I am on a budget and looking for a fishfinder with side imaging that has GPS. I am looking at the HELIX 5 CHIRP SI GPS G2 and the Lowrance HOOK2-5 TripleShot Fishfinder/GPS Combo. Both are available for around $300 which works with my budget. I appreciate all opinions on one over the other. Thanks.

Love my Humminbirds so I am biased a little bit but I really like the side imaging on the Humminbird way more than the Lowrance.

Hummingbird here too. Installed the original units myself. Console is a 9” SI/DI/GPS. The returns are ok, but the newer technology is much better. I used transducer shield and saver as well. It’s worth the extra protection.

go with the bird unit, had nothing but for a lot of years, they are more user friendly.

if you want a larger screen look for a used 898/899 or a 998/999 and you should be able to stay within your budget. had 899 on the bow and 998 at console till recently and no complaints on either.

I personally couldn't use the smaller screen, old guy here and too much eye strain.

Jiggy,
Keep saving until you can afford a 7” or 9” screen!! The 5” is really too small to utilize the SI in my opinion!!! .......from experience. Go with the birds, but just a bigger screen size.

If you are on a budget, hard to beat Humminbird.

Get the best Garmin you can afford

Whenever y'alls Lowrances and Hummnbirds provide navigation for land, air, and sea, let me know

All of them are expensive if you go to a bigger screen. I just had two gamin 12 inch EchoMap Ultras and Livescope installed. Choked pretty good at the bill but that's what I decided to spend my fun money on. If I was starting out again and had to go smaller, I would not buy the smaller "all the bells and whistle" model. They are expensive. Buy a bigger screen unit in whatever brand you choose that gives you the biggest screen but not all the bells and whistles. I think you will be disappointed in the smaller screens not unless you are installing it on a kayak. At least I was but thats just my opinion.

Put your money into a bigger screen you will not be disappointed.

I want livescope