Garmin Striker Series Complete Review: 4, 4cv, 4dv, 5cv, 5dv, 7sv, 7cv, 9sv
Garmin has done it again with their Garmin Striker line. This line of fish finders is around the mid-tier to the premium line, offering many features while staying at a reasonable price. There are numerous models within this lineup, and we will be going through seven of them: the 4, 4cv, 4dv, 5cv, 5dv, 7sv, 7cv and the 9sv.
To give you a fair and accurate picture of how they are, we will present an unbiased look at each fish finder and also give you a list of their overall features and specs so that you can easily choose which one works best for you.
Garmin Striker 4
- Display: 3.5 inches, 480×320 pixel resolution, HVGA color, LED backlight
- Overall Features: Dual Frequency Traditional and CHIRP Sonar, Fish Symbol, Flasher Mode, Ultrascroll, IPX7 Waterproof
- Frequency: 77/200kHz
- Depth: 1,600 feet freshwater, 750 feet saltwater
- GPS: Yes, stores 5,000 waypoints, no maps
The Garmin Striker 4 starts off this list as being both the smallest and cheapest of the lineup, but it actually provides you with a lot of desirable features at a low cost. First of all, it’s one of the cheapest fish finders in general with CHIRP sonar, plus it has a basic GPS attached to it for added functionality.
The display is a little tiny, but that’s not too bad. It’s backlit so that you can see it during the day, and the color vibrancy is pretty good. You can split the screen between the sonar and GPS. This makes both panels fairly small, but they should still be visible.
You can select between two different frequencies for the sonar. One is for less coverage but better clarity, while the other is a broader search to help in locating the fish in the first place. Switching between them is simple and done by pushing a button.
The GPS here is very basic. It shows your position and allows you to store up to 5,000 waypoints, but it will not display your coordinates nor will it store maps. This is ideal if you just want a roundabout idea of where you are and don’t need all the extra metrics.
In general, Striker 4 is a basic model with a low price tag. If you just want a basic model, then this is perfect. It’s affordable and comes with a good amount of features. However, it doesn’t have down scan or other advanced features.
Garmin Striker 4cv Review
- Display: 3.5 inches, 480×320 pixel resolution, HVGA color, LED backlight
- Overall Features: Dual Frequency Traditional and CHIRP Sonar, ClearVu Technology, Fish Symbol, Flasher Mode, Ultrascroll, IPX7 Waterproof
- Frequency: 77/200kHz for Traditional and CHIRP, 455/800kHz for ClearVu
- Depth: 1,750 feet freshwater, 830 feet saltwater
- GPS: Yes, stores 5,000 waypoints, no maps
As you can see from the specs, the Striker 4cv is very similar to the 4, but it has a few additions and a little extra power. Perhaps the biggest and most impressive addition is the ClearVu technology, which is a staple of make fish finders in the Striker series.
ClearVu is a type of noise-canceling technology that better shows images so that you can easily make out what the sonar is picking up. For example, a traditional sonar will just show a blob of color, but ClearVu will help you make out what the object is so that you know if it’s a fish, vegetation, a manmade object or a combination of objects.
The 3.5-inch display is small but clear for its size. You can separate it into two panels for the sonar and GPS, and it should be easy enough to read all the data. The color is reasonably vibrant and the LED backlight helps you see the sonar readings regardless of lighting conditions.
The GPS is basic as it doesn’t allow you to store maps, but it does give your position and helps you get from point A to point B. You will also see the water temperature along with your movement speed.
This is one of the most affordable CHIRP fish finders that you can find, plus the addition of ClearVu really helps you distinguish your findings on the sonar. If you’re looking for an affordable unit with a little extra oomph, then this is it.
Garmin Striker 4dv Review
- Display: 3.5 inches, 480×320 pixel resolution, HVGA color, LED backlight
- Overall Features: Dual Frequency Traditional and CHIRP Sonar, DownVu Technology, Fish Symbol, Flasher Mode, Ultrascroll, IPX7 Waterproof
- Frequency: 77/200kHz for Traditional and CHIRP, 455/800kHz for DownVu
- Depth: 1,750 feet freshwater, 830 feet saltwater
- GPS: Yes, stores 5,000 waypoints, no maps
Going up another step, the Garmin Striker 4dv provides you with a little extra power and the addition of DownVu technology. This is just another name for the down scan (also called down imaging) and it’s a great feature to have as it gives you a fish’s POV under the water.
