Magellan GPS Blazer12 Waterproof Hiking GPS

Magellan GPS Blazer12 Waterproof Hiking GPS Review

Magellan GPS Blazer12 Waterproof Hiking GPS Feature

• Powerful 12-parallel channel receiver
• Super-sensitive quadrifilar antenna
• Wraparound rubber armoring, weatherproof
• 100 landmarks, one reversible route with 10 legs
• Easy to use, and it floats

Whether hiking through the woods or traveling back roads, you always know where you are with the Magellan GPS Blazer 12 Satellite Navigator. It displays bearing, heading, distance, speed, and more on its three navigation screens. Nine coordinate and thirteen map datum systems allow you to plot your position on almost any map.

Setting up the Blazer 12 was easy. We just installed the batteries and initialized the receiver by answering a few on-screen questions about our location and the time and date. The unit assumes that you already know a little about basic map reading, longitude, and latitude, but the User Manual introduces you to the Blazer 12's features in no time.

It took a little over three minutes for the Blazer 12 to get a position fix after initializing. After that, marking our initial position was as easy as pressing the Mark button. We watched our precise longitude and latitude change as we walked and drove; the Blazer 12 tracked our distance as we moved. As we returned to our initial position, the Blazer 12 guided us back with the appropriate directions.

The Blazer 12 is rated to last 20 hours on two alkaline batteries; ours lasted eight hours on two Ni-Cad batteries. The unit is also rated to retain its memory for 30 minutes without the batteries; we checked ours at one hour and the memory was still intact.

Considering the low-cost peace of mind that the Blazer 12 provides, it's hard to imagine trekking into the unknown without one.

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Rugged, waterproof construction
• Easy-to-follow instructions

Cons

• No I/O or PC support
• No built-in atlas

GPS Blazer 12, 12 parallel channel, hand held receiver with wrist strap and user guide.