again for what you do! I'll keep you updated as to how this cinder block does over the next month, and if it hasn't drowned me during a creek crossing, I'll post some more updates. John.

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

Ha that's great - and yea - when I had that in my hand I was thinking "I could smash a big glass window with this thing." And I agree, for a vehicle / trail all-arounder, this unit is the move. And yea, if your arm hasn't fallen off from using this guy, let me know how you're liking it.

@ImTheBlade65

2 жыл бұрын

So after putting this monster through its paces for the past few weeks I've decided that it's just not for me. I'll highlight the reasons why; ● Size & weight. It's a very big unit, it doesn't fit well in the hand and adds noticeable weight to my pack. I had difficulty finding an accessory pouch to mount on my backpack. When using a GPS, personally, I like it to be immediately accessible, whereby one can simply glance at the screen and keep moving. The best I could come up with was an aftermarket pouch fastened to my shoulder strap, unattach the Velcro closure, then unzip the pouch, then remove the brick size GPS and due to its size and poor ergonomics, fumble it in my average size hands and drop the $800.00 (not including tax) on the ground. ● Touch screen: I'm not a fan of touch screen devices, especially when I'm out on the trail and could find myself in a bad situation with rain or even blood on my hands. The side menus keep getting accidentally activated and the whole interface is just way too delicate for the type of environment or situation one could find himself in. ● Software issues; The unit crashed and powered off 4 separate times. Each time it was when I was attempting to follow a route. I'd select the pre-planned route, the screen would read "searching" then the unit would go dark. ● Battery life; Very poor! One evening, instead of planning a route on the computer then transferring it to the unit, I decided to plan a route on the unit itself. I started out with 100%, by the time I was done planning the route, the unit was down to 83% power. In closing, I'd say that this unit was probably designed for ATV users, quads, side-by-side users and motorcycles. If by chance you had to dismount and navigate somewhere on foot, then this Montana 750i could certainly work for that. However, as a dedicated hiking, trekking. backpacking unit, you'd be far happier with the Garmin GPS MAP 66i or the like.

I got caught on a kayaking trip in a massive rainstorm and yes these touchscreens wig out, it was turning functions on and off like a bunch of tiny fingers hitting the screen all over lol, that being said i would not give up the touch screen myself personally.

The information about water on the screen is very usefull!!!

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful! That's the big downside of using touchscreens in the outdoors unfortunately.

You can reach that home screen by swiping down from top too which has brightness etc. I use this on a dirt bike and it’s amazing

@Jollyswagman7

3 жыл бұрын

Do use the map upgrades for dirt bike riding or just base ones? Cheers

@smacnee3278

3 жыл бұрын

I use maps from cal topo I’m riding off road

I’m looking for motorcycle navigation for on/offroad navigation. The latest advise I got was: “Put your iPhone in your pocket and use a rugged Android smartphone/tablet for navigation on the bike” If you crash you can still use your phone to call for help if your bike dropped in a ravine. I was told that Android has more offline navigation apps then iOS. I wonder what would be the pro’s and cons for the Garmin Montana and its ecosystem VS a rugged Android phone/tablet setup with offline maps.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Yea, there are a lot of options and they're all pretty good. The main pro of this unit is the InReach capability. If you don't need that, you can probably score a cheaper rugged Android and run something like Gaia GPS.

Great review, once again,... Merci ! 😃

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

👍👍

Great job thanks!

Excellent review, thank you Hiking Guy! One question -- is the screen on full brightness in this video, or at least at the 5:49 point? Frankly the screen looks maddeningly dim. I have read complaints about dim-mish screens on this unit but have yet to see it in person. Thanks for any insights you can provide.

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

It is on full at that point, but it's hard to judge from another video, which has lighting variations. Overall the screen is a good brightness and pretty easy to see, although the bright screen drains the battery quicker than a lower setting.

From a confused guy! What is the difference between Garmin’s TOPO US 24K and Topoactive North America? Price for the TOPO is $99.00, Topoactive is $59.99 with the entire North America! Greatly appreciated.

@Hikingguy

10 ай бұрын

Don't waste your $$ - they offer closer contour lines and some more detail, but the regular TopoActive maps seem to be fine for me (for several years of hiking / outdoors so far)

Great review, thank you Cris! 👍 Like you say at 25:00 IMO a rugged phone or iPad mini is better in many use-cases you'd consider this - lack of good car/lane features is sad. GPSmap more rugged; or the Garmin 276Cx.

