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Garmin Dakota 20 GPS
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Garmin Dakota 20 GPS

Item # 790318

$349.95

Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)

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The Garmin Dakota 20 GPS offers fun and easy touch screen operation, powerful features and a light, compact design at an attractive price.

  • Included basemap with 850mb internal memory can be expanded with the built-in MicroSD™ card slot
  • Built-in electronic compass and barometric altimeter provide additional navigational aid
  • Enjoy effortless sharing of waypoints, tracks, routes and geocache locations between Oregon- and Colorado-series units with ANT wireless communication function
  • 2.6 in. (240 x 160 pixels) color touch screen offers bright, clear images
  • Adventure sport industrial design is built to withstand the rigors of your outdoor adventures
  • Dakota 20 GPS spine is compatible with Garmin Oregon and Colorado mounting accessories
  • Light and compact, the Garmin Dakota 20 can be slipped in a shirt pocket, mounted on your bike handlebar or attached to the shoulder strap of your pack
  • High sensitivity receiver provides rapid first fix and helps maintain signal, even in urban canyons and under dense foliage
  • USB interface allows easy connectivity with a computer
  • Operates on 2 AA batteries (sold separately)

Imported.

Item 790318

Garmin Dakota 20 GPS Specs

Specification

Description

Position accuracyWAAS-enabled 3 meters
Routes50
Waypoints (total)1000
Memory850 megabytes
Preloaded mapWorldwide basemap
PC CompatibleYes
CompassYes
AltimeterYes
Color screenYes
Compact antennaYes
Display size2.1 x 1.4 inches
Screen Pixels160 x 240
Battery type2 AA
Battery life at 70 degrees20 hours
Dimensions3.9 x 2.2 x 1.3 inches
Weight6.75 ounces

Garmin Dakota 20 GPS Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Garmin Dakota 20 GPS
 
2.8

(based on 6 reviews)

67%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Intuitive menu (4)
  • One hand control (4)
  • Quick navigation (4)
  • Quick signal (4)
  • Accurate (3)

Cons

  • Buggy software (3)
  • Unreliable (3)

Best Uses

  • Hiking (5)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Enthusiast (3)
  • How are you with directions:
  • Great w/directions (5)

Reviewed by 6 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-6

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Aug

17

2009

(22 of 22 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

Good GPS Unit

By luvmygirls

from Littleton, CO

About Me Enthusiast

Pros

  • Accurate
  • Intuitive Menu
  • Quick Navigation
  • Reliable Reception

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Hiking

    Comments about Garmin Dakota 20 GPS:

    I like to climb 13ers and 14ers along with back country hike/camp trips. I shopped for over two months before I made my purchase. I was looking for a GPS unit that would give me my attitude and distance traveled, water proof, easy to carry and read in day light and night time. Also I was interested in a unit that could track my morning runs. I wanted to test the unit before I started going out on more serious adventures so I went up Grays Peak as I know this rout well and could judge how the unit was doing. I found it to be very easy to navigate on the trail. The screen was easy to read. It is light and easy to carry on my morning runs and very accurate. Within 15 min of opening the box I had the unit up and running. I purchased the Topo sim card for my area and have found that to be adequate for my adventures. After reading many reviews on several units I was a bit cautious but I am very pleased so far with this unit. I have used it about 30 hours now and battery is just now down one bar. If I have any issues in the future I will let you know. For now I think this unit is great and I am happy with it.

    • Gift:
    • No
    • How are you with directions:
    • Great w/Directions

    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

    (22 of 22 customers found this review helpful)

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    Sep

    10

    2009

    (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

     
    3.0

    Software problem

    By redwedge

    from Minneapolis, MN

    About Me Enthusiast

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Accurate
    • Extensive Base Map
    • Intuitive Menu
    • One Hand Control
    • Quick Navigation
    • Quick Signal
    • Reliable Reception

    Cons

    • Buggy Software

    Best Uses

    • Hiking

    Comments about Garmin Dakota 20 GPS:

    Oddly, my previous review was removed, so I'll try again...

    The Dakota 20 is a very nice GPS, which, during initial testing, worked very well. Simple, intuitive, easy to sync.

    However, when I wanted to put it through a real in-the-field test, it failed me completely. The software crashed while I was backpacking in the Boundary Waters on a wild and unmarked trail. Needless to say, when a GPS crashes in the wilds, it's pretty useless. There is a new software update out which is supposed to fix a possible power-on issue, but as I had to return the non-functional unit, I've been unable as yet to test it.

    If the problem is solved, then I would heartily recommend the Dakota 20. If not...

    • Gift:
    • No
    • How are you with directions:
    • Great w/Directions

    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

    (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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    Sep

    6

    2009

    (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

     
    2.0

    Needs work, Garmin!!!

