Again nation navigation has come a protracted, good distance from the times of utilizing a clunky handheld GPS bolted to your handlebars. Prior to now dozen years, sat nav units have developed, that includes bigger shows with a touchscreen interface, and much extra built-in options to assist enhance your navigation capabilities. They’ll even know when the climate is unhealthy sufficient to remain dwelling. The GPS producers had no selection however to enhance drastically, as a result of cellphone-based navigation apps now mount a severe competitors. To struggle again towards that encroachment, Garmin has simply launched its new Tread 2 again nation navigation unit. It’s meant for vehicle-mounted use, with a 6-inch display screen, a number of helpful onboard apps; MSRP is $699.
Garmin despatched me a unit to check this fall. Right here’s what I’ve discovered to this point.
Garmin Tread 2: The Bullets
- Flip-by-turn routing on streets, highways, grime roads and trails
- No-subscription satellite tv for pc maps downloads
- Map set up much like older Garmin Tread/XT GPS units
- Intuitive Interface
- Customers can management onboard cameras and music playback with the Tread 2
- Constructed for energy sports activities fans within the again nation, but additionally works as a avenue GPS for automobile or bike
Garmin Tread 2: Set up
The Tread 2 is designed to be hard-wired to your snowmobile, ATV or UTV or different automobile. As soon as put in, the Tread 2 runs off your journey’s battery and charging system, similar to your stereo or headlights do. A built-in battery will energy the Tread 2 when disconnected from the automobile, nevertheless it’s meant to be related to your onboard electrical system. The Tread 2’s mount can be a charging cradle, with wires operating out that may be related to your battery or one other energy supply in your machine. Garmin gives terminals that you could crimp to the wiring; additionally they present an inline fuse field that you may connect, to guard your gadget from an influence surge.
The one actual difficult a part of set up is determining the place you wish to run the facility provide wires by way of your automobile, from its automobile energy supply to, within the case of an ATV, your handlebars.
Garmin Tread 2: Software program & Maps
For years, Garmin’s Basecamp app for Home windows and Mac PCs was how Garmin customers interfaced with their GPS. It’s attainable to make use of Basecamp with the Tread 2, however Garmin recommends the gadget’s house owners use its free Tread app for Android and Apple telephones and tablets to handle routes, waypoints and tracks. This implies a studying curve for individuals used to utilizing Basecamp. Over time, I’ve discovered that studying to make use of Garmin’s software program and never their units is often essentially the most tough a part of adopting a certainly one of their new merchandise. Their cellphone and computer-side software program simply isn’t nearly as good because the stuff baked into their {hardware}.
On different Garmin {hardware} that makes use of the Tread app, customers complained in regards to the importing course of for routes, saying their GPS routing modified between the factors alongside their route. There are normally easy options to hiccups like these, however mastering this software program can take some time. Some skilled Basecamp customers is probably not enthusiastic about altering to the Tread app and having to re-learn the tips to planning routes and transferring to GPS with out issues. I put in the Tread app on my Samsung Tab S7+ and located this large-screen, high-performance pill was the right complement to this software program. I think a number of the different discontented customers are operating into hassle due to the {hardware} they’re putting in the app on.
The Tread 2 is an off road-oriented gadget, however comes with Metropolis Navigator maps in addition to OpenStreetMaps information for unpaved roads and trails. It additionally gives entry to information from the USFS Motor Car Use Maps, Garmin’s Journey Roads and Trails community, a campsite locator, topo maps and forestry roads. There’s even snowmobile-specific maps; that is essential, as these routes usually are not essentially open year-round.
The Tread app means that you can design or obtain routes with turn-by-turn navigation, even on unpaved roads and trails. If you happen to’ve paired the Tread 2 with a Bluetooth-enabled helmet comm, a voice on the comm’s speaker will inform you when to show down the following forestry highway/hearth path/no matter. That is area age stuff, in comparison with my previous handheld mountain climbing GPS; it’s additionally an replace from the first-gen XT GPS I used for years, which relied on third-party providers for a few of this data (like iOverlander).
Driving round my native stomping grounds, I used to be impressed to see that the Tread 2 had maps for a lot of the native trails pre-loaded—however not all of them. However in instances the place there have been public-land or private-land trails that weren’t on the usual maps, I used to be in a position to obtain a satellite tv for pc map that confirmed the path lower by way of the forest. This satellite tv for pc imagery is out there and not using a subscription, which is able to preserve thrifty riders blissful. The photographs require a wi-fi connection to obtain, so ensure you’ve received this taken care of earlier than you allow dwelling.
In addition to all of the free maps, Garmin’s gadget and app additionally permit you to buy a subscription to Out of doors Maps+. This pay-to-play service offers you much more data that’s critically essential to some outdoorsmen: avalanche danger stories, slope angle particulars, looking data and extra. I didn’t buy this bundle, but when I used to be looking the mountains, or snowmobiling on the market, I’d take into account it rigorously, particularly if I used to be in an unfamiliar space.
The Tread 2’s pre-loaded maps even have public land boundaries for BLM properties, nationwide forests and extra, in addition to non-public land boundaries and landowner data for properties which can be bigger than 4 acres. Wish to know who owns the paths you’re inquisitive about using? The Tread 2 might help you discover that data, and possibly open new doorways for recreation.
Lastly, the Tread 2 additionally means that you can share GPX information with your mates and even monitor them in actual time, with its new Group Ride2 cell function. I didn’t go on group rides, so wasn’t in a position to check this, however I can see its worth for ATV or snowmobile golf equipment. Nevertheless, observe that this function requires an energetic Wi-Fi or cell information connection; if you happen to’re in the midst of the wilderness a thousand miles away from a cell tower, it received’t work.
