Bushnell Backtrack GPS Review

In this video I review the Bushnell Backtrack GPS Personal Location Finder. The Bushnell device combines GPS with a digital compass to help you navigate back to a spot you have been to before (such as your house, where you parked your car, etc). The unit can store up to 3 "waypoints". I provide a brief explanation of the unit and then provide a field test.

Note, this unit does not utilize maps and requires no subscriptions. Hence, it is reasonably inexpensive (roughly $50). My field test indicates that although there are some faults, they
can be usually be overcome, providing a useful tool when hiking.

I have absolutely no connection with the manufacturer and merely wish to provide an unbiased review of the product. If you use this product (or similar products) be forewarned that they can fail - you should not rely on them solely, especially if you are orienteering. Be prudent and exercise caution. Also, my explanation of how the unit works is based purely on some experience with robots and is an educated guess - I have not found any good documentation.

QSTARZ and IDC (Ecco) appear to provide similar devices. I have not tested them. I would love to hear from anyone who has done a comparison.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Bushnell
• Backtrack
• GPS
• Personal
• Location
• Finder
• Navigation
• System
• Digital
• Compass

[cleve0h]

rocks may have iron an other minerals that may interfere with reading.

[swarmotics]

@cleve0h Absolutely, and true whether you have a digital compass or a regular compass...

[keelee7771]

i find mine to be apx. 24 deg. off. sure wouldn't want to be my life on it.

[swarmotics]

@keelee7771 Did you calibrate the compass? You can do that by moving the unit in a figure 8, horizontally. I show that in my new D-TOUR review (part 2).

[tudorelviola]

I have a problem with this device. The problem is that the Sattelite icon does not stop from blinking so i can not use the toy.

[swarmotics]

@tudorelviola I've found that the first time you turn it on (if it has been off for a long time), it can take quite a few minutes for it to "lock" (even 10 minutes). And then other times it happens quickly. If you are in a city, buildings can block GPS entirely. If you are in a really thick forest, GPS can be blocked. Thus far it has always worked for me, even if I'm inside a building (but at a window). Maybe your unit is bad.

[cleve0h]

Thanks for the work you put in to the review,I will spend a little more and buy a Garmin. I think Bushnell needs to put a lot of work into this one. Bushnell has really slipped from "Mediocre" to junk in the past decade. I would have sold my Bushnell stock long ago.

[Sabrineable]

I guess this is a good example not to buy this.....take pictures or video of your trek instead