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
  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
  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
  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
  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

Garmin Echo 100 Review

Rating
3.8/5
 
Garmin Echo 100 has an average rating of 3.8 out of 5 based on 5 user reviews.

garmin_echo_100

Vendor Price
BassPro $79.99
WestMarine $79.99
FactoryOutletStore $89.95
ISave $89.95

When it comes to selecting the perfect fishfinder for all your fishing needs, value is everything. This is where the Garmin Echo 100 comes into play, as a strong fishfinder packed with all the important functionality but nevertheless light on both the frills and your wallet. The benefits of the Echo 100 start with its crisp 4 inch display (with a pixel resolution of 160 x 256 and an 8 level grayscale FSTN screen) and quickly extend to include its single 200kHz beam transmitter, which brings up details hidden under as many as 600 feet of fresh water. There is a significant amount of sonar power in that beam (100 watts).

Because of the compact sizing, the Garmin Echo 100 is perfect for small to mid-sized boats and will not crowd your limited space. Everything you need comes in the box, including the fish finder itself, a tilt and swivel mount, all the proper power cables, transducer and instructions. This makes installation a very easy matter, once again saving you time. What this fishfinder lacks in flashy features, it makes up for in reliable, efficient performance, speed and of course, excellent value.

You can get a great deal on Garmin Echo 100 here.

 
 
 Garmin Echo 100Humminbird PiranhaMax 143Humminbird PiranhaMax 153
garmin_echo_100humminbirdpiranhamaxpiranhamax153
Screen Size4 in / 102 mm 4 in / 102 mm 4 in / 102 mm
Screen Resolution160 x 256 pixels 160 x 128 pixels 160 x 128 pixels
Display Type8-level grayscale FSTN 4-level grayscale4-level grayscale
Imaging2D2D 2D
Transmit Power100W RMS
800W Peak-To-Peak
100W RMS
800W Peak-To-Peak
100W RMS
800W Peak-To-Peak
Sonar Frequency 200 kHz 200 kHz 83/200 kHz
Maximum Depth600 ft 600 ft600 ft
MSRP$79.99$69.99$79.99
ReviewsReviewsReviews

User Reviews

Posted by JonBoater

  • 1/5
1

I expected that a $80 fishfinder will not require much to install. Turns out I was wrong. You have to put holes in the boat to attach it and then hardwire it to the battery. Not exactly what I wanted to do so I returned to the store, and bought a portable Piranhamax instead.

Posted by Scott

  • 5/5
5

To install the transducer, all you have to do use a plastic mounting block and use to epoxy the transducer to the hull, what’s the big fuss about in the previous review. Garmin Echo 100 is great. It stays on the bottom at 25 mph and the display is crisp and clear.

I used to own a $400 Humminbird that never worked right and eventually stopped working at all. I also own several Garmin products, they are all high quality and reliable.

Posted by RickV

  • 4/5
4

I don’t think you can buy anything better at this price. It has all the necessary fishfinder functions: depth, temperature, it shows structure and fish, it has fish alarms. It uses very little power and it’s accurate for the most part (occasionally it shows incorrect depth for about 30 seconds or so).

Posted by Gerald

  • 4/5
4

I’m using this as a depth finder only. It seems to be very accurate when it comes to depth, it also shows nice outline of the bottom. I sometimes get incorrect returns when I have the power on auto, I turn the gain down and that seems to always solve the problem.

Posted by George Cambell

  • 5/5
5

I thought this Garmin product was very great, as it’s price says. It stayed on the back of the boat at around 50 miles per hour using only epoxy to hold it on. If your looking for a good fish finder for your boat at an affordable price, this would be it.

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