[Closed] Computers & GPS Devices

Lowest budget: Garmin Edge 810 secondhand. (Or 800/Touring if you don’t mind using a cable to get routes into it.)

Medium budget: Garmin Edge Explore (the one without any numbers in its name) or a secondhand Hammerhead Karoo 1.

Top whack: Wahoo Roam or Hammerhead Karoo 2.

Caveats: I’ve not used the Karoos but they look promising; I’ve not used the Roam but have used the other Wahoosand personally don’t like them for navigating.

Note that all bike GPSs seem to be pretty idiosyncratic and often buggy. And I’ve yet to find any which is able to calculate anything approaching a sane route: they’re universally terrible at it (subject to the above caveats) and that’s something best done at a desk with the route planning website of your choice.

My advice would be find an 810 or 800, figure out what you do and don’t like about it, then figure out whether you want to sell it at little or no loss and buy something else, or just stick with it.

Thankyou for the speedy reply @bez

Some good points you make and some handy things to look into

To pick up on one of your comments, the plan for me is to find a route on the computer, get it to the device and let it then say “according to your route, you now go this way”

Can it be as simple as that? Not really looking for the device to calculate routes or anything like that, in the simplest of terms, I’m really looking for something to follow to help reduce the “ah shite, where am I and where do I go now?” Moments

To give a small point of reference, this video is what really made me think about having a back up onboard device (plus the South Downs way is one ride I’m looking at)

Seems he was just following the arrows on his screen (hence looking into the wahoo roam also)

Yeah, it can be that simple, though the devil’s in the detail. If you link certain accounts (Strava, RideWithGPS, maybe others) with a Garmin account and pair the GPS with your phone then it can be as simple as, say, pinning your route in RideWithGPS and then when you turn the GPS on it finds your phone and pulls down the route via Garmin Connect. Which is how I use the 810 and Explore. Wahoo and Hammerhead and others have similar but different mechanisms. A lot of this is a matter of “choose your poison” to an extent, which is why it may be best to start with a low and recoverable investment and figure out which things work for you and which don’t—it can be hugely subjective.

You could also download something like Komoot app (presuming you have a smart phone, sorry!) and use that. I combine that and a quad-lock set up (case and handlebar mount) that's very secure, and it's pretty good for following easy to read directions.

The app is free to download, and I think even the premium service which will even speak directions to you should you wish is only £60 a year. A quad lock and case is another £45-50 (less if you get one of their many offers) and you'll be away. If nothing else it'll let you know if you want something a bit more sophisticated as Bez's great suggestions.

Well, off-road and on-road can be quite different too. They have different demands on how mapping is presented on-screen, and IME its vastly easier to make wrong turns off-road than on. But also IME off-road navigation involves sticking rigidly to a pre-planned route more often than on-road, so some things that I personally dislike about Wahoos are less relevant off-road.

You can get OS mapping for Garmins, particularly the 810/800/Touring which have Micro SD card slots, which can be really handy off-road. Although 1:50k bitmapped maps aren’t actually very clear on these devices, so it’s not necessarily the ideal solution… has its benefits though.

But you can overthink this, you can probably make do with anything when starting out, and either adapt to work with that device or identify something you don’t like and try another brand.

Cheers guys, a lot of what your saying makes a heap sense

@nickc great suggestion but I do try not to rely on the phone too much and the battery on it is just too bad for any prolonged use hence the search for something else

@bez do the garmins you mention only show a map to follow or do they have more options in regards to display ie and arrow to point you in the planned direction

Simplicity is key for me, suits my constitution ha ha

But you can overthink this, you can probably make do with anything when starting out, and either adapt to work with that device or identify something you don’t like and try another brand.

I'd agree with this, it's very easy to get into a Garmin/Wahoo/phone based hole.

