If you are looking for the best sat nav systems, you know I’m going to say Garmin or TomTom. “Best”, however, is subject to your own personal needs when choosing between the two companies.
Some say that TomTom nav systems, with their Tele Atlas, work better in Europe than Garmin’s Navtak, and vice versa for North America. This may be true for minor details (and both have problems with one way streets), but both companies have excellent coverage, and it all comes down to you checking whether either company can meet your specific needs.
The Garmin Nuvi 1340 is a great navigator for Western Europe. It’s not too pricey, is nice and slim, and comes with a 60 day map guarantee. It also has an EcoRoute feature to save on fuel by finding the most efficient route. You can even get out and continue your journey in pedestrian mode.
Garmin tends to offer slightly superior products to TomTom’s, and definitely more innovation. They make in-car, motorcycle, aviation, and marine navs (GPS fishfinders), GPS tracking and training watches, devices for tracking your dog, and also great handhelds for hiking. TomTom does not have stand alones, except for the Smartphone option, so Garmin is the way to go for hiking and walking GPS.
The Garmin eTrex h is a fine example of a handheld navigation system for walking and hiking. It’s lightweight with a sturdy casing and is easy to operate. It can last up to 22 hours on two AA batteries and its high sensitivity chip makes its signal sensitivity rival many of the more expensive hiking systems.
If you want versatility and dependability (and price isn’t your primary concern), browse through Garmin’s selection first to find a GPS that will meet your needs.
