Great unit though a little outdated now...
I have been using this unit for hunting and motorcycling though it has recently been replaced on my motorcycle by a Garmin Nuvi. It is a great unit with lots of features and is pretty easy to use. It is outdated now as there are newer units with bigger screens and touch screens but it still does the job.

Don't think twice the hcx is the best gps for hiking out there.
I have hiked the Appalachian Trail and am presently hiking the PCT. This is the GPS to get. Rugged, reliable, full of features especially good battery power (use lithium). Maps are expensive but if your life depends on it this is the one.

My only disappointment is the cheap rubber strap around the unity which will

detach (use duct tape).

Fire stick AT 2008 GA -> ME.

Etrex Vista Review by a Newbie
Hi,

As a first time user of this or any GPS product, I find the product very useful. It is actually easy to use but the ease of use is made difficult by lack of instructions. The instructions are not very helpful for a 1st time user. Here are some comments I have on what the package lacks:

1. The GPS unit does not come with any external memory. While it only fully functions with an external memory (to store maps) in it, I would think that the manufacturer should at least include even a 32mb microSD card with it at least to store basic maps.

2. The instructions on 1st time use are not really very helpful. First of all, it does not mention clearly that you need to install an external memory (microSD) card to make it fully functional.

3. While the mapsource CD is included, it should at least have a tutorial on loading maps and guiding the user with simple functions between marking waypoints and uploading them to mapsource or loading maps to the GPS unit.

Overall, once I learned to use the unit (or at least I think I now know how to use some of its basic functions), I think this unit is very nice and useful. I plan to use it for my bike trails as well as 4x4 trails and it will fit perfectly with the intended use I plan for it.

Etrex use
The price I paid Amazon was very fair but since the base map was so inadequate I had to buy a maps SD card to make it useful. That is an additional 0 so the etrex price wasn't so attractive after-all. The users manual is very poor and doesn't cover most of the features available. The etrex I have is slow and really tests ones patience. (Perhaps because of the added SD card). Most of all, the users manual is even worse than the base map that came with the instrument.
With the added SD card and a lot of patience learning how to use my Etrex it is becoming better and better at doing what I need it for.

My first GPS
Very easy to use. Lots of info on the web on using it. Love being able to download traccks of hikes and import into Google Earth.