Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Garmin GPS which is better? The Rino 530 or GPSMAP 60CSX

I just wanted some input as to what everyone thinks.

I just like a basic Etrex, no digital map.

I have the 60 CSX. Its an awesome little unit. Very fast aquisition and very accurate. It has tons of nice features. They can be had now for a very friendly price compared to what I paid for mine a year and a half ago. I've never had a Rino, so I cant compare.

Never had a Rhino, but i sure love my 60CSx. It's not the smallest/lightest, but it has loads of functionality. I bought the maps i needed and it's very helpful to evalute my travels/spots/etc.

Would make an excellent compliment to aerial photos for hunting.

I have both and they work great for their intended purpose. When I hunt my brothers who also have 530's, the "Peer-to-Peer Positioning" feature is very helpful seeing where they are at on the GPS screen. The screen is smaller and the unit as a whole is larger and heavier than the 60 though - something to consider.

I use the 60 the most and it has worked flawlessly.

It all comes down to if you need a radio or not really, if you don't, get the 60.

As SHDWHWK said, if you need the radio, get the RINO. If not, get teh 60.

I have a RINO 130 and a 60CSX - there is no comparison between the two when it comes to the GPS side - the 60 is faster, lighter, more intuitive, better screen, better battery life ... just far more user friendly.

If you are need the radio or want to track your RINO bearing hunting partner than your choice is clear.

The 530hcx also has the weather radio that works fairly well. The weight difference is not a bunch and I find myself carrying the 530 a bunch more than the 60 mostly due to my pards having 530's. The 530 also has a different receiver that picks up satellites much better and faster than my 130. I've yet to lose a signal with the 530 no matter the terrain or overhead foliage. We use the locator feature a lot to send positions of tied hogs in the swamp to somebody closer to an atv to come get them after the dogs have caught them.

Thank you all for the imput. Great advice. That is just what I wanted to know. Most of my buddies have the RINO530hcx and the "PEER-TO-PEER" is so cool. But I want the best GPS for the money and weight. I have radios that work great but in dark timber nothing really works all of the time. I like the functions, screens, and whole over all unit (60) better. It does mean carring two different devices when I have to but I hunt a lot with different people and not everyone has the fancy Rino 530, so I don't know how much it matters. Heck half of the time they never use the feature anyway.

So thanks again for helping me make up my mind. Heck it is even cheaper. That works...