Lowrance H2OC or Garmin GPSMAP® 60CSx

[Bigfish59]

I am having a hard time choosing what model to buy. Fishing is when I will use it the most, but I hunt also. Any ideas what I should do? I have read most of the articles and I am still puzzled.

[hitechman]

This has been pretty thoroughly discussed. See this thread :

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=165681

If ya have any more questions you might want to post them in a fishing forum or here and we'll try to answer them. DanP, from the thread above, recently purchased an H2OC and is happy with it (you an expert yet DanP??). I'm sure he could answer some questions for you if you PM him.

There are some other threads in this GPS forum that address lake maps as well. I think you should decide what type of maps you desire and then see what is offered by each manufacturer--both brands/models appear to be well received. Remember, you can't put a Garmin map on anything but a Garmin--same for each individual brand.

Steve

[DanP]

Have been playing with the H2OC and I have a way to go!!! My youngest was out with me last weekend trying to find a cache out at metro beach -
we got close but it was a nano cache and we never found it. Kept the sheet and we will go back with better weather. We did see 7 deer though
and he thought it was pretty cool. Had it on from our house out to the beach and back plus our walking trail so he was able to check where he had been.

We will be out with the boy scouts at bald mountain rec area on a hike the 1st weekend of March and we are planning some use then.

Have not been out on Lake St Clair or Stoney Creek yet so I have not used
it to mark the hot fishing spots.

As said before, I am happy so far. I guess the one plus for the Garmin is the auto routing for driving but that was not why I bought mine.

Dan

[M1Garand]

I have the Garmin GPSMap 60csx and I really like it. I don't know much about the Lowrance though.

[hitechman]

in the same boat as M1.

I own the Garmin GPS map 60CSx, 76CSx and 76Cx. Never owned a Lowrance (never had a need to try one out as my Garmins have been good to me) so I cannot say anything about them other than the people who do own them speak very highly of them.

As I have said before, it boils down to what you want in a map, and then what manufacturer has that map available. I appears (at least to me) that those who mainly fish go with Lowrance, and the hunters (and landlubbers like me) prefer Garmin (just an unscientific observation on my part).

In a survey on a geocaching site, most geocachers had Garmins (90% Garmin to 10% all other brands combined).

Most importantly, before you buy, you need to get these units in hand (demo at sports/electronics store), look at the maps available to make sure they have exactly what you want (don't make any assumptions on this), and talk to the people that own these units. A good mapping unit will set you back $300+ and the maps are at least $100 each.

Steve

[M1Garand]

I appears (at least to me) that those who mainly fish go with Lowrance, and the hunters (and landlubbers like me) prefer Garmin (just an unscientific observation on my part).


That seems to be my impression as well.

[Bigfish59]

I drove all the way to cabelas to pick it up. From everything I read and looked at, I was pretty set on the H20c before I got there. Cabelas staff were pretty awesome, bass pro and GM can't touch Cabelas staff. I still went there with an open mind, but all three guys that helped me used and personally owned the H2Oc. They were showing me how to do everything on it which was pretty cool. I think if was in the woods more than I fish, I might have spent the extra money and went with Garmin60. So far, I am really impressed with my desicion, thanks for all the imput from you guys.

[hitechman]

Let us know (after you've had a chance to play with it) how it's workin' for you.

Steve

[M1Garand]

I drove all the way to cabelas to pick it up. From everything I read and looked at, I was pretty set on the H20c before I got there. Cabelas staff were pretty awesome, bass pro and GM can't touch Cabelas staff. I still went there with an open mind, but all three guys that helped me used and personally owned the H2Oc. They were showing me how to do everything on it which was pretty cool. I think if was in the woods more than I fish, I might have spent the extra money and went with Garmin60. So far, I am really impressed with my desicion, thanks for all the imput from you guys.

I think you made a good choice and I'd agree with you if you spent more time in the woods....