Bushnell Onix400 Waterproof Hiking GPS Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is one of those products that can either be a great thing or can be a great disappointment...All dependent on actual need / intended use.

For me, it has been a great product that met my needs.I like to do a lot of camping and hiking in the middle of the woods and all I need from a portable GPS is just the basics.Let me mark locations, get me from the car to the camping site or marked locations and get me back.For this, I don't really need advanced features such as street routing, a POI database filled with restaurants, gas stations, etc. For that, I use the navigation system on my car.

Having said that, pretty much, any of the portable GPS devices meet my requirements but what attracted me to the Onix 400 was the addition of the XM Weather receiver. That extra feature, for me was worth the price as it does come in handy to be able to see when storms are coming, their severity and to be able to estimate roughly when it will be on top of you and how long it will be before it passes once is on top of you.

While the GPS with the Weather feature has been great on my outings, I do have a few complaints, which I did make sure Bushnell knew so that they can improve the product.

1. While XM does seem to work during bad weather provided the device is out on the open, it is useless when one is stuck inside a tent while waiting for the rain to stop.The GPS does have a connector to allow peripheral devices to be connected, including an external antenna, but Bushnell does not offer such an antenna.The closest they have is a headset with an antenna, but is not designed to take the role of a real external antenna. Cable is short and because of it being a headset, I don't believe it will be a good idea to leave it out on the rain for any extended periods of time.

2. The cost of extra batteries.Only Bushnell batteries can be used due to their design.These batteries are not cheap to be able to buy a couple of spares, so one has to trade real time info for battery life. Pretty much, to extend battery life, once you get to where you need to be (Camping Ground),turn the unit off and if the sky shows signs of bad weather approaching, turn it on, wait for the XM signal to update the Weather info, then turn it off again.

For me, this has not been a major issue, as turning the device off is what I would have done anyway with any other portable GPS without XM and turned it back on when on the move.Just thought other users may want to be aware of this.

In summary, if you are looking for a portable GPS specific to outdoor activities and would like to keep an eye on severe weather, this is a GPS for you.

If you want to use it as an MP3 player or for urban door to door navigation...

Have you looked at Tom Tom or Garmin?

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Product Description:
Introducing the world-s first handheld GPS to combine navigational aids, satellite photography and XM weather on a single screen. It shows you the perfect pinchpoint for this wind. And how you should dress for the day. NEXRAD weather data downlinked via XM Weather, layered over a georeferenced satellite map of your location keeps you prepared. It-s all housed in a rubberized defensive armor built to XPX7 waterproof standards, with a high gain SIRF GPS receiver. In your palm.Features: Layer a satellite photo, topo map, compass, navigational aids and XM services on a single screen with TruView Navigation Extra-large 3.5- full color LCD Downloads and displays georeferenced satellite photography Displays XM weather data on the GPS map* XM Satellite radio entertainment including XM sports* SafeTrack battery conservation mode SiRF® GPS receiver Digital compass Embedded 128 micro SD card Rugged rubber armor Waterproof (IPX7 rated) *With XM Satellite subscription

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Coleman LED Rechargeable Lantern Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this lantern and I waited until I actually used it for the purpose of emergency lighting before submitting a review. I just survived the Blizzard of 2010 in Washington DC with no electricity for three days. This lantern was charged up and ready to go before the storm, and was able to get us through the three days of power outage with about 3 -5 hours per night of judicious use. This lantern works best if hung above eye level as the LED light is probably too bright for most people.However, this lantern gives off sufficient light for reading at night with no eye strain.This is a huge plus when the only entertainment during a blizzard with no electricity is a good book!I used night light, lo and hi settings, and I found that there was significant changes in illumination from setting to setting. The power cable and car charging unit can be stored inside of the lantern base. I leave mine plugged into the wall outlet for on-demand lighting when needed. I particularly like the car charger capability, although I have not yet had occasion to use it. Overall, great product for the intended use of emergency lighting in the home or light for the campsite.

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Product Description:
Boasting a rechargeable battery that runs for 10 consecutive hours on low and five hours on high, the Coleman rechargeable LED lantern is a great choice for short camping trips or emergency supply kits. The lantern is equipped with a Cree XLamp XR-E LED bulb that provides 145 lumens of intensity, so you can keep your surroundings well lit in any situation. At the same time, the long-lasting bulb keeps the lantern cool to the touch, making it family-safe. The lantern also includes an "emergency on" setting, which lights the lantern automatically during a power failure. To activate the "emergency on" setting, simply set the lantern to the high or low position while charging the battery. Other features include a durable chrome-plated rhino guard; a weather-resistant housing; and two power adapters: a 120-volt AC adapter for home charging and a 12-volt power adapter for vehicle charging. Both chargers are stored in the base. The Coleman LED rechargeable lantern carries a five-year warranty.
About Coleman
More than 100 years ago, a young man with an entrepreneurial spirit and a better idea began manufacturing lanterns in Wichita, Kansas. His name was W.C. Coleman, and the company he founded would change life in America. A man plagued with such poor vision he sometimes had to ask classmates to read aloud to him, Coleman saw a brilliant light in 1900 in a drugstore window that stopped him in his tracks. He inquired about the light inside and discovered he was able to read even the small print on a medicine bottle by the illumination. The lamps had mantles, not wicks, and were fueled by gasoline under pressure instead of coal oil. Soon afterward, Coleman started a lighting service that offered a "no light, no pay" clause--a big step forward for merchants who were burned by inferior products that rarely worked--and drew substantial interest from businesses that wanted to keep their lights on after dark.
In the ensuing years, Coleman expanded its product line well beyond lanterns. The company's current catalog is thick with products that make spending time outdoors a pleasure. There are coolers that keep food and drinks cold for days on end, comfortable airbeds that won't deflate during the night, a complete line of LED lights that last for years, powerful portable grills that cook with an authentic open-grill flame, and much, much more. Coleman has truly fashioned much of our outdoor camping experience, and expects to do so for generations to come.

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