In-Depth Garmin eTrex 32x Review & How-To Guide

[@clecklass]

With the etrex 20, and I imagine this 32x also, there is a file called Startup located in the Garmin folder - you'll see it when you connect the device to a computer. You can edit this file to include a contact number and name - these then show up on the device screen every time the device is switched on. Useful if you lose the device and someone wants to return it to the owner.

[@wallisphoto]

Highs 1:24 Lows 3:33 Micro SD Card 5:53 Walk Through Unit 6:63 Menu Walk through 8:45 In the Field 15:00 Waypoints 20:15 Routing 22:15 Putting GPX on Device 24:15

[@TijmenKr]

I glued a rubber tap washer around the joystick to keep the device from exiting saving mode. You can still use the joystick, but it's a little bit more protected. I glued it to the screen protector, it's not permanent glued on.

[@Hikingguy]

Good tip, thank you

[@chris5115]

A great review, one weakness not mentioned is the flap that holds the SD card. This is exposed when changing the batteries and can flip open and eject the SD card containing your essential mapping. I use a small piece of tape to stick over the flap. Hunting for a SD card in long grass is no joke. Most current models of Garmin GPS have this problem.

[@jeromemckenna7102]

I just purchased a 32x a few days ago and this video has been helpful. I have a gpsmap 62 that is wearing out (I can't reliably connect it to my computer). I use the GPS to record the location of bird sightings. Often while driving I see a great bird but roadsigns are covered with dirt so I can find the location after I get home. I agree with all the negatives you mentioned. I certainly wish they had a different usb connection but it is good enough for now.

[@BudgetAdventure]

the waypoint proximity alarm units was set to miles (not feet), that's why it went off right away at about 3:44

[@elsdehullu1820]

Thanks! Another downside: my trusty Etrex 32x wouldn't scale up on the map quickly anymore. Tried everything (also chatted with Garmin helpdesk and their advice was: use a smaller micro SD (4, 8 or 16 GB instead of 32) and a lower class (up to 10)). Lower class micro SD cards are not on the market anymore, finally reused an old one but didn't help. Problem turned out to have a different solution: disable all the maps except the newest one and Garmin general world map. Now everything is fine! So weakness is the info from Garmin itself..

[@ChattanoogaBirds]

Thanks for this. My husband bought me one and this helped tremendously.

[@trackeryak]

Thank you for this review. I went with the 22x and got it on sale from Amazon during the Prime Day Sale for only 139.99 plus tax. It's my 1st handheld GPS and for under 150 bucks on sale, it was a no brainer after watching your review. Thank you!

[@Hikingguy]

Awesome, yea, the 22x is solid and will do you solid.

[@RichRich1955]

I have a eTrex10 to give me piece of mind and prevent getting lost but I usually go to the same few places only.

[@pappaclutch3266]

Man I love Garmin products! Currently I have 66i and Extrex 20, I love the 20. I wish I went with the explorer mini for communication and Etrex 20 for navigation. After the latest update my Etrex is extremely fast now

[@enriquejosekravetzmalabud8530]

Hey thanks, I'm between the 32 and 65s, I prefer the size and battery life of 32 but I was worried about how faster it's the unit. Do you know if it's faster similar to 65 or still biiiig difference?

[@Mouse2113]

Thanks from Scotland! Got mine a few months ago then straight into another lockdown, but getting to use it for an 18 mile hike tomorrow for the first time :)

[@Hikingguy]

Hope the hike went well, 18 miles should be a good amount of time to get used to the device

[@Mouse2113]

@@Hikingguy it was great, downloaded the gpx file and was a life saver 😎

[@-NoneOfYourBusiness]

The 32x got a integrated digital compass (very useful to me) and altimeter. The device is performing really well for me (mostly kayak, some hiking). Its simple to mark the spot where you launched the kayak (often hard to find it back from water level). Reliable little life saver. I wouldn't recommend anyone to use a smartphone app simply because apps act unexpectedly and you can get a "Connect to Google Store Account" message and the app just won't run if you don't connect to your account first (it happened to me) (auto update bs) and you can be seriously f*cked in a remote area with no network. Phones are good for car trips. NOT remote outdoor use. Dedicated GPS units are simple, reliable devices. Phone apps are bloated cash grabs not interested in keeping you safe.

[@PeterKolta]

Great point! I'd use it for kayaking, hiking and for trips by bike. I was lost on a fast river and a lake a couple of times, coudn't find my way back, just coudn't recognise where I had launched my kayak. I did have phone network. But: I couldn't see anything on the screen. It was partly cloudy, partly sunny and my phone looked like a piece of blank paper. Recorded my trip on strava but it was useless, the device was completely blind. How does the eTrex perform from this point of view?

