Sprenzy Shopping Blog

After last week’s post on the Garmin Nuvi 660, I continued my GPS research and started looking into handheld devices for outdoor activities, such as hiking or geocaching. I’ve discovered another Garmin product, the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx, is a very highly rated handheld device.

Here are some useful reviews:

• Outdoor Magazine’s GPS Gear of Year - “With the unit’s intuitive interface, Garmin has simplified use for beginners while simultaneously incorporating a host of complex features that will impress veteran users. And with the longest battery life of any unit we tested, it will never leave you stranded.”

• Patrick-Roeder.de Review - “Overall, the 60CSx has many pros and not so many cons compared to the 60CS. The 60CS is already a very good GPS receiver, but I very much prefer the even better 60CSx. I consider none of the drawbacks/bugs critical or unnerving. Accordingly, I highly recommend the device to anybody, no matter if you consider upgrading from the 60CS or if you plan to buy your first GPS receiver.” This review is also an excellent comparison between the Garmin 60CS and the 60CSx.

• GPSinformation.org Review - “Overall, I am quite happy with the 60CSx and I use it every day.  In my opinion, it is the most versatile GPS receiver, when it comes to outdoor use, highway use and NMEA interface use.  The ease of getting and keeping GPS reception, as well as the ability to increase map memory are very nice features.”

Garmin is offering a $50 rebate on the 60CSx and 60Cx, if you purchase by December 31, 2006. The Garmin 60CSx offers a barometric altimeter, which provides current elevation, ascent/descent rate, minimum/maximum elevation, total ascent and descent, average and maximum ascent and descent rate. The altimeter feature is the only difference I could find between the two models.

I’ll continue adding useful reviews when I find them. Let me know if you have any good reviews or links.

For people living on the West Coast, it’s the time of year to start thinking about rain jackets as the wet season is upon us. Outside magazine’s 2006 Gear of the Year in the rain jacket category is Patagonia’s Spraymaster Jacket. According to Outside magazine,

“Patagonia has virtually erased the line between soft shell and storm shell with the Spraymaster. The incredibly stretchy, astoundingly waterproof, and impressively breathable lightweight shell fuses the best of both worlds. Call it a firm shell. And rest assured, it’s the one jacket that will prompt you to seek out bad weather.”

Product Details:

• Light and trim and full of stretch, it keeps breathing through any fast action adventure
• Knit nylon face fabric provides all-weather protection with unparalleled stretch performance
• Interior surface pattern aids moisture dispersion and slides easily over layers
• All seams are stitched and taped for full waterproof performance
• Center front waterproof zipper has a chin flap for comfort
• Two torso pockets open long for venting when it heats up
• Interior pocket doubles as a stuff sack; drawstring hem and hood
• 3-oz. 2.5 layer 30-denier interlock knit nylon with H2NO® waterproof/breathable barrier with Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish. Under Sleeves: 2.5-layer 2.7-oz. 50-denier ripstop nylon with H2NO waterproof/breathable barrier with DWR finish
• 298 g. (10.5 oz.)

I really like Patagonia clothing and gear for its quality and performance, but it tends to run on the expensive side. The Spraymaster is regularly $249 but Patagonia has several colors on sale for 50% off. Another reason why I like Patagonia is their membership in the 1% for the Planet alliance, which means 1% of Patagonia sales goes “to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment.”

If Patagonia gear is outside of your price range, Outside’s Killer Value rain jacket is the Outdoor Research Logic Jacket. Altrec.com sells the jacket for $128.50. I like Altrec because they offer free shipping and free returns, so you can order multiple items and return the products you don’t like without any issues.

Here is a complete list of 2006 and 2005 rain jacket reviews and other rain jacket guides from Outdoor magazine. Check out the reviews, pick up a new rain jacket and stay dry this winter.