Anyone contemplating purchasing a Garmin Montana 700i or 750i should understand you would be entering an ecosystem designed for continued expenditure of funds. At first I was impressed by my 700i; however that changed to buyers remorse. The device is well made and promises an impressive feature list. However, implementing the full feature set is cumbersome and costly. Reminiscent of Apple or Prime, the ecosystem relies on subscriptions and purchases. For example, the unit supports a tiny micro-SD card, which makes downloads awkward. Maps are available for purchase by card or download; however they will only be available for 12 months following purchase, dependent on which plan was used, and they can't be hosted in two locations. Solid hardware, though dated, be sure you know what you are buying into beforehand. ( I come from a systems engineering background including GPS navigation and control, so I may have a different perspective.)
@maxw8915 күн бұрын
@@spmadeinusa4594 That’s very helpful to hear. Do you have a recommendation for a GPS navigator that doesn’t rely on subscriptions and which will remain useful indefinitely?
@denelson832 күн бұрын
You should be able to put OpenStreetMap data on this device. It is free to obtain and updated frequently.
@jonjetneva3 жыл бұрын
You can search for all POIs very easily if you select the search function then all POIs then the three hash marks on bottom right. This will allow you to spell what your looking for without a specific category. This is best if you don't know what category your search item may be listed under.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Nice tip, I didn't know that, thank you!
@marctrainor55953 жыл бұрын
I really like your reviews, and this one was no exception. You did a really thorough job on describing it without going in to extreme detail, which is a good idea in my opinion. I ended up buying the 700i a few weeks ago, and everything you said here lines up with my own experience. I'm probably gonna be the guy who doesn't go on the "trip to Mt. Everest", I'll be luckey if I do a couple of small mountains around San Diego county where I live. However, just in case I get back in shape, (I'm 70), I might push it to more robust hikes. I really am happy with it so far, especially happy about the SOS feature, just in case, but I somehow didn't realize I could have bought the mini Garmin for that, I believe, and maybe gone with a cheaper GPS unit to boot. Thanks again for a really thorough review, and shame on Garmin for not supporting you more. I think you do a fine job on these reviews. Marc Trainor.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Glad the unit is working out for you, it's a solid choice. Most folks aren't really going to push it to extremes, and then it's great. I was just playing around with mine and the screen is really sharp. Outside of a smartphone it's probably the best you can get. Anyway, thank you for the support and if you discover anything interesting with it, please share here. There's not a ton of info out there on these units yet and I know a lot of folks find any insights helpful. Have fun out there!
@typhoontom2 ай бұрын
Outstanding review! I have one and have only used it for Geocaching in Japan but will certainly use it once I start up traveling again. I used my older Garmin Oregon on aircraft and even a ferry and it worked very well. Just like an airliner's map where you can track your own flight. Thank you for this review.
@Zw1d28 күн бұрын
the remarks about touchscreen and outdoor environment are absolutely true, no serious gear relies solely on touch screens.
@MrBubinski7779 күн бұрын
my brand new 67i has sticky buttons right out of the box, and has no touch screen.
@williamadelmann10443 жыл бұрын
An example of an off-road trail through a USFS would be helpful for 4x4 drivers. I'd just like to see what the display looks like when following a trail through a forest or desert, and how it calculates a route.
@ugpee Жыл бұрын
maybe you should try the Tread overland
@simonsutherland15 Жыл бұрын
First I want to thank you for your reviews, still the best I've found on this topic.(and i'll circle back to that) I'm actually (apparently one of the few) motorcyclists who like to camp in the back country, and do short hikes. So I'm always looking for the GPS unit that can read turn by turn on the 'dash' on the interstate, help me keep my bearings riding in the desert, or keep in my pocket to keep me on the trail. And ideally handle SoS so i don't need an other unit. I was hoping this would be that guy... but i don't think they're there yet, and certainly not close enough for the price, I think you'll understand the chief reason I come back to garmin, or inreach over my smartphone is the physical buttons (as well as the battery life and bright hi-contrast display) Whether gloved on the bike, in the rain, or in a sand storm there just no contest between physical buttons you can hit with muscle memory. So I'm sad to see the 700i doesn't have at least a few basic function buttons. And then theirs the battery issue... A lot of the adv rider crowd use the zumo but again no buttons, not ergonomic in the hand, don't fit in pockets, and they're power hogs. And last i checked none have the SoS. Right now i'm using the 66i, (final decision after watching your review) but I wish that could handle rode navigation, had a slight larger screen, so its easier to read while driving, and of course i do wish they'd bring their UI up to say the 2000's. ;>. Garmin if you're listening: please make something like the 700i, but maybe 10% smaller when held vertically, with 10% more physical battery (at least 30% more life) and the basic function buttons. With the multi-path accuracy of the SR. The touch screen for scrolling and zooming is nice, but if touch means even 4% increased power draw I'd rather skip it. The last thing that would be clutch, if you could customize the settings between powered and unpowered.. so you set it to taste when it's on the cradle on the bike its bright, high contrast, quick rendering, and increased pinging, and default to turn by turn view ... then as soon as you pull it off everything is slower, lower power and defaults to topo view. Anyway as promised back to the beginning I keep looking for reviewers in the extended moto community and no one comes close to your videos and articles for my money, so i keep coming back to you. Thanks for all your work!