I've always used Garmin devises, they work well for me, are easy enough to use and will do what you need. I tried my mates Wahoo, it'll do the same but I found the operating system less intuitive, mainly as I'm used to Garmins.
I tend to use Starva to plot my routes, but Garmin Connects is fine too, I'm sure there are plenty of others that'll work too.

In conclusion, I'd buy a Garmin Edge Explore, but you'll not go wrong with anything mentioned above.

@lunge I’d agree with that too hence my STW HELP!!! Plea

Considering all the comments and advice thus far, I’m starting to lean towards the garmin devices, plus looking on a popular internet based auction website, the used prices seem to be a bit more....first time user friendly shall we say?!

I have a garmin watch (again, battery not great) so really, makes more sense to go that way but as you all know, the “what to buy?!” Rabbit hole is a deep and all informative minefield

Was starting to lean towards the edge 810 but will also look into the edge explore as it’s been mentioned a couple of times now

As well as the Garmin 800 range, sometimes the 500 range have similar functions but just use buttons rather than touch screens, and some of the functions of the 800 series; like making routes on the actual device rather than having to download them, you may feel you don't need. It's worth checking out DC Rainmakers site, as he goes into waaay more detail than you'll need, but in a simple way which makes it easy to figure out what you might think is a "must have" over what you think might be less useful for you

More info than you will ever need for GPS devices

I have a garmin watch

Yep, that's partly the reason why I have a Garmin, it means my watch, fitness tracker and GPS all talk to the same app.

@lunge, makes perfect sense

@nickc Thankyou for that, will give me something to read after the rugrats have gone to bed ha ha

Thanks for all the info so far gents (and/or ladies?!) really helpful

do the garmins you mention only show a map to follow or do they have more options in regards to display ie and arrow to point you in the planned direction

Any device with mapping functionality will show you where you are and what direction you’re pointing. If you’re recording a track you’ll see a wiggly line showing where you’ve been, and if you’re navigating a route then you’ll also see a wiggly line showing the route, ie where you’re hopefully going.

Garmins will also give you a close-up when you approach a junction, showing your path through it. (Assuming the version of firmware you’re on doesn’t have a bug there… that sort of thing sometimes happens unfortunately 🙁)

Got a Edge 830. The basemap is perfectly useable, even has some trails. Nice and easy to make routes on Garmin Connect and send to the device once everything is set up. It will reroute if you go wrong, even off road. Battery lasts ages. Bit expensive but Garmin are very good at sorting out problems. Twice now I've sent in GPS units for minor repairs and they've sent a new one straight back.

To echo above ^^^

I have an Edge 530 which I use for navigation rather than recording as I have a Fenix on my wrist.

Strava routes v easy to upload and I'm frequently creating routes on Garmin Connect too.

Trailforks is useful off-road.

Battery life is never an issue.

I've had very good support from Garmin, including a replacement unit after I crashed and damaged the mount underneath.

Thankyou all for all the pointers and advice / experiences

Have been looking around and reading review after review of device after device based on your comments

I THINK Garmin Edge Explore (non-numerical) could be the one, seems to tick the boxes,

Still lots more reading to do but the edge explore seems to have stayed top of the shortlist

Thanks all, help is all much appreciated

This wont suit everyone but I use a Garmin etrex 10 - its as basic as can be has no map worth being a map so is breadcrumb trail following only, but i've never got lost with it (including a few holidays in the lakes and Scotland) , I mountain bike and its about as cheap as a GPS could be so I haven't got several hundred quids worth on my bars waiting to get smashed about and it records my data and trail for later viewing and reference.

It may not be the most elegant solution but for me it works absolutely fine  - I create a trail in Komoot and copy it to the etrex10 and off I go....

Lowest budget: Garmin Edge 810 secondhand. (Or 800/Touring if you don’t mind using a cable to get routes into it.)

Let me correct that for you. Lowest budget is an OS map (or A4 print out of the area you want), clear zip tie bag for waterproofing, highlighter pen and compass.

