Best Snowmobile GPS in 2022 (That Works in Cold Weather)

Whether you’re going snowmobiling, hiking, or riding a bike, there is no better GPS brand than Garmin.

Yes, there are other brands, but no brand is even close to Garmin.

So, I did my research, and based on that, I’m recommending some of the best GPS units for snowmobiling.

My Personal Recommendations

If you love snowmobiling, you can buy these Garmin GPS units – Garmin Montana 700, Garmin Montana 750i, Garmin Zumo XT, and Garmin Tread,

Yes, all of them are really good, but which one you should buy will depend on your personal preferences. So, let’s talk about them.

Best Options for You

From these 4 options, Garmin Montana 700 is the most affordable GPS unit.

The Garmin Montana 700 gives 18 hours of battery life which is more than any other GPS unit. It has 5 inches touchscreen, and it works best in the mounted situation. So, if you’re someone who just mount their GPS in their snowmobile and rides, then this is a great option for you.

Not So Good Options for Snowmobiling

The Garmin Tread is designed for off-road vehicles like snowmobiles and ATVs. This is really good, and it has 5.5 inches touchscreen, quite big. But, this is not my number one recommendation because the battery life is just 6 hours.

The Garmin Zumo XT also works as a snowmobile GPS, and you can mount this 5.5 inches touchscreen GPS on your snowmobile. But, it has a battery life of just 3.5 hours.

The Final Decision

You can’t go wrong with either of the latest Garmin Montana models in my opinion. You will get your money’s worth regardless of which one you go. So either the Garmin Montana 700 or Garmin Montana 750i

Things to Consider Before Buying a Snowmobile GPS

Snowmobile GPS is a convenient tool. Many people use the GPS service on their smartphones, but it is always recommended to use a snowmobile GPS instead.

In any case, you need to consider plenty of things before finally deciding which GPS unit to buy.

Below are all the things you need to consider before buying your GPS for snowmobiling.

Battery Life

The battery life of the GPS is one of the most important things you need to check. The GPS should offer a long battery life and should not cause any battery drainage problems.

If the battery life is not considered before you start the ride, then the GPS might shut off in between, making it difficult for you to reach your destination.

User Friendly

The GPS you are willing to buy should offer easy access to all its features. Choosing a GPS that has complicated features will only make it difficult for you to figure out the correct route.

Therefore, look for a GPS that has user-friendly options, is simple to use, and can show you the way quickly.

Durability & Stability

Snowmobiling terrains are usually not so smooth. You are bound to go through rough and bumpy areas.

In those times, your snowmobile GPS should be durable enough to sustain the reflex shocks and work properly in those conditions.

An excellent working GPS will never lose its functionality on any given terrain.

Screen and Font Size

The screen size of the GPS you wish to buy should be big enough for you to see the contents on the screen comfortably but not too big that it becomes difficult to carry.

Also, the font should not be too small to become too difficult to read and not too big to occupy the entire screen.

Compatibility

One of the most important things that most people forget to consider is whether the GPS they bought fits on their snowmobile or not.

If it is not compatible with it, then there is hardly a way in which you can use it. Therefore, make sure to consider the snowmobile model you own to buy a GPS that is compatible with it.

Cold Sustainability

Snowmobiling is a snow sport, which means that the temperature will be extremely low.

Your GPS unit should be able to sustain extreme cold temperatures and should be able to work in those conditions as well.

So make sure to check the highest negative temperature the device can handle before buying it.

Detailed Trip Logs

You obviously want to record every statistic of the trips you go to. So, your GPS device should have a feature that measures all the necessary details of the trip and records them for later viewing.

Your GPS should be able to log the total time taken, total distance covered, maximum speed, and so on.

Accurate Map

Your GPS device should have an up-to-date and very accurate map of the terrain. If the map is not accurate, then there is a high possibility for you to lose your way.

However, if your GPS has a precise map, it will allow you to freely explore even the deepest parts of the terrain without fear or feeling lost.

Brand

The brand that makes the GPS device is a crucial factor. This is mainly because cheap unbranded GPS devices are not worth the risk.

You can buy a cheap GPS, but that will not give you any proper guarantee of any of the device’s features. Hence, always make sure to buy a GPS device from a trusted and highly reputed brand.

How to Set your GPS for Snowmobiling?

Before beginning your snowmobiling campaign, you must prepare your GPS for the journey. If you have a new GPS device, it will probably be updated with the latest set of maps.

However, if you are using an old device, you may have to download the updated collection of trail maps.

You can easily download your trail maps from Red Pine Mapping or any other genuine online source you have.

You must download the map, save it to a memory card, and then plug it into your GPS device. Once done, switch the device on and select the new map set, and you are good to go.

When it comes to mounting your snowmobile GPS to your ride, you can use simple suction-cup mounts.

However, if you want your GPS mount to be more robust, you can use a “sticky mount post,” which firmly sticks to the dashboard and does not come off even in heavy wind conditions.

Apart from this, if your GPS works on battery, you can do it without anything else.

However, if you have a plug-and-play type of GPS, you may have to attach a 12V DC power source to your motor to power the GPS at all times.

Why Should You Use a GPS Unit Instead of a Smartphone?

We all know that even Smartphones have GPS built-in them. Many people prefer using smartphone GPS instead of buying a separate GPS device for snowmobiling.

This happens mainly because the smartphone GPS is usually very accurate, so using it can save a good amount of money that would otherwise be spent on buying a separate GPS.

However, there are plenty of reasons for not using your smartphone GPS and instead using a separate GPS unit for snowmobiling.

The most common reasons to avoid using smartphone GPS for snowmobiling are mentioned below.

• Smartphones have accurate GPS, but they usually have a low battery life, which means that using the GPS continuously can drain your phone’s battery life, causing you even more problems.

• Smartphones are generally built to use in average temperatures but can handle cold and hot temperatures to a certain extent; therefore, there is a good chance that your smartphone’s functionality can be affected in icy areas.

• Most of the GPS devices in 2022 offer device usage even through gloves; while this feature is not yet that common in smartphones, if your smartphone device does not offer this feature, you may have to remove your snowmobile gloves whenever you want to use your phone.

• One of the most important things is that the smartphone’s GPS works on the internet connection through the phone. Still, in most snowy areas, high connectivity issues are making it difficult for you to operate GPS in those areas.

Apart from these, there can be plenty of other reasons to avoid using a smartphone as a GPS for snowmobiling.

The most recommended option is to buy a separate GPS device and mount it on your snowmobile. This way, you will not have to go through any of the above problems.

Final Words

A GPS unit must be well equipped with accurate maps and trailing features to provide confidence to those looking for adventure.

Every GPS unit in this list is well-suitable for a great off-road campaign.

All of these options are unique and packed with great features that allow you to travel to deep canyons and even heavy covers comfortably.

What else? Apart from this, there are instances when your snowmobile might get stuck in the snow, or your sled won’t start in the middle of an unknown place!

This is where a dependable GPS is indispensable. Therefore, choose your unit carefully!

Safe snowmobiling!