Slips off dash
I have a Garmin 255W and wanted a holder that would keep the GPS shaded on long trips while setting on the dash. The weighted Garmin dash mount I have was very stable but provided no shelter from the hot sun. This looked like the answer and I got it. I had worries that this would muffle the voice coming out of the back of the GPS but it does not diminish the sound at all. On a local trip of five miles today, this Nav-Pac slipped off the dash twice when accelerating from a full stop. My dash is plastic and not very slippery but this holder just does not have sufficient surface area to keep from slipping off, different from my Garmin dash mount. I do like this Nav-Pack and I will put a piece of Velcro on the bottom of the Nav-Pack and a piece attached to my dash. This must solve the problem of slipping off the dash but I’m not thrilled in regards to a piece of Velcro stuck to my dash. I suggest this Nav-Pack ONLY if you want shelter from the sun on your GPS and also using Velcro, unless you want a GPS falling into your lap…
UPDATE: Wife found a silicone potholder at Target. Its thin as a silver dollar, translucent and regarding 12″ square and very flexible. Works great when on dash and Nav-Pak is placed on top of it. No more sliding now…
Nice Idea, but Lacking in Execution
I travel ofttimes for work and rent cars 2-3 times a month, normally after a long flight. I initially applied one of the Garmin friction mounts which worked very well and was easy to pack and re-assemble; but when I swopped GPS brands, this was no longer an option. I could have applied one of the other generic friction bases, but they require the use of the native device’s mount which are clumsy and aren’t easy to pack and set up. When I saw this Bracketron case and mount, I thought it would be the perfective solution. I quickly learned that this wasn’t the case.
Pros:
–On a basic level, the mount does what it says. It will hold your GPS, and it prevents dashboard motion as much as could reasonably be expected given the build of the device. It hold steady for basic driving.
–As long as you don’t need your power cord, it is very easy to setup.
Cons:
–If you’re driving for any length of time, the heat from the GPS starts to melt the adhesive that attaches the velcro strip to the GPS. Once this happens, the GPS falls out of the case, rendering it useless. I was driving from Boston to NYC, and by the time I got to New Haven, the GPS was resting in the seat next to me because I couldn’t get it to stay in the case.
–It may be tricky to connect the AC adapter to your GPS device. If your adapter has an L-shaped connector, or has any kind of bulky piece at the end, it may be tricky to connect, and may prevent the velcro pieces from being wholly flush together. This again may cause the GPS to pop out of the case while driving.
–This thing is inconceivable to get through airport security. The initial time I tried, with the GPS inside, the case zippered and resting in my carry-on, I thought it was a fluke. I tried going through security with the case open, closed, in my carry-on, in the bin, each possible way, and security flagged it each time for extra inspection. There’s something within the bean bag base that doesn’t play nicely with TSA Xray machines. For any individual who is a general flyer, this is show stopper.
–The sound does get muffled by the case. If you’re on the highway and playing music, the GPS may be difficult to hear, specially since most humans won’t max out the GPS volume because of distortion.
All told, if you’re not doing much driving, this device will have to work just fine for you. But if you’re like me, a standard traveler looking for a means to effortlessly port your GPS from vehicle to vehicle, find another solution.
Dash mount for my Garmin
I do not think the listing projects the outstanding features of this dash mount/carrying case. It ought to cover things such as the following:
1. This mount is a outstanding device for use in my truck to both mount the Garmin GPS for the duration of travel but also allows me to move the Garmin very easly among assorted trucks.
2. The carring case unit does an magnificent occupation of protecting the Garmin from harm if dropped.
3. The design allows the unit to be on the dash but shields it from bright sun light and make the Garmin very easy to read in the bright sun of the Texas days.
4. The case has been sized correctly to concede the power cord to be stored insideth case for the duration of transport from place to place.
5. It works outstanding on mercantile airplane trips both for the duration of flight to check that we are going the right way and later in a rental car to get in and out of complex airports.
6. The weight of the case is perfective remainder amid convience and utile in keeping the Garmin in place on the dash.
Hope this helps
Sam Sitler
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