Garmin ETrex 20 Review

Likes
Interface
The eTrex 20 operates with six buttons. A multi-directional toggle lies on the top face, zoom and menu buttons are on the left side, and the power button (also the backlight) and back button are on the right side. This configuration is easy to operate with your right hand. We usually run the zoom and menu buttons with our index and middle fingers and the toggle, back, and power buttons with our thumb. This configuration is easier and faster than the Magellan eXplorist 310’s cramped design, which packs five buttons close together on the lower half of the face.

The eTrex’s main menu is very similar to the ones found on the company’s Dakota 20 and Oregon 550 units – the difference being you navigate to and select pages with the toggle, not your finger. Similarly, main menu items can be arranged by pressing the menu button. Like with the 62 series, the eTrex’s zoom buttons will skip a page in the main menu and will move between keypads when entering text. Pressing the power button once will display the battery meter. Excepting the Magellan eXplorist 710, the eTrex 20 offers a more expedient workflow than any touchscreen device we tested.

Features
The eTrex is Garmin’s newest outdoor recreation handheld the only one we reviewed capable of utilizing GLONASS, which in theory, will provide more accurate satellite reception. (We didn’t conduct any in-depth testing of GLONASS + GPS vs. GPS only, but this feature will only positively impact reception.)

The eTrex 20 is compatible with Garmin’s topo maps (we recommend the 1:24,000 scale) and BirdsEye satellite imagery (~$30/year). You can also save our money and transfer
free maps and custom maps. The eTrex comes with the same navigation features as its more expensive siblings and can display the distance to the next waypoint as well as the distance to the final destination (DeLorme and Magellan units can’t do both).

The eTrex series comes with six profiles that allow you to customize the display for various activities. For example, you can have four data fields for biking and two for hiking. You could track up (map orients in the direction the GPS is pointed or traveling) for hiking and north up (north is at the top) for kayaking. Or you could have a specific profile that displays certain maps or custom maps, such as Yosemite National Park trails on top of aerial imagery.

The eTrex has a plastic rail mount (the 550 and 62sc have more durable metal mounts) that allows you to attach an excellent carabiner clip (sold separately and highly recommended). Also, if size and weight are important to you, the eTrex 20 has the smallest volume and lowest weight (5 oz. with batteries) of the seven units we tested. Its battery life, 25 hours, is nearly twice that of larger units!! These attributes, and its low cost, make the eTrex a great choice for mountaineering guides who want to, or are required to, carry a GPS.

Dislikes
The eTrex’s small size impacts its reception and accuracy. We found that its recorded tracks are less accurate (farther from a known point, like a road) than other units. The small screen leaves little space for data fields in the map view and the buttons are harder to push than those on the 62 series. These drawbacks, all minor, are more than offset by the eTrex 20’s low price.

Best Application
The eTrex 20 is an excellent entry level GPS unit. Our testers preferred it to all other cheaper model we reviewed and even to some pricier options. Whether you’re looking for your first GPS or something cheap and light for an emergency, this will do it.

Other Models
We believe the eTrex 20 is the best value model in the eTrex line. The Garmin eTrex 10 loses the colored display and doesn’t support maps or aerial imagery. The Garmin eTrex 30 adds features found on more powerful units: a barometric altimeter, wireless data sharing, and a 3-axis electronic compass. If you want a more powerful navigation aid we suggest putting up the extra cash for the Oregon 550 or GPSMAP 62sc.

Garmin eTrex 20 Owners Manual