Are you an avid off-roader looking for the perfect GPS device to accompany you on your adventures? Look no further than the Garmin Tread and the Montana 700 Offroad GPS. Both models offer a range of impressive features, including topographical maps, navigation assistance, and durability. In this article, we will compare and contrast these two products, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision. Whether you’re scaling mountains or exploring uncharted terrain, the Garmin Tread and the Montana 700 Offroad GPS are ready to guide you every step of the way.
Design
Size and Weight
When it comes to the design of an offroad GPS, size and weight play a crucial role. You want a device that is compact and lightweight enough to carry easily during your outdoor adventures. Both the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 offer a great balance in terms of size and weight. The Garmin Tread is designed to be rugged and durable but still compact enough to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. Similarly, the Montana 700 is also built to withstand rugged conditions while ensuring it doesn’t become a burden to carry on your outdoor expeditions.
Screen
The screen of an offroad GPS is one of its most important features. It needs to be clear, easy to read, and able to display detailed maps and information. In this aspect, both the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 excel. They both feature vibrant, high-resolution screens that provide excellent visibility even in bright sunlight. Whether you’re hiking through dense forests or riding your ATV across vast open terrain, you can rely on the crisp and clear screens of these devices to keep you informed and on track.
Buttons and Controls
Having intuitive and user-friendly buttons and controls is essential for an offroad GPS. You don’t want to fumble around with complicated menus and settings while navigating through challenging terrains. Both the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 are designed with this in mind. They feature well-placed buttons and controls that are easily accessible even when wearing gloves. With these devices, you can confidently operate your GPS without any hassle, allowing you to focus on enjoying your outdoor activities.
Durability
Durability is a key factor to consider when choosing an offroad GPS. You need a device that can withstand the rigors of outdoor adventures, including exposure to water, dust, and impacts. Both the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 are built to be rugged and durable. They have robust construction and are rated with an IPX7 water-resistance, meaning they can handle being submerged in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. Whether you’re hiking in the rain or riding your motorcycle through rough terrain, these GPS devices are designed to keep up with your adventurous spirit.
Display
Size and Resolution
The size and resolution of the display are crucial for providing a clear and detailed view of your maps and navigation information. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 both offer generous screen sizes and high resolutions. The Garmin Tread features a 5.5-inch color touchscreen display, while the Montana 700 boasts an even larger 5-inch color touchscreen. These sizes, combined with their high resolutions, ensure that you can easily view and interpret the maps and various data displayed on your GPS, giving you a seamless navigation experience.
Touchscreen or None
When it comes to the type of display, both the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 utilize touchscreen technology. This makes it easy and convenient to interact with the various menus and functions of the GPS devices. Navigating through maps, entering waypoints, and accessing different features is a breeze with the responsive touchscreens. However, it’s worth noting that both devices also feature physical buttons, providing an alternative control method in case you prefer not to use the touchscreen in certain situations, such as when wearing gloves or in rough terrains.
Sunlight Readability
Outdoor adventures often mean facing bright sunlight, which can make it difficult to read the display of a GPS device. Understanding the importance of sunlight readability, both the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 are equipped with sunlight-readable displays. They utilize advanced transflective technology that ensures the screens remain clear, sharp, and easy to read even under bright sunlight. This means you won’t have to worry about squinting or shading the screen to see vital information while exploring the great outdoors.
Customization Options
Personalization is an excellent feature to have in an offroad GPS, as it allows you to tailor the device to your specific needs and preferences. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 offer a range of customization options to enhance your navigation experience. You can customize the home screen layout, choose from various data fields to be displayed, select different map themes, and even download additional apps and widgets from the Garmin Connect IQ store. These customization options ensure that your GPS device is tailored to your unique requirements, making every adventure a truly personalized experience.
Mapping and Navigation
Maps Included
Having reliable and detailed maps is essential for offroad navigation. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 come preloaded with a wide range of maps, ensuring that you have the necessary information at your fingertips. Both devices include topographic maps, which provide detailed terrain information, making it easier to plan and navigate through challenging landscapes. Additionally, the Montana 700 also comes with City Navigator® maps, providing street-level navigation for urban areas. With these comprehensive maps, you can confidently explore both on and off the beaten path.
