🌍 Adventure Awaits: Your Ultimate Hiking Companion!
The MagellaneXplorist 210 is a compact, waterproof hiking GPS designed for outdoor enthusiasts. It features a 14-channel WAAS GPS receiver, 22 MB of memory for additional maps, and a built-in basemap, all housed in a rugged, lightweight design.
R**I
Solid Hardware with Very Dated Basemap
I purchased the GPS two weeks ago, but very cautious of Magellan's map software from reading reviews. Conerns are mostly over the map's accuracy and currency. Yesterday, driving from west suburb Philadelphia to JFK airport and back, dark in the night and rain. The GPS unit works great, but the map is dubious. The NJ Turnpike is designated as S-700. The Belt Pkwy Way in NY is designated as R-904. If I weren't actually tracing the track, I would never have known. That means, if I happened to get lost, I can't use the designations on the GPS map as reliable reference.Checked out wikipedia for NJ Turnpike, the following reveals how dated the basemap is: "Before the advent of the interstate highways, the whole Turnpike was designated by the New Jersey Department of Transportation as Route 700". That is, roughly the 50s era. Be careful!Now I'm seriously considering using National Geographics maps for accurate route planning (auto route and wilderness), and Magellan's map only for secondary reference on the go.
A**S
Ok but I think Garmin's better
I had bought my father a Garmin eTrex entry level GPS and wanted one for myself.I tried the eXplorist to compare them and see which one was better.Even though the differences are slim, I think if I had to buy a new one now, I'd go for Garmin's GPS.My main issue of concern has been the (apparently so far to me) impossibility of clearing the main trip and the fact that it seems to be impossible to measure speed in the different sections of my trips (NOTE: I use my GPS to keep track of my performance when I'm climbing volcanoes - this is a very particular application). I know for a fact that Garmin's eTrex does not have a problem with these issues.So, at least from my perspective, even though I'm not disappointed with the product, I suggest you try Garmin.Good luck!
S**D
Excellent Geocaching GPS
I bought the explorist 210 primarily for Geocaching. I have had it for a month now and it works very well for Geocaching, and the included Geocaching software is easy to use. You can download .loc files from geocaching.com and open them directly into the Geocaching software which is a big time saver. I manually copy over the hints since they don't come as part of the .loc file so I can geocache without paper copies of the cache details.I wanted a unit that was accurate but not so costly I would be afraid to let my kids use it. The 210 fits the bill perfectly. I let my kids direct us to the geocache and get the thrill of finding the cache. My six year old can even read the screen and point which way to go.The unit is dead on accurate with WAAS and I can usually get 10-12 satellites of reception. I even get 3 to 4 satellites indoors. I am usually never more than 10 feet from a cache when the unit says I have arrived.Most of the other Magellan and Garmin models do not have built in Geocaching abilities. For models that do, you have to spend much more than for the 210. The 210 shows geocaches right on the map and treats geocaches separately from waypoints or points of interest.I read other reviews about the 210's screen being easy to scratch, so I took a screen protector for a Palm Pilot and put it on the screen and haven't had any problems even with kids using it.Battery life is excellent. I use rechargeable AA batteries. If you don't use the backlight, you can cache an entire day on one set of batteries. The backlight is excellent for night time caching, however.There are several low cost add-ons you can buy so you don't need to buy the high cost Magellan add-ons. You can buy most any low cost USB car charger (mine was around $7 with shipping) to power the unit while you are driving. Just connect the cable that came with the 210 into the 210 and plug the USB end of the cable into the USB car charger. The unit will NOT charge the batteries when plugged in, but the unit will use power from the USB cable instead of from batteries. You can also buy the Radio Shack A/C Vent Wireless Phone Mount (Part # 17-548). It looks like it was made for the explorist.I have not used the unit for turn by turn driving yet. For this the unit seems adequate but does not shine. From reading the manual, you do NOT get automatic route calculating (if you miss a turn the unit will NOT recalculate a route). All legs of the route point directly to the next waypoint (as the crow flies) and do not follow the roads. Before you leave you must download the route into the unit and the unit will prompt you for each turn, though not with any sound - just with an on screen message. The basemap is decent with all state roads and interstates. You can use MapSend Topo to add more detail to the unit (not sure about other MapSend maps).
L**L
Buyer bewaRE
I bought this thing for my father-in-law (whom I LOVE). When he opened it, he tried it immediately ... and it didn't work! OK, so I return it to Amazon, telling then it was broken. They charge me a reshelving fee! If you want this thing, don't order it from Amazon ... you might get my old broken one! Let's see if they publish this!
K**S
Good basic GPS for motorcycle use
I purchased this as a basic GPS unit for use on my motorcycle. In general, it fits this use very well when used with a handlebar mounted RAM Mount.I wanted it to be water resistant, which so far it has been. I was caught in several drenching rains, and the unit kept working fine.I use rechargeable AA batteries and keep a 2nd set charged while I use the ones in the unit. Generally, they will last a full day of use or more.Note that you only get major roads by default. If you want more detailed roads, you need to get the optional map CD.Also, I don't use it for route plotting, just as a tool to generally see where I am. For that, it is fine. If you want plotting on a motorcycle, you might consider a Zumo.Here is the RAM mount explorist specific cradle:[...]Note that you'll need the handlebar attachment as well, so you're looking at $50-$75 total.I did not buy one of the motorcycle-specific GPS units since they were $700-1000. I figure this way, I can leave it mounted on the bike while I run into the store and it's not a big loss. Also, it pops out of the RAM mount easily for throwing into your tank bag if you're gone longer.
A**K
Pick a different GPS
Big dissapointment.No power plug for a car cigarette lighter is available.Advertisement said it included software, the software was a teaser that had to be purchased by Christmas (the ad didn't say this).I am used to hand held electronics having a built in rechargeable battery. This one uses AA batteries. I could buy rechargeables, but would rather just get a new GPS.Pick a differnt modle.
Trustpilot
1 month ago
2 weeks ago
