Garmin eTrex 30x Review

We tend to use our phones and even watch more and more these days instead of a GPS, and for good reason. They’re convenient, you already own one and all you have to do is download an app, so it’s pretty much free. But, what happens when you have no signal and are in the deepest darkest wilderness, will your phone still work then? No, well, probably not, and you wouldn’t want to rely on it either.

Now, if you’re sensible, you’ll always have a compass and map handy, but that really is the last resort. The step in the middle is a good old hand-held GPS. There are loads on the market these days but which ones are worth owning? If you want something simple that has detailed maps, good battery life, and won’t break the bank, then the Garmin eTrex 30x is right up your street.

In this review, we take apart the Garmin eTrex 30x and really get into the nitty-gritty. We look at design, usability, navigation, geocaching, and more so you can find out why the eTrex 30x is the hand-held GPS for you.

Design & Durability

The Garmin eTrex 30x is a step up from your basic hand-held GPS but is still light and compact for use on the trail. The dimensions are small enough for you to keep the unit to hand or in your pockets nearby. It weighs just 4.96 oz., with the batteries, and is only 2.1 x 4.0 x 1.3 inches.

The eTrex 30x is quite robust thanks to the plastic casing and rubber lining. It protects it well from any accidental mishaps and if you drop it on the trail it should be fine. The rubber lining also helps it stay grippy, even when it’s raining, so it doesn’t leave your hands when wet.

Waterproofing

The eTrex 30x has a waterproof rating of IPX 7. This means it can survive at a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes before the water gets in and damages it. This is incredibly handy for using it in every kind of weather, rain, or snow. Plus, if you drop it in a puddle by mistake, then it’ll be fine. Just don’t go marking coral heads while snorkeling underwater.

Display

The display featured on the e-Trex 30x is a bit of an upgrade for the 30 before it. It has a 2.2 inch 65K color sunlight-readable display that is absolutely clear as day. The contrast and sharpness are really quite excellent. The resolution was upped to 240 x 320 pixels and provides clarity that can be seen at distance.

Battery Life

The eTrex 30x uses two AA batteries which is something we love. AA batteries are cheap, light, rechargeable and it’s very easy to bring spares along with you, so you’ll never get caught short.

The average battery life of the eTrex 30x is 25 hours off two AAs. How bright your display is will make a huge difference to how long they last so be sure to keep it on the lowest setting when you can.

Usability

A good hand-held GPS will be intuitive and easy to use. This all comes down to how the controls and interface merge to create a user experience. Below we get into how the eTrex 30x does.

Interface

The interface is a bit clunky but is still pretty good. You can intuitively move through all the menu options with ease using the joystick. It’s quick and easy to plot routes and use all the features that come with it.

We do recommend reading all the instructions and having a good play with the unit at home in the garden to really master all the things it can do for you.

Control Buttons

The e-Trex 30x like all the eTrex models comes with a joystick and 5 side buttons. The joystick is the quick way around the GPS and gets you through all the menu options in a breeze. You can also use it to mark a spot quickly by holding it down.

The side buttons are really convenient and help you turn it on/off, zoom in and out, shortcut back to the menu screen, go back a step, and adjust the brightness for contrast and battery saving.

The benefit of having buttons rather than a touch screen is that they work no matter what. Whether it’s wet weather, or whilst using gloves, buttons always work well.

Navigation

Maps & Nav

As you might already know, the Garmin eTrex 30x comes with a standard world base map but it is compatible with a huge amount of excellent maps that you will have to pay for. These include TOPO 24K, HuntView, BlueChart g2, City Navigator NT, and BirdsEye Satellite Imagery.

You can transfer maps across to your device with absolute ease, there is nothing too technical about it at all. You can also link your maps to Garmin’s pre-trip planning software so you can write your route with the Track Draw feature to estimate time and difficulty.

You can then follow saved routes, make new waypoints, use the trip computer, and more whilst your out on the trail. It’ll tell you your bearing, how long to your destination, your speed, and more.

Memory

The eTrex 30x comes with 3.7 GB of internal storage and an SD card slot so you can top up the memory if you need to. You can save up to 10,000 points and 200 tracks on the internal memory which is more than enough.

GPS and GLONASS

The eTrex 30x uses both the GPS and GLONASS satellite systems. Using both of these systems gives you much better service and better accuracy so the eTrex 30x will lock on to your position quickly and keep your location as you move around. It is accurate to 3 meters.

You can even look at which satellites you’re using and the signal strength if you’re interested. Just click on the satellite option on the menu and you’ll also get to see your location, elevation, and accuracy.

GPS HotFix

The eTrex 30x also uses HotFix like the other models. This helps get you a fix on your location quickly by assuming that you’re close by some of your usual routes. But this does mean that when you’re in a new location you may experience it to be a little slower than usual.

WAAS

The eTrex 30x also uses WAAS that only works if you’re in North America. WASS stands for Wide Area Augmentation System. It’s a system that increases location accuracy by correcting the signal, and it keeps it accurate to 3 meters 95% of the time.

Other Features

The Garmin eTrex 30x comes with some useful additional features that you’d expect from a good GPS.

Geocaching

If you love to hunt down a Geocache then you’ll love you easy it is to do it on the eTrex 30x. You just transfer the Geocache GPX files over onto the unit and off you go. And since it’s so accurate you’ll be a solid contender to find the cache.

You can even set the GPS to sound an alarm when you get near to the cache so you won’t ever miss an opportunity. Once you have found it, just click to log your attempt.

Digital Compass

The compass setting lets you get an accurate bearing instead of looking at a map view. To use it just hold the unit and let it spin and show you where to go. It’s not accurate to the degree as it has a triple-axis tilt compensation, but you can enable WAAS to make it more accurate.

Altimeter

The altimeter uses air pressure around you to work out your altitude and gives you a 3D positional so you can work out your exact location. The results are approximate and it’s not as effective as the top-of-the-line altimeters.

The barometric sensor also helps predict storms when a sudden pressure change comes across. It can be very handy and give you the head start you need.

Value For Money

The Garmin eTrex 30x is great value for money in our eyes. For around $200 you get a durable, waterproof, accurate GPS that allows you to use all the maps you could ever want and it has awesome battery life.

You also get all the handy additions like an altimeter, color screen, awesome resolution, and more. If you’re into the outdoors and need a GPS often, this is definitely a great choice.

Rating

The Garmin eTrex 30x scored a huge 90 on our rating system which is a pretty great score. It didn’t really lose any marks but you can’t get a 10/10 in every category. The main gripe could be the lack of a touch screen but buttons are useful in wet weather and when it’s cold and you want to keep your gloves on.

Verdict

The Garmin eTrex 30x is a great middle of the range hand-held GPS. The display is excellent, crystal clear, and easy to see. You can transfer so many kinds of maps to it and see them in absolute clarity.

The location accuracy of the 30x is also pretty incredible and when combined with the durability, waterproofing, and long battery life, it’s like it was born for a life on the trail. It doesn’t have a touch screen or any ability to communicate but you’ll have to pay a lot more money to get those features.

If you love to hike and need a GPS quite often, the eTrex 30x is good enough without having to break the bank.