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

Lowrance HDS-8 Gen2 Review

lowrance_hds8_gen2

Vendor Price
BassPro $1299.99
WestMarine $1649.99

The Lowrance HDS8 Gen2 can help prevent users from getting lost on their travel adventures out in the open water and fishermen from coming home empty handed. It bares an 8 inch full color backlit screen with a resolution of 600 by 800 pixels. It is simply a great looking addition to any boat.

The information that the screen provides is always relevant to the operation of the device. It provides a depth alarm and shallow alarm when they are crossed. A temperature display can help ensure proper operation temperatures within the 5-130 degrees Fahrenheit (-15-55C). Any temperature more or less than the threshold will not guarantee accuracy with the device. It is waterproof so owners can rest assured that it will not get damaged with a splash or high humidity conditions.

Depending on the location where the Lowrance HDS8 Gen2 is going to be used, the consumer will need to purchase the appropriate antennae type for their operation location. The choice for internal antennae to be used in the Americas is the GPS+WAAS and the Non-Americas is the GPS+EGNOS+MSAS.

You can get a great deal on Lowrance HDS-8 Gen2 here.

 
 
 Lowrance HDS-8Humminbird 898c SI Humminbird 958c DI
lowrance_hds8_gen2humminbird898csihumminbird958cdi
Screen Size8.4 in / 213 mm7 in8 in
Screen Resolution600 x 800 pixels 480 x 800 pixels480 x 800 pixels
Display Type16-bit color Super VGA SolarMAX PLUS TFT 256 Color TFT16:9 Color TFT
Imaging2D2D and Side Imaging2D and Down Imaging
Transducer TypeTransom Mount/Trolling MotorTransom Mount/Trolling MotorTransom Mount/Trolling Motor
Transmit PowerMax 250W Broadband, analog equivalent 30,000W and 32W Broadband, analog equivalent 3,750 W equivalent 3750W 1000W RMS
8000W Peak-to-Peak
500W RMS
4000W Peak-To-Peak
Sonar Frequency 50/83/200 kHz 83/200 kHz 2D
455/800 kHz Side Imaging
200/455 kHz 2D
455/800 kHz Down Imaging
Maximum Depth5000 ft / 1524 m1500 ft 2D
150 ft Side Imaging
600 ft 2D
250 ft Down Imaging
GPS Antenna TypeInternal, high-sensitivity GPS+WAASInternalInternal
Waypoint Storage500030003000
Routes2005050
Plot TrailsUp to 10 trails - up to 12,000 points/trail 50 w/20,000 points each 50 w/20,000 points each
Background MapExpanded U.S. BaseMap or Insight USAHumminbird ContourXDHumminbird Contour XD
MSRP$1819.99$1666.99$1499.99
ReviewsReviewsReviews

User Reviews

Posted by S Pilvinsky

  • 2/5
2

My HDS8 Gen2 worked fine during the first trip. Then during subsequent trips it started resetting itself periodically. It got to the point where it was off more than it was on. Lowrance support was very helpful and they replaced it but I don’t think they should be selling faulty equipment in the first place.

Posted by John S.

  • 5/5
5

Structure Scan was the reason I bought HDS8 Gen2 but I found several other features that I really like. The shortcut keys at the bottom are great, pretty much all useful options are one click away. The best feature is being able to scroll back to see what you passed over, saves me a lot of gas.

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