@Hikingguy Жыл бұрын
I appreciate that and thank you... and agree 100%, I wish Garmin would just make a better and universal GPS with buttons. It's the number 1 reason why I still own a Garmin GPS for the backcountry. As many times as I try, the touchscreens just don't perform in the rain. I'm about to test a unit from TwoNav ( www.twonav.com/en/ ) that might solve the problem, but, Garmin, c'mon, lets have some innovation with these handhelds. A new GPSMAP unit is due out at some point (it's been a few years) - hopefully it will knock our socks off but not holding my breath...
@squid111603 жыл бұрын
This is hands down the best review of this product i've seen thus far. Thank you
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! 👍
@HexForger3 жыл бұрын
I took my Montana 700 for a week's worth of pretty extreme hiking in Lake District (UK) last week and I must say, it's exactly what I needed and couldn't get from eTrex or Oregon device I had owned before. I always bring a printed TOPO 1:25k map together with the compass and Montana 700 completes my setup flawlessly. I keep its display off most of the time as I know the direction in which I'm supposed to go, and sometimes, in very challenging navigation conditions, I verify or correct my bearing much quicker with Montana 700 than it would take me with the compass. I reckon, if I kept Montanta 700's display on all the time it would probably run out of juice pretty quickly, but the way I used it continued operating on a single charge for 6 hikes, around 40 hours in total. What I really like is that it (allegedly?) is going to support AA battery case. What I don't like that much is that there's no easy way to attach it to my rucksack, but luckily I found nice belt pouch, fits like a glove.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing, good to know. I didn't have a 700 to test (just the 750i) and I'm glad you're getting that kind of battery life out of it. I found the screen to be the main culprit with battery drain too. Guessing that if I killed the InReach sending and kept it in my pack like you did I could probably get much more juice out of it. Glad it's working well for you!
@PetterIvarsson3 жыл бұрын
unfortunately only 700 supports aa-batterys which for me is really bad
@richarddufresne26833 жыл бұрын
The one thing I do not like about the Montana 750i is the following thing: It has a lanyard, at the top, but you cannot attach it to something at the bottom. So, in other word, if I need to reach for it, I have to reach it in a pocket, or somewhere else. Let me explain. I have a Garmin etrex Touch 35. It has a lanyard at the top, but I can attach a carabiner at the back of it. That way, I attach a retractable lanyard at the top, and a carabiner, so I can access my gps quickly, and release it. With the way this Montana series is done, I cannot do that. For me, it is important, because I do a lot of hiking of different trails, and I like that I can access my GPS quickly. I have the same setup with an inReach mini. Great review once again,... ! 😃😃😃
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Ahh good point, I didn't consider that (or use it with a lanyard). I ended up carrying mine in a side pocket of my backpack and just reaching back. But the size of the unit makes it much tougher to keep handy than any other (which I could just drop into a pocket). Thanks for sharing, this will be helpful for folks checking the unit out.
@ImTheBlade652 жыл бұрын
Just bought this monster 2 days ago. I decided to purchase the 24K topo micro SD card for southwest US. I live in Arizona and love to hike all over this beautiful state. I enjoy on sighting areas that I've not ventured into before, so the added detail of the 24K gives me a better idea of what I'm headed for. I've owned many of the older Garmin GPS models that are built the same as the 66i and I must admit I do miss the ability to just hook it on the shoulder strap of my backpack with the carabiner. This unit, with the silicone case that I added, its big,. It's awfully BIG! I have 30 days to try this thing out, and if I haven't lost all my bodyweight by lugging this television set around for a month, then I may keep it. I'll need to find a carry case that I can put on my belt & or attach to my pack. If I stuff it inside my backpack, even on the outside pouches I won't use it as much. Especially, in the beginning weeks, I want to enjoy the learning curve. Honestly, the only reasons I haven't returned it already, is I own a serious off road Jeep that I take off road and it'll be pretty cool to mount this brick on my dashboard and use it for that purpose. I took it up in the helicopter yesterday, I'm a flight nurse, and man that huge screen is awesome. My pilot shared all the waypoints we have in our system for rendezvous landing zones with ground EMS, police, fire etc so it was cool to use it in the back of the helicopter and compare it to his Garmin Area 760 up front. (This unit, despite how powerful it is, is not recommended for aviation use). So for someone who needs a very utilitarian unit that can go from trail to vehicle's, SUVs, etc and want to do it all with one unit, this is the bomb! When I show it to other hikers who have smaller handheld devices they all drool at the size of the screen, which I think for most people, once they get a taste of that visual, they'll be hooked. From my personal experiences, regardless of the size of the screen on the unit, by the time you're really familiar with it, you'll be well adapted to the screen size. Love the marriage with GEOS for obvious reasons. We constantly promote the use of GEOS supported devices for anyone going into the backcountry. Thanks again for what you do! I'll keep you updated as to how this cinder block does over the next month, and if it hasn't drowned me during a creek crossing, I'll post some more updates. John.