Along with this, you also get the benefits of ClearVu for removing noise, and you can easily change between frequencies for the CHIRP and traditional sonar. This is all accomplished by pushing the buttons on the interface.
The GPS is unchanged from the other models, and it’s quite common with the whole Striker series. You can store up to 5,000 waypoints and gather some information like speed, temperature, and directions to your next waypoint.
The DownVu addition might seem small if this is your first foray into fish finders, but it’s actually a big deal. Down view makes it very easy to make out fish and to see deeper into the water so that you know exactly what’s under there. If you don’t mind spending a little extra and you still want a small unit, then the 4dv is perfect.
Garmin Striker 5cv Review
- Display: 5 inches, 800×480 pixel resolution, WVGA color, LED backlight
- Overall Features: Dual Frequency Traditional and CHIRP Sonar, ClearVu Technology, Fish Symbol, Flasher Mode, Ultrascroll, IPX7 Waterproof
- Frequency: 77/200kHz for Traditional and CHIRP, 455/800kHz for ClearVu
- Depth: 2,300 feet freshwater, 1,100 feet saltwater
- GPS: Yes, stores 5,000 waypoints, no maps
The Striker 5cv receives a number of benefits over the Striker 4 products. The first difference you’ll notice is the bigger screen. While it’s just a one-inch difference, it gives you much more room and both the resolution and color vibrancy are significantly better.
As you can guess from the “cv” in the title, this is a ClearVu fish finder, meaning that it does a wonderful job of scanning the water and not allowing any noise to get in the way. This ensures that your images are as clear as possible.
Not only that, but the Fish Symbol feature will make sure that you can quickly ID fish, thus removing any guesswork. You can activate a multi-panel view to see several types of scans at once, ensuring that you can read from both the CHIRP and ClearVu scan.
The depth should be quite adequate for most bodies of water, and the GPS will help you navigate from one waypoint to another. While there are no maps, you can make your own by linking one waypoint to another.
This fish finder gives you a little extra power, better scanning, and the larger display makes it easier to see everything. If size matters to you and you want to keep costs down, then the 5cv is a good upgrade over the 4 series.
Garmin Striker 5dv Review
- Display: 5 inches, 800×480 pixel resolution, WVGA color, LED backlight
- Overall Features: Dual Frequency Traditional and CHIRP Sonar, DownVu Technology, Fish Symbol, Flasher Mode, Ultrascroll, IPX7 Waterproof
- Frequency: 77/200kHz for Traditional and CHIRP, 455/800kHz for DownVu
- Depth: 2,300 feet freshwater, 1,100 feet saltwater
- GPS: Yes, stores 5,000 waypoints, no maps, EchoMAP compatible
In a lot of ways, the Striker is similar to the 5cv, but there are two huge changes that may make you spend the extra money. Starting with basics, you get the 5-inch screen with the 800×480 resolution and vibrant colors. The major sonar types are CHIRP and DownVu.
DownVu scans deep under the water so that you can see exactly what it looks like down there. ClearVu has a broader search, but DownVu is the clearest and will help you better distinguish objects and fish.
While the GPS is still basic and relies completely on waypoints, this unit allows you to connect to EchoMAP via the data cable. You can thus transmit waypoints and routes from one unit to another.
Switching between frequencies and sonar views is incredibly simple. Just push a button or two and it’s done. The buttons have been moved to the right-hand side, but they’re just as easy to operate as with the smaller units.
If you want DownVu and the ability to connect to EchoMAP, then this unit is definitely right for you. However, the features otherwise are quite similar to the 5cv. If these aren’t too important to you, then the 5cv may be a better buy.
Garmin Striker 7cv Review
- Display: 7 inches, 800×480 pixel resolution, WVGA color, LED backlight
- Overall Features: Dual Frequency Traditional and CHIRP Sonar, ClearVu Technology, Fish Symbol, Flasher Mode, Ultrascroll, IPX7 Waterproof
- Frequency: 77/200kHz for Traditional and CHIRP, 455/800kHz for ClearVu
- Depth: 2,300 feet freshwater, 1,100 feet saltwater
- GPS: Yes, stores 5,000 waypoints, no maps
Do these specs look familiar? They are almost exactly the same as the 5cv. Actually, the only difference you’ll spot here is the larger screen. That’s not a mistake. The 7cv is the same exact unit, it’s just a lot bigger. While you may be surprised that the resolution isn’t any better, you’ll be happy to know that the screen is still quite clear.
