GPS for open (and wet) car. Zumo or Nuvi

[Pilat]

I contemplated posting this in the motorcycle hacks subforum, because I think they get the closest to having the width of car, yet being open to the elements.

What I wonder is that if a Zumo 590lm or a Nuvi "Prestige" would be preferable in an open and wet car (i.e. I will be wearing gloves most of the time - even in sunshine to protect me from sun burns). I wonder how well the "Prestige" or other Nuvi's deal with rain and general wetness, and if they can be controlled by a gloved hand.

Another wonder of mine is which one would be best to include gravel roads and so on, and of course exclude (MC) single-track, yet still offer the opportunity to follow gravel/dirt/fire roads (and things like that - somewhat the same as a semi-rugged motorcycle hack would be able to travel).

I will mostly be travelling in Europe and surrounds, but I hope to go the US at some point too. For this general usage, I would like to be able to continue to use Garmin products, even if I think that the Australian "Hema" is great looking and seems to have a great feature set.b

Any experiences you can share will be most welcomed.

 

[kojackJKU]

I would run a garmin montana. I have one for my motorcycles/UTV. It works great.

 

[Airmapper]

I have a newer Nuvi (65LM) and I would not consider it waterproof to any degree, even damp proof.

I think your best bet for any device would be to use the IP rating to determine if the manufacturer even claims any protection, this rating should be posted in the device details: http://www.mpl.ch/info/IPratings.html

 

[Pilat]

I don't know enough about the montana to know if it does the road/track thing as well as either of the other two.

 

[pugslyyy]

I use a Nuvi in a case like this on my bike. It won't hold up to immersion but will protect from the heaviest rain.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Waterproof-...006?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cd3e0e4ee

I like the Garmin ecosystem (I have a couple of GPSs and some of their fitness products) so this is a good solution for me.

 

[Pilat]

I have a newer Nuvi (65LM) and I would not consider it waterproof to any degree, even damp proof.

I think your best bet for any device would be to use the IP rating to determine if the manufacturer even claims any protection, this rating should be posted in the device details: http://www.mpl.ch/info/IPratings.html

Yeah, I know about IP ratings, but couldn't find them on the two Nuvi's I looked at. But if you don't consider a nuvi waterproof to any degree, I think that settles it then. Thanks a bunch

Edit: And just when I had excluded the Nuvi, pugslyyy posts about a waterproof case, lol. I hadn't even given cases a thought!

 

[kojackJKU]

it does voice nav for roads just like the other garmins do. but is way more rugged.

 

[Pilat]

Okay, thanks, but I was thinking more along the lines of how it routed things. Voice nav is not bad, though.

 

[kojackJKU]

It routes just like the nuvi as long as you have the street maps installed. You can go into basecamp and plot your route before you leave as well and it will be loaded into your gps. The screen is a fair size. I like it because I have mounts in my UTV, Motorcycle, ATV and JEEP for it so I can use it wherever I want.

 

[Pilat]

Thanks, Kojack

I don't plot routes beforehand, but it's good to know it does routing with the correct maps installed. I very rarely have my gps's connected to my computer, unless it's for map transfers or for updates.

I imagine an outdoor gps such as the montana does well even if I wear gloves?

 

[kojackJKU]

I think so. Too funny, I always take my gloves off as I am using my phone the same time as my gps. ha ha.

 

[Pilat]

I don't use my phone at the same time at all. I rarely use my phone when out and about in general.

 

[kojackJKU]

when I had the gps on bike, I would stop, call the wife, then just do what I had to do with the GPS. so im not distracted while driving. I will try my gloves on it when I get back to the cottage. Its mounted on my UTV that's stored up there.

 

[Pilat]

Cool! Thank you very much!

 

[kojackJKU]

No problem. I should be able to get into it in another few weeks.