Garmin owners are incredible. We knew we would get entries when we launched the "YOU take US there" contest, but we honestly didn't know what to expect. Needless to say, Garmin owners have been filling our inbox with stories about how they use their Garmin device.  If you haven't entered yet, make sure you do. It's extremely easy to do. Send an email to garminblogs@garmin.com explaining how you use your Garmin. You need to send a picture too. We want to hear from everyone, so keep those emails coming.  If we publish your entry on the blog, we'll send you a limited edition Garmin T-shirt that was made just for this contest.  We plan to post winners on Friday. Stop by next Friday to see if you're the next proud owner of a limited edition Garmin T-shirt.

Garmin GPSMAP 60cs Shows The Way

I am a convoy Security Escort Team Leader in Iraq.  My job is to escort cargo anywhere the military wants it to go, in Iraq. We travel to the worst places while escorting truckloads of equipment that is usually being turned over to the Iraqi National Guard or the Iraqi Police.  By increasing their capability to support themselves, I hope I am helping bring this mission to a successful close.

We take routes to Fallujah, Ramadi and throughout the infamous Sunni Triangle.  Often we travel through areas controlled by insurgents and militia.  One wrong turn and I take 40 or 50 men and a lot of valuable cargo into the bad guy’s back yard.  So I spend a lot of time on route planning to make sure I know the way.  I plot my route on Garmin Map Source marking medical facilities and friendly safe havens along the way.  Then I dump the route and waypoints into my Garmin GPSMAP 60CS.  The 60CS is my primary source of route information as we crawl along the highway, sometimes at night.  I use it to mark the locations of previous IED’s as they often use the same holes over and over.  I also use it to mark the spots we are ambushed so I can show my fellow Team Leaders the areas to be careful in.

Redundancy is important here.  I also use my Garmin Rino 130 as a back up.  The FRS feature was very good for being dismounted in urban environments.  Especially helpful is the electronic compass so it is not necessary to give away your position to find out the direction.  Talking to other team members was a great feature until the bad guys started scanning our freqs.  I still use it as a reliable backup to my 60CS.  I have used it many times in the states while hiking and on the ski slopes to stay in touch with my friends.

Attached is a picture of my gear laid out.  Along with my body armor, load bearing vest, AK and 9mm pistol I consider my Garmins to be necessary equipment for operations.  I’m proud to put it at the center of my gear and appreciate the engineering excellence that goes into making Garmin GPSmap products reliable enough to stake my life on.

- Name withheld for security reasons
Baghdad, Iraq

Garmin eTrex Helps You Find the Cache

I started Geocaching in Wisconsin last summer with some friends of mine.  I bought an eTrex.  Then I had to move to Florida.  It was way more fun in Wisconsin.  Wisconsin parks are nice and neat and the caches are normal and relatively easy to to find.  Here, however, I notice that most of the caches are micro caches (very small) and now I and dealing with very prickly plants, snakes, bugs and alligators.  Not to mention I think I am going to have a heat stroke every time I go looking. I can’t imagine doing this without my Garmin though.  And I know neither me nor my kids would survive!  Plus it is good exercise which is one reason I do it to begin with.  Thanks for my Garmin!

- Deb L.
Clearwater, FL

Garmin Forerunner 205 - Important As Running Shoes

I have owned multiple Garmins, from the 201 for myself (which my wife now uses) to a 101 for my wife (which a running buddy now uses) to a Quest for my in car needs. I have to say that Garmin truly is the best brand out there.

When I first got the 201 I was so impressed by how much better it was than the other running options out there. I sent in my praises but also included a small wish list of slight improvements (more watch-like design, better strap, ability to load routes and workouts, better signal strength, etc.) And low and behold you were listening, as I saw gradual changes until the culmination in the 205 and 305 series. Bravo!!!!!!

I love the ability to load workouts on the Garmin, as I have started doing a lot of Lactate Threshold workouts leading up to this past May 14th Mississauga, ON marathon. It’s great having the Garmin tell me when it’s time to change pace. One less thing to worry about. The signal on this thing is also amazing as it even holds a strong signal when we’re having coffee after our long runs!!

I attribute a lot to this device for my 27min improvement in my 2nd marathon which was a 3:31:51. Next is a 50km run at the end of June and then into more rigorous training for this fall as I intend to qualify for Boston (I need a 3:15).

I have enclosed a photo of me just prior to the Mississauga Marathon, wearing my 205, of course. IT IS AS IMPORTANT TO ME AS MY RUNNING SHOES!!!!!! Thank you again, Garmin for always listening and having the drive to improve an already superior product.

- Mike B.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (eh!)

Garmin StreetPilot Makes Any Location Feel Like Home

Thanks to being able to rent a StreetPilot from the airport Enterprise Rental Car place in Phoenix, I was able to confidently drive to Flagstaff on basically a whim while my wife attended a conference and proceed to climb Humphreys Peak, at 12,633 feet the highest point in Arizona!  Not bad for a guy that lives outside of Toledo, Ohio…  Upon returning home to Ohio, I promptly ordered a c320 and have planned a trip to Vegas to attempt a climb up Mount Charleston (Nevada’s highest point.)  The confidence these units bring to really exploring a new place and getting off the beaten tourist paths is priceless!  I couldn’t be happier with it.

- Dennis G.
Toledo, OH

Garmin GPSMAP 76 Goes Geocaching

Gorgeous Spring day in the Southeast and great day to play hooky from work and go geocaching!  A group of us met for the Wanna Go lunch outing event in the area and we all proceeded to find this cache as a group afterwards. This photo was the "money shot" for logging a find on the cache. Great view! Logging at AtlantaGal, I've found around 1500 geocaches with this unit. It's my 3rd Garmin owned!

- Marianne R.
Marietta, GA