Routing and Directions
When it comes to getting from point A to point B, having accurate routing and directions is paramount. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 offer advanced routing capabilities to ensure you reach your destination efficiently. These devices can calculate and display multiple route options, taking into account factors such as terrain, distance, and traffic. They also provide turn-by-turn directions with voice guidance, so you can keep your eyes on the road or the trail while still staying on track. Whether you’re hiking, biking, or driving, these GPS devices make navigating a breeze.
Navigation Features
The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 go beyond basic mapping and navigation, offering a host of additional features to enhance your exploration. Both devices include Active Weather, which provides real-time weather forecasts and alerts to help you plan your outdoor activities accordingly. They also offer LiveTrack, which allows you to share your location with selected contacts, ensuring your loved ones can stay connected and aware of your whereabouts. These devices even provide incident detection and emergency assistance features, allowing you to navigate with peace of mind, knowing that help is just a button press away in case of an emergency.
Points of Interest
Exploring new areas often involves discovering interesting landmarks, attractions, and points of interest along the way. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 offer extensive databases of points of interest (POIs) to enrich your offroad adventures. Whether you’re looking for campsites, restaurants, fuel stations, or historical sites, these devices can help you find nearby POIs and provide detailed information about each location, including ratings, reviews, and contact information. With these features, you can easily plan your trips, ensuring that you never miss out on the hidden gems of your chosen destination.
Waypoints and Tracks
Waypoints and tracks are invaluable tools for offroad navigation, allowing you to mark specific locations and record your path. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 offer robust waypoint and track management capabilities, allowing you to create and save waypoints for future reference and easily navigate back to them. These devices also enable you to record tracks of your journeys, which can be reviewed later or shared with fellow adventurers. With these features, you can relive your favorite routes, share your experiences, and ensure that you never lose your way in unknown territories.
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity
In today’s digital age, wireless connectivity has become an essential feature in any GPS device. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 both offer wireless connectivity options, allowing you to connect to the internet and access various online services. With Wi-Fi capabilities, you can easily download software updates, maps, and additional content directly to your device, ensuring that you always have the latest features and information. These devices also enable wireless data syncing, so you can effortlessly transfer your waypoints, tracks, and other data to compatible devices and online platforms for seamless integration.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth technology offers convenient wireless connectivity with other devices, such as smartphones and Bluetooth-enabled accessories. Both the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 feature Bluetooth capabilities, allowing you to connect your GPS device to your smartphone. This connectivity enables you to receive texts, calls, and notifications directly on your GPS screen, without the need to fumble with your phone. It also allows for wireless pairing with compatible accessories, such as heart rate monitors or external sensors, to enhance your outdoor experience.
ANT+
ANT+ is a wireless communication protocol that allows devices to seamlessly connect with each other, sharing data and enabling interoperability. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 support ANT+ connectivity, opening up a world of possibilities for expanding your GPS device’s functionality. With ANT+, you can connect your devices to a wide range of compatible sensors, such as temperature sensors, cadence sensors, or power meters. This enables you to gather and analyze additional data during your outdoor activities, providing insights that can enhance your performance and enjoyment.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi connectivity is a valuable feature for any GPS device, as it allows for seamless and convenient access to online services and content. Both the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 are equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities, enabling you to connect to Wi-Fi networks and access various online features. With Wi-Fi, you can quickly download software updates, maps, and additional content directly to your device, ensuring that you’re always up to date with the latest features and improvements. It also allows for wireless data syncing, making it easy to transfer your waypoints, tracks, and other data to compatible devices and online platforms.
Smartphone Integration
In this digital era, the integration between GPS devices and smartphones has become increasingly important. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 excel in this regard, offering seamless integration with your smartphone. By connecting your GPS device to your smartphone, you can unlock a whole new level of functionality and convenience. You can receive notifications, calls, and texts directly on your GPS screen, allowing you to stay connected while keeping your phone safely tucked away. Additionally, you can access various smartphone apps and services, such as music streaming or weather updates, directly from your GPS device. This integration ensures that you have all the features and connectivity you need, right at your fingertips.
