Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - best map package for new garmin 705

i just order the garmin 705 and wanted to know what the best map package(s) are to load on the unit. i already have a 2gb microsd card that i will use in the unit so that is my space constraint. i will also add that i am a total newbie to gps so type slowly and use simple words :)

There are two options from Garmin.

If you ride on the road buy the City Navigator NT on DVD, do not buy the SD card version. Why? The SD cards only work on the GPS unit. You will NOT have access to the maps from your computer. If you buy the DVD version you will have the maps on your computer and can then load them onto the SD card you purchased. The 2009 version of the maps are due out soon if not already out.

The other option from Garmin are Topo maps. This are very inaccurate when it comes to streets and do not contain all trails (kinda important for trail riding). About the only thing they are good for is seeing the elevation lines.

Take a browse through Motion Based forum for the 605/705 and you can gather some more specific info:

http://forums.motionbased.com/smf/index.php?board=86.0

Can you combine the Topo and City Navigator NT 2009 getting the informatioin on one screen?

Can you combine the Topo and City Navigator NT 2009 getting the informatioin on one screen?

I don't know if any of Garmin's offerings, or anybody's for that matter can display both Topo maps and detailed road maps at the same time. That's been one of the big complaints with the Garmin Colorado that comes pre-loaded with the detailed topo maps. People buy it for the great topo map, then load up City Navigator and find out that you have to switch back and forth between modes depending on which map set is displaying the information you want at that time.

Delorme claims their new handheld GPS will display street and topo maps simulataneously. I believe it will also overlay aerial phots at the same time. But this is not a bike-specific unit.

For the Garmin 705, if you live in the United States, you need to purchase the City Navigator maps. The topo maps, although nice for some applications, are based on 1:100,000 scale paper maps and are generally outdated as to street info. They are also not routable so you cannot use them for turn-by-turn directions.