The Tread 2 has sensors that interface with each the GPS and Galileo sat-nav networks, with 10 hz multi-gnss positioning consistently analyzing your location in real-time.
In comparison with the joystick-and-button interface on my previous handheld eTrex Legend HCx, the Tread 2’s touchscreen menus are a lot simpler to navigate. Discovering the gadget’s built-in Climate or Climate Radar app, the Site visitors app, turning the Observe Recorder on/off, controlling the Music Participant (load MP3s to the gadget itself, or an SD card, or management a smartphone music app)—all straightforward. The Tread 2 even has an app for Garmin’s Dog Tracking devices, and you’ll management your automobile’s mild bars and sound system from the gadget, or onboard cameras. As an alternative of getting to climb throughout your journey to show issues on and off, you’ll be able to management them out of your Garmin, and that’s a really welcome function today.
The one place I ran right into a hiccup was with music playback in my helmet comm. An older Sena 10U had hassle connecting; a more moderen Sena 50S related with out an excessive amount of hassle, however the interface on the Tread 2 would acknowledge my cellphone, and acknowledge the helmet comm, however wouldn’t enable me to manage the music playback.
This form of hiccup is frequent with GPS units and helmet comms; after I examined the Garmin XT (form of an older first cousin to the Tread 2), I used to be advised to watch out in what order I paired the cellphone and helmet comm to the GPS unit, or it wouldn’t work correctly. I’m certain it’s the identical with the Tread 2; I simply haven’t had time to kind out the small print, and I think an upcoming system replace will kind the issue, if it’s a software program bug.
Plenty of onboard tech
The Tread 2 has extra going for it than simply having the ability that can assist you discover your approach. The gadget has a built-in barometric altimeter, and even a pitch-yaw gauge readout that helps keep away from rolling your ATV. Garmin additionally sells a wired-in handlebar controller (MSRP $149.99 )that may be added to the Tread 2, permitting you to scroll by way of the menus with out utilizing the touchscreen. With the GPS mounted on to my handlebar already, this wasn’t crucial and certainly would have made issues extra sophisticated by lowering the room on my bars. When winter’s chill units in, I’d need the controller, although—it might make it a lot simpler to manage the Tread 2 whereas carrying gloves.
On a sled or side-by-side with extra bodywork, this controller would allow you to mount the GPS in your line of sight and ahead of the handlebars, as you can handle it simply with the distant, as a substitute of reaching awkwardly for the touchscreen. That is the precise setup I want on my Yamaha 1200 Tremendous Tenere bike—maybe I’ll give it a go when using season returns.
Construct high quality appears rugged
With an IPX7 waterproof score, an IPX6 dustproof score and most significantly for the clumsy person, a MIL-STD-810 drop score, The Tread 2 is a tricky piece of equipment. The perimeters of its case are angled to keep away from injury to the display screen in a bump or tumble; the cradle mount provides a cosy click-in match, which doesn’t encourage confidence, at first. However, after utilizing the identical association over laborious miles on the earlier Garmin XT, I can say it labored nicely for me prior to now (and if you need, you should buy beefier locking methods from the aftermarket, which additionally stop some potential thieves).
The one potential weak level I noticed was the charging wire itself. I managed to interrupt the conductive pins on the XT’s charging cradle, and after I grumpily ordered a alternative, I famous I wasn’t the one one who had this half break in what appeared like a brief period of time. It’s the same design on the Tread 2. Nevertheless, the Tread 2’s energy cable does include a USB energy outlet, and the Tread 2 itself has a USB-C port. Presumably, if the facility cradle itself malfunctioned, you can strive the USB-C port as a backup (Garmin didn’t advocate doing this with the first-gen Tread). Additionally observe that battery life is a claimed 7 hours, so even if you happen to can’t cost whereas using, you’ll be able to no less than get a great chunk of throttle remedy in whereas solely counting on the Tread 2’s built-in energy cells.
That 7-hour battery life would additionally permit you to use this as an off-the-bike GPS if you happen to wanted to navigate to a deer stand or again nation mountain climbing vista or no matter, so long as you don’t thoughts carrying the bigger GPS as a substitute of a smaller handheld. With a 5.3×3-inch display screen (6 inch diagonal), and weighing 12 ounces, this isn’t made to sit down in your pocket or be clutched in your mitts as you navigate a path.
The Tread 2 is an all-weather gadget
That is one space the place a devoted GPS with dustproofing/weatherproofing beats a smartphone for navigation. Whereas I wasn’t in a position to make use of the Tread 2 as a snowmobile nav unit (it wasn’t winter, and I don’t personal a snowmobile,) I did use it in sloppy drizzle and had no points with the touch-sensitive interface on the 6-inch display screen. My Samsung cellphone, then again, is sort of at all times tough to make use of as a nav unit as soon as the rain begins.
Moreover, the Tread 2 has only a few edges, holes or corners for mud to gather. Evaluate that to a smartphone, with audio system and digicam lenses and different orifices simply ready to gather fesh-fesh and clog up.
In closing
After taking part in round with it for a few weeks,I’ve solely scratched the floor of this unit’s potential.
If you would like the potential, ruggedness and energy of a devoted off-road GPS navigation gadget and you’ll afford its $699 MSRP, the Garmin Tread 2 is an efficient get. You’ll discover it makes discovering your approach by way of the backcountry extra enjoyable. It’ll preserve you extra protected whilst you’re out on the paths, and get you dwelling on the finish of the day.
If you happen to’ve already spent large bucks in your quad and also you wish to push your self and your machine to extra journey, the Tread 2 might help.
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