Garmin GPSMAP® 66st

Description

Electronic devices for outdoor sports have gone from being mere whims to being almost essential for a full training or hiking experience. This is the case of the Garmin GPSMAP® 66st.

Technical characteristics.

To begin with, let's look at the most objective information. The GPSmap 66st costs 449.99 euros in the official Garmin shop. It is a medium-sized device; specifically, it is 6.2cm wide, 16.3cm high and 3.5cm deep. For its size it is quite light, weighing 230 grams with batteries. Its screen is three inches. That's about half the size of a conventional mobile phone today. The screen resolution is 250×400 pixels. In addition, the screen is in colour. It has an internal memory of 16gb. It is also water resistant, although it is not a GPS suitable for any water sports. However, it can withstand rain and snow.

Pros and cons.

Before we dive deeper into the features offered by this Garmin, let's unveil some of the advantages and disadvantages of the device. On the one hand, it is a reliable device that offers a very good and fast connection to satellites. In addition, the GPS is very accurate and pinpoints the location to the millimetre. In addition, the availability of maps is a plus point for the GPSmap 66st. However, on the other hand, it is a device with small buttons, so it can be a bit difficult to operate for those with large hands or wearing thick gloves.

Differences between GPSmap 66s and 66st.

It is very likely that when you start looking for this device on various platforms you will find the 66s and 66st versions. It is worth mentioning that the difference between the two is very simple: the 66st version has the TopoActive Europe map built into the internal memory. That said, let's move on to the other facets of this GPS.

Installation and configuration.

The installation and configuration of the GPSmap 66stis very simple and intuitive. Even more so if you've had a Garmin device in your hands before. This Garmin model offers the ability to create 20 different profiles for different sports. This means that you can customise the interface to your liking when you go running, when you go cycling or when you go hiking. For example, if you go jogging in the city, are you interested in the cumulative elevation gain? On the other hand, when you go for a walk in the mountains, are you interested in your average speed? You can set the panel to your liking.

Otherwise, the device is relatively easy to operate. As with almost all electronic devices, whatever their function, it is worth sitting down at home for a while to try things out and familiarise yourself with the functions they offer. It takes time and learning to get the most out of GPS.

Garmin GPSmap hardware.

From the outside, the appearance of the GPSmap 66 has not changed much compared to the GPSmap 60 model. However, improvements can be seen. On the one hand, the size of the display has been increased considerably. This has made the buttons less low, but wider. In addition, the feel of the buttons is very good and they work very precisely. Nothing like the older Garmin models. The on/off button is now on the top of the device next to the antenna instead of on the side. This makes it more difficult to press this button unintentionally.

Visualisation of the activity.

The display of the information on the screen of theGPSmap 66st is no problem at all. In addition, you can adjust the brightness to your liking for when the sun is strongest. However, it should be noted that the stronger the brightness, the shorter the battery life. The letters and numbers that appear on the screen of this device are of considerable size and are very legible. This can be said to be thanks to the large size of the screen. It has a 3-inch screen, which is the same size as the screen of the Garmin Oregon 700. Apart from the size of the screen, the resolution is also very good. The maps installed on the GPSmap 66st are in full colour, a detail that not all GPS devices have.

Power and battery life.

It is true that the functions we have mentioned are very good, but they are of no use if the battery of the device does not last long enough. In the case of the GPSmap 66st, the batteries that come as standard can be improved. According to the manufacturer, they can last about 16 hours. However, in tests we have seen that the power did not last more than 9 hours with the brightness of the display on the 60%. It is true that by lowering the brightness it lasts around 15 hours, but then it is almost impossible to recognise and read the information displayed on the screen. However, this is not a serious problem because these batteries can be replaced by more powerful ones. Although alkaline batteries can be used, Garmin recommends lithium batteries as they last longer.

Memory and microSD card.

Another aspect that fans of this type of electronic device value is its memory. In the case of the Gamin GPSmap 66, it comes with 16 GB of internal memory as standard. After updating all the maps on the device, there is still plenty of free space (more than 8gb). Here you can store your routes, load tracks and make future updates. If this memory is not enough, this Garmin model allows you to place an external memory underneath the battery. This memory has a maximum capacity of 32gb. Two of the best brands in the manufacture of these small cards are Samsung and SanDisk.

