Hi Lister, the Garmin 96c is good in most light conditions, light & thus portable, and the battery life is excellent. I just use it as a backup aid to see my progress in flight on a pre-planned VFR route. Don't expect to be able to fly and fiddle with the device - the keys are too small for that. I plan my routes using Memory Map
Welcome to Memory-Map Navigation Software : Digital Maps for PCs and Pocket PCs with the digital CAA charts (excellent) and the software easily programs the Garmin. After the flight I can then upload the GPS tracks back into Memory Map to see exactly where I've been and keep as a record.