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Garmin Oregon 300 Portable GPS System

handheld GPS navigator for use outdoors, in a car, or on a boat * 3″ LCD touchscreen display (240 x 400 pixels) with built-in picture viewer * WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) capability improves GPS accuracy to within 3 meters * electronic compass and barometric altimeter * short-range wireless transfer of data to other Garmin Oregon and Colorado navigators *

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Good GPS but get the 400t
The Garmin Oregon 300 GPS picks up satellite signals very quickly. I have even tested the sensitivity by checking for satellite signals while in my basement, without any windows nearby and it still picked up enough satellites to provide coordinates within 15 feet. I took this GPS on a hike in NY and found it to be very easy to use and very accurate. However, the screen is not very bright and not visible in direct sunlight but shading it with your hand allows it to still be usable. My only true disappointment is that I didn’t purchase the 400t with the pre-loaded topographical maps. The Oregon 300 can be loaded with these maps but it will cost you another 80 bucks or so. I have seen the 400t on-sale for around 400, which is only 20 bucks more than what I paid for the 300 without the maps. I think the topo maps are what would make this GPS much more useful and if you look around, you can find a good deal on the 400t instead of buying this one.

4 Stars A good GPS
Oregon 300 is good GPS; very portable and intuitive, very rapid acquisition of satellites (Hotfix excelent).

Cons: function automotive does not have “detour”…(Colorado series have detour function) I recommend, when garmin generates the function “detour”, I have had nuvi series 200, 200w, 255w and 850 and they all bring the function detour in automotive mode

4 Stars Intuitive to use
I spent a lot of time reading reviews before I bought this product and do tend to agree with both the plusses and minuses of other reviewers. I have found it to be wonderful for paperless geocaching and very intuitive to use compared to my Garmin Vista. It does go through batteries much faster, and it is harder to read in the sunlight. Seeing the screen isn’t a problem when following the compass marker, but reading the small details like the map icons can be somewhat challenging. It says something, though, that this is the unit I chose to use when geocaching even though I stil have my other one.

4 Stars oregon 300
The Oregon 300 is a great paper saving machine. Love this for geocaching, giving on road as well as off road directions, seeing all of the description, hints & logs. It does seem that Garmin could have made it easier to go from page to page without always going back. The backlight quits working quckly even though the batteriers still have a lot of life in them. I’ll try lithium to see if that helps. Overall

I would recommend it.

5 Stars Love this product
I use this for Geocaching and its amazing. It does need to a update install from Garmin. After that the accuracy is as good as my 60CSx. I love it.

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Garmin 010 11023 00 Colorado Series Bike Mount

Marketing description is not available.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Works great
Works great on my mountain bike. Holds the Oregon securely, doesn’t weigh a lot. Tried to use it on a motorcycle as well, but it wouldn’t fit because of clearance issues (the Oregon is of course very close to the handlebar with this unit).

5 Stars Works well
Not much to say. A very straight-forward product that does exactly what it is supposed to do. Simple to install and use, and the price is right.

2 Stars Disappointing, they have better mounts than this…
They got smart when they integrated the mounting system into the Colorado’s case, but then went cheap on the handlebar mount. Nobody should be trusting a $500 piece of equipment to a couple of zip ties.

I’m disappointed, my colorado rolls around my bars when off-road, creating an awkward (and sometimes dangerous) condition leaving the mount useless.

Garmin already has a well-designed mount for their E-trex series of GPS: Garmin Bicycle Mount for eTrex and Summit (010-10267-00)

It has a screw-type clamp and an integrated locking battery cover that positively locks the GPS into the mount and the clamp ensures that it’s not coming off the bar, regardless of the terrain.

I’m holding out for a better design!

5 Stars does the trick
works as it should. Uses zip ties to connect the mount to your bike.

4 Stars Good bike mount
This is a good bike mount that is easy to install and holds the Colorado securely. The only downside is that the zip ties can only get so tight, so if you are going to do alot of rough riding it may tend to move on you alittle.

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Garmin Carrying Case for the 500 and 550 Portable GPS Navigator

Marketing description is not available.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Good Little Case
Bought this with my Nuvi 500. It is made of hard synthetic material that smells like new shoes. The only reason it gets 4/5 is because they could’ve made one side toucher to protect the touchscreen. (or the whole case to protect from falling) The case material is fairly rigid and will protect against scratches and a few bumps but it is not going to save your Nuvi 500 from a fall onto a rock or what have you. However there is no better option on the market that i can see, so this case will keep your Nuvi 500 out of the elements and give it a nice sheltered home. The inside of the case has two elastic bands on the sides that only allow it to open half way before stretching, not sure if i like that or not. I am satisfied with my purchase, however.

5 Stars Best Case Ever!
This was perfectly created for our Nuvi 500. It’s a hard case with a soft feel and its great for protection when its in a bag or backpack. Makes traveling with our GPS even more comfortable!

4 Stars A nice case, but it could have been better.
I own and have owned quite a few GPS receivers including a recently purchased Garmin Colorado 400t. I bought my new Nuvi 500 (my 3rd Nuvi) as a cross-over GPS, one that I could walk around with, bike with, use to geocachache, as well as use it in a car. This is what the 500 and the 550 were designed for (according to Garmin’s website). I had hoped that Garmin might have designed a great case for it, as they did for the Colorado series. Alas, this was not the case (pun fully intended).

The GOOD:

* It’s lightweight

* It is very compact

* It seems to be good at keeping out the elements

* It’s priced right

The BAD

* For a GPS that is billed as being field-worthy this case has a zipper (making it harder to get into), not a latch as does the Colorado case

* It has no belt loop, mount or strap to allow one to easily carry it in the field. The Colorado case has several mounting options, this case has only as tiny string on the zipper

* It has no storage options, not even for an extra battery

I am very happy with the GPS unit itself but the case could have been designed to augment the function of the device, not just hold it. This may have been designed with all Nuvi’s in mind, which would explain it’s generic features. However, a waterproof, multifunctional GPS like the 500 (and it’s brother, the 550) deserve a case of their own.

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