Recommended 7” GPS and Sonar

[Jeff Gignac]

Dad is getting a new runabout to leave at the cottage and is looking to get best value 7” GPS and Sonar. GPS will be more important than sonar. Humminbird or Garmin?

I know Lowrance CS doesn’t get much praise but are their hook units any good?

thanks for your insight!

[rds_nc]

I’d watch the swap and sell forums on here to get an idea of prices and stuff then jump on a good deal when someone is upgrading. That’s what I did for a 9” unit on my kayak.

[basscat tyler]

After owning a Garmin 93sv and also a Helix 7. I’d go with a Garmin 73sv. Much more user friendly imo. The Helix 7 doesn’t have shortcut buttons to switch screens, so you have to keep pushing buttons to scroll through your settings. The Garmin is touchscreen and also has shortcut buttons. Just my opinion

[cubswin]

Helix 9 has shortcuts, believe case is same as 7”. Not 100%.

Garmin is a fine choice, I just like the lake master maps of the bird.

[kry29]

I would just buy an older has 10 for a couple hundred bucks in the classifieds. Those units still do everything new units do fishing wise. They actually have better images than people realize

[1Holeshot]

Garmin or Humminbird you can't go wrong. Since the GPS is your most important feature, you would not have to have Side Imaging or Down Imaging but nice to have if you find yourself using the sonar features more than you anticipate.

[Mcjenson]

I'd lean towards garmin as I think they have a better user interface.

[fishin couillon]

If you go Garmin, don't get the Striker model as it does not have maps nor can you buy a mapping card for it. You need to jump up to the Echomap Plus 75 UHD for maps and GPS. Since you are posting from Canada, i'm guessing you would want Canada mapping so get the "75" model to have Canadian maps.


https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/69...n/010-02521-00

[basscat tyler]

Helix 9 has shortcuts, believe case is same as 7”. Not 100%.

Garmin is a fine choice, I just like the lake master maps of the bird.

Need to get 8 or above to get shortcut buttons

[Milehibird]

Garmin is Garmin, one of the leaders in the world in consumer GPS products. They own Navionics, so their built in/downloadable mapping is Navionics.

That said, Lowrance is really good as well. I've used both, and would have no problem suggesting either one. My advice? Wait until after black friday. Often times Bass Pro will have the Echomap 73sv for like $399. I don't think you can beat that price.

[fishin couillon]

If you go Garmin, don't get the Striker model as it does not have maps nor can you buy a mapping card for it. You need to jump up to the Echomap Plus 75 UHD for maps and GPS. Since you are posting from Canada, i'm guessing you would want Canada mapping so get the "75" model to have Canadian maps.


https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/69...n/010-02521-00

My opinion, i would stay away from the Hook units. The Elite FS is more in line/comparable to the HB and Garmin Echomap Plus.