Review Of The Garmin Oregon 550T

The Garmin company was officially launched in 1991 after Gary Burrell and Min Kao got enough financing. Over the years it has become one of the most innovative navigation providers today. In the beginning you could only find this type of technology amongst aircrafts, but Garmin has brought it to the public and millions have sold since its inception. Even today the company is continuing to grow and it has become well known throughout the entire world.

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One of their best devices is the Garmin Oregon 550T, which is a handheld navigational device. Thanks to its three inch diagonal color touch screen you can enjoy reading it with ease even in the brightest sunlight. You also get 3.2 mega pixel auto focus digital camera, which offers 4x digital zoom. It will withstand outdoor weather conditions whether you're taking a hike or on vacation. In fact, you can even pinpoint the altitude by tracking changes in the pressure, and use it as a compass.

There is plenty of photographic memory as well. It comes with U.S. topography maps so you get a highly sensitive GPS system whenever you're outdoors or moving into unfamiliar territory. The touch screen basically gives you instant access to the information available so hikers can feel comfortable wherever they are throughout the day. Then of course the camera options give you the opportunity to capture those great outdoor moments.

One of the best advantages to the Garmin Oregon 550T is the weather awareness. It's able to figure out any changes based on the barometric pressure. It's also lightweight, which means you won't feel awkward when carrying it. If by chance you need to share information with other users of this handheld device you can do so. Everything that comes with it is an AA battery charger, 2 AA NiMH batteries, a belt or backpack clip, and a USB cable with an instruction manual.

Keep in mind there are also problems that come along with the Garmin Oregon 550T. Sometimes the compass will be out of whack because it needs to be recalibrated. Those who enjoy taking pictures will notice that the battery life can be shortened a lot faster. We even saw one review where an individual said the screen wasn't readable in direct sunlight. Seeing it in this lighting meant turning the backlight as bright as possible, which runs down the battery as well.

We can all agree that these are negative issues, but they are easy to overcome. If you make sure your calibration settings are right before you go hiking it won't be an issue. If direct sunlight is making the screen unreadable you can always turn away from the sunlight or create a momentary shade. Now when you're dealing with batteries we always recommend taking additional ones in case the power runs out. In the end it's all about being prepared and the Garmin Oregon 550T is no different.