Although Simrad has been acquired by several companies over the years, they have never wavered in their mission to create luxury fish finders with sonar, autopilot functions and navigation. Simradįounded in 1946 and known as Simrad Yachting, the company name comes from the combination of the founder’s last name (Simonsen) with its main product at the time, radio communication. They make fewer units overall, but their obsession with quality speaks for itself. Garmin fish finders are some of the most advanced and versatile on the market, making them a top contender for the best fish finders. They have adapted their GPS units to meet automotive, marine, aviation and outdoor needs, and they have also created many types of wearable technology. From 1989 Garmin started and is currently a leader in GPS technology. Garmin has different roots than Lowrance and Humminbird, but their commitment to their fish finders and products, in general, is definitely top notch. While their product line has expanded with innovative features such as Mega SideImaging, Mega DownImaging and massive 15 inch HD displays, they have not forgotten their native roots and continue to develop units for anyone interested in fishing. They were the first to introduce a waterproof submersible probe, one of the first to use LCR screens (which later evolved into modern LCD screens) and the first to use 360-degree sonar technology. Starting in a small garage in Alabama, Humminbird started the trend of being the first manufacturer or using new technology. Humminbird was established in 1971 and has been marked by its native roots and innovations from the beginning to the present. Since 2008, they have continued this trend by introducing the first HD multifunction display along with features such as Trackback to review past sonar readings, 4G radar connections and enhanced image-like sonar readings. From being one of the first to use CHIRP sonars to add StructureScan and DownScan to your fishfinders. They continually seek out and adapt new images and technologies to their long list of fish finders. Perhaps their biggest innovation in the market came in 2008, when they were the first to introduce an HD multifunction screen. They have adapted to new imaging trends and techniques such as side imaging (StructureScan) and descending imaging (DownScan) with ease. Lowrance opened its doors in 1957 and has been a leader in marine technology since its inception, creating many fish finders and related sonar units. This will give you a better idea of what each brand is and why they offer what they offer. Overviewīefore delving into what each brand offers, we introduce it to you and make it known to you. Make sure you give each brand a chance and look at everything they offer before making a final choice. Let’s go ahead today and compare the brands and what they generally offer. Keep an open mind and we are confident that you will find a fishfinder that fits your needs and budget. Keep in mind that we’re only selecting the best fish finders overall, so each brand offers more than what we’re viewing here. We’ll give you specifics about each brand and what they offer. Whether you need a high-end, premium unit with half a dozen imaging types, or just something small for the occasional weekend fishing trip, these brands have something for you. All four have a history of creating versatile fishfinders in a variety of price ranges. Today we look at the four main brands: Garmin, Lowrance, Humminbird, and Simrad. It can be really hard to know which brand to choose as each of them looks so similar at first glance, but they get very different once you start digging and see what they offer and what they specialize in. The fish finder market is really large, with many brands pushing their latest models.