Garmin Intros Oregon Outdoor GPS Line

Garmin's new Oregon series of handheld GPS units are aimed at outdoor enthusiasts, featuring rugged designs and several preloaded map options.

GPS maker Garmin has introduced is Oregon line of handheld GPS units aimed specifically at outdoor, marine, and fitness enthusiasts—or anyone else who just likes to get off the roads for a while. The units offer 3-inch touchscreen interfaces, a rugged design, and a variety of preloaded map options to meet different users’ needs.

“The Oregon’s vibrant screen is responsive to the touch of your finger, yet resistant to the forces of nature,” said Garmin’s VP of worldwide sales Dan Bartel, in a statement. “Combining the touchscreen interface of our iconic automotive devices with the preloaded features of the acclaimed Colorado series makes this the ultimate outdoor handheld.”

The Oregon 400t offers U.S. topographic maps and a 3D elevation perspective to make it easier to select walkable (or climbable!) routes. The Oregon 400i is aimed at boaters and fishers with shoreline details and depth contour information, along with a database of boat ramps and navigable rivers. The Oregon 400c (c for “sea,” get it?) is aimed at ocean-goers, with chart coverage for U.S. coastal waters and the Bahamas. For world travelers, the Oregon 300 provides a worldwide base map with shaded relief, and the Oregon 200 provides just a basic base map that can be supplemented with additional maps or charts to meet users’ needs.

All the Oregon units support activity-based profiles (marine, fitness, geocaching, etc.) and can wirelessly exchange tracks, waypoints, and geocache information with Garmin’s Oregon and Colorado models. Each unit also includes an altimeter and electronic compass, and can work with Garmin’s heart-rate monitors and cadence sensors. The units run on two AA batteries, and feature a microSD slot for loading additional maps.

Suggested prices are $479.99 for the Oregon 200, $533.32 for the Oregon 300, and $639.99 for any of the 400-series units. Each should be available in the third quarter of 2008.