Garmin 'Dakota' Outdoor GPS Receivers Announced

Garmin has announced an all-new line of outdoor GPS receivers, intended for hikers, climbers, and other adventurous spirits. The two models are the first in the 'Dakota' line of Garmin GPS receivers.

Garmin Dakota GPS

Garmin Dakota 10

Garmin Dakota 20

Though best known for their portable, automotive GPS devices, Garmin also has a hand in creating compact, portable GPS receivers that are intended for handheld, outdoor use. The two newest outdoor GPS receivers are the first in a line that Garmin has dubbed 'Dakota.' The Garmin Dakota 10 and Garmin Dakota 20 intend to offer simple, handy navigation for hikers, climbers, and other adventurous spirits who'd rather not get lost in the wilderness.

Dakota 10: The Entry Level

The Dakota 10 is the base model, the entry level version that has only the essential features. On the Dakota 10, you'll find a 2.6-inch touchscreen LCD display and 850MB of internal memory for storing important navigational data such as routes, points of interest, and waypoints. The body is rugged and durable, but doesn't add significant heft or weight to the device. It weighs only 6.75 ounces.

The Dakota 10 runs on two AA batteries, and from them can squeeze out about 20 hours of battery life, plenty of time for a typical excursion. Even better, because the GPS uses replaceable AA batteries and not the lithium-ion numbers found in automotive GPS receivers, it's easy to carry more power in your pocket and swap new batteries in when you run out of juice.

Dakota 20: Advanced Features

The Dakota 20 has all the features found on the Dakota 10 with a few perks for those willing to spend a little extra money. For navigational assistance, the Dakota 20 includes a three-axis compass, a barometric altimeter, and a microSD memory card slot for expanding the device's memory beyond the allotted 850MB.

Conclusion: Rugged Navigation

At first glance, the Dakota GPS receivers appear fairly robust and good for their intended purpose: leading travelers through the wilderness without distraction. The Dakota 10 has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $299.99, the Dakota 20 will cost $349.99. Neither will be available until later in 2009, and it's expected that those initial prices will drop somewhat once they become available for retail.