@Hikingguy2 жыл бұрын
Ha that's great - and yea - when I had that in my hand I was thinking "I could smash a big glass window with this thing." And I agree, for a vehicle / trail all-arounder, this unit is the move. And yea, if your arm hasn't fallen off from using this guy, let me know how you're liking it.
@ImTheBlade652 жыл бұрын
So after putting this monster through its paces for the past few weeks I've decided that it's just not for me. I'll highlight the reasons why; ● Size & weight. It's a very big unit, it doesn't fit well in the hand and adds noticeable weight to my pack. I had difficulty finding an accessory pouch to mount on my backpack. When using a GPS, personally, I like it to be immediately accessible, whereby one can simply glance at the screen and keep moving. The best I could come up with was an aftermarket pouch fastened to my shoulder strap, unattach the Velcro closure, then unzip the pouch, then remove the brick size GPS and due to its size and poor ergonomics, fumble it in my average size hands and drop the $800.00 (not including tax) on the ground. ● Touch screen: I'm not a fan of touch screen devices, especially when I'm out on the trail and could find myself in a bad situation with rain or even blood on my hands. The side menus keep getting accidentally activated and the whole interface is just way too delicate for the type of environment or situation one could find himself in. ● Software issues; The unit crashed and powered off 4 separate times. Each time it was when I was attempting to follow a route. I'd select the pre-planned route, the screen would read "searching" then the unit would go dark. ● Battery life; Very poor! One evening, instead of planning a route on the computer then transferring it to the unit, I decided to plan a route on the unit itself. I started out with 100%, by the time I was done planning the route, the unit was down to 83% power. In closing, I'd say that this unit was probably designed for ATV users, quads, side-by-side users and motorcycles. If by chance you had to dismount and navigate somewhere on foot, then this Montana 750i could certainly work for that. However, as a dedicated hiking, trekking. backpacking unit, you'd be far happier with the Garmin GPS MAP 66i or the like.
@StampMyArt2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your review. I was on the fence, and now I know I'm not happy with the direction Garmin went with the handhelds. Thank you for saving me $$
@DB-me3jt3 жыл бұрын
I’m looking for motorcycle navigation for on/offroad navigation. The latest advise I got was: “Put your iPhone in your pocket and use a rugged Android smartphone/tablet for navigation on the bike” If you crash you can still use your phone to call for help if your bike dropped in a ravine. I was told that Android has more offline navigation apps then iOS. I wonder what would be the pro’s and cons for the Garmin Montana and its ecosystem VS a rugged Android phone/tablet setup with offline maps.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Yea, there are a lot of options and they're all pretty good. The main pro of this unit is the InReach capability. If you don't need that, you can probably score a cheaper rugged Android and run something like Gaia GPS.
@smacnee32783 жыл бұрын
You can reach that home screen by swiping down from top too which has brightness etc. I use this on a dirt bike and it’s amazing
@Jollyswagman73 жыл бұрын
Do use the map upgrades for dirt bike riding or just base ones? Cheers
@smacnee32783 жыл бұрын
I use maps from cal topo I’m riding off road
@albertangulo1420 Жыл бұрын
I got caught on a kayaking trip in a massive rainstorm and yes these touchscreens wig out, it was turning functions on and off like a bunch of tiny fingers hitting the screen all over lol, that being said i would not give up the touch screen myself personally.
@jerrysambrook44802 жыл бұрын
Once again, thanks for the review. I will stay with the 66i for another year, and look at this next winter.
@bertrosado1969 Жыл бұрын
From a confused guy! What is the difference between Garmin’s TOPO US 24K and Topoactive North America? Price for the TOPO is $99.00, Topoactive is $59.99 with the entire North America! Greatly appreciated.
@Hikingguy Жыл бұрын
Don't waste your $$ - they offer closer contour lines and some more detail, but the regular TopoActive maps seem to be fine for me (for several years of hiking / outdoors so far)
@Serge1074Ай бұрын
Excellent review, I have been thinking of getting one and now I decide I will,,thank you.
@raulfriedmann185911 ай бұрын
Very nice, assertive, useful review.
@atkore3 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much. Brilliant explanations without hiding issues depending on the goals. You let the user make his own opinion. Great job again!!
