I have had my 66sr for almost a year and use it a couple of time each month in the forest. Thank you for the videos, I always learn something from watching.

Bill Murray, "It just doesn't matter!" Thank you for showing the 66sr real world performance. Totally appreciate you getting out there and putting the multi-band through useful testing. iPhone surprisingly went toe-to-toe with all three Garmin handhelds. Going over to your website now for the detailed review.

I bought this model kind of based on your review! We usually will never get lost on our daily hikes, BUT that doesn’t mean we don’t need a good gps device. When walking far…specially getting tired etc, its about getting back home/to the car as easily as possible. You see a possible shortcut back…but is it walkable? Just zoom in and have a look! For most, Its about NOT taking that wrong path bringing you on a long detour and THEN possibly getting you on a dangerous route. This thing solves all this easily and makes you relax. Just don’t worry. Thanks !

Very useful! your review made me buythis unit!

Thank you for the great review!

thank you for this, still liking my 66 i per your video a while back. don't use tracking, but in my daily locating and restoration of lost/overgrown trails for the usfs it's done quite well, yeah some drift, but with patience i get the job done

Always great information

I bought the Garmin Etrex 10 quite some time ago to assist me on my remote walks in the Scottish highlands. But due to its basic nature it’s kind of been just a bit of baggage in my back pack. I saw the GPSMAP 66sr and reviewed it; its the ability to see a map with my route on it that’s stimulated this purchase; some of my hikes have been cut short due to inability to find the trail that I had seen on the OS map. So your video here is one of the ideal ones to watch as I await the delivery of the 66 sr. I have just sub’d and 👍. I look forwards to more from you…

Thanks for the quality and helpful video. After 12 years my trusty 60csx finally went to the great trailhead in the sky … I ordered the 66sr through your affiliate link.

My 66sr internal battery failed me and had to return it. I purchased the 65s with two AA batteries and the unit is rock solid. Can’t risk my life for internal battery issues. Thank you for the review.

I remember back in 95 to 98 when GPS was new in Germany and it the new GPS was in its infancy, I got my my lieutenant with in at least 100 m.’s of our target.

Great review Chris For 66rs I need to bay garmin temperature sensor

Great comprehensive review of the GPSMap 66rs, thank you! Based on the information you provided in your review, I purchased one today. I tried to use your Amazon link, but the options are a pre-owned 66st or a new 66i, so I decided to purchase from Garmin direct. I sent you a donation via Paypal, hopefully that makes up for the lost referral revenue.

Thanks for the informative review on the 66sr. I just returned mine after spending a few days learning how to use it in conjunction with Basecamp and Express on my 2020 Macbook Pro. I relied extensively videos like yours to assist in learning both the device and the various interfaces (basecamp, express etc). Although it seems like an outstanding device in the field, Garmin's interface with Basecamp on my mac was so frustrating, I decided it wasn't worth the money. After 3 days of syncing the device with my Mac through Express without issue, BC began to crash every time the computer recognized it. Customer service said the issue was that you can't have both Express and BC open at the same time in the Mac OS environment, I then removed express and plugged the device in...same result. Either way, these kind of bugs are unacceptable as far as I'm concerned especially considering the 66sr's price tag and learning curve. I hope that Garmin's software developers will resolve these issues that I can use one of their GPS devices in the future.

Hi Cris, great review, thanks for the info on this unit! If you get a chance, I'd love to see how the Geocaching functionality works on these units as part of your review. It's kind of niche to get a dedicated GPSr unit for Geocaching these days when smartphones are so good, but still a tool some opt for, especially for non-urban caching where both signal quality and not running down your phone's battery are more important. Cheers!

Great review Cris, appreciate the details and I learned quite a bit even though I've had this unit for a couple of months. I really like it overall and I'm probably not using it to it's full potential. I notice you used it with Base Camp to create routes and transfer maps etc. I have used the Explore app to create some routes on my laptop and synch them to the unit, sometimes via the phone because the WiFi on the device seems a bit clunky. Is there a big difference in using Base Camp versus the Explore app? Great stuff as always - you have me thinking about how cool it would be to hike the rim-tim sometime, cheers!!

