By Mike Chrest
Published: April 23, 2020 12:15 pm
BEST GPS FOR SNOWMOBILES (REVIEWS, BUYING TIPS AND ADVICE)
Trying to make the most of your winter sports? Then it make it an adventurous one while enjoying the snow!
Snow-machines, or what most are more familiar with as, snowmobiles are one of the more popular vehicles to ride in snow. Why? Because quite simply, riding snowmobiles is an exhilarating feeling. Now you can dominate any difficult terrain with the help of snowmobiles.
Now the question becomes, how are you supposed to navigate your way in a thick sheet of snow? Well, It’s only with the help of a quality GPS that you can drive safer and never lose your way. Now before we begin, keep in mind that we offer top comparisons and reviews at our homepage!
Those who are experienced know that driving in snow is way different than from driving on asphalt roads or streets. Of course, a GPS device is also available for common use but there are some special attributes in a GPS device used in high altitude areas, snow-capped mountains, and frozen water bodies. Today here at Review IMO, we will discuss how to choose the best GPS for snowmobiles and what the exact qualities you should search for while browsing the list of GPS manufacturers.
Table Of Contents
WHAT EXACTLY IS A GPS?
GPS: GPS is an abbreviation for Global Positioning System. The navigation is enabled by the satellites which send information of the geolocation on a map and approximate time required to reach a destination back to the device.
With the help of advanced technology and scientific researches, now you can do much more with GPS than ever before. No matter which corner of the earth you are on, if you have a GPS system you will never get lost again. When you search for a GPS for ATV trails and even for snowmobiling, you are likely to face an initial hiccup.
This is because a special GPS unit, specifically for snowmobiling has yet to be manufactured. Now, there are a few handheld GPS units that have the capacity to work in low temperatures but not all.
This problem makes your job of finding one a little more difficult, but don’t worry, we have your back!
WHAT ARE SOME QUALITIES IN THE BEST SNOWMOBILE GPS?
The most common and useful features in a GPS unit for a snowmobile are:
- The biggest concern when you are looking for a ATV GPS or GPS for snowmobiling is that, there is no specific product which is exclusively designed and manufactured for the purpose. Therefore, you have to be extra cautious. A few handpicked products can actually remain in workable conditions in extremely low temperatures.
- The GPS unit should have the capacity to withstand harsh climatic conditions. It is of no use if fails to function in the freezing cold, snow, hailstorm, rain and/or excessive dirt. It should be able to operate in damp and wet climates.
- Withstanding cold is a crucial factor for good battery life. We understand how frustrating it is if your new GPS ran out on battery life within a few hours of usage.
- User friendly. Some gibberish Greek data flashing onscreen is the last thing you want to see while operating it. Make sure you purchase what you can handle. Each type has specific purpose of use. Unless you are on a mission, buy something that is simple and easy to operate. When you are purchasing, make sure that you understand the functions and how the device operations and ask the seller when in doubt.
- Survives uneven contours. A good system should be able to survive bumpy rides. It should be sturdy enough to withstand shock.
- Screen size and font size. The font should be legible so you can read with ease. The screen size should also fit your eyes. Small screen will ideally have small fonts, which will put strain in your eyes when you want to read the information. On the other hand, you don’t need to purchase a GPS as wide as a television. Just make sure you are comfortable with the screen.
- It gives a detailed account of your trip logs. When needed you should be able to check your previous search results and trip details.
- It should show an accurate map.
- Budget is one of the key factors when purchasing it, but if you conduct a good research I am sure you will find an excellent GPS for snowmobile at an affordable rate.
- Additional features may include weather alerts, Bluetooth, topographic information, camera and compass. There are several others, when you browse the GPS units read the additional features.
- Last but not least, always check with the manufacturer and if the device is actually compatible with your vehicle type.
THE BEST SNOWMOBILE GPS REVIEWS IN 2020
(5 / 5)
Voyager is one of the best models of Trail Tech and apt for snowmobiling. The product dimensions are: 7 x 6 x 3.5 inches. It weighs 1.4 pounds. It is one of the fewest GPS that survives the cold temperature in high altitudes and can be used off-road purposes. It gives correct and clear instructions to the user.
PROS – Easy to operate and a huge list of services offered at a inexpensive price.
CONS – No camera available.
THE MOST STRIKING FEATURES ARE:
- It fits Polaris Scrambler.
- The excellent quality and high resolution 240 x 400 WQVGA LCD flashes accurate and legible data on the screen. You will be able to see and read the displayed information without trouble.
- The display is backlit which enables you to view and operate it in the dark.
- Mounting a device was never easy but Voyager 912-2035 comes with a unique solution that allows you to fix it near the handle bar.
- Zooming is allowed.
- The display reflects information on the speed, ambient temperature of the surroundings and of the engine, distance, wheel sensor and altitude. Additionally you can see the map, stopwatch and a compass. You can customize the display information according to your choice.
- Using the track manager, you can view the details of the trail system and you may edit or delete information when needed.
- Along with the gps you also get a waterproof microSD for storing data.
(4 / 5)
Montana 680t is one of the best GPS not only for snowmobiling of ATV trails but also for any kind of outdoor activities. Garmin is a well known brand in the realm of GPS. Well known for its best design and advanced technology, now you make the most of your adventurous life with Montana 680t. The features are unending, some of these are:
PROS – Enjoy free subscription of BirdsEye Satellite Imagery for complete one year. Support of both Hotfix satellite and GLONASS reception. Explore the world of 250,000 geocaches exclusively from Geocaching.com. Wireless connectivity.
