I owned a Garmin 40 for two years until it leaked. It was a diappointment because I lost about forty-five waypoints in memory.The Garmin guarantee was for only one year, but they would repair it for a service charge of $80.00. I chose to replace it, this past spring, with a Magellan color track which cost under $300.00.
The Magellan has a 12 parallel channel receiver, plenty of memory and a color display. One of the most important features that helped me make my decision was that it had a rubber coated housing, which gave me confidence that it would stay dry. Another feature that makes this GPS unique is a removable antenna. With the optional cable ($30.00 ) I can use the unit in my car by putting the receiver in my cupholder, and attaching the antenna to the windshield. The cable comes with a suctioncup. Another use the detachable antanna allows me is to track my progress as I hike through the woods. With the receiver in its holster on my hip, and the antenna attached to the adjustable tab on my ball cap, I am able to stay locked on for all but the most dense overhead cover. When I complete my hike not only do I have an accurate plot of my trek but the unit provides me with the exact distance traveled.
Now with all that said, and I am very happy with my Magellan, I realize that GPS technology changes every year. If I were to buy a GPS this year I would take a look at the Lowrance model featured in the Cabelas Christmas catalog. Instead of buying expensive chips for background maps this new unit comes with a CD-rom which allows you to download maps covering your area of interest. I dont know what level of detail this technology provides but I certainly would look into it.