[@-NoneOfYourBusiness]

@@PeterKolta I never had any problem reading the 32X screen in the sun. Its screen isnt reflective. I don't know about the eTrex Touch which is touchscreen like a iPhone. I would guess the Touch models are more reflective. Anyway, I would stay away from touchscreen GPS if you want to use it for kayak (water makes em hard to use as we all know). Physical buttons is the way to go.

[@stevek8829]

Thanks for your excellent review. It seems identical to the 20xt except for the wireless feature. The 20 xt was the same as my much older one whose number I forget. They tend to acquire a fix quickly when repowered soon after last fix in the same spot. They still have the too prominent joystick which activates the screen in pocket. They still keep the quaint hunt & fish thing. Hint: it always likes a full moon. They're great in conjunction with a map and compass. If you only need a fix now and then, the battery lasts forever-and spare AAs are light.

[@klauspetersen8909]

Have ordered an etrex32x to replace my etrexH which have done a great job. Looking forward to reinventing my use of an etrex.

[@lonnijeboer6224]

What an excellent review this is! Thank you very much! What was very helpfull to me is the advise not to upgrade from an eTrex 20 toward the 32. I use an eTrex 20 for more than 10 years. My etrex 20 has both GPS + GLONASS. I have the impression that GLONASS is not always available on all etrex 20's.

[@Hikingguy]

The 20 is a workhorse and if you're good with it, you def don't need to upgrade.

[@anrati21]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Very helpful!

[@rantonerik]

Great review and advice! I’m a longtime etrex 30 user; recently “upgraded” to the 32x because I wanted a spare and my 30’s screen was getting pretty scratched up. 😆 Phones are nice (and I second the gaiagps recommendation) but for me, the etrex is the best for one-handed, gloves on operation, lightweight and with long battery life to boot! One tip I don’t think I heard you mention: long pressing the joystick for a couple seconds will take you directly to the mark waypoint screen, for your current location. I mark lots of waypoints when I’m out, so this shortcut is very handy for me!

[@Hikingguy]

Nice nice, thanks for that tip re:marking waypoints, great one. And yea, I wish these GPS units were a little slicker (or closer to a phone) in terms of look and feel, but they do work darn well in the field with one-handed use. I've beaten mine to hell and they just work.

[@KrazyKrzysztof]

I use phone gps as primary unit but in mountain regions I always try to carry a backup garmin gps because shit could happen like deep rain showers or in the winter peaks, cell phones are rendered barely usable due to low temps. I've had a phone's gps stop working permanently so I need that security

[@WalksInCamera]

A really useful review and great tips. Bought a 32x a few months back and I've just started using it on trails. Really helpful. Thank you!

[@69treta]

I still use an etrex 20 and it works great. Ah, and it does connect to Glonass as well

[@MichalTheOhioFlyer]

Thank you for a very thorough and intelligent review from a solid user. It is really helpful, and I appreciate you taking the time to make it.

[@Hikingguy]

You're welcome 👍 Glad it was helpful!

[@oscarmartin5412]

Great review! I think I'll get the 32. I'm tired of struggling with touchscreens under the snow and the rain. Thanks for your great job!

[@Hikingguy]

Thank you, and yea, the buttons are much better than the touch screens.

[@blackbirdrider2]

I have the 32x and discovered a few times that after not using it the batteries were completely flat. I discovered when I went in to “manage tracks” and discovered that 70% of the 32gb card was full. So I found that I hadn’t turned the unit off. This is easy to do when powering off because in strong sunlight it’s hard to see the power off symbol on the screen.

[@Hikingguy]

That's a good tip, thank you for posting it. Yea, the thing will just keep recording unless you explicitly turn it off.

[@4mccurdys]

thanks for the video, just upgraded from GPSmap 76CSx which i though was a very good unit, unfortunately now discontinued. So bough the bullet and got this 32x. use it for mainly Geocaching. My disappointments are no lanyard and a lack of detailed instructions in the online manual. Thanks for the Tips.😀

[@notthedj]

Great video. This has answered all the questions I had about the device.

[@johnievanniekerk9225]

Thank you very much. I struggled a lot now my 32x is a trusted friend!

[@Hikingguy]

You're welcome, and yea, once you get used to a Garmin GPS it becomes second-nature

[@weeringjohnny]

Very well thought-out, thorough and instructive video. Probably best for someone who has a little GPS experience or at least has played around with the etrex a little because he does go pretty fast over some details and re-listening didn't always help me catch the info. Definitely worth 41 minutes of your time Many thanks.