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Yea, try to share the pain points too. For some folks the issues might be acceptable given their usage. 👍
@pinkiewerewolf3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for all of your work on these GPS units. I used your Amazon link to purchase the 700i for motorcycling off road, hiking, and I wanted the in-reach function because I'm solo most of the time.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much for using the link, I really appreciate it 🙏 And glad the guide was handy, I think it's a great fit for motorcycling / hiking combo. Hope you have fun with it.
@brianblack5463 жыл бұрын
How is the garmin working for you? I need something for dirt biking out of cell signal
@pinkiewerewolf3 жыл бұрын
@@brianblack546 The Montana works great. I still need a handlebar mount. The first Garmin Montana mount didn’t work. I’ve ordered a new one from Garmin the other day. As far as a GPS unit, I am very happy with it.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
@@brianblack546 Not using this one anymore, just using the 66i which is still solid. Think if you need touchscreen + InReach for a dirt bike, this is a good move. I check some recent reviews on Amazon, etc., but what I'm hearing is all good.
@thinblueline3853 жыл бұрын
Great review as always. I have been interested in finding out more on this unit since it came out. Still loving my 66i though.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
You're welcome, and yea, I think the 66i is a much better bet for most hikers.
@davidforeman27342 жыл бұрын
Always a good report thanks. From Canada.
3 жыл бұрын
I hope they keep releasing non-touch GPS devices. Water and rain are the reason I have chosen Garmin ecosystem. Being stuck on 66i in 5 years is really going to suck.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Yea, I'm pretty sure we can expect a steady stream of 66i type button devices, Garmin seems to be releasing a lot of new devices more quickly these days.
@matthewspecker3 жыл бұрын
Been waiting for this review. Well done as always.👍
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Thank you thank you 👍👍
@daviddean7073 жыл бұрын
Thanks, first useful video on Montana 700
@KitLaughlinКүн бұрын
Hello Cris; I just read your comprehensive comparison of the Montana 700, 700i, and 750i. I also read your very detailed description of how to set one of these up at the end of the article-what a complex nightmare! That's my on-water Garmin experience, too, using their dedicated chartplotters. One question, if I may: can the Navionics Boating maps be downloaded onto the Montana-there's a lively discussion over at Cruisers and Sailing Forum about whether one of the Montana hand-helds could be a good backup for other plotters/GPSs. Excellent review, and I have subscribed.
@Hikingguy10 сағат бұрын
Thank you and I wish I knew the answer personally - but the maps page for the product does list all the marine charts, so I think the answer is yes - just don't expect features like anchor drag alarm, etc. that you'd get on a chartplotter - www.garmin.com/en-US/p/699779#maps
@KitLaughlin2 сағат бұрын
@@Hikingguy Sincere thanks Chris. If I learn more, I'll come back and report. My main gripe with Garmin is described perfectly by @spmadeinusa4594 in his remark immediately below. Again, thanks.
@peterlanglois22122 жыл бұрын
Great review, very helpful, thank you!
@espinoza-adventure3 жыл бұрын
Hi sir. Thanks for the video. What about the subscription plans. I would like buy the 750i but i don't want pay subscription. The gps and the navigation still working without subscription?
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Yes, you can still use everything aside from InReach without a subscription. You might want to consider a Montana 700 without the inReach and save a few bucks.
@aajawo3 жыл бұрын
Garmin markets the Montana 700 series as having "routable topographic maps"? What does that mean? And how does it differ from other Garmin devices? I understand this to be a new feature. My application is adventure motorcycling. I want a GPS that will tell me to go left or right on dirt road/trail intersection along my route. Essentially, I am looking for Google maps style routing on dirt roads/trails with preloaded gpx tracks that I download online. In the past, I've used Android phone apps like Lotus. That involved visually following the purple (or whatever color) line on the phone's screen while riding and trying to anticipate turns. Probably not the safest thing. And often I wouldn't realize I had missed a turn until after having passed it. That is a problem given that there are hundreds of turns on some of the motorcycle adventure routes. Thanks, and great review.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Thank you, glad the review was handy. So the routable topo isn't new, even though they might spin it that way. It's basically saying that there's a topo map on there that has trails and dirt roads, and if you give it a destination, it will pick a route from where you are to there (minimizing distance or ascent). So for motorcycling this will be perfect. It even has a profile for that and will route you on dirt roads but not hiking trails. It should give you turn by turn guidance when motorcycling, but I've only used it hiking. If for some reason you get and it get stuck, just post here and I'll try my best to help out.
@dynamicphotography_2 жыл бұрын
Just wanted to pop in the comments and say really really good video. Very useful information. Thx.
@Hikingguy2 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@klausm40863 жыл бұрын
The information about water on the screen is very usefull!!!
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful! That's the big downside of using touchscreens in the outdoors unfortunately.
