First Look! The brand new Memory Map Adventurer 3500 Handheld GPS (BUY)

GPS lovers look out- one of the giants of the market has announced the brand new update of its best selling unit. The Memory Map Adventurer 3500 Handheld GPS Navigator is here, and it is absolutely fantastic! The Adventurer 2800 was one of the most popular GPS devices on the market- its ease of use, mapping capabilities and smooth interface set a new standard for touchscreen navigation. Now its brand new update takes the Adventurer into a whole new level of sophistication, speed, performance and practicality.

We have two versions ready for order now, the Memory Map Adventurer 3500 Handheld GPS Standard Edition which has a pre-loaded 1:100 UK base map, and the Memory Map Adventurer 3500 Handheld GPS + Full Country UK 1:50 Maps which has pre-loaded maps of the whole of Great Britain in 1:50 scale; both of which will be arriving mid October.

Here at Loving Outdoors we’ve had the chance to get a hold of the Adventurer 3500 and see what it’s all about, and it really is brilliant. As soon as you get it in your hand you know it’s going to be a really popular product. It differs from the 2800 in three main ways: it has a much larger 3.5 inch screen; it’s fully waterproof with the IPx7 rating; and it has a removable battery allowing extended use.

The screen is fantastic; because it’s bigger the detail of the maps is incredible, it’s also extremely bright and will be visible in any amount of sunlight or rain. Scrolling around the maps is really smooth; you can drag your finger across a massive area and the maps load instantly. If you thought the 2800 was fast then you’re going to really impressed with this. You can also use the screen with a stylus, which I can see coming in really handy on those days when your hands are freezing cold or you’ve got thick gloves on!

The waterproof rating is an excellent addition; the 2800 was weatherproof, which meant it held up to splashes and light rain, but the 3500 is fully waterproof, so you can take it out into the harshest conditions and it will always perform. It’s also really lightweight, which is great considering the size of the screen, and while the sleek design is slimmer and more compact than the 2800, it still feels more rugged.

The removable battery is an innovative feature, enabling you to take a spare battery out with you on your walks so if the original runs out you can just replace it without needing a power source. This means you can be out on the trails for days at a time and use the GPS constantly, which will certainly appeal to the more travelled walkers.

These three main improvements equip the 3500 for some serious expeditions, and it’s clear memory map wanted to create a unit that experienced users can really get their teeth into and push their navigation to new levels.

After getting out and exploring with the Adventurer 3500 I started to appreciate the level of detailed navigation it is capable of. You can set up the Digital GPS windows in any way you like to display all kinds of information, using a simple arrow or utilising sophisticated data such as XTE or VMG. The screen is also considerably brighter than the 2800, which makes it great for adverse conditions. If the 2800 was for getting started with GPS navigation, then the 3500 takes you into some bold new territory; it will equip you for some high level exploration, and it really goes toe-to-toe with the best that Garmin has to offer.

As with the Adventurer 2800, you get the excellent Memory Map V5 PC software to load up to your computer. This opens up a whole world for you after you’ve finished your walk. You can track your route across the maps, analyse the distance, miles travelled and any waypoints you added along the way. Or before you leave you could  plan your routes, transfer different routes or plot every aspect of your next adventure. You can also print hard copies of the maps and add all kinds of maps from the Memory Map collection including marine charts, aviation charts, historical maps as well as your own existing V5 maps. There’s a wealth of options with the PC software, and I could see the hours flying by when you really get into it!

The mapping options are great in the two packages that are available. The basic edition features a 1:100 base map of the UK, which is ideal for getting around in basic detail. There’s also a 4GB pre-loaded microSD card that has around 3GB of room to spare, so you can add plenty maps up there. With a microSD slot on both versions that can take a 16GB microSD card, the storage capabilities of the 3500 really are immense.

The Great Britain edition comes pre-loaded with Memory Map Full Country UK Maps, giving you incredible detail  of every corner of Britain in 1:50 scale. This makes it a really good deal and gives you all the mapping you’d ever need for the UK. This version also has a free subscription to TrailZilla, Memory Map’s online community for sharing routes, maps and experiences with thousands of users, which is a really nice bonus.

Both versions have some great extras in the box: a cycling mount means any cyclists don’t have to fork out the extra money to use it on their bike; there’s a mains and car charger, so if you’re staying close to your car you always have power; and you also get a silicon slip case for protection against the inevitable bumps and scrapes. You get everything you need all in one box and Memory Map have really thought of everything.

The Adventurer 3500 is an absolute pleasure to use; for beginners or experts alike it’s equipped for some serious navigation. The new screen is fantastic, it’s super fast and its luxurious size shows the maps in incredible detail. The Memory Map Adventurer 3500 is going to huge and offers possibly the best value large screen GPS on the market. There’s some serious competition out there, but the 3500 means business, and I have a feeling even die hard Garmin users won’t be able to resist its charms.

Tom (LO Team)

Memory Map Adventurer 3500 Handheld GPS: ORDER NOW

Memory Map Adventurer 3500 Handheld GPS + Full Country UK 1:50 Maps: ORDER NOW