Summary
The Garmin Oregon 550 is a rugged, waterproof handheld navigator ideal for hiking and other outdoor adventures. Its features include touchscreen interface, a 3.2 megapixel camera, barometric altimeter and a 3-axis compass—all that on top of the high-sensitive GPS system Garmin is known for.
The Oregon 550 camera is capable of 4x digital zoom. Each photo captured can be geotagged, letting let you navigate to the exact same spot in the future. Online photo storage is available at myDashboard at Picasa.
Navigation becomes easier with sunlight-readable touchscreen controls. Wireless sharing of maps, waypoints, routes, tracks and geocahes is possible with many compatible handheld GPS devices. An ideal handheld for geocachers, the Oregon 550 will let you download GPX files from OpenCaching.com. As the unit is able to store location, hints, and other terrain data, geocahers don’t need to manually enter coordinates or make paper printouts.
This unit is capable of loading up on a wide array of maps and topographic data with ample memory space—850MB internal, plus a slot for a Micro SDcard. Preloaded cards for City Navigator can be used as well. Satellite images can be downloaded with a BirdsEye subscription.
Note that the Garmin Oregon comes in 4 different models. In addition to the 550, there is the Garmin Oregon 550t which is the 550 with a set of topographical maps. There is also the Garmin Oregon 450, which is essentially the same as the 550 but without the camera. Finally, there is the Garmin Oregon 450t – which is the 450 pre-loaded with topographical maps.
Product Snapshot
Amazon Price: $419.99
Amazon Ranking: 
Sample Customer Reviews
Some quotes from customer reviews of the Garmin Oregon 550 on Amazon:
“Garmin Oregon is to GPS as Apple iPhone is to cellular .”
“The touch screen made navigation a night and day experience, especially typing in addresses or other POI.”
“Great product, great set of features, compact, rugged, easy to use. The touchscreen is very comfortable to use, accurate. The software is great, lots of functions, got everything I wanted.”
Features
The Oregon 550 uses a high-sensitive WAAS-enabled receiver for fast and reliable GPS reception. HotFix satellite prediction gives quick and precise location data—even in dense forests or concrete urban jungles.
A tilt-compensated, 3-axis electronic compass shows direction even on standstill—and even if not held on even levels. A barometric altimeter can track changes in pressure for precise altitude data. This is also good for monitoring changing weather patterns.
This rugged GPS is waterproof and can withstand, dust, dirt, humidity and minor bumps.
The touchscreen makes interface easy and information access quite intuitive. The screen is 3 inches diagonal, colored and sunlight-readable.
The Oregon 550 is geocache-friendly. It supports GPX files downloadable form OpenCaching.com. As data can be stored on the device itself, geocachers don’t need to print maps or manually enter coordinates.
The unit comes with basemaps, but a Micro SDcard slot lets users add even more maps, marine and topographic data into the GPS device. Built-in memory is 850 MB.
Wireless data transfers with other Garmin devices is possible. The Oregon 550 is supported by Garmin Connect—an online community where data can be analyzed, categorized and shared.
Other technical specifications for the Garmin Oregon 550:
- The device measures 2.3″ x 4.5″ x 1.4″ (5.8 x 11.4 x 3.5 cm)
- Display size is 1.53″W x 2.55″H (3.8 x 6.3 cm); 3″ diagonal (7.6 cm)
- Display type is transflective color TFT
- 2 AA NiMH batteries with charger included
- Battery life averages 16 hours
- Waterproof rated IPX7
- High-speed USB and NMEA 0183 compatible
Each unit of the Garmin Oregon 550 comes with a carabiner clip, USB cable, 2 AA NiMH batteries, battery charger and manuals. Other accessories are sold separately.
Tips for Using the Garmin Oregon 550
After purchasing this GPS, one of the first things you should do is register the device on the Garmin website. This will give you access to GarminConnect where you should update the firmware as soon as possible. Updates come out regularly, so make sure your Oregon is using the latest firmware, otherwise your GPS may act slow or become unreliable.
