Emerging from Hibernation

I am getting ready to stretch my wings and fly...except I just learned that when I fell last month I fractured my ankle. So I have a big boot thing on my leg for a little while. This means I have to hold off on those adventurous geocaches.

The quick rundown of what geocaching is--People hide small to medium sized containers outside and locations run from urban to rural to downright wilderness. In the container is a log book for signing in when you find the cache and sometimes some small trinkets (my favorite is when I find rubber duckies). The person who hides the cache takes the gps coordinates of the location and posts them online. Then suckers like me set out to find them.

What I love about geocaching is that its great exercise, cheap as long as you don't enter the "gotta have the newest/best/fanciest gps" race. It takes you to places you never knew existed but are only a drive around the corner, and you meet really great friends.

The GPS systems I have tried and liked:
Garmin Etrex Legend
This is my little easy to use unit. It was so simple to use that I didn't read the manual. It doesn't pick up satellites inside or in deep gulleys. It has an electronic compass so you have to keep moving for navigation accuracy but if you are just getting into the sport and aren't sure if its your thing this is a good starter model. I think its rugged and has held up to some beating but I know of 2 people who dropped theirs in water and it was a little less than normal after than even tough it is water resistant and submersible in something approximating 5ft of water for 30 minutes (I would have to check the manual to confirm the exact limits). I would go ahead and get the case for it too.
http://www.pcnation.com/web/details.asp?item=6G0230&GEN0=Y

Garmin Nuvi 350
This is more of a navigation system and this little puppy stays in the car. The only thing I think can be improved is sound quality. It has an mp3 player but the sound quality is poor enough that I would prefer to listen to the radio. Others may disagree but this is not an essential piece to be able to geocache BUT if you try it you will be hooked (fair warning).
http://www.pcnation.com/web/details.asp?item=6G0230&GEN0=Y

The holiest of holy GPS units prayed to by many is...

Garmin (see a trend here? I swear their are other manufacturers we just like garmin)
GPSMap 60 csx
This little crack rock will get satellites inside a building and anywhere outside. No dense forest, rock walls, or tall buildings will thwart its efforts to bring you clear reception. I thinks its more confusing to use but hey the addicts get used to it. Don't borrow one unless you are willing to buy one that night. This gps doesn't have a good case. Some prefer just to have it naked with screen protectors because the case covers up buttons and ports. If you are going to get an accessory get the car mount.
http://www.pcnation.com/web/details.asp?item=6G0230&GEN0=Y

And a note on PC Nation: Of course always shop around but they have always had the best prices when I look. Shipping is fast and I have been happy with them and I was referred to them from a friend who is also always happy.