Battery Life
Battery Type
Battery life is a critical consideration when choosing an offroad GPS device. You want a device that can last throughout your outdoor adventures without needing constant recharging. Both the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 utilize rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which offer a good balance between performance and weight. These batteries have a high energy density, allowing them to provide sufficient power for extended periods, even with the GPS devices’ various features and functions in use.
Usage Time
The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 offer impressive battery life to ensure that you can rely on your GPS device throughout your outdoor explorations. The exact usage time depends on various factors, such as screen brightness, GPS usage, and wireless connectivity. However, under typical usage conditions, both devices can provide extensive battery life. The Garmin Tread can last up to 6 hours on a single charge, while the Montana 700 offers even longer usage time, with up to 18 hours of battery life. With these batteries, you can confidently embark on long hikes, camping trips, or offroad expeditions without worrying about your GPS device running out of power.
Recharge Options
The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 offer flexible recharge options, allowing you to replenish the batteries wherever you may be. Both devices come with USB charging cables, which can be connected to various power sources, such as wall outlets, car chargers, or portable power banks. This versatility ensures that you can easily charge your GPS devices, whether you’re at home, in your vehicle, or on the go. Additionally, it’s worth noting that the Montana 700 also offers the option of using AA batteries, providing an alternative power source if you don’t have access to electricity for charging.
Performance
Processor
A powerful and efficient processor is crucial for a smooth and responsive GPS experience. Both the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 are equipped with capable processors that ensure fast operation and seamless navigation. The Garmin Tread features a powerful 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, while the Montana 700 boasts an even faster 1.7 GHz quad-core processor. These processors enable quick map rendering, rapid data processing, and smooth user interface interactions, ensuring that you can navigate through menus and maps without any lag or delay.
Memory
Sufficient memory is essential for storing maps, waypoints, tracks, and other data in your GPS device. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 offer ample memory capacity to accommodate all your needs. The Garmin Tread features 16 GB of built-in memory, while the Montana 700 offers an impressive 8 GB of internal memory. Both devices also include a microSD card slot, allowing you to expand the memory further if desired. With this generous amount of storage space, you can confidently save all your favorite routes, waypoints, and maps, ensuring that you’re always prepared for your next adventure.
Operating System
The operating system (OS) of a GPS device plays a significant role in its overall performance and user experience. Both the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 run on Garmin’s trusted and reliable operating system. This OS is specifically designed for outdoor navigation, providing the necessary tools and features to navigate through various terrains and environments. It offers an intuitive user interface, making it easy to access and navigate the different menus, settings, and features of the GPS devices. With a familiar and user-friendly OS, you can quickly get acquainted with your new device and start enjoying your outdoor activities without any hassle.
Speed and Responsiveness
When it comes to offroad navigation, speed and responsiveness are paramount. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 deliver impressive speed and responsiveness, ensuring that you can navigate through menus, maps, and features without any lag or delay. The powerful processors and ample memory of these devices contribute to their snappy performance, allowing for quick map rendering, smooth panning and zooming, and fast route calculations. This speed and responsiveness ensure that you can make split-second decisions and stay on track, even in challenging and dynamic offroad situations.
Off-Road Features
Topo Maps
Topographic maps are essential for offroad navigation, as they provide detailed information about terrain, elevation, and natural features. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 both come with preloaded topographic maps, ensuring that you have access to detailed and accurate information about your surroundings. These maps are specifically designed for outdoor enthusiasts, offering contour lines, elevation profiles, and land feature details. Whether you’re hiking, camping, or riding your ATV or UTV, these topographic maps will help you navigate confidently through unfamiliar territories.
Hunt/Fish Calendar
For outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hunting or fishing, having a dedicated calendar can be a helpful tool. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 offer a Hunt/Fish calendar feature that provides information on the best hunting and fishing times based on various factors, such as solunar data and lunar phases. This feature can assist in planning your outdoor activities, ensuring that you maximize your chances of success and enjoyment. Whether you’re tracking game or casting your fishing line, the Hunt/Fish calendar feature will help you make the most of your time in the wilderness.
