Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Garmin GPSMAP 66sr vs Garmin GPSMAP 65
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Handheld GPS Units: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The 66sr combines multi-band support with a rechargeable battery rated up to 36 hours and a larger screen. The 65 keeps the multi-band hardware and AA batteries for a lower tier.
Garmin GPSMAP 66sr
Buy itA multi-band handheld with a 3-inch screen and a rechargeable battery rated up to 36 hours.
- Multi-band frequency support plus GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and QZSS is the strongest position-fix hardware in this group, aimed at canyons, dense trees and ridgelines where signals bounce.
- The internal lithium-ion battery is rated up to 36 hours, and Garmin lists up to 450 hours in expedition mode for multi-day trips.
- It pairs over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi with Garmin's phone app for smart notifications, and it has a barometric altimeter, a 3-axis compass and a MIL-STD-810 rating.
- The battery is built in, so you cannot swap in fresh AAs on a long trip and need a power bank or wall charger to refill it.
- It is the second-heaviest unit here at 8.1 oz (230 g), and the buttons-only design means no touchscreen shortcuts.
- It sits at the top of this group on cost, and Garmin's own page listed a longer lead time at the time of writing.
Garmin GPSMAP 65
Buy itThe same multi-band satellite tech as the 66sr in a cheaper, AA-powered body with a 2.6-inch screen.
- It lists multi-band frequency support and the same four satellite systems as the 66sr, so the position-fix hardware is not what you give up to save money.
- Two AA batteries (NiMH or lithium recommended) are rated up to 16 hours, and you can carry spares and swap them in the field.
- Preloaded routable TopoActive maps, Bluetooth and ANT+, smart notifications and Garmin Explore support come in the box, with microSD up to 32 GB for more maps.
- The screen is 2.6 inches at 160 x 240 pixels, noticeably smaller and coarser than the 66sr.
- Garmin's spec list for this model shows no barometric altimeter or tilt-compensated compass, only a GPS compass while moving, so elevation comes from satellites.
- There is no Wi-Fi and no expedition mode listed, so battery life is 16 hours per set of AAs.
Side by side
| Garmin GPSMAP 66sr | Garmin GPSMAP 65 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | A frequent hiker who wants the best satellite lock and the longest battery without carrying spare cells. | A hiker who wants multi-band accuracy and swappable AAs without paying for the top model. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Garmin GPSMAP 66sr - A multi-band handheld with a 3-inch screen and a rechargeable battery rated up to 36 hours. Choose the Garmin GPSMAP 65 instead if a hiker who wants multi-band accuracy and swappable AAs without paying for the top model.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Handheld GPS Units: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).