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

I haven't used the Garmin 276Cx but it looks like a great option for folks who mostly drive / overland and occasionally hike.

The one thing I do not like about the Montana 750i is the following thing: It has a lanyard, at the top, but you cannot attach it to something at the bottom. So, in other word, if I need to reach for it, I have to reach it in a pocket, or somewhere else. Let me explain. I have a Garmin etrex Touch 35. It has a lanyard at the top, but I can attach a carabiner at the back of it. That way, I attach a retractable lanyard at the top, and a carabiner, so I can access my gps quickly, and release it. With the way this Montana series is done, I cannot do that. For me, it is important, because I do a lot of hiking of different trails, and I like that I can access my GPS quickly. I have the same setup with an inReach mini. Great review once again,... ! 😃😃😃

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Ahh good point, I didn't consider that (or use it with a lanyard). I ended up carrying mine in a side pocket of my backpack and just reaching back. But the size of the unit makes it much tougher to keep handy than any other (which I could just drop into a pocket). Thanks for sharing, this will be helpful for folks checking the unit out.

Just wanted to pop in the comments and say really really good video. Very useful information. Thx.

@Hikingguy

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Garmin Montana 700 series: possible to mount a mounting spine and a carabiner clip so that it can be attached to a rugsack?

Great review, thank you. I do have a question, I’m looking for bush or hiking GPS that also has the option to add a Back-up camera to it. This option is not listed under the 700 series so I can only assume it does not allow this. Would I need to go to a model like the Overlander to get this feature? Thanks.

@Hikingguy

26 күн бұрын

Yea I think you need a more vehicle focused model - support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=w0sjNmRQFR3N58uLaMpMR8#:~:text=You%20can%20pair%20up%20to,feeds%20from%20all%20paired%20cameras.

It's a shame they haven't come up with a solution to a wet screen yet. I really wanted to buy this one but might give it a miss. I do tend to go out in good weather but I have been caught out in heavy rain which causes my mobile phone touch screen to go mad. Did you have it set on rain mode whilst under the tap??? The rain mode must be a new addition to the software maybe.

Great review. BTW vehicle navigation mode does have lane assist.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, yea, realized that popped in after the first firmware update.

@Jollyswagman7

3 жыл бұрын

Do you need to turn on lane assist? I just bought one and just getting an aerial view.

Can u use on a Motorcycle Street and off road

Hello - thanks for the video and honest review. Quick question: towards the end of the video you recommend one option which is to use an inreach mini and a phone but I did not get the name of the App you mentioned. Thank you :)

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! The app is Gaia GPS > if you upgrade to premium you can use my discount code here > hikingguy.com/best-hiking-gear/

@joernlindstaedt7731

3 жыл бұрын

@@Hikingguy Thank you so much for your quick reply! Greetings from Germany 👍🏼

I was thinking this but for hiking where I go and my lightweight style probably over kill and heavy Two issues too rain is a problem as you say plus battery life is shocking lol I have mapping on phone plus mapping on fenix 6x and have a map and both above give grid reference. I like the option of talky toaster maps though as they show so many paths trails etc but got it on fenix

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

Yea, if you have a Fenix already and phone, you absolutely don't need this guy. Get Gaia GPS for your phone and you'll be much better off.

Hey man could you tell me if it fits a military admin pouch thanks

Great video I am a bikepacker both mountian biking and gravel and looking at doing mountain biking off road single track with fire roads would this be a suitable product to navigate real time or would battery drain too quickly? trip would be 2 -3 day. I currently have the 1030 plus but need the inreach for sos since I travel solo

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

I'd probably stick with the 1030 and get an InReach Mini. This device is pretty beefy and heavy, not the best for a bike.

wow thanks ! Just subbed :-) Whats your opinion of hunt view maps ? I see they are compatable with the montana .

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you and I've actually never tried the hunting maps, just the hiking and cycling ones.

Cheers mate👍

I'm thinking of using this off-road on long-distance bike-packing trips on my bicycle. I can live with the battery life being reduced when I use the screen a little more for reading the maps. Can I load routes and get the device to beep, prompting me to follow turn-by-turn navigation? I have been looking at a 66i too. I'm attracted to the bigger screen. Though I do understand your comments about a fully touch screen interface being awkward, say in the rain, or with gloves on. What are your thoughts?