[@matthewspecker]

Another great review! Exactly the level of review detail that really helps me determine if a device is going to work for me or not.

[@Hikingguy]

Cool cool - glad it was helpful - it's always a struggle of how detailed versus how general to go, glad it's working in this format. Some folks ask for more detail but the video would be 5 hours...

[@curtiselwood4590]

From Montana just picked it up will be out with it soon. Liked your thorough approuch to GPS thanks..,

[@josecarlosmachado1241]

Hi. Thank you so much for this great review and for all the other great stuff you show us! Is there any way of setting a sound alarm when you are following a track and get off-track? I did try the instructions provided by Garmin, namely: Select Setup from the main menu. Select Marine. Select Marine Alarm Setup. Select Off Course Alarm Select On. Enter the appropriate distance (how far off-course to be notified at). Select the Green Check Mark. However, it doesn’t seem to work. Am I missing something? Thank you

[@willian.direction6740]

Thanks for the great review. I use my old etrex30 a lot and learnt somethings about mine from this video.

[@gregv3412]

Thanks for the great review! Was on the fence with a etrex22x for my boundary waters trip. Maps work great but to load the ideal route before hand would be nice. Then be able to track my actual route during the trip sounds great. Then I have the route saved forever. Would be great to reference and compare in future trips.

[@Hikingguy]

Yea, this type of device would be perfect for that 👍

[@mvoutdoors]

I have a etrex 30x and that's amazing and very accurate...really happy with that I spent a week in the middle of nowhere with couples of extra battery...overall I don't feel I'm a solo adventurer because I have Garmin as a leader :)))

[@fayeoc]

Thanks for making this video explaining features and what some of them do. Way better than the useless users manual online on the Garmin site that just tells you how to push buttons.

[@pdavis500]

This is a very well explained review. Very thorough and well filmed. Thanks for posting this vid!

[@Hikingguy]

Thank you 👍

[@dreamtobeapolyglot8444]

Thank you for this informative video. I bought the 22x. I live in America and planning a trip to Europe...do you know I if I could download maps for the countries I'm visiting beforehand and also will I be able to keep my current maps as well?

[@Hikingguy]

think you can buy the Europe City Navigator maps on a microSD card and you'll be good

[@rachelleitz3867]

Loving the detail so far, thank you for taking the time to create this! Right away I'm curious regarding your carabiner clip suggestion... Are you saying to connect it to the latch on the back? It looks to me like you're lifting & turning that latch in order to remove the back revealing the battery/SD card area... If someone were to clip onto the latch, would that not risk the potential of opening the back unknowingly while they're hiking with the device clipped to their pack/belt/lapel? Going to watch more of the video & scan through more comments to see if this is mentioned yet.. Thanks again!

[@Hikingguy]

Thank you and for the carabiner - not clipping to the latch, but using the spine connector on the back which is the regular attachment. If you do that, no risk of opening the battery door.

[@enriquejosekravetzmalabud8530]

The best review ever. I'm deciding between this and the 65s... I really like the form factor, weight and battery life of the 32. I'm worry about the performance of drawing and moving around vs the 65s... Is significant the speed of drawing, calculate etc?

[@Hikingguy]

After having used all the units, I'd say the 65s is a much better move. The buttons just work better, it's got great positioning with multi-band, and the redraws work well.

[@MilennialZero]

The eTrex 32x doesn't give much in the way of off-course alarms or notifications, does it? The triangle is shown just to the side of your intended track. Even though you're well off course. There's no flashing signals or messages that say "turn back to get on your intended course". I set a bikepacking course using RideWithGPS, save the .gpx, and load that onto the eTrex 32x.

[@winnieswalk3304]

Great video! Very helpful. We're planning to do some hiking in new mexico. Not too bad but i'm deciding if i need the etrex 22/32x. Probably go for etrex22.. Thanks for making this video!

[@ddahstan6876]

Thank you for such a mellow and thorough review! My dilemma is fighting between an eTrex 22x for its ruggedness and ease of swapping AA Batteries or Garmin Edge 530 since I'll be carrying at least 2 power banks on my bikepacking trips. My priority of maximizing battery hours for GPS navigation is super important. UBS battery charging on the Edge 530 will certainly degrade drastically after a few years, so the rugged eTrex 22x sounds more logical... My gosh, my eyes wants to go with the Edge, but my hands want to grab the 22x. I'll soon be looking into if I can replace the Lithium battery on the Edge or not then I'll decide. But seriously, I just got a nifty portable solar charging panels, so it's a sign to stick to the Edge. :-))

[@Hikingguy]

I use both (the Edge for MTB and road) and the Edge is much better for cycling. I'd go with that and just charge with a USB charger. I use a USB charger in the field for my hikes (phone, GPS, headlamp, camera) and having one USB charger for all of them is a simple solution that works well.