Geocaching
Geocaching is a popular activity that combines outdoor exploration with treasure hunting. If you’re into geocaching, both the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 have you covered. These devices support geocaching and allow you to search for, download, and log geocaches directly from your GPS. They provide detailed information about geocaches, such as difficulty rating, terrain rating, and hints. With these features, you can embark on exciting geocaching adventures, discovering hidden treasures and exploring new places while enjoying the thrill of the hunt.
Barometric Altimeter
For outdoor enthusiasts who venture into varying elevations, a barometric altimeter is a valuable feature. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 are equipped with barometric altimeters that accurately measure changes in altitude. This feature allows you to keep track of your elevation and monitor fluctuations in atmospheric pressure, providing you with valuable data for weather forecasting and activity planning. Whether you’re hiking in the mountains or riding your offroad vehicle through hilly terrains, the barometric altimeter ensures that you’re always aware of the changes in elevation and can adapt your navigation accordingly.
Compass
A compass is an indispensable tool for any outdoor adventurer, and the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 have you covered in this regard. Both devices feature built-in compasses that provide accurate directional information, ensuring that you can confidently navigate through unfamiliar territories. The compasses can be viewed as a traditional needle pointer or in a digital format, depending on your preference. With this essential tool at your disposal, you can always find your bearings and stay on the right path, even when facing challenging offroad conditions.
GPS Accuracy
GPS accuracy is crucial when it comes to offroad navigation, as it ensures that you stay on the correct route and reach your destination without any detours. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 utilize high-sensitivity GPS receivers, which provide exceptional accuracy and performance. These devices can quickly acquire satellite signals and accurately track your location, even in challenging environments with limited sky visibility. With their reliable GPS accuracy, you can confidently explore remote trails, dense forests, or rugged terrains, knowing that your GPS device will guide you with precision.
Usage
Motorcycle
For motorcycle enthusiasts, having a reliable offroad GPS device is invaluable. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 are well-suited for motorcycle usage, offering specific features and capabilities to enhance your riding experience. Both devices are designed to withstand the vibrations and impacts associated with motorcycle use, ensuring that they can handle the rigors of the road or the trail. They also provide motorcycle-specific routing options, taking into account factors such as road types, curves, and hills to provide the best riding experience. With these GPS devices, you can confidently hit the open road or explore off-the-beaten-path routes on your motorcycle.
ATV/UTV
When it comes to riding ATVs or UTVs, having a durable and reliable offroad GPS device is essential. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 are built to withstand the demands of offroad vehicle usage, ensuring that they can handle the bumps, vibrations, and dust associated with ATV and UTV adventures. Their rugged construction and IPX7 water resistance rating make them suitable for all-terrain use. Additionally, both devices offer offroad-specific mapping and routing capabilities, allowing you to navigate through trails and off-road areas with confidence. With these GPS devices, you can explore exciting offroad trails and optimize your ATV or UTV experience.
Hiking
Hiking enthusiasts require a GPS device that can accompany them on their outdoor adventures, providing accurate navigation and essential information. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 are designed to meet the needs of hikers, offering lightweight and compact designs that can be easily carried in a backpack or clipped to a belt. These devices provide detailed topographic maps, ensuring that you have valuable information about terrain, elevations, and natural features. They also offer extensive battery life, ensuring that they can last throughout long hikes in remote areas. With the Garmin Tread or Montana 700, you can confidently explore new hiking trails and experience the great outdoors.
Camping
Camping trips often involve exploring and navigating through unfamiliar camping grounds or remote areas. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 provide excellent companionship for camping enthusiasts, offering reliable navigation and useful camping-specific features. These devices include detailed topographic maps, allowing you to plan your camping routes, locate campsites, and explore the surrounding areas. They also offer information about nearby points of interest, such as campgrounds, hiking trails, or fishing spots. With the Garmin Tread or Montana 700 by your side, you can navigate through nature’s wonders and make the most of your camping adventures.
Off-Road Vehicle
Off-road vehicles, such as jeeps, trucks, or SUVs, require a GPS device that can handle their specific needs and challenges. The Garmin Tread and Montana 700 are well-suited for off-road vehicle usage, offering durable and rugged designs that can withstand the demands of these vehicles. They provide off-road specific routing and mapping capabilities, ensuring that you have the necessary information to navigate through challenging terrains and discover exciting trails. Additionally, both devices offer a range of features, such as points of interest and live weather updates, to enhance your off-road vehicle experience. Whether you’re exploring backcountry trails or conquering rugged terrains, the Garmin Tread or Montana 700 will be your reliable off-road companion.
