Garmin Geko 201 and 301 Handheld Navigators Review

The Geko 201 and Geko 301, are simple, inexpensive, small, lightweight and waterproof (IPX7), WASS-enabled (10 feet / 3m accuracy) handled GPS trackers. They are not map based rather providing a means of keeping a log of your track and guiding you back to your camp or vehicle where you started using the Geko TrackBack feature. At the end of your trip the Geko’s trip computer can provided the statistics on how far and fast you’ve traveled.

Garmin Geko 201

The Geko 201 and 301 have a 64 x 100 pixel black and white LCD display and can be operated with only the 5 buttons on the front of the unit. As mentioned the Geko’s are waterproof to IPX7 enabling them to endure 30 minutes submergence without damage.

Every handheld device seems to come with games and the Geko is no exception being able to provide amusement for the trip home. Waypoints and tracks can be transferred to a PC when you arrive home for plotting in an online mapping application like Google Maps. Software updates can also be obtained using a PC connection.

The Geko 201, referred to as the “little green navigating machine”, is the bright green base model Geko. An electronic compass and barometric altimeter are added with the gray Geko 301. An electronic compass is handy as it can indicate the direction you are heading even when you are standing still. An indication of direction is available from GPS only if you are on the move providing successive location fixes for direction to be calculated.