[@paulapetrotta9082]

Purchased the Garmin extrex 32 for Zion. Cannot find the "national parks" icon. Help

[@tomziol]

Thank you for a great video. I have a question. I don't know which one is best for me. I ride my MTB in the woods and would like to upload gpx to the device. Is 32x equal to Garmin Edge Explorer 2? Note that I don't need bike computer, just navigation for biking and hiking. What would you recommend? Thanks and have a good day.

[@Hikingguy]

Not sure how it compares to the cycling computers but the 32x should work for what you're explaining.

[@choonkitchan545]

I've used eTrex 20 and 22x for MTB purposes in the woods. And yes, they are suitable for MTB sport. No need to get the Edge, in my opinion.

[@outdooradventuresuk]

very helpful review and thinking of getting one, can ordnance survey maps run on here, thanks

[@brygreth72]

Thanks very informative but how do you think it will perform in back country where there is no trails? Need to track where I leave camp or ATV in thick woods.

[@Hikingguy]

Will work regardless of trails or not, you should be fine.

[@oldcat3439]

Question for anyone able to answer. WITHIN the Garmin unit, is it possible to add waypoints to one of your downloaded GPX files ? .. for example, I would like to add some waypoints to the C2C route from your webpage. Or is there another way to do it that is not too complicated ? Thank you again for ALL your AWESOME resources !!

[@Hikingguy]

Thank you 👍👍 I think adding waypoints just adds them discretely, but if you import it all to Basecamp, select all the data you want together (track, waypoints, etc.) and then export to GPX, it will bundle them all into one GPX file for you.

[@rfoeastpench5485]

how to measure hectares in this model it shows in etrex 10 only then how benefacial this model

[@PrincessBob123]

thanks, great review, just upgraded from Etrex 20 to Etrex 22x (from MEC in Canada) because i wanted better maps

[@Hikingguy]

👍👍👍 have fun with it

[@gooberdooberwunderb]

If I wanted to just head off into the woods hunting, is there a way that this will keep track of my route so that I can find my way back to camp?

[@Hikingguy]

Yup, it saves a breadcrumb trail

[@katiaparaskos-dundas895]

Hi, I just bought the e Trex 32x on Amazon, then I saw your video. I bought it for a trip to Ireland where we are planning on doing some hiking. I bought a Garmin city navigator NT back in 2018, the last time I went to Ireland. Used it in my old Garmin nuvi that just broke on the lighter attachment. I thought maybe a handheld device might be better since we would also need some navigation while on foot. Will this work better than a cell a cell phone? Will we be able to use it in Ireland in cities and in the country? Is there a better GPS around the same cost? I paid 219.00. thanks!

[@Hikingguy]

I'd probably just go with a cell phone today

[@hugoboots6302]

Thank You for sharing your Knowledge. A GPS is like the first time I used a PC intimidating. Your a good teacher ---- Hugo Atlanta, GA

[@Hikingguy]

Thank you! Glad that the guide was helpful. They can def be confusing at first, but once you get a hang of it, it's pretty straightforward. Good luck with yours!

[@kennethgenovese4175]

How do you connect a GPS to Caltopo? What version of Caltopo are you using?

[@Mike-vd2qt]

Q please: Touring cyclist here, The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR), Banff, to MX border. Adventure Cycling Assoc (ACA) sells the route GPX file, I have their paper map set. Have used ACA maps to cross U.S. twice on roads, along with Google and phone. I have no experience with GPS devices, but need one for the many turns on criss-crossing dirt roads along this route. I'm older, not racing the route, touring speed is about 50 miles per day. Covering miles and remoteness of route, cannot afford to add 10-20 miles with a wrong turn. In researching, riders use 32X, Wahoo Roam is popular, or iPhone to save extra weight. I'm ok with navigating backpacking loops in the Eastern Sierras, or Anza Borrego with topo map and compass.. The Great Divide is a different problem for navi on the many dirt roads in backcountry. Any advice on easiest to learn unit, easiest to download ACA GPX file, and how to teach myself is much appreciated. Great video, thanks, Mike

[@Hikingguy]

I'd probably go with a cycling specific GPS instead of this guy. I think that Ryan Van Duzer used the Wahoo when he did that route, so if it were me I'd probably assume he did the research and used that. You could also pose the question on one of his GDMBR videos - folks there might have a cycling specific resource that's good >>> kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHyuXnx_idKUia8

[@Mike-vd2qt]

@@Hikingguy thanks very much for reply! Duzer is a great resource, so I'll look at the Wahoo. The folks at ACA recommend the map set with their phone APP as great option for non-techi types.