Outdoor Exploration
For those who love exploring the great outdoors, the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 are the perfect companions. These GPS devices are designed with outdoor enthusiasts in mind, offering a range of features and capabilities to enhance your exploration. Whether you’re hiking, camping, off-roading, or simply enjoying outdoor adventures, the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 provide reliable navigation, detailed maps, and various tools to enrich your experiences. From finding hidden trails to discovering new points of interest, these devices will help you make the most of every outdoor exploration, ensuring you never miss out on the wonders nature has to offer.
Price
Garmin Tread
The Garmin Tread is a comprehensive and feature-packed offroad GPS device that offers excellent value for its price. With its rugged design, advanced mapping capabilities, and convenient wireless connectivity, the Garmin Tread provides all the essential features you need to navigate confidently through challenging terrains. It offers a balance of size, weight, and performance, making it suitable for various outdoor activities. Whether you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, an avid hiker, or an off-road vehicle aficionado, the Garmin Tread delivers exceptional value for its price, ensuring that you can embark on your outdoor adventures with peace of mind.
Montana 700
For those seeking a high-performance offroad GPS device with a larger screen and extensive features, the Montana 700 is an excellent choice. With its 5-inch touchscreen display, powerful processor, and generous memory capacity, the Montana 700 offers an immersive and seamless navigation experience. It boasts advanced mapping and routing capabilities, along with a wide range of additional features, such as a barometric altimeter and geocaching support. Although the Montana 700 comes at a higher price point, its exceptional performance, durability, and versatility make it a worthwhile investment for serious outdoor enthusiasts who demand the best features and performance from their GPS device.
Value for Money
When comparing the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 in terms of value for money, it’s essential to consider your specific needs and requirements. The Garmin Tread offers a more compact and lightweight design, making it suitable for a variety of outdoor activities at a more affordable price point. On the other hand, the Montana 700 provides a larger screen, more advanced features, and enhanced performance, offering excellent value for those who demand the best in offroad navigation. Both devices excel in their respective categories, and the choice between them ultimately depends on your personal preferences, budget, and the specific features and capabilities you prioritize in an offroad GPS device.
Customer Reviews
Pros
Throughout customer reviews, the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 have received overwhelmingly positive feedback. Customers appreciate the rugged design and durability of both devices, highlighting their ability to withstand harsh outdoor conditions. The ease of use, intuitive interface, and responsive touchscreens of the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 are also highly praised, making them user-friendly for both beginners and experienced outdoor enthusiasts. Customers also value the comprehensive mapping and navigation features, including the availability of topographic maps, points of interest, and accurate routing. The battery life of both devices is often commended, providing sufficient power for extended outdoor adventures. Overall, customers appreciate the value, reliability, and performance offered by the Garmin Tread and Montana 700, recommending them as top choices for offroad GPS devices.
Cons
While the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 have received predominantly positive reviews, some customers have mentioned a few minor drawbacks. The size of the Garmin Tread’s display has been a topic of discussion, with some customers desiring a larger screen for improved visibility. Additionally, a few users have reported occasional software glitches or issues with software updates. However, these incidents appear to be isolated and are typically resolved by Garmin’s prompt customer support. It’s worth noting that personal preferences can also influence the perception of certain features or aspects of the devices, making it essential to consider individual needs when determining any potential cons.
Comparison with Other GPS Devices
When comparing the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 with other GPS devices on the market, they consistently rank among the top choices for offroad navigation. Customers often highlight the superior build quality, comprehensive mapping capabilities, and reliable performance of both devices. While there are other GPS options available, it’s clear that the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 offer exceptional features, versatility, and value that make them stand out from the competition. Whether it’s in terms of size and weight, display quality, battery life, or offroad-specific features, the Garmin Tread and Montana 700 continue to be favored by outdoor enthusiasts, earning them a reputation as dependable and trustworthy offroad GPS devices.