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

Yup, this is all set for routes & turn by turn. It might be heavy for a bike, you might want to check out the Edge GPS models.

I have been using my 66i for a couple years now and absolutely love it, but have to admit, this has peaked my interest. Obviously, the touch screen and general bigger screen is the most obvious advantage, does anyone have any other reasons to move up?

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

I still use my 66i because the Montana touchscreen isn't great in the rain. I was just caught in a thunderstorm in the Grand Canyon and was thankful that I had the buttons on the 66i to do what I needed to with the unit.

It might be worth it as one more backup if Aviation charts could be added

Video topic idea! I know you have experience with the Garmin Inreach Mini with the Earth mate app, as well as with the new Montana 700i. Would you be interested in explaining the difference between the app and the device from a navigation standpoint?

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

In general the app can mirror all the nav functions on the device. I would do a video on it, but the app changes so much it would be out of date rather quickly. I'd say overall having a dedicated GPS like this is really about the rugged / weatherproof aspects. In other ways a dedicated GPS is almost always inferior to a smartphone app.

do it have a micro charging cable and solar charger power bank

One question: Does the Montana connects with the Phoenix Garmin Watch the same as the InReach Mini and GPSMap 66i? I got a Mini and it works great with it.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Yup you can control the InReach part with a watch, same as the Mini

@lsc193

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Asked you the same about the Mini in your review then and that's why I bought it. I may buy the GPSMap66i as the Montana is too heavy and screen not as rugged in cold weather/rain... I wish the cell explore app would have navegation settings as the fenix5 I have though its good for a recorded point, takes time and sometimes you want faster bigger screen. Thanks for the good work, have gone to many of the hikes you review and described.

Do you know anything about the dog tracking feature? It says compatible with Alpha/Astro handhelds. If I have one of the Garmin collars, will it track the dog without the Alpha/Astro handheld?

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

Ahh sorry I don't know anything about the dog tracking features.

im in australia and dont know anything about garmins gps- im going to start hiking in the mountains going off tracks and heard the 750 is great but expensive - is the 700 any good - id like one with topography maps to zoom in etc.. sorry hope that makes sence - any tips or recomendations would be great , thanks

@Hikingguy

Жыл бұрын

Yup 700i is same as 750i without camera,, which kinda sucks anyway

I am assuming there is a plan cost to the InReach. Can I get the InReach capable but not use it? I am thinking that I may want it in the future so it would be nice to have that option.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

You can use this without activating InReach

Great Video, Garmin North America has just placed the 700 on sale $150 cnd to April 7th,so i ordered one. To use on my Skidoo, but like to use hiking has well any idea the size of the battery power like my phone is 5500 mAH, so i know want size charger to take with me 10000 mAH i'm looking at for few days i say 20000 mAH. Also i ordered a Tusita Silicone cover and a Maxpedition TC-3 pouch all so looking at the car mount so i can use in the car for navigation like to see how good it is, still got my old Garmin Nuiv 775 with North American and Europe maps on, like to see how 700 works on the navigation before i hit the U/K great video and reading your full review too keep up the great work Dave from Labrador City,Labrador,Canada.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you and that's a good deal on the unit, prob the first time I've heard of them going on sale since they came out. It's a good fit for snowmobile / hiking. Didn't test the screen in snow but think it might be okay. Have fun with it!

Does the 700 have wifi ? Will the 700 track with a tracking collar from garmin or do I need the 700i ? Thanks good video

@mbpaintballa

3 жыл бұрын

you need to pair it to the tracking handheld to track the dogs.

im using this for snowmobiling in New England are these maps included or do i have to buy a trail maps sd program for my area? thanks

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

It comes with trail maps that include forest roads

Thank you sir for your valuable time. What is the price of the extra battery? Are there any more powerful battery pack to purchase? How much they cost?

@redsherpa1

2 жыл бұрын

Use a power bank

Hello!Does anyone know how much the deviation is?For example, if I mark a tree, will the navigation show that I arrived at that place at 1m or at 15-20m. I need great precision to hunt truffles at night.I used to have Etrex 30x and it showed me badly. Also my current location, on one side I am surrounded by a river and in order to change my position the river is always on the same side which it really isn't, the map didn't rotate at all?Thank you

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

Your best bet is to get a GPSMAP 65s or 66sr which are accurate to about 3m. Anything more than that and you'll want a (more expensive) surveying GPS which can get about 1cm accuracy.