I am new to handheld GPS for hiking. I bought a Garmin 66sr. I’ve been out hiking through wooded land with no established trail. I have marked a waypoint and named it to be able to return to it. I cannot get the 66sr to plot a course line from where I am to the saved waypoint. It first picks a nearby road and says to go there. It has a path shown to the road and then back to the waypoint. I just wanted the compass to show me a direction indicator and straight line path from where I am currently located directly to the waypoint. Also, yesterday I was hiking in a near by wood and trying to return. I was mostly using the compass. I found out that the compass is totally unreliable. I had done a compass calibration and the compass seemed correct. I took a bearing and put the 66rs into the side pocket of my backpack. When I pulled it out again, I could see the setting sun in the west. The compass showed that direction as EAST!! I finally realized that the bad compass had me walking in large circles. If, when I stop, I hold the GPS horizontal and slowly turn it around. Then the compass showed the sun setting in the West. I need a primer tutorial of step by step setup of the 66rs various functions. Not just what each function does, but how you setup and use individual functions in sync with other functions to create a complete navigation system. I need complete instructions, step by step, on how to get this Garmin 66rs to guide me on a no trek path hike. I don’t understand why from where I am, it wants to send me to a nearby street first. Before proceeding directly to my waypoint.😢

great video!! Thanks for the extra effort in hiking. Garmin should be paying you or at least giving you the gear. cheers from Canada

I've been watching your videos on a few Garmin handheld GPS. Excellent reviews! What really surprised me was how good the iphone GPS is. I don't think in real life a few ft variation is noticeable, and justifies (for me at least as my only interest is to track the path I took, not surviving in the wilderness) the additional purchase of a ~$400 device. Another interesting thing, even though 66sr has a better accuracy of 6ft, iphone 12 pro actually shows better matching to the trails in satellite image in a large portion your recordings.

Looking for a new handheld GPS to replace my old unit. I use it mostly in bird hunting situations, and topo maps and being able to go off and back on trails is a plus. This unit might fill the bill nicely. Great review.

I learned two things... 1) Garmin's 66sr is pretty darned good. 2) What the heck Apple? Since when were you so good at GPS?

Just purchased my 66sr at Amazon through your link. I will read your helpful notes on the 66sr on your website. If I have a setup question I might need to ask you a question (s).

I was determined to aim for screensize, but I see that you have to go with touchscreen only on those. I am going to use it for both a mountainbike + hiking, so the Montana 700i even handheld is a bit bigger than I like. I'm also sceptic to touchscreen in rainy conditions and with gloves etc as well. The 66SR seems like a solid product, but I wish they had a proper bicycle mount for it other than zip ties only. I don't want to rely on zip ties as a primary option so I'll just have to evaluate some more...

You make great videos but it would be helpful if you went more in depth on screen quality and how it is in direct sunlight? I appreciate all the time spent on GNSS/GPS but more on usability in sunlight etc would be nice. thanks again

I bought the 66s a couple of years ago to replace an aging 60. I was extremely disappointed in its operation. While navigating the compass pointer would stick or point in the wrong direction for as long as 30 seconds at a time. My 60 running right along side never did this. I eventually bought the 64st and have been happy. Hopefully by now the software has been updated and the unit operates much better.

An excellent video. I'm convinced :-) as my Oregon 300 is due for retirement after nearly 20 years of faithful service. Interesting that the icons look all the same as the Oregon 300, but that's fine with me! I will be ordering one this weekend. It would be really interesting to see a video on the workflow of using a 66sr with Garmin Explorer on a laptop (or maybe a phone, which seems a bit odd to do). Everything I've seen so far seems to suggest that whilst the device is excellent, the process of using the software, tracks, saving and organising routes etc is a bit of a long learning curve?

One major minus with Garmin units is the lack of sun and moon position on the compass itself. Magellan units have that feature for ages in form of small symbols on the edge of the compass circle.

Awesome review, and awesome hike, did you try the text messages as well? I wonder if it's as good a the GPS system

Great review. You carry several GPS devices on you during the testing. I'd like to see how you carry those, and if body position is a handicap to some of your results.

Love your vidoes. Definitely helped me in my decision making process. Just got my 66sr, and I have a question. Is it possible to set it to show pace as opposed to mph in profiles? I can't seem to figure it out.

Awesome comparison. Could you do this route again with the Fenix 7x SS with All Satellites + Multi-band against the same devices to see how it performs? Thanks!!!

Amazing video, great review & test - thank you very much - liked and subscribed and I will, most definitely, visit your channel a lot.

I liked your review, it was great. REI doesn't sell the 66SR anymore and I do my best not to buy items from Amazon unless I absolutely need to. I did subscribe and book marked your page to follow your advice though.

Not a fan of internal batteries in general but that micro-usb is a puzzling choice. In 2021 usb-c is the way to go, I'd even prefer the more mechanically-robust (but yeah - old, uncommon) mini-usb.

Great!

Great video... thank you for the great comparison of the 4 GPS devices. Because life got busy I sold my Garmin 62 a couple of years ago. I am in the market for a new GPS. I am in the Midwest, not mountainous, but some great national forests and parks. You seem sold on the overall functionality and accuracy of the 66sr. Is that what you would recommend for an overall solid GPS handheld for backpacking and hiking? Thanks for all of your great resources on your website as well!

