Handhelds sometimes come up in discussions of GPS options, but with all the finder/GPS combo choices, the handhelds don't seem to get much attention these days. My Garmin GPSMAP 76Cx has been a reliable companion for over 4 years (450+ trips), but a cluster of pixels in the center of the screen seems to be damaged or burned out. Everything else about the unit works like a Swiss watch, but I've already started researching replacement handhelds.

I like the idea that the GPSMAP units will float. I know mine does because it once fell into the minnow bucket. The more sophisticated touch-screen units claim to be waterproof, but they don't float & I watched a partner's handheld GPS die after being submerged by a sudden cloudburst of rain. The latest descendent of Garmin's GPSMAP 76 series is the GPSMAP 78. It has as much or more of all the goodies I want & would cost less than I paid for the 76.

What's your experience with the GPSMAP 78, Garmin's Oregon & Montana units, and other handhelds?