Hi sir. Thanks for the video. What about the subscription plans. I would like buy the 750i but i don't want pay subscription. The gps and the navigation still working without subscription?

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, you can still use everything aside from InReach without a subscription. You might want to consider a Montana 700 without the inReach and save a few bucks.

I haven’t looked through the comments yet, but I’m really mostly interested in what software I need to run on my desktop Mac computer to link this device, I know there is explore, but there’s another one in how those two or any others if there are any others are used and is there a particular order or priority of software?

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

Basecamp is your best bet

Hi. I'm in northern BC Canada. I have the 66st. Is the 66i more accurate gps wise than the 750i? Other than the spec sheet. 66st is pretty good. Thanks

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

66st should be the most accurate of the bunch since it has GLONAS and these (66i 750i) InReach models do not. No need to upgrade to these. The 66sr will probably be more accurate though (see my 65s review)

@fishsticks5175

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for reply. Un reach is reason I'm interested. And big screen

How is it as an always on GPS? I plan to put it on a motorcycle and keep it plugged in

@Hikingguy

2 ай бұрын

Haven't used it that way but imagine it's fine

are you able to disable the contour lines in topo? or have less?

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

You can tweak the detail settings which may get rid of some contour lines.

More of a question really. What is the purpose of the 7 gold contact points on the left side of the unit between the power switch and the micro USB power port? I cannot seem to find a desvription of these anywhere.

@Hikingguy

4 ай бұрын

Think it might be for a vehicle mount with power

@user-mf8oh6ye2t

4 ай бұрын

Of course! Don't know why that didn't occur to me! Does seem a rather expensive solution to an automotive GPS, though. Garmin has plenty of cheaper models to choose from.

I use gps daily for my job (hunter/trapper), I have just upgraded from Colorado 550 to a Montana 680t, which I like and find it suits my needs. Would the 700 be a good upgrade? I use Erpib system instead of the inreach system. I do use the camera on my 680t and carry a battery power bank which gives me about 3-4 days worth of charging. Currently the 680t gives me about 12 hours use as I am always consulting the map. Have you done a compo of the 680 vs 700? Thanks the the tips and tricks. Great video you have.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

If you have a 680t I wouldn't upgrade to the 700, it's not worth the $$$

@seanlittlefair105

3 жыл бұрын

@@Hikingguy Thanks for the response. Will take your advice.

@seanlittlefair105

3 жыл бұрын

Slight update, my 680t sustained some damage so I’ve just had to get a 700 model as this is all they could give me.. So far so good with this model. I do like the bigger screen, wifi capability for downloading Birdseye maps and faster chip set for scrolling thru the map page when I’m planning my trap lines and so forth. Expedition mode will be handy I think for the bigger jobs? I’m just rewatching your video agin to get some more ideas.. thank you for the info. Regards from New Zealand.

@eyesopen8614

Жыл бұрын

@@seanlittlefair105 im in australia and dont know anything about garmins gps- im going to start hiking in the mountains going off tracks and heard the 750 is great but expensive - is the 700 any good - id like one with topography maps to zoom in etc.. sorry hope that makes sence - any tips or recomendations would be great , thanks

I really enjoyed the Oregon Series, but they got less reliable as they updated them. I am looking for an upgrade, but this thing is way to big. I wish they would make a smaller version.

i ordered the flash light .... As you add they are like a 20$ in a bin at a tool center

good job boss

Can you download any of the garmin apps like the balistics calculator

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

You can download any Garmin IQ app that is compatible

I see that the 700 does not have the City road maps preloaded. Can it be added to it? I don't need the camera or the InReach communication.

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, you can load them via chip or by downloading and syncing with your computer.

Would this be good for off the grid communication between two 750i devices, using the message feature?

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

Yup, you can message inReach to inReach >> support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=o4sYSXP4LC8KhFNWJEVPI7

@WatsonWu

2 жыл бұрын

@@Hikingguy That's great, thanks for the info. Are messages back in forward responsive or they delayed depending on weather etc satellite conditions?

