Which Garmin off-road GPS navigator is best for you?

September 12, 2025
There’s nothing you love more than driving — or riding — off the beaten path. Whether you’re exploring unknown territory on dirt, navigating snowy mountain trails or even off-road racing, there’s a Garmin GPS off-road navigator designed for you.
You want to add an easy-to-read navigator to your vehicle. You want reliable navigation, connectivity options and — possibly more than anything else — durability. Garmin navigators have everything you need, and then some.
So, which one is right for you? Let’s break it down.
For those exploring the unknown in extreme environments
Tread® 2: This rugged powersport navigator offers an ultrabright and glove-friendly 6” touchscreen. Built for extreme weather, you can roam on dirt and snow without worry. This navigator includes preloaded topographic maps as well as snowmobile trails for the northern U.S. and Canada. Plus, see vivid overhead views of your route with satellite imagery.
Tread 2 offers built-in sensors including an altimeter, barometer and compass (ABC sensors) and pitch and roll gauges. You can even pair it with your compatible inReach® satellite communicator1 for two-way text messaging, weather and the ability to trigger an interactive SOS message to Garmin Response℠, our 24/7 international emergency coordination center, that connects you to help if you need it.
It’s also compatible with the Handlebar Controller, which offers more convenient navigator control from your handlebars. For communication convenience, pair your navigator to a Group Ride Radio. With the included push-to-talk fist mic, you’ll be able to stay in touch with your group when you ride in areas outside of cellular coverage. Or make it hands-free by pairing your compatible Garmin device with your separate Bluetooth®-enabled helmet or headset.
For those who enjoy thrilling off-road rides on dirt and sand
Tread 2 – SxS Edition: This 8” all-terrain GPS touchscreen navigator with faster performance can help guide you with turn-by-turn trail navigation2 and topographic maps for North and South America. It includes high-definition elevation maps, land boundaries, preloaded directory of Ultimate Public Campgrounds, live weather and more. Discover the best-rated off-road routes with the great rides feature in the Tread mobile app. Plus, get custom street routing for the size and weight of your vehicle as well as alerts for potential hazards on your route, including sharp curves, steep grades and more. This navigator is built to withstand extreme temperatures and weather and includes a tube mount kit for an easy install. This navigator is also compatible with Group Ride Radio.
For those who love longer expeditions in more remote areas
Tread 2 – Overland Edition: Let this 8” navigator help guide you through the toughest conditions with turn-by-turn trail navigation and topographic maps for North and South America. The Overland Edition takes everything you love about the SxS Edition, and adds a heavy-duty suction cup and robust magnetic-assisted locking mount that secures it to your dashboard.
For those competing in off-road endurance races
Tread XL – Baja Race Edition and Baja Chase Edition: These rugged off-road racing navigators combine the tools you need to stay on track with communication tech so you can stay in touch with your team. In addition to the 10” ultrabright touchscreen display, these navigators include real-time team tracking with built-in inReach technology, allowing race vehicles and chase trucks to communicate and track each other with live position updates. Prerunning tools for creating custom pacenotes help you navigate the most efficient route through virtual checkpoints. Plus, the track recorder saves splits and laps so drivers can record their performances and improve race times. The Baja Race Edition can panel mount directly to your dashboard, or you can secure it with the included bail mount. The Baja Chase Edition includes a heavy-duty suction cup so it’s easy to move from one support truck to another.
For those who need a motorcycle navigator
zūmo® XT2: This 6” motorcycle navigator is glove-friendly and easy to read — regardless of the weather or light. You can create custom routes with the visual route planner, find twists and turns with Garmin Adventurous Routing™ setting, see popular paths to find new places to ride and start a group ride to see where other riders are. Plus, with just a tap, you can switch from North America street maps to topographic maps to satellite imagery. zūmo XT2 also has you covered through the incident notifications feature3. If an incident occurs, this feature automatically notifies your predetermined contact with your location coordinates, seamlessly sharing your exact incident location details.
What you need to enhance every ride
Garmin offers a…