[@cambridgegabotoswe4399]

very interesting indeed am using 22x 😍😍

[@thechance123]

hey man good job on the review

[@wlnstonrasmussen3928]

Great video. Question, can you change the gps coordinates to display in decimal format? Thanks

[@Hikingguy]

Yup!

[@tatuparssinen]

Etrex 32x track recording dilemma when backpacking: whenever you stay still, say stop for drinking or short rest etc. the auto setting will keep on adding more distance to your track due to gps-drifting. I would not want to shut down the device everytime I stop and wait for another minute to turn it on and be fully operational once I continue walking. And if I forget to turn it off when I arrive in a campsite for few hours I may get several hundreds of meters extra "birdnest" on the recorded track when the gps stays still but signal drifts few meters here and there. I wonder if the "distance" setting with 10m or 20m intervals would actually be more appropriate to evade this problem rather than the "auto"-setting recommended in the manual. Just finished 8 days hike in Northern Finland wilderness and I had to edit and erase several kilometers of "mesh" out from the path on the desktop-app to see my actual travelled distance.

[@Hikingguy]

Yea, that's just the deal with Garmin's that use the "trip computer" set up - you can't pause like an activity. I used to do well with auto, but you could also try go to the satellite screen, press menu, then "Use with GPS off" to toggle recording.

[@ROMEKBNY]

What would you recommend if all i really want to do is record a hike and drop some waypoints and then be able to go back and recreate that hike in the future? For bushwhacking type hikes that I want to be able to do the same route I did before.

[@Hikingguy]

You can do that with any GPS or smartphone, so it's really about how many bells & whistles you want (or don't). You can probably pick up a GPSMAP 64 or eTrex 2X series for a good price.

[@ROMEKBNY]

@@Hikingguy thanks. Just concerned about the phone battery when running apps on all day 20+ mile hikes, even if I carry a power bank. A relatively inexpensive separate gadget would be nice to have. I don’t need all the bells and whistles, and def don’t want to pay a subscription.

[@randomtech787]

What do you reccoment more? Garmin etrex 22x or garmin etrex touch 25? I will ise it for hiking, camping and geocaching.

[@Hikingguy]

Don't get the Touch, I've had bad experience with the screens when wet and with gloves on. If you want to save money grab a 20 or 30x and load free maps on it.

[@pd3665]

Great video. Thanks !! I am seriously considering to get an eTrex 32x. Considering that the model was released around 2019 ... do you have any insights on whether Garmin is planning to release an upgraded model to the eTrex series ?

[@Hikingguy]

I really have no idea, they don't communicate anything like that with me. Given the COVID shortages I'd guess that if something was going to come out, it's probably delayed. Prob a safe bet to get one.

[@scottjolteon9033]

Would you consider this a good buy for a 2month backpacking trip in Asia? I already have a micro SD card as well so I would just need the right maps

[@Hikingguy]

It will do well in wet environments but if you're only hiking when its nice out, a smartphone may be a better choice

[@jphdirks]

Great video. Thx. Is it already possible to switch off the joystick?

[@Hikingguy]

Thank you & no, unfortunately, the joystick is needed to operate

[@burakikizler_]

Hello, Is your 22x or 32's display is shaking a little bit when you are under the sunshine ?? Because mine is. Thank you

[@adhikkaputrasagala]

Hey thankyou for the nice tips. Anw is it possible to use power bank to supply the power?

[@Hikingguy]

No but you can use rechargeable batteries in it though

[@LeeRaymondCM]

I have the etrex 30 bought in 2012. It only broke recently after quite a few trips to Mongolia, Khazastan and Mt Fuji. The breakage is at where the power button is. The shell (bumper) aged and flaked off but the power button, if pushed with a pen or something, otherwise functions perfectly. Thought of replacing it with the etrex SE but is struggling to justify an In reach mini 2. Help me decide! I like it a lot. The only complain is that when I copy tracks I created from elsewhere in gpx format in there, it may ends up losing all content of the file. I have to do it a few times to get it to work properly. Any suggestions?

[@getreadydogs]

I have an unusual question. I do Search & Rescue with my dogs and am looking for a small gps to put on my dog that could wirelessly transfer tracks to a handheld gps. I'm considering the etrex 32x, as accuracy is critical, to put on the dog and transferring the tracks to a 66i or similar. The etrex sounds rugged enough for a dog. I know that Garmin has the Astro but they are very expensive and bulky. I'm looking for ideas and/or suggestions.

