Hey Folks Check this little puppy out. Geomate Jr. available through Groundspeak and REI ... this edit from the linkless one

You can read about it here. I understand that it comes with 250,000 preloaded caches, has only three buttons, and retails for around $69.00. Next month they will have an update kit for around $25.00 to allow updating caches. It only supports "traditional" caches, therefore no puzzle or multi caches.

I question how many people will get a unit and then go out to find caches without ever visiting the geocaching.com website to find out what geocaching is all about, or learn about the rules of the road.

However, it is probably a good alternative for a child who always wants to hold his father's $500 GPSr.

Interesting reads starting to appear in the Groundspeak forums regarding this critter. Marketed by Apisphere of Bizzzzerkley, Calif

REI currently has free shipping on any GPS'r ordered and that includes the Geomate

Well, I took delivery last week, it is rather amazing to imagine that there are 250,000 caches held in it's data bank. The accuracy is excellent, durability seems O.K. ( did the ooops, dropsy thing a few times ). I found it to be rather convenient when out for a cruise and felt the need to grab a spontaneous cache. For those folks who have their units loaded with P.Q's for hundreds of miles around this is of little to no value. It is of great value to put in the hands of a youngster while you hold onto your mega dollar unit. Those who have youngish caching buddies may understand that statement >>>> ( oooops, it fell daddy )
In anticipation of the up-date kit to maintain currency of the data base.

This just in: Text 'geomate' to 69556 and enter a chance to win a Geomate Jr. Just like in this photo.

Sounds like a scam, dude

No scam. It was at the Garmin booth at the Outdoor Recreation Trade Show in Salt Lake City. It's the world's largest outdoor recreation trade show with over 23,000 attendees. It's held twice each year. The winter show is scheduled for January 21-24, 2010. Trade shows are always great places to pick up free swag.

Geomate Jr. update kits are in the hands of retailers ...

uh oh
i smell glitches