@Carl-Camera2 жыл бұрын
Great review, thank you Cris! 👍 Like you say at 25:00 IMO a rugged phone or iPad mini is better in many use-cases you'd consider this - lack of good car/lane features is sad. GPSmap more rugged; or the Garmin 276Cx.
@Hikingguy2 жыл бұрын
I haven't used the Garmin 276Cx but it looks like a great option for folks who mostly drive / overland and occasionally hike.
@dougmrak784 Жыл бұрын
i ordered the flash light .... As you add they are like a 20$ in a bin at a tool center
@sdcoinshooter3 жыл бұрын
I have been using my 66i for a couple years now and absolutely love it, but have to admit, this has peaked my interest. Obviously, the touch screen and general bigger screen is the most obvious advantage, does anyone have any other reasons to move up?
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
I still use my 66i because the Montana touchscreen isn't great in the rain. I was just caught in a thunderstorm in the Grand Canyon and was thankful that I had the buttons on the 66i to do what I needed to with the unit.
@cjr449710 ай бұрын
I really enjoyed the Oregon Series, but they got less reliable as they updated them. I am looking for an upgrade, but this thing is way to big. I wish they would make a smaller version.
@rwi84063 жыл бұрын
Thanks! Excellent video and associated reviews.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful! 👍
@shadowsrwolf3 жыл бұрын
It might be worth it as one more backup if Aviation charts could be added
@stanburman99783 жыл бұрын
Very helpful video. Thank you.
@user-it7qx8pv8y3 жыл бұрын
I'll decide buying Montana from USA shop,because your you tube.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Thank you 👍🙏!
@ahmedelmorsy8429 Жыл бұрын
Excellent review
@warrennel95933 жыл бұрын
Great review. BTW vehicle navigation mode does have lane assist.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Thank you, yea, realized that popped in after the first firmware update.
@Jollyswagman73 жыл бұрын
Do you need to turn on lane assist? I just bought one and just getting an aerial view.
@rimasmeleshyus9486 Жыл бұрын
GPS Garmin Montana 750i the best for me ,than any GPS Garmin. I like it touch screen, to me very important, nothing heavy it's light. Montana GPS, I would say very high quality standards made .
@RNcooley2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this review
@jeremyhunter145911 ай бұрын
I find it amazing after all these years these birdseye/satellite view gps units don't have Google earth integrated, so you get a live view that way. Basically Google earth following your gps signal.
@Hikingguy11 ай бұрын
They would have to license the imagery from Google and I don't think Garmin wants to pay for that.
@tadams19693 жыл бұрын
Great review! Can you forward the pics in an emergency situation? In a medical emergency it'd be helpful to be able to show pictures of injuries to rescue crews.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Unfortunately the InReach just does text, regardless of device.
@jessthooks3 жыл бұрын
Who knew there were so many bowling centers in orange county!
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
It's all anyone cares about here
@ilovechicago1113 жыл бұрын
Very useful. Thank you.
@JohnBaxendale5 ай бұрын
It's ridiculous Garmin aren't sending you things to review!
@SgtMajor828 ай бұрын
I've returned mine. It's garbage. Can't even change the trial width on the GPS if you have poor eyesight, or need to see it from a distance like following a trail while mountain biking or driving off-road. UK maps cost another £200, bike mount £40 etc etc. The form factor resembles a brick! My advice would be to buy a TwoNav Aventura which you can change the track width on, has a much sleeker design and the maps are half the price. Garmin have shown where their priorities lie and that's in the the fitness watch arena. Any suggestions just get the same reply, put it on the forum. They aren't serious about their customers despite the fact this is one of, if not the most expensive of their units.
@merv9772 жыл бұрын
Very useful as I am looking to upgrade my Oregon 600...
@MrLabradorwildman3 жыл бұрын
Great Video, Garmin North America has just placed the 700 on sale $150 cnd to April 7th,so i ordered one. To use on my Skidoo, but like to use hiking has well any idea the size of the battery power like my phone is 5500 mAH, so i know want size charger to take with me 10000 mAH i'm looking at for few days i say 20000 mAH. Also i ordered a Tusita Silicone cover and a Maxpedition TC-3 pouch all so looking at the car mount so i can use in the car for navigation like to see how good it is, still got my old Garmin Nuiv 775 with North American and Europe maps on, like to see how 700 works on the navigation before i hit the U/K great video and reading your full review too keep up the great work Dave from Labrador City,Labrador,Canada.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Thank you and that's a good deal on the unit, prob the first time I've heard of them going on sale since they came out. It's a good fit for snowmobile / hiking. Didn't test the screen in snow but think it might be okay. Have fun with it!
@j011501262 жыл бұрын
Would the 750i be the best GPS for people that get lost easily l, have no memory for terrain features, get turned around easily and have a fear of getting lost. I don't see me using this more than a day hike maybe 8 to 10 hrs. But I have an etrex 30 I can't figure out where I am most of the time and there are way too many menus to scroll through. Note money or cost for the unit is not an issue, it's far better to pay than getting lost.
