This is a gear question, but really specifically trail related, so I'll try posting here...

I'm considering a Garmin. While a lot of the funtions I can see being more suited to road riding, I was wondering if it would hold up on the trail? One negative I have read about Garmins (and seen the item first hand) is the mounting. It consists of a plastic base the unit snaps into, secured to bars or stem with zip ties. I've read the mounting breaks easily. Cheap to replace--like $10, but the unit if lost is not!

I would mount it on the stem of either of my bikes. The mtb stem is short, but just enough room the unit takes up the stem. One of my guy bike pals said he has not used his Garmin on the trail because he "is afraid it will be too hard on it, and tear it up". I can see a crash over, or maybe with some hard front end impact, the unit might break off the base.

I have gotten lost before both on the road and trail. I carry a small compass in my CamelBak to try and figure out which turn to take, with a trail map (lots of maps and trails I ride are not marked so great, or at all). At least being able to determine N-S-E-W helps in getting out of the woods. And being able to know how many miles you have ridden with a computer is nice (no pc on mtb now).

My guy pal uses a hard wired Shimano Flight Deck on his trail bike. Somehow he has the wires wound down the front fork, and up the brake cable to not get tangled up. I swear I always leave the woods with some of Mother Nature's greens wrapped in parts of my mtb. The Garmin being totally one piece wire free just on the stem would be a nice plus for the brush/grass etc.

Maybe adding extra mounting somehow would help (dunno what though)?

TYIA!