Advice on GPS Mapping Handheld/Car device

PhatPhingers

I would like to buy myself a GPS for when out driving and walking but I am confused by all the different systems, formats and options, can someone give the benefit of their experience?

Ideally I would like something like the MEMORY-MAP ADVENTURER S7000 GPS but it is out of my price range and seems to have more features than I need (Digital TV?).

I have briefly looked at the options for a mobile phone based system but the warnings about battery life and ruggedness worry me a little. Having said that, my mobile contract is up for renewal in the summer so I would consider a mobile phone based system

The main feature I want is to be able to plan a walking route on my PC using OS maps and then download it to the device, or when out in the car track where I have been so I can then download that onto my PC and see the various places to walk in the area I have driven. Being used to using paper maps I would prefer something based on Ordnance Survey maps.

Are there any features which are more useful than others. likewise are there any features which are just gimmicks?

TIA,

PhatPhingers

Dead_keen

I don't know the right answer to this and have more gps things than I can shake a stick at.

I guess the first question is how long are you going to be away from a power supply. I do some quite long runs and so I need a very long battery life or to be able to carry spare batteries. I also want something small so I have gone for a Garmin Dakota 20. I bought it off Amazon for £149. This is fantastic for what I want it for but may be too small for you.

A slightly bigger version is the Garmin Oregon but that's a bit too big for my running but a great size for walking.

In terms of maps, I use open source rather than OS. You can get these routable, contours, showing footpaths, etc. There are lots of places to get these maps but it can be a bit confusing. I have found talkytoaster to be very good - http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps.htm

You say you prefer OS maps. That will obviously add a lot to the cost - but for me the OS "look and feel" ones on talkytoaster are practically the same. It'll take you all of 20 seconds to get used to them!

In terms of getting your route on to the gps, I use memorymap but that is because I have had it for quite some time (six or seven years?). Nowadays I wouldn't buy that but would use something like Garmin Connect (it's free). If you are not going to be online when planning your routes then something like memorymap or an open source alternative would be necessary. There are quite a few other versions out there but Garmin Connect seems to work as well.

I also use my Android phone with Google Maps. I've started using this for in car navigation (when my OH has nicked my normal car satnav). That works well and I have a little "sticky" mat that I put it on that actually allows the phone to stick almost vertically to the dashboard (so I can see it clearly). In a car, battery life is not an issue but it is no good for long runs. I would also not want to rely on a phone when it looks like it might rain (I don't think mine is waterproof).

Another issue with a phone is data usage. I don't worry about that in the UK but overseas it will be expensive and relies on coverage. I am going to Lanzarote shortly and so have pre-cached the map of the island on my phone so I have a back up.

I have never seen the GPS you mention so can't comment on it but playing with google: it does seem expensive, it only has a 90 minute battery life and looks like it is huge (and so might not be too handy on a walk - although you might be able to buy a ruck sack for it!).

DatabaseError

I'm another fan of Talkytoaster's maps. We have an etrex 30 which we use for geocaching (hiking+"treasure" hunting). Much as the device does offer basic turn by turn mapping, a cheap tomtom in the car does a much better job, so, my advice is to buy 2 devices, each designed for the job.
I'm pretty sure a phone could do all you want, my android certainly has decent road mapping, then I can switch to an app more suited to hiking, but we've been hiking in blizzards, which is fine with the etrex hanging around my neck as it's waterproof but I suspect my HTC desire phone would have ended up broken after just a couple of minutes exposure to the elements.