The Explorist range marks the return of Magellan to the British outdoor market. There are three products in the range, with the 610 being the most suitable for hillwalkers as it has an electronic compass. This is a touch-screen device and I found the operating system very intuitive straight from the box.
You can create routes on-screen quickly, but like some other devices the relatively small screen means this isn’t as good as it could be when compared alongside units with bigger screens. This unit was slightly easier to use with gloves compared to some other touch-screen devices too, although for me I’d still prefer buttons in bad weather. The screen is very clear, though, which made map-reading easy.
Under the bonnet there is a host of features that includes the ability to capture video footage thanks to the camera and microphone. A more practical feature is the vibrating ‘off course’ alarm that’s an option alongside the more conventional sound alarm.
The 1:50k OS mapping for the Magellan Explorist 610 is around £170 for the whole of Britain.
Software OS 1:50k GB mapping £170
Weight 226g
Size 12.5x6.5x3cm
Display 4x6.5cm colour touch-screen
Power 2 x AA batteries
Battery life 16 hours
Electronic compass yes
Camera 3.2Mp
Website www.burton-mccall.co.uk