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I bought this new Garmin handheld Dakota 20 to replace a Dakota 20 that I lost after aboug 10 years use. Two features set the Dakota 20 apart from other Garmins in the same price range. 1. Three axis compass and 2. Touch screen. With this GPS unit I know exactly where i am on a track and which direcction I am heading even when not moving. The touch screen makes seeing my surroundings easy. I had tried and returned a Garmin eTrex 22x, which turned out to be useless in helping me navigate ouf of a forest. The joystick was painfully slow and I could never know where I was or in which direction I was going. The eTrex 32x might be better because it has a 3 axis compass, but it lacks a touch screen. Touch screens seem to only be available on more expensive models. I use my GPS unit in monitoring the boundaries of conservation easements. I load the boundary of the property as a track, record my monitoring track, mark highlights, and use Garmin Basecamp in preparing paper reports. Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
GPS works great for geocaching. The cold startup is excellent, usually has signal as soon as the unit starts. Battery life is decent, and it takes AA's, so replacement is easy if they die while out and about. Overall a great value.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Refurbished
Just got into Geocaching and originally had a GPS that wasn't touchscreen and hard to see in the sunlight. After reading the reviews for the Dakota 20, decided this was the product for me. There are several features I like, especially the touch screen and it is easy to read even in bright sunlight. Also like the built-in compass which wasn't on the other GPS. However, there have been some problems--specifically getting it downloaded with the paperless Geocaches. After numerous phone calls to Garmin and a technician at Geocaching.com, we finally figured out how to get the Geocaches into the unit with details and hints. Found out when I talked to Garmin that the unit needed updated software, which they instructed me on how to download. Not sure why the unit had old software (maybe it had been on a shelf for a long time). But, anyway it is up and running now and looking forward to doing some Geocaching.Read full review
Had an older unit that required manual entry coordinates for geocaches and it was only black and white graphics. The Dakota is much more propriotary for Geocaching. You can go to Geocachig dot com and upload caches directly into the unit. Coordinates, cache decription, hints are all loaded into the garmin. It can hold hundreds of caches. All you have to do them is scroll thru the cache titles, sorted by nearest one, touch the screen and follow compass to the site. Very accurate and aquires satellites very quickly. Color touch screen. Very easy to operate menu. Good screen even in sunlight. Highly recommended for geocaching but works well also for camping and hiking tracking and back tracking. Mine did not come with very detailed street map like you are used to as in google map. So i carry my smart phone as well to help manuver to the general area, then use compass on the Garmin to take over and zero in within a few feet of cache. Garmin is far more accurate than smartphone.. Geocaching is a great outdoor sport for adults, children and families. Enjoy the outdoors!Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Refurbished
I purchased the garmin dakota 20 after reading many reviews about it online. I wanted a gps that had mapping as I love to explore woods that I have never been in and use my canoe on lakes and streams that I have never fished before. I needed a great map of the state of Maine so I went to gpsfiledepot and downloaded a topo map for free on a micro sd card after I installed garmin base camp map. The instructions were very easy to follow. The base map that the dakota 20 comes with shows only basic highways and no small water ways. After installing base garmin base camp and a topo map free from gpsfiledepot.com I had a great mapping gps. I could not ask for one that was any better. One tip to get the most accuracy out of your gps is to stand fairly still for about 15 seconds before you push waypoint. This give the gps time to lock onto that position with more accuracy. I like everything garmin had done to make this a 5 star handheld gps. One feature that impressed me greatly is the recessed screen which is protected when pushed into a carry case. I carry mine in cell phone case that has elastic sides that stretch, it works very well. As for cons, none at all! You will never go wrong if you purchase the garmin dakota 20. It has a lot of features that you will need to get used to, use it and enjoy it.Read full review
The Garmin Dakota 20 is a great little hand held unit than can do a lot more than my Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx. The only reason I am not rating this unit excellent is because Garmin kind of upset me that I bought the City Navigator North America NT for my Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx and I saved that microSD chip to load into my new Garmin Dakota 20 and when the map loaded it said that map was locked. So I had to research Garmin's website and it said when you buy a map it is only good one time to just that unit. So I had to waste another $99.99 and after taxes I spent for the same map $108.24. I think Garmin should allow you to use your map microSD chips in any Garmin product that you own.
I have a Delorme PN-20 that proved nearly useless. The Dakota 20 is great, easy to use, good battery life and a lot of features. It comes with a basemap only but I found excellent Topo maps free online as well as a trail map overlay for my area in Colorado. Works well as a car navigator in a pinch as well. The processor is quick, satellite acquisition fast and the menus easy. The ability to overlay maps would be helpful but changing maps is a cinch.
Purchased for use while flying ultralight aircraft, needed barometric altimeter that can be zeroed for altitude display. Overall it has all the customizable features I needed, you can customize the trip and navigation screens to show any of the data fields available in the unit in both large and small formats, perfect for my dashboard while flying. Small and easily mounted with optional mounts and simple to navigate various screens. My only disappointment is the brightness of the display in dim light conditions, the transreflective display is great in sunlight, but in near dusk conditions, it is difficult to see until it is dark enough that the backlighting shows up. Since I fly only during bright daylight this is not an issue for me. I also subscribed to Garmin Bridseye satellite imaging that works nicely on this unit showing you actual ground photo quality images of the terrain of the areas you download to it, this subscription is only $30/year.Read full review
I lost my Garmin Dakota 20 and i needed a replacement. I require one for ice fishing on large lakes so you don't get lost. I received my item extremely quick I believe it was less than two days! So I'm extremely pleased with that! GPS works just as it should I'm also very happy with that.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is my 3rd Dakota 20 (I lost one and damaged the screen on the 2nd one, which was used). This refurbished one works like new. I like the compactness of the dakota 20 over larger ones. Battery life is good, I can get most of a days ride while recording tracks on one pair in the winter. The smaller screen is the only real downside because it's harder to read and use when on the move with an ATV or snowmobile. If you're buying this over a larger one it's the smaller size that matters most because the functions and features are basically the same as the larger ones.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Refurbished