Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Garmin GPSMAP H1i Plus long-term review: is it worth it now?
*Lowest Prices I Found:* amzn.to/4xVTYni
*Gear I'm Using Now:*
- inReach: hkgy.co/inreach
- Hiking App: hkgy.co/app
- Watch: hkgy.co/watch
- Shoes: hkgy.co/shoes
- Pack: hkgy.co/backpack
- Rescue Insurance: hkgy.co/insurance
*Full Hiking Gear List* (Tested & Not Sponsored):
hikingguy.com/gear
*Links:*
- More Info: hikingguy.com/gear/garmin-gpsmap-h1i-plus-review
- Bug Forum: forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/inreach/f/gpsmap-h1i-plus
- Website: hikingguy.com
- Patreon: patreon.com/c/hikingguy
- Monthly Hiking News (free): patreon.com/c/hikingguy
- Subscribe: youtube.com/c/Hikingguy
After 9 months of hiking with the Garmin GPSMAP H1i Plus, it's a good fit for hikers who need satellite photos, work in extreme temperatures, or want a hybrid touchscreen-and-button interface, but hikers who just need basic inReach messaging and mapping may be better off with the cheaper GPSMAP 67i. GPS accuracy has improved from 10-14 feet to 7-10 feet since launch through firmware updates, now beating the 67i, and the software failures that caused screen freezes and hard resets early on are gone. Battery life still underperforms Garmin's published specs, running 70-80 hours on GPS navigation alone or 30-40 hours with inReach tracking on 10-minute intervals in low power mode. The screen is dimmer than the 67i and harder to read under tree canopy. It also has a built-in camera for sending geo-tagged photos over satellite without a phone, something no other Garmin handheld offers.
00:00 GPS Accuracy
00:47 Software Stability
02:19 Missing Features
02:37 Screen Quality
03:07 Battery Life
04:04 Interface Redesign
05:15 inReach & Camera
06:01 Who It's For
06:44 H1i vs 67i
Disclaimer:
Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. I only recommend gear I actually use and trust.
Garmin GPSMAP H1i Plus long-term review: is it worth it now?
*Lowest Prices I Found:* amzn.to/4xVTYni
*Gear I'm Using Now:*
- inReach: hkgy.co/inreach
- Hiking App: hkgy.co/app
- Watch: hkgy.co/watch
- Shoes: hkgy.co/shoes
- Pack: hkgy.co/backpack
- Rescue Insurance: hkgy.co/insurance
*Full Hiking Gear List* (Tested & Not Sponsored):
hikingguy.com/gear
*Links:*
- More Info: hikingguy.com/gear/garmin-gpsmap-h1i-plus-review
- Bug Forum: forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/inreach/f/gpsmap-h1i-plus
- Website: hikingguy.com
- Patreon: patreon.com/c/hikingguy
- Monthly Hiking News (free): patreon.com/c/hikingguy
- Subscribe: youtube.com/c/Hikingguy
After 9 months of hiking with the Garmin GPSMAP H1i Plus, it's a good fit for hikers who need satellite photos, work in extreme temperatures, or want a hybrid touchscreen-and-button interface, but hikers who just need basic inReach messaging and mapping may be better off with the cheaper GPSMAP 67i. GPS accuracy has improved from 10-14 feet to 7-10 feet since launch through firmware updates, now beating the 67i, and the software failures that caused screen freezes and hard resets early on are gone. Battery life still underperforms Garmin's published specs, running 70-80 hours on GPS navigation alone or 30-40 hours with inReach tracking on 10-minute intervals in low power mode. The screen is dimmer than the 67i and harder to read under tree canopy. It also has a built-in camera for sending geo-tagged photos over satellite without a phone, something no other Garmin handheld offers.
00:00 GPS Accuracy
00:47 Software Stability
02:19 Missing Features
02:37 Screen Quality
03:07 Battery Life
04:04 Interface Redesign
05:15 inReach & Camera
06:01 Who It's For
06:44 H1i vs 67i
Disclaimer:
Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. I only recommend gear I actually use and trust.