GPSmap 66 sensors.

When buying a mountain GPS, you should never be confused about the type of device you want. It should be clear that the GPSmap 66 is an electronic device for navigation, and not a device that measures the performance of our training. That's what smartwatches and odometers are for. However, Garmin, knowing that people are interested in instant exercise information, has included basic sensors in this model. For example, it is capable of measuring heart rate through the use of a chest strap, can be linked to sensors that measure cycling cadence, and also measures speed. In all other respects, it offers information that most GPS devices offer: distance, altitude, temperature, cumulative elevation gain...

Navigation.

As mentioned above, the Garmin GPSmap 66st is a device designed for navigation. It therefore offers several possibilities for navigation. On the one hand, you can use this device as a map, to orientate yourself thanks to the maps that are already installed and thanks to the compass. On the other hand, you can also import routes from your computer. The imported route will appear as a line on the map, and following it will be easy. Finally, as if it were a car GPS, you can include the destination, and the device itself will calculate the route to follow. In addition, this model offers the possibility of customising the route. To do so, you must enter the starting point and destination, and specify the type of route you want, the approximate length, etc.

GPSmap 66 as a bicycle navigator.

The GPSmap 66 is primarily intended for navigation in the mountains, and for navigation while walking. However, the versatility of this device means that it can also be used for cycling. What you will need to do is to buy a holder to attach the device to the handlebars of your bike.

Connectivity.

GPS devices have been on the market for years and have adapted to the new demands of the growing number of sports enthusiasts. For this reason, Garmin has opted to include wireless connections to the GPSmap 66st. Specifically, this model has a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection. Thanks to the Bluetooth connection you can connect to the Garmin Connect platform that you have previously installed on your mobile phone. Signing up for this platform is almost mandatory if you have a Garmin device. This way you will be able to share all your activities with your friends, and also see theirs. However, what you won't be able to do is transfer GPX files from your mobile phone to the GPS. That's one of the facets that Garmin will have to invest time and money in over the next few years.

Weather information.

Thanks to the wireless Bluetooth connection of this device, you will be able to receive notifications about the weather situation on the screen. All you need to do is simply install the Active weather app on your mobile phone, connect your GPS and mobile phone via Bluetooth and that's it. You will then be able to know the rainfall, wind and cloud forecasts at a glance.

Ready for the most extreme adventures.

This Garmin device is a good choice for adventurers who plan excursions of a certain difficulty. On the one hand, because the coverage capability of this device is excellent and on the other hand because it is prepared for extreme situations. For example, the housing of the device is designed according to military thermal performance standards and is shock and water resistant (resistance level: MIL-STD-810G). In addition, it also has a torch for after dark when you don't yet have shelter. It also has an SOS beacon, for when the going gets tough and you need to signal for help.

Alternatives to the Garmin GPSmap 66st.

If you are not convinced by the functions offered by the GPSmap, we will now show you other devices in a similar range, but which have their own peculiarities.

• Garmin Oregon 700t (Click to view new 750t model on Amazon)The GPSmap 66 is very similar to the GPSmap 66, but the main difference is that it has a touch screen instead of buttons. However, there is hardly any difference in the functions. It is a matter of taste. Here is one of them FULL REVIEW of the Garmin Oregon 700.
• Garmin Edge Explora (Click here to view product)is a device designed more for cycling. The navigation instructions on the pre-loaded routes are very precise.
• Sigma ROX 12 GPSThe Sigma is not all Garmin, and there are other brands that offer high quality models. The qualities of this Sigma are similar to the GPSmap 66, but in this case it is tactile.

Conclusion.

After testing this GPS device it is clear that Garmin does not fail, and that the GPSmap 66st is yet another success. It has a large display, excellent functions, and is very easy to operate with its large buttons. In addition, its hardware and software work flawlessly. The only things that might make you hesitate to buy one are that it is not touch-sensitive and there are better devices for cycling. Otherwise it is a very good choice. However, considering the price of this device, it is clear that not everyone's pocket is ready to spend that kind of money. It is true that the price is justified by its features, but if you see that you are not going to squeeze all its functions to the maximum, perhaps it is better to opt for a cheaper device. That said, if you have the money, go ahead and buy this device without hesitation because it won't let you down.