@Hikingguy2 жыл бұрын
Good question - this has the biggest screen, so in that sense it should be easy to see and read the terrain. That said, if you mainly hike in fair weather conditions and have a smartphone, you might want to consisder an app like Gaia GPS, which is easy to use and understand.
@robertjensen45252 жыл бұрын
I believe the 700i would be the best off road handheld ? I believe that is what I heard in you presentation
@Hikingguy2 жыл бұрын
Yea It's built for that and a good choice
@davyboy1379 Жыл бұрын
It's a shame they haven't come up with a solution to a wet screen yet. I really wanted to buy this one but might give it a miss. I do tend to go out in good weather but I have been caught out in heavy rain which causes my mobile phone touch screen to go mad. Did you have it set on rain mode whilst under the tap??? The rain mode must be a new addition to the software maybe.
@hamedizzy51373 жыл бұрын
So the only difference between the 700i and the 750i is the camera?
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Yup
@RideFar2 жыл бұрын
Excellent review, thank you Hiking Guy! One question -- is the screen on full brightness in this video, or at least at the 5:49 point? Frankly the screen looks maddeningly dim. I have read complaints about dim-mish screens on this unit but have yet to see it in person. Thanks for any insights you can provide.
@Hikingguy2 жыл бұрын
It is on full at that point, but it's hard to judge from another video, which has lighting variations. Overall the screen is a good brightness and pretty easy to see, although the bright screen drains the battery quicker than a lower setting.
@LaHayeSaint Жыл бұрын
If 700 series fell into a brook, would the system fail to function. Pressurised water would be forced at every conceivable gap on the 700. How does the 700 series face up to steamy tropical jungles with incessant damp, mildew and condensation? Is there a fully waterproof protective cover? How is the delicate screen protected. If it cracks, does it mean that the 700 is dead/ How do you charge the battery in the field, eg, with solar panels? Is it fit for military use?
@TonyHobbs3 жыл бұрын
I was thinking this but for hiking where I go and my lightweight style probably over kill and heavy Two issues too rain is a problem as you say plus battery life is shocking lol I have mapping on phone plus mapping on fenix 6x and have a map and both above give grid reference. I like the option of talky toaster maps though as they show so many paths trails etc but got it on fenix
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Yea, if you have a Fenix already and phone, you absolutely don't need this guy. Get Gaia GPS for your phone and you'll be much better off.
@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL2 жыл бұрын
Garmin may not appreciate your acerbic remarks. We do, though.
@canadianwoodsmith-edjohnso46083 жыл бұрын
Theirs a big difference between rain and running water from a kitchen tap.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
I've used this and other touchscreens (Edge & eTrex touch) in heavy rain and the behavior is pretty spot on with the spray setting on my sink which is shown here. Same for other folks > forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/cycling/f/edge-1030/169236/rain-gps
@andrewburns11883 жыл бұрын
Very helpful. Thank you.
@guloguloguy2 жыл бұрын
What are some of the "BEST, (better than this model) handheld, TOPO mapping, "GPS" units that are available?!...
@richarddufresne26833 жыл бұрын
Great review, once again,... Merci ! 😃
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
👍👍
@BarbaryStudio3 жыл бұрын
Micro USB 2021 is not acceptable why they don't have USB type C for me this is a dealbreaker
@williamshackelford42692 күн бұрын
Wanted to hear a marine setup to track in rivers Alaska?
@stopagenturi772 жыл бұрын
Hello!Does anyone know how much the deviation is?For example, if I mark a tree, will the navigation show that I arrived at that place at 1m or at 15-20m. I need great precision to hunt truffles at night.I used to have Etrex 30x and it showed me badly. Also my current location, on one side I am surrounded by a river and in order to change my position the river is always on the same side which it really isn't, the map didn't rotate at all?Thank you
@Hikingguy2 жыл бұрын
Your best bet is to get a GPSMAP 65s or 66sr which are accurate to about 3m. Anything more than that and you'll want a (more expensive) surveying GPS which can get about 1cm accuracy.
@lakshminarasimhareddybujut63942 жыл бұрын
Thank you sir for your valuable time. What is the price of the extra battery? Are there any more powerful battery pack to purchase? How much they cost?
@redsherpa12 жыл бұрын
Use a power bank
@drewbush65352 жыл бұрын
I can't believe it costs that much and doesn't come with a case... And you have to buy a subscription For the features to work
@rickgaudreau71113 ай бұрын
Great review, thank you. I do have a question, I’m looking for bush or hiking GPS that also has the option to add a Back-up camera to it. This option is not listed under the 700 series so I can only assume it does not allow this. Would I need to go to a model like the Overlander to get this feature? Thanks.
