Garmin offers the eTrex Touch Series, two GPS handhelds that are the "touchscreen" counterparts of the eTrex Series.
The devices have been on the market since 2015, a long time in the world of electronic gadgets. Perhaps they will be replaced in 2021?
Garmin eTrex Touch – Best for
I recommend the two handsets especially for
- Geocaching
- Cycle touring
- Hiking
How do the Touch 25 & the Touch 35 differ?
The Garmin eTrex Touch 35 has additional features on board:
- Barometric altimeter for exact altitude data and for use as a weather station.
- Bluetooth LE for connecting to a smartphone (Features: Display of smartphone notifications, LIVE tracking, data upload to Garmin Connect)
- ANT+ to connect to sensors (heart rate, speed, cadence, combined speed/cadence, temperature); transfer waypoints, routes, tracks, geocaches to compatible Garmin devices; control a Garmin VIRB action camera or a Garmin chirp
For the extra features the eTrex Touch 35 costs about $50 more.
In my opinion Bluetooth is not necessary, ANT+ is helpful, the altimeter is a fine extra (especially for cycling and hiking).
Garmin eTrex Touch models – Pros & Cons – Buyer’s Guide
What are the pros of the two eTrex Touch GPS devices?
- Small, light, handy
- Good battery life
- Easy to read display
- All important functions for outdoor trips & geocaching
- Extensively configurable
- Wide range of commercial maps from Garmin
- Compatible with free OSM maps
- Memory expansion via microSD card
- Multiple GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, SBAS)
- Bicycle holder included
What are the cons of the two eTrex Touch GPS devices?
- Small, low resolution display
- User interface with some flaws
- Annoying status field
- Mix of GPX tracks and FIT activities
- Outdated USB interface
- No data download from smartphone (e.g. tracks)
- Touchscreen - 2.6-inch color, capacitive touchscreen display
- Activity profiles - easy-to-use navigation for multiple activities, including climb, hike, hunt, bike, geocache, fish and more
- Electronic compass - all models offer a 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass, which shows your heading even when standing still, without holding it level
- Built-in mapping - all models feature worldwide base map with shaded relief, while the 35t comes preloaded with either topo u.s. 100k or topo Canada maps
- Barometric altimeter - smart notifications - ant+ connectivity
Conclusion & Recommendation – Garmin eTrex Touch Series – Purchase advice
How ever, my favorite GPS handhelds are really not the eTrex Touch models. They can do many things and can be used as allrounders, but they have disadvantages: Not in the technical way, but in the handling. An annoying status field always points to start the track recording, the user interface is not always intuitive.
I can only recommend: Try it out or choose another Garmin handheld device!