[@Hikingguy]

Try the eTrex SE - I'm overdue on a review but maybe best choice - bit.ly/3Z4e6U3

[@lisabetty8603]

Bonjour, il y a très peu d'autonomie avec les piles. Seulement 25h? C'est très peu si on part des semaines ou des mois. Comment faire ? Les piles sont très lourdes dans un sac. Merci

[@arw2008]

How do I get the map to follow my location? I have to use the joystick to manually move the map to follow the arrow, or it goes off the edge?

[@Hikingguy]

The map will automatically center on your location.

[@spikex41]

Is there a handlebar mount for it? I really don’t see a use for it on foot but on the atv for sure.

[@Hikingguy]

amzn.to/44TsTEj

[@mannyzuccarelli]

Very thorough, very well made video. Thank you!

[@sergiofutbol123]

Thanks for the review, really hard trying to decide what device to get since I do mid to difficult hiking and rely alot on my phone.

[@Hikingguy]

If you just want an inexpensive backup an eTrex 2x series or an older GPSMAP 64 is a good move

[@FlyGuy2000]

Did they ever fix the joystick issue? That's my only reason for not getting of these.

[@Hikingguy]

I don't have mine anymore - maybe someone else who has one can chime in...

[@maxwell2.2]

Does this work without using trails and with just topography? I am completely new to gps amd how they work

[@keirhb4239]

Hey, how do you show your current location? is there a way to show the NGR of your actual location?

[@Hikingguy]

Yes, you can display lat/lon, MGRS, etc as a data field

[@Bladez1964]

You mentioned suggested settings but I cannot locate that on the full article website. Where can I find them?

[@socioisbackapparently661]

Is this model recommended for hiking in a mountain for a month? No cellphone signal in the mountain and the hike is for a biodiversity survey. Thanks.

[@Hikingguy]

Yup, this would work perfectly.

[@socioisbackapparently661]

@@Hikingguy Thank you

[@tino4314]

Hey I got my eTrex 32x last week, and I have a problem where when I want to use an address for road navigation, the device only offers me few European countries to choose from (and the country I need is not in them). I got the device with maps already on it and when I search for POIs I get everything listed that is close to me (so I guess there is data for the country that I am in). Any ideas/advice on how to get more countries?

[@runstant1]

very thorough vid, excellent !!

[@birdjayson1]

Question… I have that garmin GPS I just bought so I don’t get lost on the archery elk hunt. I was giving it a test over the weekend last week and I stopped to check my GPS and location and I got a notice that my batteries were going to die. Thankfully I knew exactly where I was and how to get out, I’ve hiked this trail many times. My question is, what happens if your hiking and and you have your GPS on your pack and the batterie die? Will it still save my current tracks even tho I have to replace the batteries so I can use the ‘trackback’ option to follow my breadcrumb trail to get back the way I came from? It makes me nervous to think that I could be hiking with the confidence of not being lost using a GPS just to have the batteries die and my current track that it’s been following is now gone

[@Hikingguy]

So it will track until the batteries die. If you replace the batteries, your track will be there from where you started until the batteries died. I generally make sure my batteries are charged / fresh before starting, and I have an idea of how long they last, so if I'm coming up on that time limit, I replace the batteries.

[@ozguraksakar5557]

Thanks a lot for this garmin 22x helpfull video... I'm thinking of buying this garmin...As a cyclist, I use wikiloc maps, can I transfer maps from my computer or internet to this device... Will routes open.. My main purpose is to open these maps where there is no phone line... Is this garmin suitable....? Sorry for english...

[@Hikingguy]

I think you'd be better off with a cycling computer like an Edge

[@oly10676]

They should build a limited edition for left handers!

[@NikhilNaik22N]

Please advise. I've been using google maps in my phone for navigation. The Etrex 32x will be my FIRST ever handheld GPS. Will I be able to load free detailed maps of cities, trails, etc of Asia Region and North America (in particular, Ontario, CA). How accurately will I be able to locate myself under tree cover in the forest or in the city surrounded by buildings? My usage will be trying to explore new off road locations (solo trekking) and as the main navigation gps system for my car.. I'm confused between 64s or the etrex32x Also, SUBSCRIBED!

[@Hikingguy]

1 - You can buy Garmin maps or download free OSM maps - see the guide for free maps on my site 2 - GPS performance is degraded around buildings (aka urban canyons) but still does work 3 - You should be fine for off road and car, but know that Garmin outdoors handhelds don't let you search by address unless you buy their City Navigator maps. 4 - the 64s and eTrex 32x are both great, it's really about the form factor and the 32x has a newer chipset (in my guestimation)

[@lamaludwig1470]

good competent honest review, thanks from Switzerland

[@Hikingguy]

Thank you and glad it was helpful!