@Hikingguy3 ай бұрын
Yea I think you need a more vehicle focused model - support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=w0sjNmRQFR3N58uLaMpMR8#:~:text=You%20can%20pair%20up%20to,feeds%20from%20all%20paired%20cameras.
@seanlittlefair1053 жыл бұрын
I use gps daily for my job (hunter/trapper), I have just upgraded from Colorado 550 to a Montana 680t, which I like and find it suits my needs. Would the 700 be a good upgrade? I use Erpib system instead of the inreach system. I do use the camera on my 680t and carry a battery power bank which gives me about 3-4 days worth of charging. Currently the 680t gives me about 12 hours use as I am always consulting the map. Have you done a compo of the 680 vs 700? Thanks the the tips and tricks. Great video you have.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
If you have a 680t I wouldn't upgrade to the 700, it's not worth the $$$
@seanlittlefair1053 жыл бұрын
@@Hikingguy Thanks for the response. Will take your advice.
@seanlittlefair1053 жыл бұрын
Slight update, my 680t sustained some damage so I’ve just had to get a 700 model as this is all they could give me.. So far so good with this model. I do like the bigger screen, wifi capability for downloading Birdseye maps and faster chip set for scrolling thru the map page when I’m planning my trap lines and so forth. Expedition mode will be handy I think for the bigger jobs? I’m just rewatching your video agin to get some more ideas.. thank you for the info. Regards from New Zealand.
@eyesopen8614 Жыл бұрын
@@seanlittlefair105 im in australia and dont know anything about garmins gps- im going to start hiking in the mountains going off tracks and heard the 750 is great but expensive - is the 700 any good - id like one with topography maps to zoom in etc.. sorry hope that makes sence - any tips or recomendations would be great , thanks
@RESISTAGE Жыл бұрын
700 is the way to go. swap the AA batteries and you are on the go in no time.
@WatsonWu3 жыл бұрын
Would this be good for off the grid communication between two 750i devices, using the message feature?
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Yup, you can message inReach to inReach >> support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=o4sYSXP4LC8KhFNWJEVPI7
@WatsonWu3 жыл бұрын
@@Hikingguy That's great, thanks for the info. Are messages back in forward responsive or they delayed depending on weather etc satellite conditions?
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
@@WatsonWu it all goes through the satellite so usually 15 mintues or so avg
@jayshields99192 жыл бұрын
Cheers mate👍
@jayupc3 жыл бұрын
Great job thanks!
@bruce.KAY-bike-drifter3 жыл бұрын
I'm thinking of using this off-road on long-distance bike-packing trips on my bicycle. I can live with the battery life being reduced when I use the screen a little more for reading the maps. Can I load routes and get the device to beep, prompting me to follow turn-by-turn navigation? I have been looking at a 66i too. I'm attracted to the bigger screen. Though I do understand your comments about a fully touch screen interface being awkward, say in the rain, or with gloves on. What are your thoughts?
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Yup, this is all set for routes & turn by turn. It might be heavy for a bike, you might want to check out the Edge GPS models.
@mikelpainter93 жыл бұрын
if it's raining,, I'm somewhere staying dry lol
@dvdrnldprsn6 ай бұрын
More of a question really. What is the purpose of the 7 gold contact points on the left side of the unit between the power switch and the micro USB power port? I cannot seem to find a desvription of these anywhere.
@Hikingguy6 ай бұрын
Think it might be for a vehicle mount with power
@dvdrnldprsn6 ай бұрын
Of course! Don't know why that didn't occur to me! Does seem a rather expensive solution to an automotive GPS, though. Garmin has plenty of cheaper models to choose from.
@joernlindstaedt77313 жыл бұрын
Hello - thanks for the video and honest review. Quick question: towards the end of the video you recommend one option which is to use an inreach mini and a phone but I did not get the name of the App you mentioned. Thank you :)
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! The app is Gaia GPS > if you upgrade to premium you can use my discount code here > hikingguy.com/best-hiking-gear/
@joernlindstaedt77313 жыл бұрын
@@Hikingguy Thank you so much for your quick reply! Greetings from Germany 👍🏼
@JcBautista013 жыл бұрын
Hey is it Siri, Google or Alexa built-in? Why you didn’t talk about the walk tracks. How accurate is to find houses on this. I am a delivery food and the GPS on my phone is a pain in the ass when houses in Tennessee don’t have their numbers on their mailboxes nor houses like in a whole block. Also does it automatically pair with Bluetooth from our phone?
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
No voice control unfortunately, and you're probably not going to get better address accuracy than Google as well. Wish I had better news for ya....
@Blastfence1 Жыл бұрын
I bought it for scuba diving 🤿
@tbalcome3 жыл бұрын
Video topic idea! I know you have experience with the Garmin Inreach Mini with the Earth mate app, as well as with the new Montana 700i. Would you be interested in explaining the difference between the app and the device from a navigation standpoint?
