Amazon.com Review

You can find less expensive GPS units than Brunton's Multi-Navigation System GPS, but you won't find another that offers as many functions. In addition to its Global Positioning System (GPS), the unit features a barometer, an altimeter, and a compass. It's also a rugged, expedition-quality device that's waterproof and will function accurately in temperatures ranging from minus 13 degrees to 158 degrees.

It's not a beginner's tool. There's no built-in map, so your coordinates are displayed in latitude and longitude. If you're unfamiliar with using this system to find your position, an extra source such as the Compass & Map Navigator book (recommended by Brunton) will quickly teach you how to find your location by using the GPS and a map. You can also pick up the optional PC cable, which lets you hook up the Multi-Navigator to a PC and download waypoints and routes from the included Global Map Planner software.

Finding your latitude and longitude is only one way to use the Multi-Navigator. It's easy to set waypoints--simply save and label locations with names such as "car" and "cabin." You can then use the Multi-Navigator to lead you to that waypoint by pointing in the direction of the location with its internal compass and displaying the distance in miles.

To test it, we wandered out into the fog-enshrouded trails of a nearby state park until we were thoroughly turned around. We were then able to use the Multi-Navigator to easily find our way back. Its distance and direction are as the crow flies, so there were a few turns and twists, but it kept us pointed in the right direction.

The Multi-Navigator's barometer is able to provide a rough forecast for the upcoming 12 hours, offering predictions such as Sunny, Partly Cloudy, and Storm Warning. Although not as precise as our local meteorologist, the Navigator did accurately predict clouds moving into our area. (Brunton recommends staying in the same location for at least six hours for the most accurate weather report.)

The Multi-Navigator also features an altimeter, accurate to within three feet, which aids in the waypoint settings (the Navigator included the distance we'd have to travel up or down to reach our desired waypoint).

Numerous other features--such as time, date, temperature, and sunrise and sunset times for location--round out the Navigator's comprehensive set of navigation features. If you need a rugged, high-quality aid for your global expedition, or if you just routinely get lost in the woods, the Multi-Navigator is worth consideration. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Multiple, accurate functionality
• Runs off only 2 AAs
• Rugged

Cons:

• No innate mapping capabilities

Features

• 12-channel expedition-quality GPS unit with barometer, altimeter, and digital compass
• Operates at extreme temperatures and up to 2 weeks on 2 AA batteries
• Record 10 routes with 1,000 waypoints
• Barometer displays 24-hour pressure history, 12-hour weather forecast
• Altimeter records high/low altitudes visited; accurate to 3 feet; includes serial PC interface

Reviews (9)

What's with the Amazon Price
How is it that Amazon, who claims to have lowest prices, is selling this GPS for $399.00, when Brunton, the manufacturer, has a suggested retail of $359.00?! I've seen this unit listed at $299.00 else where, and that includes shipping. Try Kooters.com

Nice
I've owned my unit for about a year now and I have to say that this is definitely a tool not a toy. This unit does nothing to diminish Brunton's excellent reputation. They've recently released a more user friendly GPS unit with more bells and whistles to more directly compete with the Garmin units, but there are still solid reasons why you should consider using this unit.

The altimeter, barometer and so forth work well enough. The compass feature also works well, although I usually use a handheld in the field also. The unit is also quite rugged, definitely more rugged than most of the competitors out there. It is also become reasonably priced; you should be able to buy a unit for considerably less than the $399 retail price if you search long enough.

My only complaints: ease of use. I like the fact that the screen is backlight and easy to read, but the buttons are awkwardly labeled and learning the nuances of this machine can take some time. The owner's manual could also be a little better in terms of actually providing you with scenarios on how to use the features correctly. I also wish they would hurry up and produce a USB data cable so that I can use this unit with my Mac; serial ports are getting old.

MNS For Mountain Hiking
I have used the MNS for about a year hiking in the mountains of Colorado. I decided I needed a GPS because I started climbing mountains without well-defined trails; I climbed the wrong mountain several times. I used the Brunton MNS in parallel with the Garmin Etrex Vista for about a month.

The MNS is more accurate than advertised when finding positions. When entering a waypoint on the "way out" of a daylong hike, the MNS usually registered "found" within 5 feet of the landmark that I recrossed and recognised on the "way back." The MNS can acquire a signal in light forests near tree line, but not in the heavy forests of Ponderosa Pine at lower altitudes. The heavy smoke generated by the fire burning West of Colorado Springs this Summer killed satellite acquisition.

The altimeter is not accurate to within three feet, even given that the weather is clear and constant. It is of equivalent accuracy to my Sunto Vector altitude watch which is rated accurate to 10 feet; both must have the same internal mechanism. If I start climbing at 10,000 feet and climb to 14,000 feet, both devices will register about 13,900 feet. Interestingly enough, both devices always register low, which allows me to intuit the real altitude. On that closed loop between 10,000 and 14,000 feet, both mechanisms will register within 10 feet of 10,000 feet on return to the starting point.

The MNS mechanism is capable and has kept me from getting lost several times when weather on the return trip became bad.

The Tracklog function has little value because there is a very small limiting number of collected waypoints; a user is bound to miss that bend in the trail or special landmark that he would enter if he were setting waypoints manually.