This is a good GPS handheld, but it needs maps to be of good use and the basemaps that come with it are just not enough. Be ready to spend for added maps. However, with a little Internet research you will be able to find some free maps.
Some people have complained about the Oregon screen’s readability. You shouldn’t have any trouble if you do the following:
- If you are using it in sunny conditions, disable “shading if available” mode.
- If under the shade, but still outdoors during the day, put the backlight on maximum setting.
- Switch to alkaline batteries for more light power and screen clarity. When using the NiMH rechargeable batteries, I observed that clarity was compromised—I’m assuming that’s because NiMH voltage is lower.
Finally, I would suggest using this unit for a week or so before relying on it on an actual trip. There are many features you’ll need to get familiar with before you can maximize the Oregon’s power as a handheld GPS. Navigating involves a learning curve. Best to learn without the pressure. Best to know how to use it when you really need it. But once you’re well acquainted with this GPS, it can be your best friend in any adventure.
Pricing
Assessment
Pros
Garmin’s usual reliability when it comes to GPS is evident in the Oregon. Signal pick up is fast. Data is accurate and I’d say within a 6 foot range.
The touchscreen makes interface much more intuitive. It makes it so much easier to type in an address or other points of interest. Screen resolution is also good. No need to zoom in to see details. Topographic maps come out clearly.
I’m very happy with the camera. Pictures came out better than I had expected. I especially like that the camera can be used for geotagging. Take a picture, then the Oregon marks your location and automatically you have GPS coordinates that will take you back that exact same spot in the future. Very cool.
Paperless geocaching is another plus—no more maps to print, carry and unfurl on a trip. There is a lot of info that can be stored in the 850MB internal memory, plus more on a Micro SDcard. The unit is also quite sturdy. It is compact and portable but can definitely take some rough handling on the trails or on the road.
Cons
You need to spend a lot for maps. For the price tag on this, I think Garmin could have provided more free maps. The basemaps that come with it are practically useless.
Software glitches sometimes surface, making the device slow down or become unreliable. However, if you make sure your firmware is up to date this shouldn’t be a problem.
Alternatives
When it comes to GPS devices, I find Garmin to be quite reliable—which is why I am only giving alternatives from the same manufacturer. Garmin has a wide range of handheld devices though, so I think it’s ideal to take a look at other units within the Oregon line when talking alternatives to the 550. They are very similar to each other, but variations on price and some features may point you towards another Oregon model.
The Garmin Oregon comes in 3 other flavors:
The Garmin Oregon 450 is another high-sensitive handheld GPS enabled with HotFix for enhanced performance and satellite reception. It has most of the 550’s features including sunlight-readable touchscreen display, electronic compass and barometer. The major difference is that it does not have a camera. If you can do without the camera and geotagging, you can save yourself more than $80.00 by getting the Oregon 450. It retails in Amazon for $337.60.
The Garmin Oregon 450t is exactly the same as the 450, except that this comes preloaded with US Topographic 100k maps. For adding those maps, the price on this is a little higher. Amazon sells the Oregon 450t at $399.86.
The Garmin Oregon 550t is also exactly the same as the 550 in terms of features—including the built-in camera for geotagging. The price tag is a little higher on this because, like the 450t, it comes preloaded with US Topographic 100k maps. Amazon’s best price for the 550t is $489.99.
Conclusion
The Garmin Oregon 550 does not come cheap, but it delivers on a lot of great features for a handheld navigator. This is a highly sensitive, quick and precise GPS. It’s compact, but also tough and waterproof. You have to pay for extra maps, but loading it up with the topographic info you need will showcase how powerful the Oregon is. Touchscreen interface makes navigating much easier than old-school GPS handhelds. Geocachers can go on their adventures without need for maps or paper data—as you can store everything in the device. The camera is good for geotagging. Snap a picture and you can get coordinates on that exact same spot for a future trip.