Garmin Etrex 20x or similar, anyone using one?

I know they arent bike specific and the handlebar mount is a bit bulky, but they seem a good choice as a cheap(ish!) biking gps? Circa £130.

Want the X model for the higher res and maps seems readily available for it. Takes AA batteries too, which I prefer.

Anyone have experience of using one or a similar model for biking primarily?

Cheers guys!

I’ve got the older Etrex30, which I’ve used for a few (3?) years now
It’s ANT+ so I can connect a cadence sensor, HRM and a Virb camera (and other sensors)
The battery life on NiMh AAs is good, if they go faulty buy new ones, and I can use AAs from the corner shop
There’s a lanyard to secure it to the handlebars, which IME you need because the handlebar mounts wear to a loose fit within a year or so
I can also take it walking, geo-caching, etc

Got a 20 very pleased with it but should have bought the 30 for the extra functions

I bought a 30x a couple of weeks back for following the self supported.net routes – ITTs with a map suck the big one as you waste so much time looking at the map or backtracking to missed turns…..

It excels at navigation without a doubt.

HOWEVER for day to day commuting – local riding without navigation , road riding etc etc i find my edge 500 far far better.

my 30x always needs the GPX file cropping as it always seems to stick a stray point in from where the gps was stopped to where its started again – theres no stop function it tracks from the minute the gps is turned on (some may see this as a good thing) i find the satelite lock takes longer ,you have to upload the GPX manually to garmin connect(where the edge does it automatically) the battery “scale” isnt accurate its purely an algorithm that you tell what type of batteries you have in and guesses at how long they should last and applies a discharge rate so sometimes it will just cut out esp if cold. the bar mount is expensive, a pain in the arse to get on and off , its a bulky unit – so wont fit on my stem.

I bought it because i needed the navigation and the ability to use AA batteries which the edge 800/1000 didnt give me and also because the etrex 30x cost 147 quid from berg freuend in germany rather than a couple hundred for the edge 800/1000 and its non replacable batteries…..

I also ended up getting the OS maps as the talkytoaster/OSM maps were just pish for the areas i ride in – can see them being good if you ride in highly populated areas that are ridden lots ….

and as with all garmin products – learn how to do a hard reset as it will need it a few times a year if used often – ive revived a few seemingly “broken” garmins with a hard reset – even where it seems like the screens broken or where it cuts out randomly….. wierd.

I use the precursor to the yellow one (an old Etrex H). I plan my routes in advance and as there’s no map, you need to keep on top of it to avoid whizzing past a turn. It’s cheap so if it gets smashed in a crash it’s not the end of the world. It’s reliable and takes aa batteries so good for longer rides or where you can’t recharge. I always carry a paper map as well (old skool) and Edges for road.

I got one for same reasons TR. I found that you can drag and drop a gpx into the gpx folder when it’s plugged into a Pc. I don’t have basecamp installed at all.

Also if you want to split a route you can archive the current track and reset to start recording again.

I’m using Dave barters maps which work well for me. There has been occasional bits missing in out the way places. Road junctions etc. I would like it better if you could follow a gpx like an 800 does. Off route noises and PPP up turn alerts. If got used to those! Now I have to look at the map more

I use the smaller, touchscreen Dakota (Dakota 20 from about £109 iirc), it’s great, especially paired with the free coutour mapset downloaded from talkytoaster. Most of us who use these maps reckon they’re better than OS.

With either (Etrex or Dakota) you’ll need to import routes as tracks to get over the low waypoint limit on routes. Consequently turn by turn won’t work. (Never need/want that anyway) I do all my route creating on Bikehike.co.uk which is easy to save as a gpx track file amongst loads of other options.

Uploading data via USB works fine for me. I love the fact these use AA batteries. I invested in a couple pairs of decent rechargeables & a smart charger, but you know you can always find AAs anywhere if necessary.

I’ve got a Etrex30 and use it all the time for MTB riding / navigating. Can’t fault it.

I got a 20 for lejog. As we were self supported and camping AAs were a must. A USB OTG cable meant I could upload to strava via the phone. GPXs were created on MemoryMap which worked fine. I could even replan in the evenings on the phone and download the GPX via the cable.

The mount is dodgy though. I ejected the GPS into a hedge on my first ride, and that was on the road. A quick release lanyard to keep it in place solved that.

It’s all a bit 1990s but does the job. I’d get something different if I knew there’d be power at the end of the day.

my 30x always needs the GPX file cropping as it always seems to stick a stray point in from where the gps was stopped to where its started again

When you turn it on AND it’s acquired the satellites, ‘Clear Current Track’.

I’d echo the sentiments about the mount. I’ve dropped mine twice, although both times it was down to me not fully pushing it home into the mount. There’s a definite ‘click’ once it’s properly inserted.

Wish I’d got a 30, just for ANT+. I think it’s also got a proper compass and a barometer, if that’s important to you.

got the 20 good enough for my needs which is to give me a map/route I can follow

The mount is pich and I have ejected mine as well so bought the RAM Mount and paired it with a HOPE bar clamp to have a secure [ if somewhat large and bulky but not heavy] mount

yeah – which is where it gets annoying zigzag because it takes a noticably longer time to get a satelite lock over my edge 500…..

Thanks for info guys.

Even with limitations looks like one of the range might still be the best bet for me.

Might think about the 30 (non X) for extra few features as not 100% convinced the extra resolution of the X versions will make much difference?

I’d look at the Amazon sales for the 20. Picked mine up for £85.

Been using a 20 for a few years now and very happy with it aside one complaint: when browsing the OS 1:50k map i installed via the memory card, its very very slooow loading the next section of map to the screen…very frustrating when you’re deciding which way to go next and all you have is a blank screen

Genuine Garmin bike mount (same as for Oregon & Colorado) works fine for me…i use reusable zip ties so i can take it off or on simply

Cheers again guys.

The 20/30 doesn’t have the virtual training buddy our what ever it’s called did it?

Not a big issue, just wondered.

Will keep an eye on Amazon, cheers!

the non X 20 is discontinued they cleared them out cheap at the end of line.

the ones that are left seem to want more than the X model….

berg freuend seemed to be the cheapest when i bought mine – 147 for a 30x

if you dont want to go there then handtec are usually a good shout – remember their front page prices dont inc vat !

Cheers mate,

Will check them out.