CONS – Low resolution of the preloaded maps. No Bluetooth support
THE MOST STRIKING FEATURES ARE:
- Multipurpose GPS. Take it for snowmobiling, ATS trails, hiking or simply use it on daily basis while driving your car you do not need another one. You can also take it with you to the boats when fishing.
- No need to take your gloves off to operate it.
- The screen is dually oriented. Comes with a 4-inch wide color display. Product dimensions are 2.9 x 1.4 x 5.7 inches.
- Reading the data in sunlight is a difficult task but now with Montana 680t you can read the information standing anywhere in the sun without looking for a shade.
- Preloaded TOPO US maps making your job easier to search results.
- The GPS receiver is WAAS enabled.
- Easy mounting on your vehicle.
- Comes with a high resolution 8 megapixel autofocus camera.
- Longer battery life- 16 hours for lithium-ion battery. AA batteries last 22 hours.
- It is very light and weighs only 10.2 ounces.
#3 TRAIL TECH 912-502 VOYAGER STEALTH BLACK MOTO-GPS COMPUTER
(4.5 / 5)
Much like Voyager 912-2035, 912-502 is also an excellent product at an unbelievably low price range. It is compatible with Kawasaki and Can-Am Outlander. If you are not sure if it actually fits your vehicle, contact the seller or the manufacturer. This handheld GPS can be used for winter recreational sports and also for daily use.
PROS – You can explore a wide range of services, e.g. distance, GPS speed, maps, compass, temperature, altitude, wheel sensor, engine performance etc. 11 hours of battery life, when using back light it reduces to 6 hours.
CONS – No Bluetooth connectivity. No camera. Not gloves-friendly.
THE MOST STRIKING FEATURES ARE:
- 240 x 400 WQVGA LCD display with back light which helps you read the information at night.
- Compatible with all kinds of 4 wheel drives, like ATV or a snowmobile or a motorcycle.
- GPS trail logging stops when your vehicle stops movement.
- Easy mounting.
- View the trail log in 3D with the help of Trail Manager CD. You can download the information and share maps online.
- You can personalize the display.
- Accepts DC or AC power.
- It is crash resistant.
- Joystick navigation enabled.
#4 GARMIN ETREX 30X HANDHELD GPS NAVIGATOR (010-01508-10)
(4 / 5)
Garmin needs no introduction. Explore the unknown with the help of this excellent piece of GPS. Excellent battery life, 240 x 320 pixels high resolution display with clear instructions, readability in the sunlight and advanced mechanism make it one of the most sought GPS for snowmobiling. The product dimensions are 2.1 x 4.0 x 1.3 inches. The features are:
PROS – Easy to use. Survives high altitudes and chilled temperature. A must have in the summits. 65K color display. It gives hints on location, terrain and difficulties on the way. Tracks GPS and GLONASS satellites simultaneously.
CONS – BirdsEye Satellite Imagery subscription does not come free with the device. No microSD card given in the package. You need to buy it separately.
THE MOST STRIKING FEATURES ARE:
- Internal memory of 3.7 GB.
- The display screen measures 2.2 inches.
- Electronic compass with 3-axis tilt-compensated.
- A barometric altimeter to check altitudes. It helps you to keep a track of changes in pressure with the altitude.
- 25 hours of battery life.
- A preloaded base-map is included in the package, and you are eligible to download various maps online and store it.
- Quick response time.
- Inbuilt sensors.
(3.8 / 5)
It is the upgraded version of its predecessor eTrex 20. It comes with a 2.2 inch color display and several features for which Garmin is best known for. Get access to a world class GPS unit with high quality navigation system.
PROS – Damn cheap yet the best product you have ever come across. You are lucky if you still see the product in-stock! Enables geocaching GPX files. Auto mount capability for detailed driving instructions. Additionally, rugged mount for an ATV. Aided with City Navigator NT maps. Compatible with custom maps. Track logs.
CONS – Does not come with a barometric altimeter. No electronic compass.
THE MOST STRIKING FEATURES ARE:
- Sturdiest GPS unit which withstands dirt, dust and humidity. It also survives water. So you can carry it anywhere with you.
- Highly sensitive tracking system with upgraded WAAS-enabled GPS receiver.
- Compatible with HotFix® and GLONASS.
- Improved and better resolution with 240 x 320 pixels.
- Can be used anywhere on any vehicle, let it be a bicycle or a snowmobile or a hot balloon. You do not need to purchase different GPS units for different purpose, one is good enough.
- Read the data standing in the bright day light or in the sun without trouble.
CONCLUSION
We hope that you have found our article on the “Best GPS for Snowmobile” to be truly informative and helpful. As we have mentioned before, there are a few models which have the capability to survive harsh temperature in snow covered areas. All these GPS are multipurpose and extremely useful. Before we end our discussion, want to remind you that each product is designed in a particular way to serve you the best.
Before you purchase a GPS for yourself, make a list of you expectations and measure the products based on that parameter. This will land you the final product which is perfect for your needs. It is not necessary that as a first time buyer the product specification will make sense to you. In these cases, try talking to your friends or colleagues on this issue, go out with them if possible and see how it actually works. That way you will have a good understanding of the operation modes and usability. Then go back home and it should be much easier to select the correct product type then. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our reviews, be sure to email us.
