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Arguments to buy an H1

empe

In spite of all concerns about the H1, all the bug, are there good reasons to buy one?

I own a Tactix 8 and will use it as primary device. The H1 I would use for better orientation, as a screen of a watch is rather small. For side seeing in urban areas with many POI and many saved waypoints, with an H1  it could be easier to navigate one by one to each of them just be scrolling and touching the POIs.  Entering approaching alarms seem to be easier to enter than on a watch. As an outdoor plus subscriber I expect to switch easier from one map style to another. 

I am thinking about the H1i Plus, because of the camera. For OSMapping the camera could be useful to take pictures of objects to update open street map data base. Sure, I could do it also with a mobil, but I don't want to fill up my library with pictures like road surfaces or picnic sites. And with an H1i Plus I expect to  have the more precise coordinates and through Explore easier access to them. I am wondering, if the locations of pictures are visible in Explore IOS too (?).

I recently was hiking on hard visible trails in heavy rain like a shower. All was wet, the Fenix, the iPhone and the underwear.  The touch screens did not responded properly and did what the raindrops wanted them to do. Under such condition it was difficult to navigate. I wish I would have had an H1.

Thank you in advance you comments.

  • 0

    You can do everything you just described easily and correctly on your phone, without spending a single cent.

    I’ve had the H1 since launch day and, honestly, I’m not happy with it. The device is riddled with serious bugs and random reboots. The functionality feels stripped down, and Garmin’s approach to bug fixing has been pretty chaotic so far. To be real, I’d be genuinely worried about taking this as my only device into unknown, rugged terrain

    I’ve owned GPSMap units since the 60CSx days, and the H1 is definitely my last Garmin.

    It feels like Garmin is 100% focused on watches now, treating the handheld/outdoor segment as a dying niche. I’m worried they won't even get this unit to an acceptable state before they push out an 'H2' version, leaving me with a several-hundred-dollar paperweight or forced to sell it for 50% of what I paid.

    Personally, I can't recommend it. It's a waste of time and money; a smartphone handles everything much better. If you're worried about your phone’s durability, just get a second 'rugged' phone as a backup and you're good to go

  • 0

    My Hot-Take - I have an H1i and like it. This is my 4th Garmin handheld. I live in a very cold environment and carry this with me on rides, runs, and hikes; it has the same approximate dimensions and weight as a large-screen phone. Unlike a phone, which ceases to work effectively below 10F, this still works with the physical buttons. Since early December, I have run in temps as low as -20F and would never trust a phone to be my sole device. The H1i is my primary, and the phone is a backup. The H1i is a better package overall to rely on vs the phone and inReach combo.

    The interface is much more phone-like than in the past, with phone-like swipe actions, screen configurations, and general look and feel. I understand and begrudgingly accept my beta tester status as an early adopter. I have even recently accepted the demise of Basecamp and the lack of a real desktop/web app offering from Garmin. Doing the Gaia-CalTopo-Google Maps dance is tedious for sure, but they are better services, are maintained, and are hard to compete with. Garmin's almost full pivot to the wearables market is driving its business, which means handhelds are along for the ride, and this device wants to lean into that. The subscription services Connect+ and Maps+ are currently pretty weak overall, but I am adapting to a new workflow to wirelessly sync points and courses between the H1i and phone.

    The cons: the bugs are blatant and should never have passed basic UI testing. This was a rushed release. The screen brightness is marginal; it lacks modern contrast. It could turn out to be a cash grab from the old guard before the ultimate demise of the premium handheld. It has potential, but it is far from perfect. The next 12 months will be key.

  • 0 in reply to northland5

    Two big cons for me aside from the bugs are it’s heavier and has a dimmer screen than my 67i. So unless you’re one of those people that likes to buy every garmin device to support their company, I’d wait. I see the H1 plus as similar to a major model change in a vehicle. It’s never a good choice to buy the first one as it’s probably not going to be as good as the next model they make. Why is it that the screen is dimmer than other models? Garmin cheaped out?  Maybe you have to ask yourself if you would buy new cell phone with a dimmer screen than your previous one, and a lower end camera too? Where I am this cost the same as a high end iPhone, so no thanks. It better be really good for that price, and it’s not even close to that.

  • 0

    I'm 50-50 with my H1. I've been using Garmin devices since the Dakota 20 (also Oregon 700, GPSMAP 66sr, GPSMAP 67, various Edge cycling computers, inReach Messenger and Mini 2).

    Things I like:

    • form factor feels better to me. Yes it's a bit bigger, but I like how it feels when using it.
    • larger screen. Brightness doesn't bother me that much, automatic mode is too dim (to save battery?) but on manual mode it's fine for me.
    • touch. I find I use the touch screen more than the buttons.
    • user experience (UX). the UX, while not perfect, is much more intuitive than on previous devices. I got used to the UX of the GPSMAP 66/67 series, but it's not very intuitive.
    • faster map draw speed.
    • just having courses makes it simpler to use than messing with routes and tracks. On my GPSMAP 67 I also only used courses, so less complexity (for me). But I'm missing a good planner that outputs FIT files with course points and that wirelessly syncs with the H1. I can't get Explore to add course points of my choosing to an existing course.

