After some recommendations please.

Ideally has
rechargeable battery,
heart rate monitor,
Turn by turn off-road navigation with mapping
Download and follow someone’s gpx file
not too fussed about cadence,
can’t see I’ll ever buy a power meter
Ideally be one that I can communicate with from an iPad rather than a lap top (is that a thing?)

Ideally under £300

Are the garmin the best? Is that two nav one in the last mag any good?

GO!

(Thanks!)

520 sounds like it’ll fit the bill.

Or a Garmin 810. Bundle on amazon at the mo for under £300, here

I’ve had an 800 for about 3 years – very happy with it.

Thanks! I’ll take a look!

If your not bothered by cadance etc. Garmin touring plus….
If your not too bothered by mapping and just want turn by turn – garmin edge 25.

I just ordered the 1000 for 270 from handtec.

Should arrive Monday.

520 doesn’t do turn by turn navigation and only has limited space for an overlay map. 810 is probably the best bet for your needs. the garmin edge touring is cheaper and does HRM monitor but loses the 810’s cadence features. that might be worth a look as well

Thanks! Wiggle have the 1000 with a heart strap for £330 which is looking pretty tempting!

810 oddly doesn’t have GLONASS satellite (Russian GPS) support. Not sure how much improvement it is, but I’ve got it on the 510 which has GPS + GLONASS. Supposedly quicker fix and more accuracy which was one of the reasons I went for it. Not sure it is more accurate though, but the fix is very quick usually.

510 though has no maps and turn by turn. It does have breadcrumb trail to follow but not that easy to use. Otherwise it’s much like the 810 under the hood.

1000 has funky things like WiFi.

Most Edge models with ANT+ can do HRM.

Communicating with an iPad, you’ll need a model with Bluetooth (510, 520, 810, 1000), and the relevant Garmin Connect app, then a lot of patience trying to get it to pair. Alternatively the WiFi in the 1000 I think can also connect to the app which likely is more reliable.