Click here to see pictures and video of the Garmin Oregon 400T

Garmin Oregon 400T

Garmin’s Oregon series GPS units are aimed at the outdoor recreationalist and comes with a bevy of features. The 400T is the top end model in the series and as such is the most feature-packed of all the Oregon series models.

GPS receivers have come a long way in terms of design and functionality. The earliest GPS devices lacked the ability to display even the simplest of graphics, let alone utilize the slick, touch screen color display like the one featured on the 400T. The 400T features a smooth, rounded finish with a rubberized grip. The unit feels very solid has a bit more weight than what we’re used to in a handheld GPS unit. Of course this isn’t a bid thing either. It gives the initial impression of a well-built unit.

The 3 inch LCD screen’s touch interface is responsive, although due to the nature of its size those with larger fingers may need to have a pretty good aim when entering data as the keyboard is still relatively small despite the 3 inch screen. I found that once I got the hang of entering the data, the number of mistypes decreased.

The 400t is also compatible with Garmin’s fitness accessories such as heart rate monitor and speed/cadence sensors for bicycles. The back of the 400T has a few slots which accommodate a handle bar mount and the supplied carabiner which clips easily to a backpack or belt loop.

Features

As someone who has been Geocaching more than once I was somewhat excited to put the built-in Geocaching features to the test. I had to pay ten dollars to upgrade my Geocaching membership to a premium account to be able to use those features (which isn’t Garmin’s fault) but once I did, the features were worth the ten dollars. Before I had the 400T when I would go Geocaching, I would have to print the description, hints, and logs for each Geocache that I wanted to find that day and take the papers with me. It took time and let’s face it, wasn’t exactly environmentally friendly either. The 400T can store all this information so you only need to take the GPS receiver to your Geocaches. In addition, the 400T can also log which ones you found and which ones you didn’t for easier uploading and logging later. You can also write notes about your finds which can then be uploaded to the web later. The Geocaches are also stored separately from other waypoints making it easy to manage and sort through the different waypoints and Geocaches stored in the unit.

The 400T can also send and receive information wirelessly from one unit to another. This makes it fast and easy to share your Geocaches and waypoints with other Garmin users without the need to manually type in the information.

The Garmin Oregon series is among the first to have the WhereIgo application preloaded onto it. I will admit, when I first received my 400T demo unit I didn’t know what whereIgo was. It is similar to Geocaching only it takes you to different locations in a game. So you head off on an adventure with different objectives to accomplish at each spot. It’s actually kind of fun.

The 400T has all the other features that you would expect from a GPS unit such as trip computers, routes, and maps. It can store 50 routes, 1000 waypoints, and 20 saved tracks with 10,000 points. It also features a built-in picture viewer so you can load and share your favorite digital photos. It would be nice to have a camera actually built into the device, and we hear that Garmin actually has one of those in the works.

You can select different profiles for the 400T if you mainly use it for Geocaching, then you can have your Geocaching icons displayed on the main screen, and other icons related to Geocaching will also be displayed. If you select automotive, then the icons which relate to driving will be most prominently displayed. You can choose from recreational, Geocaching, automotive, marine, and fitness profiles. With each one, it also changes the background screen to an appropriate graphic.

The Garmin Oregon 400T is very friendly and easy-to-use GPS device. Avid outdoorsmen and Geocachers alike will like all the features found on the 400T. The only gripe I could find about the unit is the compass seems to be very finicky. It seemed to be only accurate when the device was perfectly level, but once you started moving again, it would start to point in the wrong direction. Walking slowly with the compass perfectly level helps this, but often times I found myself heading in the wrong direction for a Geocache when following the compass. This is only a minor issue and one that is easily corrected (you just need to remember to hold it as level as possible).

With an MSRP of nearly $600, this GPS packs the most features we have ever seen in a compact, portable unit. If you have the means, you won’t be disappointed with your Garmin 400T.
 

Click here to see photos and video of the Garmin Oregon 400T.