I have the Lowrance LMS 334 and have no problems with it. I have never owned a Garmin but have heard good things about them as well. I think you cant go wrong with either but do suggest you go to see them in the store and play with the menus and features of each to see which you prefer. When your on the water and needing to make changes or look up something you need to feel comfortable with the lay out.
Here is a link to Lowrance where you can download a product emulator and play with it on you own computer.
http://www.lowrance.com/en/Downloads/Product-Emulators/
Hope you dont get side tracked by the mud slinging of one verses the other.
