Review – Garmin Montana 710, 710i and 760i

With the launch of the Garmin Montana 710, 710i and 760i we review this GPS unit for the first time, looking at the upgrades and changes from the previous models.

Garmin has long been a trusted name in outdoor navigation, catering to adventurers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts with their durable, feature-rich GPS units. The latest additions to their lineup—the Garmin 710, 710i, and 760i promise to push the boundaries of functionality and innovation, offering something for both casual users and serious adventurers.

These new models are designed with versatility and reliability at their core, equipped with enhanced mapping capabilities, robust weather resistance, and cutting-edge satellite communication options. The "i" series, featuring inReach technology, takes things a step further, providing users with two-way satellite messaging and SOS functionality, making them essential tools for safety in remote locations.

In this review, we'll dive into the key features of the Garmin 710, 710i, and 760i, exploring their strengths, unique features, and potential drawbacks.

Let’s explore what makes these new models stand out in Garmin’s lineup and how they can elevate your outdoor adventures.

Unboxing of the Montana 750i

The differences between each of the models - Garmin Montana series

1. Garmin Montana 710 - Base model

2. Garmin Montana 710i - Same as Montana 710 but with the addition of Garmin's City Navigator (road navigation) and inReach communication (two-way satellite communication and tracking. A contract is required for this to work).

3. Garmin Montana 760i - Same as the Garmin Montana 710i but has the addition of an 8 mb camera, this will geotag the location where each of the pictures has been taken, enabling you to overlay these on an Ordnance Survey map

Design and Build Quality

1. Physical dimensions, weight, and portability.

Dimensions - 8.76 x 18.30 x 3.27 cm (3.5″ x 7.2″ x 1.3″)

Weight - 410g (14.5oz) with included lithium-ion battery pack

Portability – We have found it to be a big GPS unit to ‘put in your pocket’ so we recommend carrying the Montana GPS unit in a carry case.

2. Durability of Montana 710, 710i and 760i

Waterproof rating - IPX7 - an IPX7 rating ensures that the device can be submerged in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes without any damage.

Ruggedness - MIL-STD-810 - definition on Wikipedia

User Interface and Usability

1. Touchscreen

The touch screen on the Montana series of GPS units it truly incredible in extreme conditions.

The video below looks at the touch screen on the Montana 700 (which has the same screen as the Montana 710, 710i and 760i) in some very heavy rain, I hope you agree it worked and performed to the highest level, I know we thought it did.

2. Menu navigation and ease of use.

On our training courses around the country Garmin Montana users are often top of the class, this is down to how easy the Garmin Montana GPS unit is to use.

With a large touch-screen GPS unit, with the shortcut icons at the bottom of the screen, it makes it very easy to navigate around.

Mapping options for the Garmin Montana 710, 710i and 760i

Most modern Garmin GPS units, like the Garmin Montana comes pre-loaded with Garmin’s Topo Active maps, but for walking in Great Britain you really need Ordnance Survey Maps, as these show the right-of-ways for England and Wales.

The following video looks at what each of these map sets looks like.

New feature - the ability to download Topo Active maps for other countries

One of the new features on the Garmin Montana 710, 710i and 760 is downloading Topo Active maps for other countries.

The video below looks at this in more detail.

Can you update Ordnance Survey Maps?

When you have OS maps on a Garmin Montana 710, 710i and 760 a question we often get asked is can these be updated?

In the video below we look at this subject.

GPS accuracy of the Garmin Montana 710, 710i and 760i

The Montana 710, 710i and 760i each use x 2 satellite systems, making them Multi GNSS, but not Dual Frequency/ Multiband, as we find on the Garmin GPSMAP65s, GPSMAP67/ 67i

The satellite systems that each of the units uses are -

Garmin Montana 710 - GPS only, GPS and Glonass or GPS and Galileo

Garmin Montana 710i and 760i - GPS only or GPS and Galileo
This is because these units also have an Iridium Aerial in for the two-way satellite communication.

Two-way satellite communication (inReach technology) - Montana 710i and 760i only

Using the worldwide coverage of the Iridium satellite network the Montana 710i and 760i lets you exchange text messages with any mobile phone number or email address anywhere – while using GPS to track and share your journey’s progress. You can also post to social media or even communicate inReach-to-inReach in the field.

The key thing with the Montana 710i/ 760i is the QWERTY keyboard, the problem with other inReach products is that it was hard to input text (for the messages) directly on the unit, but with the large screen and QWERTY keyboard it is very easy and quick to type messages

You will need to sign up to a contract with Garmin (like a mobile phone contract) to use the inReach feature but you can use the GPS as a navigational device without registering the inReach feature.

The video below looks at the the inReach contracts available.

Battery life and power options

One of the upgrades we have seen is improved battery life with the addition of a newly upgraded Rechargeable lithium battery that is interchangeable, which comes with the unit.

This has improved the battery life from 18 hours on the older Montana model to 24 hours on the Montana 710, 710i and 760i

- Battery life of Garmin Montana 710, 710i and 760i
GPS Mode: up to 24 hours
Expedition Mode: up to 440 hours
Powered Off: up to 1 year
Note – Battery life estimates are with full sky view and can be significantly impacted by obstructions or tree cover.

Charging options - One of the key upgrades on the Montana 710/ 710i and 760i is the change to a USB-C lead.

USB-C is now a mandatory standard for charging ports and is part of a broader initiative to simplify charging solutions, reduce electronic waste, and align with international efforts for standardization. This decision in the UK mirrors similar regulations implemented in the European Union (EU), which mandated USB-C as the standard for many electronic devices by 2024.

Summary

It is great to see an update to the Garmin Montana series of GPS units.

it will be interesting to see how the increase in memory benefits the performance of the Montana 710, 710i and 760 as we get it out and put it through its paces over the coming month.

I think it is a good small step forward for the Montana, which was already a good Outdor GPS unit.

Walk and talk

Please join me on a 'walk and talk' with the Garmin Montana 710.

Further Reading

1. Garmin Montana 710

2. Garmin Montana 710i

3. Garmin Montana 760i