It’s not easy, but a temporary solution is here - free, user-created, Garmin-compatible GPS maps. Until they update their data and give me more detailed maps, I ain’t handin’ over any hard-earned cash. Garmin’s MapSource TOPO West, for instance, covers the Santa Monica Mountains and the San Bernardino National Forest, but not the Angeles, Cleveland, or Los Padres.
Garmin has its own map software, but it’s overpriced, out of date, and missing giant chunks of hikers’ territories in the 1:24k resolution that’s best for the trail. I really liked the features and price of the Garmins, but National Geographic TOPO (which, in my opinion, has the most comprehensive and powerful mapping tools) aren’t able to be displayed on the GPS unit’s screen.
One of the most frustrating (and lame) things I learned when researching GPS units was their crippled map capabilities.