Customer Reviews

Garmin Foretrex 401 Waterproof Hiking GPS

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I am currently deployed in Afghanistan and have used this GPS during my combat patrols for about two weeks now. I have found that it performs perfectly. It is easily configured for MGRS, the metric system, and the compass can be set for Mils which makes calling for polar fire missions very easy. I love the fact that I have a 10-digit grid on my wrist. It cuts down on weight, not having to lug a DAGR around, and as I am taking notes during Community Engagements I can grab the grid right off my wrist as I write. So far it has stood up to the insane temperature differences from day to night. It has stood up to the dust (which gets into EVERYTHING - and has ruined two of my digital cameras [including a so-called dust-proof one]) with flying colors. The batteries last about 8 hours and it takes AAAs which are easy to carry. You can easily beam waypoints from one GPS to another. Several guys in my platoon carry the same one which makes it very easy. I am looking forward to using this when I get home to track my runs. So far I have found nothing wrong with this to speak of. I would definitely recommend it for whatever purpose you would use it for. I haven't tested its water-proofness yet; however, it stands up to my sweat very well.

I have not used this item extensively yet, but the setup process is quite simple. Im using this product for military purposes and finding which datum to put in was i a breeze (just read the manual) and i also verified. The 10 digit grid with a military map so i know it works. I really havent used any of the other features like the compass but ill update once i do. P.S. for ang other military grunts out there you'll want to set it to MGRS (military grid reference system) and for stateside use NAD27 CONUS (continental united states).

Easy to use right out of the box. Gets a fix in less than 30 seconds and is water proof. This is a great piece of gear for any tactical environment or hiking and camping. I am currently using this in Afghanistan and would not want another GPS in this environment.

Fantastic - buy one immediately. IMMEDIATELY!!

Much smaller than you may think - fantastic.

GPS speed -- super fast, fantastic.

Display and controls -- absolutely fantastic. As simple as they can possibly be, yet does every single thing you want. See your exact miles/yards walked, exact time (both moving, stopped, average, etc etc etc) and everything else from sunset time to height climbed or whatever.

Battery life, fantastic, 15 to 20 hours.

Works with computers PERFECTLY. If you have basic understanding of computers -- so for example you do know how to "Open A File" -- you will have a ball with this machine:

The 401 is simply a USB hard drive -- just connect it to your laptop using a normal compact USB cable. (They pointlessly give you a cable for free with the 401 package...like you don't have ten laying around already from your video camera, USB drives and everything else.)

So, simply plug in the 401 to your laptop. You will instantly see a file "Current.gpx" GPX is the label for GPS files.

Now, open the file -- so for example launch Google Earth and open your "Current.gpx" file in Google Earth. You will immediately see the track where you walked shown as a blue line on the Google Earth map!!

Or, look on the web for one of the awesome track measuring applets (eg at utrack dot crempa dot net) and get graphs, etc, of your speed and the like.

It literally could not be simpler -- nothing to install, no passwords, nothing.

Once again assuming you "know how to open a file" you will have no problem.

TIP: the 401 uselessly includes a digital COMPASS, as a freebie (much like the digital compass in say an iPhone). Digital compasses are of little or no value; however they use a lot of battery power. Look through the settings and turn OFF the digial compass.

Note that, of course, like any GPS unit, the unit will flawlessly and perfectly show you your heading AS YOU ARE WALKING, using the GPS signals (nothing to do with a magnetic compass). But the actual "digital compass" (i.e., you are sitting by the fire and you want to see which way "North" is) is largely useless (not because of the 401 -- all digital compasses are useless), so just turn it off in settings to save power.

Tip -- if you want rechargeable batteries, buy the terrific LaCrosse smart charger, and some eneloop batteries.

Enjoy your hike! Buy one of these before Garmin changes it to something confusing and not so good.

One of my Foretrex101s expired a few weeks ago and I decided to replace it with the just released Foretrex401. It arrived mid-week and I had no trouble accessing and opening the Foretrex401 generated gpx file with Easy/ExpertGPS and Topofusion. The 401 appears as a USB drive in Windows. I was hoping to use the 401 along with the Garmin heart rate monitor during my mtbike rides instead of the my Edge205 and separate HRM. The 401 had no trouble picking up the HR reading and displaying the values.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the Garmin website has no substantial information of the 401 as of yet and no discussion of what software will work with the 401.
[...]
At this point the Foretex401 appears to be corporate orphan that no Garmin division is able or willing to support. It is unclear if it is intended for jumping out of airplanes (jumpmaster function), hiking (altimeter/compass), cycling/fitness (HR/cadence) or providing a heads-up when ordinance is going to explode (countdown-up/timer). In addition to the above, function wise, the 401 adds a USB interface, faster satellite acquisition and wireless data transfer to the venerable Foretrex101. It is slightly more compact in size than the 101, has a better strap attachments and stores the data is in a gpx file. Operationally the Foretex401 does what is it supposed to do but with no software included, undocumented functions and virtually non-existent technical support, most purchasers will be frustrated in trying to use the Foretrex401 right out of the box. A printed quick start guide is in the box but the manual in a pdf on the CD.