Actually, the larger screen improves the multi-panel view, making it much easier to see the scans and what they are telling you. Also, the LED backlight will ensure that you can see all the scans regardless of the time of day.
While there aren’t any other updates to speak of and the price tag is larger due to the bigger screen, this is still a great fish finder that’s worth the money. The depth is good, you can easily switch between frequencies and both ClearVu and CHIRP imaging, and you get the store up to 5,000 waypoints for your journey.
This all comes down to size. If you thought that the 5cv sounded good but that it’s even better with the larger screen, then this is worth the money. If you’d rather keep costs low and don’t mind a 5-inch device, then the 5cv might be better.
Garmin Striker 7sv Review
- Display: 7 inches, 800×480 pixel resolution, WVGA color, LED backlight
- Overall Features: Dual Frequency Traditional and CHIRP Sonar, DownVu Technology, SideVu Imaging, Fish Symbol, Flasher Mode, Ultrascroll, IPX7 Waterproof
- Frequency: 77/200/455kHz for Traditional and CHIRP, 260/455/800kHz for DownVu, 260/455/800kHz for SideVu
- Depth: 2,300 feet freshwater, 1,100 feet saltwater
- GPS: Yes, stores 5,000 waypoints, no maps
For those of you who are experienced with fish finders, you may have been wondering where the side imaging was. Well, here it is. This is the Striker’s top model, and you can see why. SideVu gives you a 180-degree view of everything under and around your boat, making it easy to find fish or other objects that other imaging types would miss.
Not only that, but you can view all three types of imaging (SideVu, DownVu, and traditional sonar) at once, each in its own panel. You’ll be able to see far, deep and wide simultaneously without switching between views.
Another big benefit is that there are more frequencies to play around with, making it easier to balance distance and clarity than with the other models. The depth is adequate for most bodies of water and the GPS, while still basic, helps navigate you through the waters.
This is a top-ranking fish finder that gives you some professional tools without being too expensive. The additional imaging type will be welcomed by many who are serious about fishing. If you need the best of the best, then the Garmin Striker 7sv fits the bill.
Garmin Striker Plus 9sv Review
- Display: 9 inches, 480×800 pixel resolution, WVGA color, LED backlight
- Overall Features: Dual Frequency Traditional Sonar, CHIRP Sonar, ClearVu Technology, SideVu Imaging, DownVu Imaging, Fish Symbol, Flasher Mode, Ultrascroll, IPX7 Waterproof
- Frequency: 50/77/200kHz Traditional Sonar and CHIRP, 260/455/800kHz ClearVu and SideVu
- Depth: 2,300 feet freshwater, 1,100 feet saltwater, 240 feet both sides for SideVu
- GPS: Yes, stores 5,000 waypoints, no maps
Garmin Striker Plus 9sv is the largest fish finder in the Striker Plus or Striker series, and it also comes with all the bells and whistles. This is made for the fisherman who wants every imaging type available. You get traditional sonar, CHIRP, ClearVu for enhanced clarity, SideVu to see the sides of your boat, DownVu to see under the boat, and a GPS that marks your speed and location.
While the GPS doesn’t support contour maps (which is common for the Striker series as you may have noticed), it does allow you to generate 5,000 waypoints so that you can easily plot a course or make your way back to shore.
Switching between the views, and loading simultaneous views, is very easy with the intuitive control panel. This doesn’t support touch commands, but the buttons on the side are easy to use. There are also many frequencies to select from based on your need. You can maximize depth or clarity, and with CHIRP, you can run several frequencies at the same time to see high-resolution scans from far away.
While Garmin Striker 9sv is considered more affordable than some other brands, it gives you a tremendous amount of power and many different views. As long as you don’t mind lacking a touchscreen, this can easily play with the big boys. You get a large screen, lots of features, and a great maximum depth.
Conclusion
The Garmin Striker line stands as one of the best for those who want to balance price and power. These mid-tier offerings give you many imaging types, enhanced clarity, accurate GPSs, and numerous features at a very reasonable price. Plus, Garmin is always expanding the line to give you more features or sizes. Speaking of sizes, this is one of the most robust fish finder lineups. It ranges from 4 inches to 9 inches, and there are plenty of offerings for every type of fisherman.
If you love fishing and you want a fish finder that prioritizes accessible scanning and imaging, then Garmin Striker is the brand for you.
You might also want to check out my best fish finder post to browse more models out there.
