Click here to check price of the
Garmin eTrex Vista Cx


With the Vista Cx, Garmin has updated a much-loved device with expandable memory on microSD card so you can load optional map data for your hiking, hunting and other outdoor excursions. Add to that a bright, full-color TFT display, automatic routing, and long, 20-hour battery life, and you've got a great companion for your next outdoor or boating adventure. Plus, the Vista CX adds a barometric altimeter and an electronic compass.



The main menu feature icons. View larger.


Crisp, color display for easy map viewing. View larger.


Altimeter display provides elevation information. View larger.

The Vista Cx features a bright color display, electronic compass and a barometric altimeter and much more.
You can use the Vista Cx's memory card slot with preprogrammed microSD cards from Garmin (sold separately) that provide topographic maps, city streets, and nautical charts. In fact, the unit is compatible with most Garmin MapSource products including BlueChart, City Navigator, U.S. Topo 24K, and U.S. Topo and Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots. The unit comes preloaded with an Americas autoroute basemap that provides automatic routing capabilities including highways, exits and tide data. You can even get turn-by-turn directions when you're driving and an integrated trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed and more.

The Vista Cx's barometric altimeter system features automatic pressure trend recording while providing current elevation, ascent/descent rate, minimum/maximum elevation, total ascent and descent, and average and maximum ascent and descent rate. Meanwhile, the unit's electronic compass allows you to get accurate headings while standing still.

Like on all eTrex units, the primary controls are located on the side of the unit, so you can operate it with one hand. An innovative rocker switch on its face makes inputting data easy, and with it you can scroll through menus or pan the map page. Fast USB connectivity makes loading charts and maps quick and easy, while navigation instructions can be shared with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots using NMEA protocols through the dedicated serial port. Additionally, the case is water-resistant to IEC 60529 IPX7 standards (can be submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes).

Another key feature of the Vista Cx is the 10,000 point automatic track log; 20 saved tracks (500 points each) let you retrace your path in both directions. Meanwhile, there's a large numbers option for easy viewing, as well as a dual position display mode. Lastly, the unit includes built-in celestial tables for best time to fish and hunt, plus sun and moon calculations.

If you like the features of the Vista Cx, but don't need an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter, check out the Garmin eTrex Legend Cx.


What's in the Box
Vista Cx unit, 32 MB microSD card, USB interface cable, bike mount clip, MapSource Trip and Waypoint Manager CD, lanyard, owner's manual, and quick-start guide.



Customer Reviews

Average rating:

VISTA CX

Vista CX is a very good gps with many nice features. I rate it with 4 stars because it does not keep a good signal in deep woods. Other than that it is perfect. I sent it back for the Vista HCX.


Garmin ETrex Vista Cx

The unit arrived from Amazon in a timely fashion. The documentation included with it is rather cryptic but once you figure it out the Vista Cx is fun to use. Note - it has limited functionality unless you purchase the City Navigator map set and/or the Topo map set. (It will not calculate driving routes unless you have the City Navigator map set installed.) It does do a good job of tracking where you have been and allowing you to enter waypoints. I felt much more comfortable hiking with it as I felt I could always get back to my starting point with it!

The unit worked fine for three weeks and then it "died." It would not power up - even if connected to power via the supplied USB cable. I contacted Garmin and arranged for the unit to be returned to them for replacement. One of their tech support reps was very helpful - the other was not. I explained to them that I wanted to expedite the replacement shipment as I had a camping/hiking trip scheduled in a week and wanted to have the Vista along with me. I provide them with a credit card number so that they could ship out a replacement in a timely fashion. It took 12 days to get the replacement! When asked, Garmin said - "didn't anyone tell you that the unit was on back order?" Evidently not ...

I am pleased with the Garmin product and hope that this is an isolated incident with this particular model. Note that the Vista HCx will probably be replacing the Cx (same features but includes a newer, more responsive chip set).


A great, handable and complete puckett GPS

For a road motorcycle driver, or anyone who must use it in his puckett, it's size is as great as it's reception, even with it's small screen you can always see and follow what you're looking for. I would recomend about the base for bicycles, not to use this for motorcycles cause it's vibrations turn it damaged as happened to my GPS before, a real good Legend, the blue one. I'd sugest to Garmin, if they didn't do it yet, to designe as I did for my bike, a paded stand for it in order that it absorves the motor's vibrations and keep the GPS working right, and in the fotos they show from customers, not to show the one with the GPS attached to a motorcycle's handle bar, it is only for bicycles use, without vibrations.


2. Very good


Battery Life excellent:
I personally purchased 2700mha rechargeable battery,
with a set of 4, you good for a while... like Days and Days!!

Satellite acquisition very good - outdoor only!!
Not good in the Car, or in a Building, but it's for Outdoor activities!!

Relatively easy to use after a few minutes of playing around.
The unit with the software and appropriate Maps provides
a very efficient system.
I personally use it for Enduro &Trail Riding in the woods.
Either to get or find my way or even track back new discovered Trails...

Overall very good unit, strong and easy to use.
However, the Maps or a little expensive.
And one last great thing, the SD Card makes possible the download of the whole North America and more if you get the 2 GB Card of course!! (20 Bucks!!)


Not so great experience

While this is a pretty useful device for hiking, running, sailing etc...it has several issues. One is, that the preinstalled map only shows high and freeways. If one wants more detail, Garmin will ask you to plunck down another ~$90 for US coverage. If you want Europe, it costs you again. Japan is not available at all, only a third party supplier in Japan offers a compatible map-another $90...are you reminded of razors and razor blades?? I am! Anyway, after loading maps with the crappy PC-only software (slow and cumbersome), it worked fine-for about three weeks. Then it frequently started turning itself off, and after a few more days the maps were self-deleted, and then it never came back to life. Hopefully, this is only a singulary lemon...I am currently waiting for a return authorization number-hope they read emails at Garmin.

Other shortcomings are the incredibly slow location fix...takes about 3 minutes if it already knows where you are approximately. If you step out of the plane, it can take up to 10 minutes until it finally gets an idea where you are. Advice: get a receiver with the sirfstar III chip set...supposedly this might alleviate this problem. More issues: no map support for macintosh, waypoints and other user generated data except tracks cannot be downloaded from the memory card. Proprietary Garmin software is needed to access these data, i.e. if you have a mac you depend on some downloadable utilities from the web. There is nothing out there to load Garmin maps to the unit using a Mac. Hence, if you are in the field, and only have a mac laptop there is no way to update your mapset.

Bottom line: Wait until the next iPhone comes out with GPS capabilities and google map integration...(=free razor blades...;-).


Get the Garmin eTrex Vista Cx from Amazon.com.