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

@@WatsonWu it all goes through the satellite so usually 15 mintues or so avg

Garmin markets the Montana 700 series as having "routable topographic maps"? What does that mean? And how does it differ from other Garmin devices? I understand this to be a new feature. My application is adventure motorcycling. I want a GPS that will tell me to go left or right on dirt road/trail intersection along my route. Essentially, I am looking for Google maps style routing on dirt roads/trails with preloaded gpx tracks that I download online. In the past, I've used Android phone apps like Lotus. That involved visually following the purple (or whatever color) line on the phone's screen while riding and trying to anticipate turns. Probably not the safest thing. And often I wouldn't realize I had missed a turn until after having passed it. That is a problem given that there are hundreds of turns on some of the motorcycle adventure routes. Thanks, and great review.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, glad the review was handy. So the routable topo isn't new, even though they might spin it that way. It's basically saying that there's a topo map on there that has trails and dirt roads, and if you give it a destination, it will pick a route from where you are to there (minimizing distance or ascent). So for motorcycling this will be perfect. It even has a profile for that and will route you on dirt roads but not hiking trails. It should give you turn by turn guidance when motorcycling, but I've only used it hiking. If for some reason you get and it get stuck, just post here and I'll try my best to help out.

How is it for tracking a trip on a UTV , can you find your way on a off-road trail

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Yea, it's perfect for a UTV.

Can this unit look for places where u can Plublic Hunt and where place that r Posted where u can not Hunt. Such as if u live in the city where there r places where u can Hunt and Places that r Posted.

What do you think of having an inreach mini 2 purely as an emergency epirb, and using a separate gps unit for navigating so I don’t wear down the battery of my emergency sos device? I am virtually a beginner with navigation and plan to start hiking on my own, but plan to to use map and compass as my primary navigation method, then use gps if I think I don’t know where I am on my paper map so the gps is the first safety net, and then if I feel like I still can’t back on course or get to safety on my own with gps then I would hit the sos button before the battery runs flat? Is that a fair strategy? I am considering either the inreach mini 2 or gpsmaps 66i, but if I carry a inreach mini 2 but save the battery purely for emergencies and quick messages to loved ones to let them know I am ok but then switch it to expedition mode (or off?), while using a stand alone gps device as my first option to get me out of trouble, then would that be a better plan? I am just concerned that by using the gps on an inreach sos device I may accidentally burn the battery so it could be flat right when I need the inreach sos function? 🤔 However weight is an issue too so don’t want to have to carry a inreach mini plus a gps plus a phone plus a power bank while hiking or bike-packing up hills etc if not necessary for safety? Any suggestions would be appreciated 😄

@impermanenthuman8427

2 жыл бұрын

There are other brands of standalone ultralight epirb’s (which could be paired with a separate stand-alone gps device) as an option vs the inreach mini’s but the inreach gives satellite messaging which is a great feature which I want which leads me back to some kind of garmin inreach device with or without its own gps screen is the question though? Also my understanding is that Gaia maps gps personal location function doesn’t work out of phone reception range to show you where you are on the phone maps?

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

If you're a beginner I'd use the Mini for communications, get a smartphone + GaiaGPS for navigation in good conditions, and then paper. Between those 3 you'll be solid.

Is it possible to costom map for kayaking and follow river

@Hikingguy

Жыл бұрын

yes check out my video on creating custom maps

I like the truth. Real 💩. Thanks for your time man

I'll decide buying Montana from USA shop,because your you tube.

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you 👍🙏!

Would the 750i be the best GPS for people that get lost easily l, have no memory for terrain features, get turned around easily and have a fear of getting lost. I don't see me using this more than a day hike maybe 8 to 10 hrs. But I have an etrex 30 I can't figure out where I am most of the time and there are way too many menus to scroll through. Note money or cost for the unit is not an issue, it's far better to pay than getting lost.

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

Good question - this has the biggest screen, so in that sense it should be easy to see and read the terrain. That said, if you mainly hike in fair weather conditions and have a smartphone, you might want to consisder an app like Gaia GPS, which is easy to use and understand.

If 700 series fell into a brook, would the system fail to function. Pressurised water would be forced at every conceivable gap on the 700. How does the 700 series face up to steamy tropical jungles with incessant damp, mildew and condensation? Is there a fully waterproof protective cover? How is the delicate screen protected. If it cracks, does it mean that the 700 is dead/ How do you charge the battery in the field, eg, with solar panels? Is it fit for military use?

Is Garmin Montana going to get multi navigation, like Indian IRNSS NavIC?

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

I'd guess the next iteration will.

I work at Bass pro shops so I will get one at work but is their an other way to support your channel?