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
In general the app can mirror all the nav functions on the device. I would do a video on it, but the app changes so much it would be out of date rather quickly. I'd say overall having a dedicated GPS like this is really about the rugged / weatherproof aspects. In other ways a dedicated GPS is almost always inferior to a smartphone app.
@Jollyswagman73 жыл бұрын
Are the map upgrades worth it in your opinion? Or should I just stick with base maps? I’m using for off road motorcycling. Thanks in advance.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
It comes with Topo maps built in, and they have off and on road routing, so you should be all set
@domineckyurchick95582 жыл бұрын
Can u use on a Motorcycle Street and off road
@geoffmoss48432 жыл бұрын
It's not just my phone calls that Garmin ignores then....!
@ginocbottinomd88223 жыл бұрын
Has anyone used a bigger SD card to see if it will work?
@rvrandy17102 жыл бұрын
wow thanks ! Just subbed :-) Whats your opinion of hunt view maps ? I see they are compatable with the montana .
@Hikingguy2 жыл бұрын
Thank you and I've actually never tried the hunting maps, just the hiking and cycling ones.
@marcdeclercq55802 жыл бұрын
Garmin Montana 700 series: possible to mount a mounting spine and a carabiner clip so that it can be attached to a rugsack?
@maxmcvicker2 жыл бұрын
I haven’t looked through the comments yet, but I’m really mostly interested in what software I need to run on my desktop Mac computer to link this device, I know there is explore, but there’s another one in how those two or any others if there are any others are used and is there a particular order or priority of software?
@Hikingguy2 жыл бұрын
Basecamp is your best bet
@eyesopen8614 Жыл бұрын
im in australia and dont know anything about garmins gps- im going to start hiking in the mountains going off tracks and heard the 750 is great but expensive - is the 700 any good - id like one with topography maps to zoom in etc.. sorry hope that makes sence - any tips or recomendations would be great , thanks
@Hikingguy Жыл бұрын
Yup 700i is same as 750i without camera,, which kinda sucks anyway
@sandorszabolcsi3 жыл бұрын
Great video I am a bikepacker both mountian biking and gravel and looking at doing mountain biking off road single track with fire roads would this be a suitable product to navigate real time or would battery drain too quickly? trip would be 2 -3 day. I currently have the 1030 plus but need the inreach for sos since I travel solo
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
I'd probably stick with the 1030 and get an InReach Mini. This device is pretty beefy and heavy, not the best for a bike.
@lickourballs1atatimeok9 ай бұрын
I like the truth. Real 💩. Thanks for your time man
@joaoandrecoelho87793 жыл бұрын
Is it possible to use this Montana with a dirt bike and then change the profile if I just want to ride street on the car? I was testing with an Oregon 450 and it would still navigate through some dirt roads while using Automobile profile. Or should I look for other product? Thanks
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Yup, you can do that with the Montana. You can choose the routing you'd like.
@donc92752 жыл бұрын
I know nothing about these devices, are they sold in pairs like walkie-talkies? How do you communicate with others in the bush?
@Hikingguy2 жыл бұрын
So they're sold as singles, and you can communicate by messaging the other device using an inReach email address. There are also FRS (line-of-sight) radios that work well for groups that are fairly close together - amzn.to/3CpCBhC
@carlclayton16273 жыл бұрын
Does the 700 have wifi ? Will the 700 track with a tracking collar from garmin or do I need the 700i ? Thanks good video
@mbpaintballa3 жыл бұрын
you need to pair it to the tracking handheld to track the dogs.
@domineckyurchick95582 жыл бұрын
Can this unit look for places where u can Plublic Hunt and where place that r Posted where u can not Hunt. Such as if u live in the city where there r places where u can Hunt and Places that r Posted.
@ShootLuckGaming5 ай бұрын
How is it as an always on GPS? I plan to put it on a motorcycle and keep it plugged in
@Hikingguy5 ай бұрын
Haven't used it that way but imagine it's fine
@michaelfisher25403 жыл бұрын
Hello Everyone. has anyone use this device for marine use. The touch screen would be good in the wheelhouse. Does this device have a powered cradle as I could see gold contacts below the power button?
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
Haven't used it on the water but they do make a marine mount and you can load Bluechart on it > buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/pn/010-12881-02
@stacyhazelwood40332 жыл бұрын
Do you know anything about the dog tracking feature? It says compatible with Alpha/Astro handhelds. If I have one of the Garmin collars, will it track the dog without the Alpha/Astro handheld?
@Hikingguy2 жыл бұрын
Ahh sorry I don't know anything about the dog tracking features.
@shaynedonnelly45913 жыл бұрын
Why not in the cold? I want to buy this for my sled mounted with a power cord.
@Hikingguy3 жыл бұрын
I didn't find that it worked well with my (e-tip) gloves