Quietly released last week, the new Garmin eTrex Touch features a high-resolution touch screen, pre-loaded topographic maps, and an Expedition Mode that allows for up to 650 hours of battery life. Take a closer look here…

While the eTrex models aren’t cycling-specific, they are a favorite among bikepackers looking for a simple and streamlined navigation device without all the bells and whistles typically found on cycling GPS devices today. For many us who have been at this for a while, the trusty eTrex 20x and 30x devices were once, and still are, the gold standard for multi-day navigation.

garmin etrex bikepacking navigation

Garmin has kept on top of the eTrex series, introducing the 22x and 32x in 2019, a simplified eTrex SE in 2023, and then the eTrex Solar the same year. The eTrex Solar has a lot going for it, but it was stripped back to its simplest form, featuring a black and white screen and lacking the ability to add basemaps, which is a deal-breaker for many of us. Last week, Garmin introduced the new eTrex Touch, which, as the name suggests, is the latest eTrex device with a touch screen—the first being the eTrex Touch 23 and 35 devices in 2015.

garmin etrex touch

The Garmin eTrex Touch features a high-resolution touchscreen that allows users to easily swipe and zoom in on their routes. It also comes with preloaded TopoActive maps for roads and trails, as well as the option to add an Outdoor Maps+ plan ($4.99+ per month) for access to additional premium mapping content. Right out of the box, the device offers up to 130 hours of battery life, but in Expedition Mode, it can run for up to 650 hours (27 days!). In Expedition Mode, the screen shuts off, the device enters low power mode, and it collects fewer GPS track points.

Other promising features include a rugged build, an IP67 dust/water rating, Multi-band GPS support for superior location accuracy, and the ability to connect with the Garmin Explore smartphone app for seamless trip planning or managing waypoints, courses, and activities.

The Garmin eTrex Touch is available now for $449.99 USD from Garmin.com or from REI.com.

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