I'm deciding between the 65s and the etrex32 ( for his long battery life and size)

Great review! I am interested in this unit, but wondering if it might be overkill. We are not big explorers, but I want a unit that will just keep us from getting lost while hiking, and if we do, something that can help us find our way back. I also do some backcountry fly fishing, and it's easy to forget where you came from. That said, what unit would you recommend?

My last Garmin device was an eTrex 20x. The interface was abysmal and moving the joystick to the right side made it impossible to use with one hand! After watching your video and reading your review of the Garmin GPSMAP 66sr, I just bought one via your REI link. Thank you for your review and going the extra umpteen miles to actually test it out in the cold, cruel world!

Great review! On the issue of internal batteries, can you recharge the batteries with an external battery pack while it is powered on and in use or do you have to power down and turn off the 66SR in order to recharge the batteries? Thanks!

Glad I found your site. Thanks for your review on the 66sr; however it’s not available on Amazon or REI. Do you have any ideas why this would be.? I worry about a pending hardware update. It is available on Garmin though.

Hi, I’ve started hiking more by my self and as a gift my wonderful family bought me a In reach explorer which I’m setting up today, wish me luck. I’m embarrassed to say I don’t know how to read maps which is my question to you. Have you ever thought about posting a video for us newbies on how to read maps? you would be great at it. Safe and happy trails and thanks for all your helpful videos.

Great review. Since I am in the market now, I would like one of the more up to date units but was curious how these GPSMAP 66 units compare to the Montana 700 series (specifically the newest 750I). For my situation, I am getting more into off-roading/overlanding where I can mount it to my dash and hopefully power it using vehicle but then have the option to get out and hike with it. I also do like the bigger screens of the 750i. My question is in the tech. Is the 750i behind in computing power and/or software compared to the 66s? I know the 66sr has more multi-band options, but that isn't a big selling point to me. If the 750i is at least similar in specs to the 66i, I am thinking 750i is the better choice. Thanks for any feedback as I will definitely use your site for future training.

How does the 66sr work with the Garmin explorer app? Could you pair it so the app uses the accuracy of the 66sr in real time if you were driving on a trail?

Recently ordered a 66sr (with your link) to facilitate some geological natural features mapping I plan to do. Your video(s) are very helpful. However, I fear my mapping GPS unit mapping skills are not at the level I should have to complete my project at the level I want. Do have a recommendation of a Garmin 66 mapping training video/site/video? Thanks

Not being able to change batteries is really such a terrible feature. If I had known that before I got it I really might have reconsidered. But they sold me this at the 65s price since I tried 3 different 65s's and couldn't get the compass to calibrate on any of them, so I'm not complaining too much lol still on a device like this I don't understand why they thought it was a good idea to have this kind of battery. Also, thanks so much for the awesome review and showing how it compares to others. This really helped me understand how these things work and their capabilities.

i dont understand why they dont put in a temperature sensor, which is very easy to implement.

I have the huntview plus sd card with the satellite view on it. Is the birdseye the same thing or is it different and better or worse detailed?

Does this unit have a feature to mark your starting point so it's easy to find (I'm a snowmobiler)? Ty!

Hi ! The 65 don't have the tilt compensated compass and barometric altimeter compared with 65s and that's the only difference ? Can you give examples when it is very useful ? Thanks !

Just found a bug on the gps66r gps. When you mark a point, if you change the name right away, it will change the gps location of the waypoint,. The waypoint you save can be 300meters off. You can change the name but just after you saved the waypoint. That is a really weird behavior. So you have to save the waypoint close it and come back afterwards to change the name if you want your waypoint to be accurate.

Can you please do a lithium battery replacement video for this unit? Do you know how long someone would typically get out of this lithium battery, before it shows noticeable decline in usability - 3-5 years?

How will it work if I have it on a motorcycle and I drive in a city?

Geeking out.

Would have liked to have seen it tested in heavily wooded terrain and with stormy conditions. I would expect it to work fine under clear sky's in a dessert. What's it like when it's spent all day in the rain or snow or freezing conditions . Your test is very thorough apart from the points I've made. We would all like to know how tough it is because it's going to be used off the beaten track in all sorts of crap

Great video, thanks for sharing. In your experience, is the GPSMAP® 66sr still the best/most accurate GPS you can get for hiking and hunting today, or has something better come out since you made this video? Thank you in advance. JT

In the end, based on performance, 65s or 66sr? I have and will be keeping my 66i. Just trying to really figure which of the two more accurate ones to go to. The actual gpx file and ability to follow the track is my real interest. I understand the screen clarity is different, and that is not as big a matter as the actual recorded track and the ability to follow that track at a later date.

I want one of these with a 700 style removable battery

Please make video content 66sr vs 65s , both have gnss system, which one have the best accurate?

Can you make a video comparing courses and routes?

Looking to upgrade from my Garmin Oregon 450. Basics: Preloaded maps; TopoActive, routable and ALL the navigation 'stuff': High-sensitivity receiver, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZS?. Thank you.