    Things I don't like:

    • bugs. Many bugs. Again, not something new with Garmin, but this time it's atrocious.
    • missing features. Where for example is the Ascent Planner that's on the product page for the H1i Plus?
    • total ascent/descent values are still too high. was an issue with the 67, I hoped the H1 would improve, but apparently not.
    • course navigation with routing seems to be working worse than with 67. Course calculation errors when you deviate, trying to re-route you back where you left the course (I just want to continue, not go back), course disappearing, etc. Often the breadcrumb navigation with off course alerts is sufficient, but sometimes I want to get a notification when a turn is coming up.
    • inconsistencies in UX. For example, why can I pan/zoom with touch in the map app, but not in the preview of a course or waypoint?
    • accuracy seems worse than the GPSMAP 67. The accuracy displayed in the satellite page is consistently lower than on the 67. Also track accuracy seems to struggle more in environments with lots of reflections. I would be interested to see how accuracy compares to the Fenix 8, which uses the same GNSS chipset (afaik). I would expect with the better antenna on the H1 that accuracy would be better.

    I'm contemplating getting a Fenix 8 instead of the H1, but not sure if I will get a better experience.

  • 0 in reply to JungleJim

    Good evening everyone.

    I bought and returned the H1 Plus after 11 days.

    For me it was not possible to accept the way this device is presented, with many missing features and, above all, operational issues.

    The missing features and problems have already been listed by several users and I won’t repeat them.

    As far as I’m concerned, the worst problem is (also on this device) the disproportionate accumulation of total ascent and descent, a problem that cannot be fixed the way it can on the 67i.

    On the 67i this problem is caused by the buttons.

    Using the buttons while the track is being recorded (so while moving) causes this accumulation of total ascent and descent.

    The ascent/descent accumulation is especially visible on flat sections where, on the contrary, it should remain very limited.

    If you don’t touch the buttons, the 67i provides ascent and descent data that are consistent and very, very similar to my Tactix watches.

    So when I use it attached to my backpack shoulder strap there are no risks and, if I need to press the buttons, I first stop, wait a few seconds, check the GPSMAP 67i, and then start moving again.

    Even in this way the ascent and descent data are not distorted.

    With these small precautions the 67i is very solid as far as metrics in general are concerned.

    It also has excellent battery life (even in the cold), the screen is great, and the way I’ve set it up works perfectly for me.

    It has never happened that it suddenly shut down during activities and overall it has impressive signal stability, which translates into very good track recording.

    I set the recording rate to 1 Hz.

    As for navigation, I have no problems, but it could be that the simple way I use active navigation is not suitable for other users.

    As for the data pages, I only use 4 screens depending on my needs, in this order: map, trip computer with 8 custom fields for my use (plus a second added page dedicated exclusively to navigation data when navigation is active), altimeter, and compass.

    Software-wise I stayed on version 7.60 with GPS 2.46 and I will not update it.

    A colleague of mine with a regular 67 who keeps it updated (latest version 9.34 and GPS 11.02) sees the position drift a lot while standing still (but not while moving).

    For me this is not acceptable, and the software version I kept does not have this problem at all.

    Sorry for the long message.

  • 0 in reply to Manu

    In general I’m pretty happy with my 67i as well. Just a bit annoyed that some of the last remaining issues most likely won’t be fixed as it appears Garmin has abandoned it. The H1 plus was and still is a total train wreck in my opinion, obviously never tested before release. It’s like Garmin’s new way is to produce a total dud software wise and start from the ground up once it’s released to build it, but tell you ahead of time on a glossy brochure about all the wonderful things it can do, but in reality it can barely turn on and doesn’t even have some of the features they tell you about. 

  • 0

    Thank you for your comments. They are mainly about the bugs which were reported before, but not much good arguments.  I could compensate the cons with my Tactix, but pros are too little for me to buy one. So I will wait and see.

    Thank you again.

  • 0

    To set the scene:
    I'm a long-time Garmin user, both watches and handhelds. I have an iPhone and use its mapping/navigation capabilities including the (UK) Ordnance Survey app/subscription.  I have a Garmin GPSMAP 66s with the 1:50000 UK mapping.  I have a Fenix 8 Pro.  I have Connect +, Outdoor Maps + and an inReach plan.

    I recently bought the H1 to replace my 66s. 

    It's far easier to create 'Courses' now and use them with the H1 rather than the 'routes' on the 66s.  And it's far easier to navigate with the H1 than using my iPhone.  Creating a Course in the OS Maps app and exporting to Garmin Explore is now simply a button press.  Download it to the H1 over bluetooth and you're good to go.  Set the H1 to follow the course and away you go.  Perfect.  

    The H1 is designed for the job.  Your iPhone isn't.  The H1 will hang on your belt/rucksack in all weathers - and it'll be happy.  

    I haven't experienced any issues or bugs (but obviously they exist as other have mentioned).

    The H1 is far easier to use than the 66s - the buttons in conjunction with the touchscreen really makes things easier and quicker.  It's easier to navigate with the H1 rather than the Fenix 8Pro due to the larger screen.

    Screen brightness: it's brighter than my 66s.  However, as Jungle Jim points out here, if you have the screen on auto-brightness, it does keep it dimmer than the manual brightness option.

    I don't think you'll be disappointed with an H1; it's a great bit of kit and you'll get more benefit out of your Outdoor + subscription.  I wouldn't pay the extra for the H1i Plus just for the camera - just use your phone then delete afterwards.  Spend the extra money on the Garmin Topo maps download instead.

  • 0

    There is no reason to buy a h1 currently. It has several fatal flaws that renders is completely dead, apart from all the other bugs.

    Until Garmin fixes this _and_ shows they won't re-break it with the next updates, ypur phone is a better backup and much more reliable (shamefully enough).

  • 0 in reply to Cargotourercommuter

    What are, in your opinion, the fatal flaws? It could help others to determine whether these flaws are fatal for them as well...