    By j_appleseed

    from Western Montana

    About Me Power User

    Pros

    • Compact
    • Intuitive Menu
    • Large Screen
    • One Hand Control
    • Quick Navigation
    • Quick Signal

    Cons

    • Hard To Read
    • Irritating
    • Loses Signal
    • Short Battery Life
    • Unreliable

    Best Uses

    • Hiking familiar territory
    • Jogging

    Comments about Garmin Dakota 20 GPS:

    I switched from the Etrex vista HC. I mainly use the GPS for hunting and hiking in the mountains. I mark were I park on logging roads, mark trails, roads, animal signs and use it for backtracking often in terrible weather where fifty meters can make the difference between finding the car or not.
    I really liked the way this unit works with the touch screen. It's fast enough and with the "hotfix" it found reception quickly. It's easy to use and while it did drop a couple features they were not ones I used.
    HOWEVER, I have three complaints which are absolute deal breakers for me along with a couple more minor complaints. I have to jump in with the crowd of people who have serious complaints about the dark screen. It can be very difficult to see if the light is not just right and I had to keep the backlight on all the time which reduces the barely acceptable battery time. While hiking with the Dakota (and fresh batteries) for the first time through woods and open fields on a clear sunny day the Dakota lost reception 13 times while hanging from my neck. My buddies Garmin Colorado never did while he walked 5 feet from me. Lastly, the my Dakota just shut down for no reason. This unit will go back to REI later today. Minor complaints: Garmin dispensed with the accuracy circle which tells you how far you might have to search in any direction for a place or object. My compass was erratic at times.
    It's to bad since it really is easy to use, but it's just not reliable enough for the way I use it. I'll go back to the Vista HCx and just wait until Garmin gets it right. Bottom line: I'll recommend it when Garmin fixes the weak screen, has more reliable reception, and doesn't shut down for no reason.

    • Gift:
    • No

    Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

    (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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    Sep

    17

    2009

    (1 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

     
    1.0

    Crash and Burn

    By Valley Girl

    from New York

    About Me Enthusiast

    Site Member

    Pros

      Cons

      • Buggy Software
      • Unreliable

      Best Uses

        Comments about Garmin Dakota 20 GPS:

        This is a really cool unit and I had great expectations for it... however it crashed before I even got it on the trail. It was two days old and it wouldn't even turn on! I changed the batteries just in case... still nothing. What gives Garmin?

        • Gift:
        • Yes
        • How are you with directions:
        • Great w/Directions

        Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

        (1 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

        Was this review helpful? Yes / No

         - You may also flag this review

        Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

        Sep

        7

        2009

        (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

         
        2.0

        Great, but failed at a critical moment

        By redwedge

        from Minneapolis, MN

        About Me Power User

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Accurate
        • Extensive Base Map
        • Intuitive Menu
        • One Hand Control
        • Quick Navigation
        • Quick Signal
        • Reliable Reception

        Cons

        • Buggy Software
        • Unreliable

        Best Uses

        • Cycling
        • Geocaching
        • Hiking

        Comments about Garmin Dakota 20 GPS:

        This is a very well-designed GPS, comparable in features to the Oregon, but smaller and lighter. The screen is fairly bright, and compared to the Oregon its smaller size is surprisingly adequate. The menus and software are well thought out and very easy to use, and upon initial testing I was very impressed with the Dakota. However....

        When I used it 'seriously' for the first time while backpacking an unmarked trail in the Boundary Waters, the Dakota totally crashed about 6 miles in. It wouldn't power on, even with repeated battery changes. Talk about cougar screams! The main reason for the trip was to track the remote trail, and to have the Dakota fail so totally was infuriating.

        I managed to connect it to my Mac and found an update to the software which addressed a 'potential power on issue', but after downloading the update and transferring it to the Dakota, it wouldn't power on to install the update. Epic fail.

        I returned it to REI for a refund, but I would consider purchasing it again providing this critical error is fixed. Apart from that (although it is a BIG problem) the Dakota is nice - just not trustworthy for the wilderness yet.

        • Gift:
        • No
        • How are you with directions:
        • Great w/Directions

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

        Was this review helpful? Yes / No

         - You may also flag this review

        Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

        Sep

        12

        2009

        (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        Could use better base maps at purchase

        By todean7[@]

        from Michigan

        About Me Casual User

        Site Member

        Pros

        • One Hand Control
        • Quick Signal

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Cycling
          • Hiking

          Comments about Garmin Dakota 20 GPS:

          The worst part of the Dakota 20 is that it does not come with very good base maps on initial purchase and you have to spend $100 to get good maps to use with the GPS

          • Gift:
          • No
          • How are you with directions:
          • Great w/Directions

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

          Was this review helpful? Yes / No

           - You may also flag this review

          Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

          Displaying reviews 1-6

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