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

I appreciate that, thank you! - other simple things you can do too > hikingguy.com/support-hiking-guy/

Hey is it Siri, Google or Alexa built-in? Why you didn’t talk about the walk tracks. How accurate is to find houses on this. I am a delivery food and the GPS on my phone is a pain in the ass when houses in Tennessee don’t have their numbers on their mailboxes nor houses like in a whole block. Also does it automatically pair with Bluetooth from our phone?

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

No voice control unfortunately, and you're probably not going to get better address accuracy than Google as well. Wish I had better news for ya....

Great review! Can you forward the pics in an emergency situation? In a medical emergency it'd be helpful to be able to show pictures of injuries to rescue crews.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately the InReach just does text, regardless of device.

Are the map upgrades worth it in your opinion? Or should I just stick with base maps? I’m using for off road motorcycling. Thanks in advance.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

It comes with Topo maps built in, and they have off and on road routing, so you should be all set

Is it possible to use this Montana with a dirt bike and then change the profile if I just want to ride street on the car? I was testing with an Oregon 450 and it would still navigate through some dirt roads while using Automobile profile. Or should I look for other product? Thanks

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

Yup, you can do that with the Montana. You can choose the routing you'd like.

I know nothing about these devices, are they sold in pairs like walkie-talkies? How do you communicate with others in the bush?

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

So they're sold as singles, and you can communicate by messaging the other device using an inReach email address. There are also FRS (line-of-sight) radios that work well for groups that are fairly close together - amzn.to/3CpCBhC

I just ordered the 700i with inreach i wonder how it will do mounted on a snowmobile in -40 weather

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

Not sure of the weather but there is a vehicle mount

@jlevyman

Жыл бұрын

the AMPS RUGGED MOUNT is quite robust. Not a bad idea to use the laniard hole as a backup to the handlebar

I assume this is not the best device for offroad 4x4 trails? I am looking at the Garmin overlander. I am just not sure yet. Thanks for the video.

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

This is a good option for overlanding and hiking in one unit. Otherwise the Overlander is prob better.

@phinmac

2 жыл бұрын

@@Hikingguy thanks! Ill do a deeper dive on this device. Im looking for something that can have some type of communication in an emergency as well as have the gps maps for some day trips on jeep trails.

Good job! The preloaded maps do not include lifetime free updates, do they?

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

They do!

Why not in the cold? I want to buy this for my sled mounted with a power cord.

@Hikingguy

3 жыл бұрын

I didn't find that it worked well with my (e-tip) gloves

Any insight on when Garmin might refresh the 700 series?

@Hikingguy

Жыл бұрын

No insider info here but they're usually on a 3-4 year release cycle. Given COVID, etc. I'd guess 2023-24

@chuckmuysson5513

Жыл бұрын

@@Hikingguy TY. Given technology movement, that would be slow.

@Hikingguy

Жыл бұрын

@@chuckmuysson5513 yea that's based on their current release cycle history

How many mAh is the battery? I'm hiking several days sometimes

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

Not sure but if you wanted to use it several days you'd have to put it in the (lower-fidelity) ultra trac mode.

GPS Garmin Montana 750i the best for me ,than any GPS Garmin. I like it touch screen, to me very important, nothing heavy it's light. Montana GPS, I would say very high quality standards made .

Does this work world wide ? Or do I need download maps into it ? I’m planning on purchasing this and taking it with me to Peru.

@Hikingguy

2 жыл бұрын

It has maps preloaded for your region, but you can load other maps onto it. Check out the link in the description for info on free maps & coverage.

Can you load marine maps?

@Hikingguy

3 ай бұрын

yup - www.garmin.com/en-US/p/633697#maps

@MarkDiSciullo

3 ай бұрын

@@Hikingguy oh…so, I have to buy this device for $600+ and then I have to purchase a $200+ map if I want to use this on the water with my boat?

I've returned mine. It's garbage. Can't even change the trial width on the GPS if you have poor eyesight, or need to see it from a distance like following a trail while mountain biking or driving off-road. UK maps cost another £200, bike mount £40 etc etc. The form factor resembles a brick! My advice would be to buy a TwoNav Aventura which you can change the track width on, has a much sleeker design and the maps are half the price. Garmin have shown where their priorities lie and that's in the the fitness watch arena. Any suggestions just get the same reply, put it on the forum. They aren't serious about their customers despite the fact this is one of, if not the most expensive of their units.

It's ridiculous Garmin aren't sending you things to review!