Garmin GPSMAP 67i Review

I've spent the last two months putting the Garmin GPSMAP 67i through its paces on the trail, and honestly, it's the best handheld GPS out there right now. But is it the right one for you? Whether you're thinking about upgrading from an older GPS or inReach device, or just wondering if the improvements justify the price tag, there’s a lot to unpack here. From the subtle hardware tweaks like the new USB-C connector to the impressive jump in battery life and GPS accuracy, the 67i is a mix of old and new that deserves a closer look. Let me break it all down for you.

Unlike other reviews, Garmin didn’t send me a free GPSMAP 67i. I bought this with my own money. This review reflects my honest experience. If you want to support independent reviews like this, please use my affiliate link, it’s also the lowest price I could find.

What did Garmin Do With the 67i?

My hunch is that the 67i is like a Frankenstein device—a mix of the 66i's body and battery, but with the upgraded chipset from the Fenix 7. The specs line up, but the 67i offers a longer battery life and better GPS capabilities, making it more like a Fenix 7. Stick with me, and I'll explain more about it in a bit.

Battery Performance

There are many factors that affect how long the battery lasts. Things like having Bluetooth or Wi-Fi on, using multi GNSS and multi-band settings, recording activities, navigating routes, and even how much you zoom in and out of the map—all of it makes a difference. So, I put it to the test. With 10-minute send intervals, multi GNSS and multi-band on, and recording my hikes, I managed to get around 140 hours of battery life on average. And if you switch to GPS-only mode, you can squeeze out upwards of 200 hours. That's plenty of juice for your adventures. Plus, it charges up pretty quickly, within an hour or two depending on the charger. So, no worries about running out of battery out there.

GPSMAP 67i Accuracy

When it comes to pinpointing your location, the 67i really nails it. I consistently got accuracy within six feet, even with multi-band and multi-GNSS turned on. But here's the real game-changer—it stays accurate even in tricky conditions like canyons or areas with thick tree cover. Remember those times when the GPS would go haywire and mess up your track? Well, with the 67i, that's a thing of the past; the track recordings that I'm getting are usually very close to the expected distances.

What's interesting is that the Fenix 7, Epix Gen 2, and GPSMAP 66sr all performed similarly to the 67i. If you already own one of these devices, don't expect significantly better performance from the 67i. However, where the 67i does shine is in challenging conditions like canyons, where it outperforms the 66i.

Worth Noting

If you've used previous Garmin GPSMAP models, you'll feel right at home with the 67i. It hasn't changed much over the years, which is okay, although I do wish it would get some more love from Garmin. The UI is straightforward and easy to navigate. There are a few tweaks here and there, like adding a plus sign to the bottom of the screen for adding icons to the main menu and a new map layers option. But overall, it's the same ol' familiar interface. Just keep in mind that you won't find a battery percentage display unless you're plugged in. You'll need to rely on the Explore app or third-party widgets for that.

Garmin took away the USB mass storage mode and NMEA protocol, and now just offer MTP.  If you're on Mac, use OpenMTP, and you'll be good to go. Basecamp does work on Mac but you need to only have one MTP connection open at a time.

The device now also wakes by hitting any button on the front, not just the power button.

Should Get the GPSMAP 67i?

For me, the 67i is my go-to when I need accurate GPS and full navigation on the device. If you're using your phone for maps, just get the Mini 2 and pair it with your phone or watch. It’s lighter and gives you all the SOS and tracking you need.