Garmin Overlander Goes Off-Road With Adventure Focused Features
Garmin has a new GPS navigation device, and while smartphones may have taken over in-car directions, the Garmin Overlander aims to prove that standalone still has its place. Targeting the overlanding community, the eponymous all-in-one navigator includes not only road mapping and directions but topographical mapping, too.
So, whereas Google Maps or your car's in-built navigation system might give up when you get off the regular roadways and paths, Garmin's Overlander promises to keep on kicking. It supports off-grid guidance of public land boundaries, 4x4 roads for North and South America, along with points-of-interest specifically catering to overlanding enthusiasts.
That means things like POIs from iOverlander, the non-profit mapping project for overlander accommodation listings and more. There's also Ultimate Public Campgrounds data, with information on camping locations along with hunting and fishing spots. Since they're stored locally, the Overlander doesn't require a data connection in order to serve them up.
It doesn't mean there isn't wireless connectivity, however. Garmin allows destinations and trips to be set up from a phone or desktop, and then be synchronized to the Overlander. Routes also take into account factors which road drivers don't, typically, need to consider. You can program Garmin's navigator with your overlanding vehicle's height, length, and weight, for example, so that it will only suggest routes appropriate to its size.
Pitch and roll gauges are integrated, along with a digital compass and a barometric altimeter. There's support for synchronizing different mapping overlays, too, like satellite imagery and USGS quad sheets. Everything is controlled with a 7-inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen, and there's 64GB of storage.
If you have a Garmin inReach Mini satellite communicator, meanwhile, you can connect that to the Overlander. That allows for two-way text messaging off the grid, along with SOS distress signals. It'll work with up to four BC 35 backup cameras, and the Overlander is weatherproof – with MIL-STD-810 drop rating and IP5X dust rating – and comes with a powered magnetic mount and adapter. Battery life is up to three hours.
Garmin says the Overlander is available to order from today. It's priced at $699.99, while the inReach Mini is currently $299.99.