Garmin Foretrex 401 Waterproof Hiking GPS Review

The ForeTrex 401 waterproof hiking GPS is wrist-mounted recommended for experienced hikers.

It is an innovative product, distinguished by its remarkable accuracy. The ForeTrex 401 dimensions are thought to make it lightweight.

With its high accuracy, with HotFix^TM that quickly acquires and maintains satellite reception, this device is used in several armies.

Solid and precise, it is a hiking GPS that is easily attached to the wrist and guarantees 17 hours of continuous autonomy thanks to the inclusion of AAA batteries.

The screen is in black and white, 1.7 inches with a resolution of 100 x 64 pixels and is fully readable despite the sunlight.

Concretely this GPS is very useful but has no cartography, only TracBack® navigation, and trails accuracy.

The 401's plus:

• Compass mode to follow a route
• Data transfer between GPS allows sharing waypoints very easily
• Altimeter (also nice when skydiving).

TIPS:

• The shortcuts buttons are very useful, on the GPS long press on the buttons allows quick access to GOTO and MARK (create a new waypoint), written in white on the GPS
• To send the waypoints between the operators, the receiving GPS must be set to "Connect", then the transmitter must send the waypoints, both units must be very close.

With this equipment, you will store more than 500 waypoints and 10 tracks.

Its strength is comparable to that of other more expensive equipment.

Compared to previous models, its stability is improved and there is a size difference between the Garmin 301 and the 401.

Some of its functions are created for experienced skydivers and are static jumps, forward throw, and wind speed.

Designed for military activities, the GPS can duplicate wirelessly with another 401 unit.

In its configuration, it has a 2-axis digital compass and a barometric altimeter.

More:

• Hands-free navigation
• Wrist-mounted GPS ideal for long-distance trail riding
• Display of speed, time, distance traveled and elevation data
  

Retrace Your Steps

No matter where your adventures take you, you'll never get lost again with the Foretrex 401.

Foretrex records your journey and displays it as a dotted line on the screen.

Simply activate Foretrex's TracBack feature and you'll travel in the opposite direction, back to your starting point.

Track your bearing and altitude data with Foretrex 401's electronic compass and barometric altimeter.

You can save positions as waypoints, so you can always find your way back to an important location (vehicle, campground, waypoint, landing point, arrival).

And with replaceable AAA batteries that last up to 17 hours, getting back will never be a problem again.

Register your data

The Foretrex 401 Waterproof Hiking GPS allows you to create and store routes to all your favorite places, and also offers other useful navigational information such as sunrise/sunset times, hunting and fishing data, and a trip computer.

For additional data, connect the Foretrex 401 to a wireless accessory, such as a heart rate monitor or cadence sensor, or attach it to your bike with the bike mount (optional).

To store your trip information, connect your Foretrex to your PC or Mac using a USB cable to store your waypoints, routes, and tracks on your computer.

You can also share waypoints, routes, and tracks wirelessly with another Foretrex 401.

What's in the box:

• Foretrex 401
• Wristband Extension
• USB cable
• User manual on CD-ROM
• Quick Start Manual

We liked:

• Excellent accuracy.
• Ni-MH batteries for a 17h autonomy.
• On-board and particularly efficient altimeter.
• Connected features: associated application ("My Garmin").
• Interesting price.

We liked less:

• Requires some initial configurations to gain potential.
• It can show some waterproof issues.
• No possibility to disable certain functions to save battery power.

Summary of some buyers opinion

“It's not the most advanced model compared to previous models, but it's certain that at this price, Garmin is once again performing a feat that consumers are delighted to see. The accuracy of the altimeter and the GPS signal are excellent, even if many customers regret that the water-tightness needs to be revised. Don't forget to set up your GPS watch properly to get the most out of it!”

“We like this unit for its versatility, easy portability, clear and clean display of relevant information (including altitude) and its ability to provide accurate and timely data even through a heavy canopy. It weighs virtually nothing, so there's no problem wearing it on your wrist and the sturdy wrist strap ensures it will stay there. Foretrex gives you the opportunity to review the path you've taken so far and also allows you to record where you can retrace your steps if necessary. A bit like digital cairns.”

“Small, efficient, easy to use, lots of relevant data and can be backed up with a few AAA batteries. This hiking GPS unit will change your relationship with the outside world in the same way that paper maps changed the way your ancestors lived their world. It's a little gem that should be in every hiker's bag. If you don't want to wear it on your wrist, simply slip it into one of the zippered pockets on your pants and remove it if necessary. Exceptional GPS value that will come in handy time and time again.”

What we think of the Garmin Foretrex 401 Waterproof Hiking GPS

The Garmin Foretrex 401 is an excellent hiking GPS with good features. If you are OK with the black and white display, then this wrist GPS is a great choice for hiking.

The device is very simple and very easy to use.

Well known to the military, it is such a small and handy model that you can take it with you almost anywhere. It won't take up too much space in your backpack.

Freeing up your hands is also a plus.

It's not a substitute for a map or compass, and it's best to look at maps or satellite images first, and then plan your route accordingly since it doesn't have a topographical map.

What is very convenient, however, is that you can read the GPS coordinates and record on the device using Google Earth and other programs.

So you can plan the route in advance and record important points. However, make sure that the position format is set correctly.

Simply put, if you're looking for a simple, lightweight hiking GPS that meets "military" requirements, you can choose the Garmin Foretrex 401 without hesitation.

But if you're the kind of person who doesn't have a good sense of direction or navigation, you might prefer a device that displays trails, elevations and more.

This is the case with the eTrex 30x.

Garmin Foretrex 401 Waterproof Hiking GPS

• Features high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix for improved performance and reception in heavy tree cover or deep canyons
• Keeps track of routes, tracks and waypoints, and heart rate with add on heart rate monitor (sold separate). Uses standard AAA batteries. 2 required.
• TracBack feature retraces user's path on the easy-to-read LCD display;Display resolution 100 x 64 pixels;Battery life Up to 17 hours in GPS mode;Track Log 10000. Display size : 1.42 x 0.91 inches

$435.60

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Last update on 2023-09-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API