Magellan Triton 500 GPS Receiver Review

Magellan Triton 500 GPS Receiver – Affordable and featured filled.

Handheld GPS units have come a long way over the last few years. The screens keep getting bigger and easier to see, the sizes smaller, and the features more complex. If you have a hardcore need for a serious handheld GPS unit–for bushwacking in the backcountry or getting off-piste–then it’s easy to justify buying a $400 plus unit.

However, for the rest of us, $400 seems like a whole lot for a gadget you may only use a few times a year. If you want a handheld GPS unit that has a color screen, lots of features, and a compact size (but don’t want to break the bank) then Magellan Triton 500 GPS Receiver is probably your best bet.

The Magellan Triton 500 GPS Receiver might not be the biggest and most impressive handheld GPS unit out there, but it isn’t meant to be. What the Magellan Triton 500 GPS Receiver is meant to be is an affordable handheld GPS unit that has a number of features that more expensive units offer, but at a fraction of the cost. Lets look at it this way, if the more expensive handheld GPS units are like a brand new family house, then the Magellan Triton 500 GPS Receiver is like a new townhouse. It looks and acts like the more expensive units, but is built in a more economical manner.

So, just what makes the Magellan Triton 500 GPS Receiver have a low price tag, but still comparable to the higher priced units? One of the things that keeps the price down on the Magellan Triton 500 GPS Receiver is the smaller screen. To make up for the small screen, however, the Magellan Triton 500 GPS Receiver sports a full color display that is scratch resistant and designed to be readable even in direct sunlight.

Another feature that makes the Magellan Triton 500 GPS Receiver less expensive is its overall size. While its not huge by any means, it is a tad bulkier than the higher priced GPS units. You sacrifice a little sleekness for a lower price tag.

The quick & dirty:

Where you can get one:
Amazon.com: $125.06

Why they rock:

• Bright, sunlight-readable and scratch-resistant screen is easy to view in almost any light
• Powerful processor handles dynamic routing and multi-tasking with ease; finger-friendly user interface makes navigation a snap
• Digital compass determines accurate direction of travel and allows user to sight and navigate precise bearings
• Barometric altimeter analyzes pressure differences to determine accurate elevation; pressure tracking helps user forecast weather conditions
• Expandable memory via SD cards (sold separately) allows storage of maps, audio, pictures and more
• Imports maps from Magellan MapSend product series as well as popular software like National Geographic TOPO and Mountain Dynamics
• Triton 500’s rugged rubberized housing is easy to grip; strap loop facilitates attachment to packs or clothing
• Waterproof construction keeps unit functioning; meets IEC 60529 lPX7 standards (submersible to 1m for 30 min.)
• Strong SiRFstarIII chipset provides rapid satellite fix and position lock in narrow valleys, dense woodlands and urban jungles
• WAAS-enabled (Wide Area Augmentation System) receiver delivers accuracy to within 10 ft. in North America
• Comes with preloaded basemap of the continental United States, Alaska and Canada along with a catalog of major points of interest

Seat-of-the-pants rating: 8 out of 10

If you want a handheld GPS unit just for the sake of having one, then there is no need to go out and buy a $400 plus unit. However, if you want some of the features of the pricier and fancier units without spending hundred, check out the Magellan Triton 500 GPS Receiver. It might not have all the features of the higher end units, but it will have enough to keep you happy. And with a price tag this low its hard to complain.

Looking to Buy? Check out these sites:
Amazon.com: $125.06