Top 5 Editorial Picks

Five current fishfinders chosen for distinct buyer needs—from compact value to a premium expandable system. These are editorial selections, not Amazon or reader ratings.

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  1. 1
    Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv Fishfinder with Transducer - 4-inch LCD Display - Easy-to-Use Scanning Sonar - Color Palettes, 11.2 Ounces (010-02550-00) | Transducer, 4-inch LCD Display, Easy-to-Use Scanning Sonar, Color Palettes, 11.2 Ounces 4 Inch STRIKER Vivid 4cv Transducer

    Best Compact Value

    Garmin STRIKER Vivid 4cv

    A straightforward sonar and GPS unit for kayaks, jon boats, and small boats.

    • CHIRP and ClearVü scanning sonar in a compact package
    • A sensible pick when you do not need a chartplotter or SideVü
    • Best fit for budget-conscious small-boat anglers
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  2. 2
    Garmin Striker Vivid 7sv, Easy-to-Use 7-inch Color Fishfinder and Sonar Transducer, Vivid Scanning Sonar Color Palettes (010-02553-00) | Easy-to-Use 7-inch Color Fishfinder, Sonar Transducer, Vivid Scanning Sonar Color Palettes 010-02553-00 7 Inch STRIKER Vivid 7sv Transducer

    Best All-Around 7-Inch Fishfinder

    Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7sv

    A capable sonar-first choice for anglers who want a useful 7-inch display without moving into a full chartplotter system.

    • CHIRP, ClearVü, and SideVü sonar for fish and structure
    • Simple setup with a practical 7-inch screen
    • Strong value for most general boat anglers
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  3. 3
    Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv with GT54 Transducer, 7” Touchscreen Chartplotter, Garmin Navionics+ U.S. Inland 7' Garmin Navionics+ U.S. Inland with GT54 Transducer

    Best GPS & Chartplotter Upgrade

    Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 73sv

    The mapping step-up for buyers who need confident navigation as well as high-quality scanning sonar.

    • Garmin Navionics+ U.S. Inland mapping and touchscreen control
    • Ultra High-Definition ClearVü and SideVü sonar
    • A better fit than STRIKER when charts matter
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  4. 4
    Humminbird XPLORE Series GPS Fish Finder MEGA Side Imaging+ & HD Touchscreen Display Transducer Included) 9-Inch Display

    Best Side-Imaging Upgrade

    Humminbird XPLORE 9

    A current 9-inch imaging platform for anglers ready to build around serious side imaging and boat integration.

    • MEGA Side Imaging+ and MEGA Down Imaging+
    • 9-inch display with touchscreen and keypad control
    • Recommended configuration: 9-inch, transducer included
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  5. 5
    Lowrance HDS PRO Fishfinder/Chartplotter with Smartphone Integration and Preloaded C-MAP U.S. & Canada Charts 10 Inch ActiveImaging HD 3-in-1

    Best Premium Expandable System

    Lowrance HDS PRO 10

    A larger-boat platform for buyers who want premium sonar, mapping, networking, and a serious expansion path.

    • Active Imaging HD and C-MAP charting
    • Wide networking support for integrated electronics
    • Ready to expand with ActiveTarget 2 and the Lowrance ecosystem
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Uniden Handheld VHFs

Uniden handheld VHF radios continue to make solid inroads with boaters in the recreational and small commercial marine electronics field.

The company uses its vast resources and technical skills with other communications technology like telephones and two-way radios to improve and enhance the feature set found in their handheld VHF radios.

Uniden has a number of handheld marine VHF radios in their current lineup. We have separated them into groups by size and features.

Uniden Floating Handheld VHF

Uniden has a new floating handheld VHF radio. The just-released Uniden MHS50 which is sold in a two-pack, has displaced the Uniden MHS125 as the least expensive floating marine handheld VHF radio you can buy today. The latest addition to the Uniden floating handheld lineup is the GPS equipped Uniden MHS135DSC.

Full-Size Uniden Handheld Marine VHFs

The venerable Uniden Atlantis 250 remains in their stable of entry-level marine handheld VHF radios. This one is big, heavy, basic, and inexpensive. The Uniden MHS120 shares a similarity in design and layout. Another full-size competitor is the Uniden MHS350. This last radio ships with two batteries and is waterproof to the tough JIS7 standard.

Compact Uniden Handheld VHF Radios

The handheld marine VHF radios at the top of the Uniden lineup do not float, however, they all feature a compact design that fits easily in hand. The Uniden Voyager started off the compact radio trend. It has a myriad of features including a Lithium-Ion battery and JIS7 waterproofing.

Follow on compacts include the Uniden MHS450 which is housed in a tough die-cast aluminum case. This radio also has a powerful Lithium Ion battery and meets the toughest JIS8 waterproof standards. The upgraded version of this radio, the Uniden MHS550, has all the same attributes while adding multi-band capabilities.

The latest addition to the Uniden handheld lineup is the inexpensive Uniden MHS75. This radio has basic features and a price tag under $100. We’ve featured this unit in our guide to help you choose the Best Marine Radio.

Uniden VHFs