Garmin eTrex Touch Review: Can It Replace Your Phone?

Garmin eTrex Touch review after months of testing: battery life, accuracy, and whether it can replace a phone. Gear I'm Using Now:* More Hiking Content* I bought the Garmin eTrex Touch with my own money to see if a sub-$200 handheld GPS could handle what I normally do with a phone and inReach. After months of trail use, the answer depends on what you need. Battery life hits around 100 hours in SatIQ mode during active tracking, less than Garmin's 130-hour claim but still solid for multi-day trips. Multi-band GPS mode improves accuracy in tough terrain but drains faster. No touchscreen, no fancy maps, but it tracks reliably and pairs with the Garmin Explore app for route planning. If you want breadcrumb navigation and basic tracking without burning phone battery, it works. If you need messaging, SOS, or full topo routing, step up to a GPSMAP 67. 00:00 eTrex Touch or Phone? 00:30 Battery Life 01:45 Accuracy 02:12 Software 03:25 Touchscreen 04:03 Maps & Navigation 05:00 Recommendations Disclaimer:*