[@RichRich1955]

I have a piece of foam around the joy stick held with Velcro to keep it stationary in my pack.

[@Hikingguy]

Good tip, thank you!

[@RichRich1955]

Garmin is great. My 10 model light button cover opened up and I contacted them for a housing replacement. They said send it to them and they'll send me a refurbished etrex 10 free. They even provided a free ups return. Just got the replacement and it looks new. It prompted me to get a inreach mini2. Just got that and it's awesome.

[@RichRich1955]

Fenix makes rechargeable lithium ion AA batteries at the 1.5volts. They aren't too expensive. Maybe not as many mWh as a nimh aa but they work fine in the garmin etrex 10. 12hrs of runtime and battery level shows full. 24hrs on a 2800mA nickel metal hydride.

[@pd3665]

I have been using an eTrex 22x for last few months with TopoActive Americas North 2021.10 map installed on the device. Somehow I am not able to figure out how to get turn by turn navigation, while using Where To option with either WayPoints or Geocache, while I am on a track. All I get is a straight line navigation, which most of the times is not useful. Any inputs on this would be appreciated !

[@Hikingguy]

Go to Setup > Routing - and more sure you are set to route on roads (and trails) - sounds like you are on straight line routing

[@kenrickkamil9536]

Great review, im a newbie and this was very helpful.

[@IvanToman]

The best plus for etrex units are AA batteries, with few sets in your bag you can't run out of power in ages. Which is not true for smartphone that sucks battery within hours especially when cell signal is bad so it increases power to compensate.. yeah I know it can be disabled but still battery is always problem with phone when being in nature environment. I have a question though. Is responsiveness of maps better on 32 compared to 30? On my 30, map is slow to move around/update on screen when moved/zoomed, etc. Does 32 make improvement on that? Also, is screen more readable on 32 than on 30 in bright light?

[@Hikingguy]

I don't have a 30 anymore but I do think the 32 is a little faster. That said, there is some redraw lag when doing extreme zooms or redraws. & the screen seems about the same in bright light

[@riedeburg]

This will be my first time purchasing a device like this and I appreciate your thorough review! Quick question for the newbie... can I just plug in a GPS coordinate (like a waterfall off trail) into the device or do I need to create something using the Garmin website/maps and then download that onto the device? I'm planning on getting the 30X. Thanks in advance for your help!

[@Hikingguy]

Glad it was helpful - and you can just plug a lat/lon into the device and navigate to it, not problem...

[@mrtruth6871]

another newbie here with a similar question but I'm struggling with the format of inputting the coordinates into the device. I have coordinates in a book of places I want to go to. the coordinates in the book has less numbers than the number spaces on the device. would appreciate any advice

[@rcorai]

Great video. I have a question. If I’m recording a track and battery is slow, can I pause or stop the recording, change batteries and resume the recording?

[@Hikingguy]

Yup, the trip computer keeps running so it will just pick up where you left off (when you swap batteries).

[@dannybrown4817]

Can you change the N W to MGRS?

[@Hikingguy]

Yup

[@wam7484]

It looks like tracks run continuously. To start a new track do I just delete the Current Track? Otherwise I'll have unwanted track at the beginning. Perhaps I can also delete the current track if I restart the Trip Computer. I'm used to Gaia where tracks don't start until you hit Record.

[@Hikingguy]

Yes, you have to restart the trip computer on these. If you want to save the track, do it before you reset.

[@thelifeofreed5367]

Anyone ever use this is the deep wilderness? Thinking about getting one for traveling out west to hunt/hike and use it to find the truck and camp. Any help would be appreciated. Great video!

[@Hikingguy]

Great for wilderness

[@tonyjones9442]

I would like to have seen how to use total and average asent and wether you could download this into excel and produce a gradient map? Very good video. Thankyou.

[@Hikingguy]

You can download the GPX and make an elevation profile using a bunch of dif online tools like GPS VIsualizer, no prob. Haven't tried GPX into a spreadsheet though.

[@tonyjones9442]

@@Hikingguy Thankyou. Very good channel . I'm in the uk so interesting to see your hikes. I'm in snowdonia.

[@il_Presepe]

Thank you for the review. I just purchased one using your amazon link. A few questions I hope you can help answer: Will this unit work in Europe? How would I go about installing EU maps? I installed basecamp on my computer but I cannot see much details even in my areas. Parks and ponds are missing. Anything in particular that needs to be enable in the app? My apology for all these questions. Thank you again for the review.

