* GPSMAP 65

Garmin eTrex Touch review after months of testing: battery life, accuracy, and whether it can replace a phone. *Lowest Price I Found:* https://amzn.to/4s2cAQ7 https://rei.pxf.io/rEQnYD *Gear I'm Using Now:* * inReach: https://hkgy.co/inreach * Hiking App: https://hkgy.co/app * Watch: https://hkgy.co/watch * Shoes: https://hkgy.co/shoes * Pack: https://hkgy.co/backpack * Rescue Insurance: https://hkgy.co/insurance *Full Hiking Gear List (What I Use Now - Tested & Not Sponsored):* https://hikingguy.com/gear *Links:* * Phone Case: https://amzn.to/40gqgL9 * GPSMAP 67: https://amzn.to/3Nfx7S9 * GPSMAP 65: https://amzn.to/3MYW0S2 * Website: https://hikingguy.com * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/hikingguy * Monthly Hiking News (free): https://www.patreon.com/c/hikingguy/ * Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/Hikingguy This Garmin eTrex Touch review covers real-world testing to see if the device can realistically replace a smartphone for outdoor navigation. After several months of hiking with the handheld GPS, the video looks at battery life, accuracy, firmware stability, and overall usability in the field. The review explains how the Garmin eTrex Touch performs in different GPS modes, including SatIQ smart mode and multi-band all systems mode. Real-world battery testing showed around 100 hours of runtime during activity tracking and navigation, compared to Garmin’s 130-hour claim when the device is mostly idle. Switching to multi-band GPS improves accuracy but significantly increases battery drain. The video also examines the user interface, firmware behavior, and touchscreen performance. Early firmware versions had stability issues such as reboots and settings resetting, while newer firmware is more stable but still shows occasional glitches and limited customization compared to older eTrex units and Garmin GPSMap devices. Navigation performance, maps, and storage are also discussed. The device includes TopoActive maps with no microSD expansion, and map performance is faster than older eTrex units but still slower than smartphone navigation apps. For typical trail hiking, the built-in maps worked well and included most official trails. The conclusion compares the Garmin eTrex Touch with alternatives such as smartphone navigation setups and dedicated handheld GPS units like the Garmin GPSMap series. While the device is usable and rugged, tradeoffs in interface depth, battery performance in multi-band mode, and firmware quirks make it less compelling as a full replacement for a phone. 00:00 eTrex Touch or Phone? 00:30 Battery Life 01:45 Accuracy 02:12 Software 03:25 Touchscreen 04:03 Maps & Navigation 05:00 Recommendations --- *Disclaimer:* Some of these links are affiliate links where I’ll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. I only recommend gear I actually use and trust.