Amazon.com Review: Magellan's GPS 315 doesn't have a lot of advanced features, but it does provide positional and directional readings accurate enough to help you find your way back to base camp when you're out in the woods. This portable global positioning system is one of the most compact we've ever tested, and it features a crisp display for the pages of information it throws at users.
The GPS 315 is designed more for outdoor use than car navigation and doesn't display road maps. It does have a database of over 15,000 cities and the capability to accept up to 500 user-defined waypoints, so it still works fairly well for giving you bearings to the next town or point of interest. We used the tracking features extensively, which let us leave a "bread crumb" trail as we traveled. This was especially helpful when we were backtracking along the same route, as we were able to easily compare our current position with the trail on the display.
The display has two levels of backlighting, a feature that drains the unit's two AA batteries at a frightening rate. However, without the backlight on, we got more than 12 hours of use from the unit.
The GPS 315 uses simple controls that let users page through its numerous data screens. As long as we were moving the compass, the screens worked well; we especially liked the graphical compass that pointed out our current direction of travel and the bearing to a waypoint at the same time. The device can also serve as a full-fledged trip computer, measuring distance, average speed, and providing an estimated time of arrival. Perhaps the best thing about the GPS 315 is that all the data screens are fully customizable, letting users create their own data pages containing only the data they want to see.
Although Magellan doesn't include a lot of goodies in the box, the GPS 315 has many optional accessories that increase its capabilities. For example, you can get a PC cable to upload topographical and street map data. Without all the extras the GPS 315 is better suited for hikers and boaters than highway travelers, but it's an accurate and inexpensive way to keep your bearings. --T. Byrl Baker
Pros:
Clear, high-resolution screen
Customizable data pages
Great accuracy
Relatively inexpensive
Cons:
No road maps or other detailed data included
No built-in routing ability
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Does not hold up
After about six months of use it started using batteries even though it was turned off. A few months later it quit working completely. I sent it in to be repaired under warranty. They sent me a new one along with a power cable. It worked fine for about four months (it only had a 90 day warranty), before it did the same thing. I turn it on now and the whole screen goes black. It worked very well and I liked the GPS and functioanlity, when it worked. I am now stuck with a non-working GPS and the accessories that I won't be able to use with the Garmin I plan on buying. Everyone I have talked to told ... Read More
Rating: - not bad, but maps are better
Liked the reception of this vs. the Garmin unit I had previously. But soon learned that maps are the way to go. I upgraded to a Map330 soon after trying the 315.
Rating: - Great device
This is my first GPS unit and I could not be more pleased. It is simple to use and easy to carry. I have used it to mark Civil War battle sites and to find bench marks. It takes me right to the bench marks. If you are looking for a good unit, the 315 is the one you are looking for.
Rating: - I like it a lot!
This is excellent! I can use this thing and get right on op of a coord. I use it geocaching and it fairs well in all situations except in steel buildings and brick walls. I have dropped it, sat on it and soaked it in water and snow and I have not had one problem with it.
Rating: - needs better waterproofing
This unit is pretty good for the price. It basically works well in most cases and has all the basic features. That said, it has weak points: it can take a while to lock and needs an open area out of the woods to pick up the satellites, the user interface is a little clunky and processing a little slow, batteries are used up quickly, and most importantly it seems too sensitive to moisture. Mine died when it was in a coat pocket and we got caught in a rainstorm. We expected it to be basically waterproof, but it condensation got in somehow and it died. Water could be a problem if you're relying on ... Read More
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