Will this work well with rideing a UTV RZR If not what is your suggestion

How does it do in cold & snow as one would encounter in high-altitude (14,000+ft.) mountaineering?

How much more accuracy are we talking about with the multi-satellite models like 66sr? I own a 64st and it was a pricey investment. Would you say the upgrade is justifiable or 64st is still a solid and accurate model?

Hi! I am looking for a Garmin unit that serves as handheld and mount it to my truck dashboard and use it while driving the same way others units designed for cars work, will it work or is it only for hiking? Bests regards from a Venezuelan follower!

does it have camera

hi hiking guy... i wanna ask.. waht do u prefrr between 66i vs (66sr + inreach mini 2)? thank youu

I’m torn between getting a 66sr or 65s and Zoleo, or a 66i. Seems the 66i is trying to do too much at once and suffers in performance in both navigation and communication. Also not sure about longevity of rechargeable vs AA battery operated. Help would be greatly appreciated.

What Garman GPS would you suggest to team up with OnX?

Does this have SOS and text like the 66i? I wanna get one as a new aspiring hunter, heh

None of the screenshots are showing topography. I'm a hiker and mostly want to be able to see things like peaks and valleys. Do I need to buy more maps for that?

Clearly the 66I needs some issues resolved, because being that far off course that many times could cost you your life, if someone was completely dependent on the unit to get them home,or was using the unit to help with an sos, or minor distress call.

My biggest issue is that internal battery is not replaceable. Yes they last much longer than AA, etc... but after few years when capacity is lower than only last fractions of runtime or less, what than? I would be happy if garmin offer option to replace the battery, but than for how many years would they bother to support old devices? I am sure they would rather sell you new device. Remember the good old day of smartphones with swapable batteries? You might say but! There are battery power banks! Yes but years down the road when your unit battery capacity is so bad that it only last few short hours, you really want to tether a battery pack to the device all the time? I still have my god only knows how old GPSMAP 60CSX. If it wasn’t for AA batteries, this unit would been in landfill many many years ago. Battery life is as good as day 1, in fact with lithium rechargeable is a option for more power hungry units. Best hope is that future Garmin models have replaceable lithium batteries (some units do? Maybe?) if not keep decently good models with AA batteries. Hope GPSMAP 65 series isn’t end .

I would like to have a gpsmap 66s..look like a solid ones. A question, how long duration for free birdseye satellite imagery subcription ...How much if we pay next . Thank you.

GPSMAP 66sr is no longer available at REI or Amazon. I was ready to buy after your great review. What happened?

Hi sub! Please tell me if i can use this to measure my farm land. Is this accurate enough to replace my tape painful 100m tape measure?

Is this an inbuilt GPS on iPhone 12 that is not found on iPhone 11 pro max?

Well, I went over to your REI link but it says the 66s4 is no longer available.

What is the name of the battery widget you are using?

What app are you using to see your paths on the trails?

Wow, man!! How many miles did you hike!!??

Has anyone used this in kayaking? To track the river and their location? Do you need a computer to make starting and ending points?

Doesn't the 66i have GNSS support as well? I'd be curious what the hardware differences are between the 66i and 66sr as the sr was tracking better.

is the SR no longer available? All I can find is the 66i

Do you need to pay monthly/yearly for a subscription/membership? If I want to use this for GPS navigation I don't need to pay, but I need to text or use the SOS, I do need to pay in advance?

Wait what you gotta give it back puh they better send you the newest one or let you keep it

Is the 66sr better than the 66i?

Besides the cost, which one is better Iridium or Garmin?

I have a micro soldering station and a hotair rework station... Trust me, the battery is replaceable lmao!

Can you use it while its charging? Thank you

gpsmap 66st best aa battery nav

the moment it ask you to walk a lake river where done

I'm thinking the iPhone killed it!!

Excellent review, it would have been nice to compare the total statistics of the 4 devices (total mileage/ascent&descent) to go a feeling of accuracy. My biggest problem with these Garmin devices is the actual justification of spending 400-500$ on a thing that has graphic design like 15 years ago. For my applications a cell phone with Gaia GPS does the job, honestly I don't care if it has 3/6/20ft accuracy as long as I know more or less where I am. Maybe for a multi-day off-trail backpacking trip in pouring rain it could provide me some benefit. But in this case I would prefer the AA-battery version with some spares.

I wish you had shown how did you use the GPS while navigating the trail. Here it seems you are just tracking your location as an after-the-fact to share with others.

The 66s takes AA batteries.

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Well, it looks like a general purpose device, the iPhone, accuracy-wise performs at least as good as, or even better than the 66sr...

Micro USB nowadays is a big con. Come on Garmin, we're in the USB C era now!

No the GPSmap far better handheld for positioning and accuracy