[@Hikingguy]

Thanks for your support 👍 Some answers > 1 - Yes works in Europe 2 - Check out my guide on getting free OSM maps & use this site > garmin.openstreetmap.nl

[@il_Presepe]

@@Hikingguy Thank you for the answer and suggestions. I appreciated it. I will check the link! Great work. Thanks again and a pleasure to support your channel.

[@elcompamartinez2647]

@@Hikingguy I went to dawn load made a donation of 20 euros just to find out that my chromebook is not compatible to open the down load!!😥😥

[@aljazkovac8665]

Hi and thanks for a great review! I bought an eTrex 32x a month ago and have been happy generally but what does happen occasionally is that while I am following a track or a route the blue pointer on the map will lag behind my actual position or even freeze completely for a minute or two. The GPS signal is shown as strong and I have both GPS and GLONASS on. This makes the navigation quite difficult at times. But then I have realized that if I power off and on again then the blue pointer comes back to life. Since you have extensive experience with GPS devices I wonder if this is normal behaviour or if it something that warrants a warranty claim? I have even turned off all the extra stuff like showing a live recording of my track on the map to make it easier for the processor, but it doesn’t seem to help, the pointer will still freeze every now and then out of the blue. Any tips you could help with? Much appreciated and kudos for the great videos!

[@Hikingguy]

Well, I wouldn't say it's normal. Sometimes things will go very slow (like a screen redraw) when the processor is overwhelmed, but it shouldn't freeze up. Have you updated the firmware on Garmin Express? Turning everything off would be my first move too, and if it didn't work, I think you should contact Garmin support. [e-mail]

[@friedrichvolkmann]

I once had the same issue with an Etrex 30. All GPS devices have a threshold to ignore some degree of signal fluctuations in order to not show movement when the user stands still. That threshold should certainly be lower for hiking than for car navigation. The Etrex 30 had a firmware bug that made the threshold too big. I had to return it because that bug made the device unusable for my purposes. I switched back to an old Dakota 20 (which is still the best product that Garmin has ever made for mountaineers). Now that my Dakota 20 stopped working, I'm considering buying an Etrex 32x or Touch 35. If those have still the same threshold problem, as your experience indicates, I would be very disappointed. You can try switching off GLONASS and WAAS/EGNOS, because both features decrease accuracy according to Garmin support. They say that GLONASS is terrible, while WAAS/EGNOS doesn't work in average terrain and just drains processing power.

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

Bought one today in a brick & mortar store in The Netherlands. The guy in the shop really knew what he was talking about. At first I was looking for a compass and this is how I ended up with Garmin GPS. The compass I need to set up my automated telescope, ended up with the 32x due to non GPS related compass (some models use GPS for this). This weekend will do some hiking in a forrest at the Dutch German border, fun times! Good review!

[@Hikingguy]

Nice nice nice - glad the review came in handy and hope you enjoy it. Tot ziens!

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

@@Hikingguy Been to The Netherlands or do you have Dutch ancestors? Tot ziens.

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

Been hiking and guess what? My phone had no reception (middle of a forrest), the little Garmin did what it was supposed to do. Great product, really like it.

[@sagarthapa3765]

Hi! So if you were to set it on On Road for Time can this GPS be used for on road navigation as well?

[@Hikingguy]

It's setup for trails but you can use (extra) City Navigator maps for road nav.

[@sagarthapa3765]

@@Hikingguy Thanks a ton!

[@iesleif.2537]

Thx for the review! I like hike a lot. Do you recommend the eTrex instead of a Fenix 5x? Cheers

[@Hikingguy]

You're welcome! They're both different animals but if you want something for fitness (runs, biking, walking, etc.) then the Fenix is your winner. Or if you want something small and as a cross-check to paper maps, the Fenix is great.

[@MrChipclip12345]

Now if I were to get it for off-roading would I be able to see a track of where I’ve been on that trip?

[@Hikingguy]

Yup

[@Jorditoms]

Hi I live in Spain, I do hiking every Saturday, and I like to get on the Forrest, for.a period of 10 hours, normally it's not raining but the weather are severe, and is summer is very hot, and when is winter the cold is severe also. Im using GAIA GPS on my Samsung Galaxy S8 plus, but the battery is getting damage so I'm planning to buy or the etrex 35 touch or the 32x, what do you think? Also, here there is a brand Two Nav, and the model from them that I like a lot is the Two Nav trial2, what's your comments? Thanks

[@Hikingguy]

I had bad luck with the touchscreen models in the rain so I would avoid and get a regular eTrex. I haven't tried the Two Nav trial2 but will check it out.

[@Jorditoms]

@@Hikingguy thanks a lot!! I really love Gaia a lot, but my battery on the mobile it's draining so fast. And if you need to choose between de etrex 32x and the gpsmaps 64 x, which one you choose?