As noted above, with some tinkering and non Garmin software I've been able to list and view the Foretex401 tracks, waypoints, routes and other data as well as transfer the data to GoogleEarth. For what Garmin lists as a basic handheld GPS it should be much more straightforward to operate and transfer data. I'll give it 2 stars until it is better supported.

This GPS is handy for equestrians for trail riding and competitive trail riding. Big, simple screen, yet GPS is small enough that it is worn on the wrist for easy viewing. Batteries last long enough for a weekend of riding.

I purchased a Garmin foretrex 201 in something like late 2002/early 2003 (first year they were out, whenever that was), and tended to use it as a "backup" GPS. The foretrex 401 here is a really nice update on the 201, with significant new features:

-- A "high sensitivity" receiver. This means that usually you can get a GPS fix indoors, and outdoors the fix is generally much batter -- particularly if you're in a heavily forested area where there's a lot of canopy above your head.
-- A compass. For geocaching, this is invaluable -- being able to know which direction it is to your cache while standing still makes finding a cache MUCH easier!
-- Bicycle/heart rate monitor interface. It's now entirely viable to use this as a bike computer, which is a significant "value add" over a regular old GPSr. It's true (as one poster alludes to) that it's not really designed as a bike computer from the start (and that GPSrs that *are* such as the Garmin "Edge" series are better if all you're going to use the unit for is biking), but I still find it a very worthwhile addition -- especially in that it makes geocaching with a bicycle that much easier! (I do find the bicycle mount a little cheesy, however -- it's just a rubber cylinder that clamps around your handlebars, and you then strep the 401 to it as it the rubber cylinder were your wrist.)
-- A barometric pressure sensor. For me, this just means that the 1000' intervals I normally "count off" (inbetween rest stops :-) ) while hiking are a little more accurate

The only disappointment I had with this GPSr is that it can't be used with a laptop and, e.g., Streets & Trips or Street Atlas USA -- it doesn't output NMEA data. The Foretrex 201 did this, but I suppose they're figuring that these days when you can pick up a Bluetooth GPSr for such applications for <$50, it's not that great of a loss -- and it probably would have been difficult to implement in addition to the "plug this GPSr into your PC and it shows up as a regular drive letter" function which *is* quite useful. (I agree with the reviewer who mentions how easy it is to transfer waypoints, tracks, etc. -- this required extra steps and special software with the Foretrex 201.)

I'll also note that the instruction manual is a little light on describing all the features (particular what all you can do insofar as transferring data to and from the unit goes). There's really no good reason for this, although asking questions on the Garmin forum largely suffices for this oversight on Garmin's part.

But overall I'm quite pleased with this purchase. It really is a well-engineered device, and well worth the money.

Great Product at a fair price.

What we can't understand is why Amazon uses an inflated MSRP of $425 when the Garmin site lists it for $200. We saved ~$32 but no where near the $200+ they claimed.

We're hoping for more truth in advertising in the future. However, despite the exaggerated savings claim, we purchased the Foretrex 401 and are quite pleased with Amazon, their price, service and the 401's features and performance.

Here's a link to the Garmin price and overview:

C & P -- [....]

This is a great GPS. Great for military use to pass up FLOTs and such

I purchased this device last week after reading all the reviews, because I just want to be able to track the distance traveled along winding paths when hiking, kayaking, or bicycling. I've used GPS devices for over a decade and had no idea how difficult it would be to navigate a new interface and a new vocabulary. First of all, when you get your device, install the CD or download the full owners manual and read it. Second, don't assume that any of the features are irrelevant. It doesn't do anything automatically. You have to give it many instructions. You have to set a waypoint when you begin a journey that you want to track, then you have to instruct the darn thing to calculate the mileage or distance you have traveled (otherwise all it does is draw a little picture of the path you have traveled), and you have to clear and reset it for each new journey. If you want to use it to GUIDE you from place to place, that's even more complicated.

Another problem is that the device seems to get confused when I turn it off in one place and turn it on in another place. I've needed to recalibrate the compass to make it figure out where I am. Also, after I recalibrated the compass, it stayed confused about altitude until I went to the screen for altitude, held it completely level (face up) and slowly turned in a clockwise circle (as I do when recalibrating the compass) until it found the new altitude and held steady there.

Finally I'm still confused about where to wear it. Today I wore it on my wrist while walking, and it lost the satellites and lost part of my walk. It frequently displays a warning on the face that tells me to hold it level. I think this must mean "face up", but I can find no explanation in the manual or in the online reviews. People in the reviews mention wearing it on their wrists, but that didn't work today when I was walking. I'm wondering if I should attach it to the top of a fanny pack or backpack, so the face will always face the sky. I wish the manual explained more of these things!