Review: Garmin Oregon 400t and the Garmin Oregon Line

• Share wirelessly: The five Oregon models and the Garmin Colorado models can share data wirelessly by selecting "share wirelessly" from the main menu. Users can send or receive waypoints, routes, tracks, and geocaches.
• Points of interest database: A large database of points of interest, including everything from national parks to Chinese restaurants, is at your fingertips. Quite a useful resource on the road or trail.
• Compass screen with customizable compass display.
• Trip computer dashboard, including current, average, and maximum speeds, and other useful stats.
• Elevation plot to see the elevation profile of your trip.
• Alarm clock, calendar, calculator, stopwatch, sunrise/sunset moon phase data.

Freshwater and Saltwater Boating
If you are interested in a handheld portable for boating, the waterproof Oregon 400i is the same as the 400t reviewed here, except it comes with a map including North America's inland lakes. The 400c is the same, except it comes with the BlueChart g2 coastal waters charts including the U.S. and Bahamas.

An electronic device designed for hard outdoor use needs to be sturdily built, and the Oregon delivers. It is made of molded nylon built on an aluminum frame, with rubberized grip surfaces. It is rated as waterproof, and passed my immersion test. A sturdy alloy locking lever mechanism seals in the rubber-gasketed battery case and SD card slot. The Oregon naturally comes with a sealed USB port for communicating with your PC.

Overall, the Oregon 400t tested here and the Oregon line in general are next-generation handheld GPS devices that match technical superiority and depth of features with touchscreen ease of use and logical, well-thought-out menu systems. The Oregon 400t is my top handheld GPS pick for trail use and geocaching.

-Unit dimensions, WxHxD: 2.3" x 4.5" x 1.4" (5.8 x 11.4 x 3.5 cm)
-Display size, WxH: 1.53"W x 2.55"H (3.8 x 6.3 cm); 3" diag (7.6 cm)
-Display resolution, WxH: 240 x 400 pixels
-Display type: Transflective color TFT touchscreen
-Weight: 6.8 oz (192.7 g) with batteries
-Battery: 2 AA batteries (not included); NiMH or Lithium recommended
-Battery life: 16 hours
-High-sensitivity receiver
-Interface, Wireless and USB
-Ability to add maps
-Accepts SD data card
-Maximum waypoints storage: 1,000
-Maximum routes storage: 50
-Track log: 10,000 points, 20 saved tracks
-Electronic compass and supplemental barometric altimiter

Author update, March, 2009: Regarding user review comment on screen brightness below. For both the Oregon 200 the user refers to, and the Oregon 400t reviewed here, screen brightness is adjustable by pressing and releasing the power key, then using the "+" or "-" button to adjust brightness. The default setting is dull, but brightness is adjustable. I would have definitely downgraded the Oregon if its screen was as portrayed by user review, but that was not the case.