Nice! 

Love your write-ups! Keep them coming.
The bugs are not getting too bad yet?

After debating for weeks wether or not I really was going to get a gps and then what model to get, I finally ordered one. I've ordered the Vista HCx with 2 bicycle mounts (one needs a spare one just in case,no?  ) It should be delivered at work tomorrow. Now, all I need to do is learn how to use it... and get one of those lovely thomson stems to fix it on! 

I'm sure I'll be back with more questions once I start to use it. My question about user info, books and websites still stands. Anyone?

thanks.

OK, So I will go for a Vista HCx and see if I can find one online for cheap tonight.
Also, does anybody has any books about gps to recommend? I looked at the online manual and it's not that much. Websites I need to know about?

Thanks again for all the help.

Garmin has a cool caparison feature on their website:

That was a good help, they don't have that (i think) on their Belgian website. Anyone any idea why the Dakota has 850Mb built in memory and the others not?
I think I might go for the VistaHCx then unless someone convinces me otherwise....

I would say the Dakota series is a little easier to jump into for people new to GPS.  It has some other advantages, but the very real downside is screen visibility.

Scott,
Is that screen visibility problem only in the bright sunlight? I live where rain is common and bright sunshine a rarety, so maybe that wouldn't be too much of an issue? I'm more worried about the touchscreen to be honest, could easily get damaged in a fall and leave the gps impossible to use.

I wanted to know which one to pick, Dakota 20 or 60CSx and what do I get, 3 people advising the VistaHCx!  
I am not much wiser, just have more choices. W What are the functional differences between the 60CSx and VistaHCx? Just screen size or is there more? Software different? Is there any reason at all to get 60CSx over VistaHCx, I see there is a 100 euro difference in price in favor of the VistaHCx!

thanks for the advice, I'll look into that model as well.
Yes, I would also like to have it fitted to the stem, fitting on the handlebar might interfere with my bag setup which I have sort of dialled for the moment.
keep the advise coming!

I would like to buy a GPS for bikepacking and mountainbiking and have some questions, thought this would be the right place to ask as many of you will have experiences/opinions/preferences that I would like to hear about.

For starters, I have absolutely no experience with GPS whatsoever so many of the features and terms used are new to me. I think I sort of have narrowed it down to Garmin as far as the brand goes as it seems that's what everybody else uses. I read many reviews on here and other places and I thought I had narrowed it down to Dakota 20 and GPSMAP 60csx. The Dakota got a good review here on this site but both shops where I went to suggested the GPSMAP 60csx. Both cost about the same price, so that's not a factor.

What I would like to use it for:
- ride routes that I find on the internet.
- set out routes on the map (on the computer) and then ride those.
- Log routes that I ride (organised rides/races) for later use. To go ride them again at a later date.
- go on rides and then come back the same way in reverse. Ride from A to B and then ride back to A on the same route (think multiple days WITHOUT computer access). One guy at the shop told me that's not going to work without the use of a computer! Is that true?
- Get ride statistics altitude/distance.

What is important to me too is that the gps needs to be user friendly! Also, are the garmin handlebar adapters for both durable enough for mountainbiking? I'm riding rigid most of the time, so it will take a beating!

Can anyone advise me which one I might prefer, as I have no clue what to look out for. The main reason I'm getting a gps is that I would like to give the Tour Divide race a go next year and it might come in handy then? I would like to get some experience with the gps before then.

Thank you.