The MNS is somewhat more accurate than the E-Trex Vista in finding positions. The E-Trex is far more user friendly in entering data. It might take twice as long to manually enter a route using the MNS vis-a-vis the E-trex.

I wear reading glasses. I cannot view the E-trex map or any of the displays without my glasses. I can view all the displays on the MNS without glasses. This was the ultimate reason I kept the MNS and returned the E-Trex Vista.

The Map on the Vista is so tiny as to be of little value. When I hike, I print a map of my route from my mapping software on plasticized paper; this printed map is far more convenient than the tiny map on the Vista.

Buying second hand Brunton.
My aim was to get a GPS with no map capability in order to maintain good habits when navigating with visual checkpoints. The low battery consumption was also an important matter. The Brunton unit I got from Finalcall fulfills all my expectations. The very large screen, additional features such as the compass, the altimeter or the barometer in addition to a full GPS unit are perfect. I will use it mainly when making cross-country travel in a Cessna 172 as a complementary tool to classical navigation instruments. The service given by Finalcall has been perfect.

GPS Nut
After receiving the unit, I tried all the features it has. Wow!
It is an amazing gps. Great. It performance exactly as it said on the specifications especially under the thick forest trees. Without this I could be lost in the jungle during one of my weekend jungle trekking trip. Unbelievable. It even track signal under tiles roof in my house.
I have another gps of other brand (I wouldn't mention it brand name) it is of no use in that conditions eventhough it has all the other features which I think is great. These are good when I use it in lake and sea.But totally useless under thick foliage without satellites signal.
Trekking under the compass mode is great when there isn't any satellites signals. It saves battery. You wouldn't get lost in any conditions.Great feature!
Don't go jungles (from my part of the world a lot of jungles here are virgin jungles) trekking withou this gps. You can leave others gps at home at least it save you space and weight in your backpacks. Believe me.
TQ
GPS NUT ... Read more

Features

• 10 degree graduations
• Direct reading disk
• Compensator
• Lighted
• Dash/Surface Mount

Amazon.com Product Description

Brunton's Nomad compass is the perfect, easy-to-use tool for the recreational hiker or trekker. Its all-digital display with backlight lets you effortlessly read compass headings in digital, cardinal points, or compass rose with a 1-degree resolution. Nomad has a bubble level that increases the accuracy and is declination adjustable. There are both forward and back bearing with off-course indicators. Also included are a wrist/neck lanyard and a CR2032 3-volt lithium battery. The Nomad comes with a one-year warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Electronic compass with backlit digital display
• Forward and back bearings with off-course indicator
• Bubble level for increased accuracy
• Declination adjustable
• Low-battery indicator

Features

• 2 degree graduations
• 0-35 degree inclination scale
• Declination adjustable
• Inch and mm scales
• Clinometer

Features

• Declination adjustable
• 1:24k and 1:50k meter scales
• Luminous points

Features

• Magnified read out
• Declination adjustable
• USGS map scale 1:24k, ft., UTM, mile
• "Circle over Circle"alignment system
• Map magnifier

Amazon.com Product Description

This classic, analog compass provides all the information that got explorers around perfectly well for hundreds of years, in a snappy, optic green package. It features 2-degree graduations (the series of degree markings on the azimuth ring used for taking bearings) and adjustable declination (the difference in degrees between magnetic north--the direction the magnetic needle on a compass points--and true or geographical north, which is the direction maps are printed toward. It also features 0-35 degree inclination scale (the distance between two points on a map as they relate to the distance between those two points on the earth) and displays this in both inches and millimeters. ... Read more

Features

• Classic, analog 3.5" x 2.5" x .5" design
• Weighs only 1.1 oz.
• Provides 2 degree graduations and adjustable declination
• Features 0-35 degree inclination scale
• Displays scale in inches and millimeters

Features

• Direct sighting compass
• Instantaneous reciprocal bearing when using sighting prism
• 1:24k and 1:50k meter scales
• Luminous points
• Map magnifier

Features

• 2 degree graduations
• Declination scale
• Inch and mm scales
• Avalanche/Slope Indicator
• Lanyard

Features

• 2 degree graduations
• Declination adjustable
• Inch and mm scales
• Luminous points
• Lanyard

Features

• 2 degree graduations
• Declination adjustable
• Inch and mm scales
• Lanyard

Features

• 2 degree graduations
• Pins on for hands free operation
• Inch scale
• Luminous points
• Lanyard

Features

• Declination adjustable
• 1:24k and 1:50k meter scales
• Luminous points

Features

• 1 degree graduations
• Magnified read out
• Declination adjustable
• USGS map scale 1:24k, UTM
• Inch scale and protractor

Features

• 2 degree graduations
• Declination scale
• Inch and mm scales
• Luminous points
• Lanyard

Features

• 5 degree graduations
• Declination adjustable
• Inch and mm scales
• 0-35 degree inclination scale

Features

• 2 degree graduations
• Declination scale
• Inch and mm scales
• Luminous points
• Lanyard

Features

• 35-Minute full color video
• Learn how to navigate

Features

• Locking Multi-Step Eyecup system
• Near focus down to 36 inches, Variable speed focus
• SF Prism glass, Phase correction coating
• Hard Coat Anti reflective lens coating
• Roof Prism secured w/5 set screws

Features

• Bak-4 roof prism,
• 2.2mm Exit Pupil
• 288ft Field of View @ 1000 yds
• Fully Coated