I know it is not the answer you are looking for but old school navigating is cheap, rewarding and effective. You can teach yourself and there is a certain joy to working out a route, plotting it and following it. I'm not dismissing tech, I use both. Just don't dismiss the map option without giving it a proper try.

Once again, thanks for all the replies

I WAS dead set on getting the garmin explore but then further reading I’m now leaning towards the garmin 530 due to the extra proposed battery life (20 hours a opposed to 12 hours) I can currently get both for the same price but is there any real difference between the two other than touchscreen, and the battery obviously?

Thoughts/suggestions greatly welcome and received

@ donslow I'm in a very similar position to you and have been round the houses in my thinking (definitely too much!). I think the 830 and 530 are very similar bar the touch screen vs buttons. I'm leaning towards the 530 simply because buttons are likely to be less of a PITA when the screen is wet(?). The battery life is also a draw.

@hazmo I’m now starting lean towards the 530 over the explore, feature set seems to be very similar, granted screen is smaller but as long as I can see it and it tells me where to go, I’m not overly fussed by the size

The extended battery life is certainly becoming a bigger draw than the explore despite the fact that I was set on that device

I like my explore, but mainly because I got it cheap, the 530 being the newer device, with longer battery life would probably sway me that way if they had been the same price a few months ago...

You want the longest battery life you can get.

It is quite frustrating to find yourself off route with the GPS having given up, and no backup paper map (it's not really practical on a bike) or phone (also battery dead).

Don't ask how I know this.

is there any real difference between the two other than touchscreen, and the battery obviously?

I bought the 530 before I bought the Explore, and returned it. The main thing I didn’t like was the button UI. Even using the menus was painful, but I like to be able to zoom and pan the map mid-ride to decide where I’m going, and the 530 made this rather difficult. The small screen didn’t help either: the Explore is noticeably bigger. So while the 830 (too expensive) would have been fine, the 530 didn’t suit me. YMMV.

I was concerned about battery life on the Explore but it’s not been bad: the longest ride I’ve done with it was a bit over 12 hours and it conked out within about a kilometre of the end. All Garmins can be kept topped up while in use by plugging in an external battery; the only complication with the Explore is that the USB port is on the underside, so charging it will mean using an out-front mount and/or a bit of fudging.

The 530 has more features and better battery life—but for me the touchscreen and display size outweighed both (none of the 530’s features were much use to me). Up to you which you prefer.

If extended battery life is your major concern then something running off AA batteries will be the best answer. It's easy to carry spares, there are no issues regarding waterproofing (or wear) of USB ports, you can even buy more en route if you need to.

I use a garmin 1030. Wet or not the touch screen is fine.
Battery does at least 10 hours. If you think you ride longer than that then you can buy a piggy back battery or just buy a standard battery pack for 20 quid and recharge when having a rest. You can get really long hours out of it by switching off the monitors, emails, bright screen view. Also recommend not viewing maps permanently as when a turn comes up it goes to maps option for you.
It's faultless and has never let me down. Screen is also big enough to view without glasses on.
Map transfer is also wireless and it has map support for free for life.
Expensive yes but worth it to me.

@bez the ONE thing I never thought of that I might actually use! Zooming in and out of and panning the map!

Can you do it at all on the 530?

In standard map view or navigation mode, is the map quite zoomed or far out or just right to see a decent amount around you? Can the map view zoom be changed if you don’t like the default setting?!

@nowad I’d be tempted but the 1030 is just a tad too rich for my pocket, especially for something that might only see daylight for 2 maybe 3 times a year, seems a lot for something that won’t get used enough to warrant the initial expenditure

@donslow yes totally understand that but if going for one of the newer cheaper models it was just to confirm the touch screens are much better now. Worth trying in a store when open.

@nowad absolutely agree, certainly plan to hit the shops when all are up and running agin

Can you do it at all on the 530?

You can, but it involves a lot of button juggling if you want to pan. I forget the detail but I think the DC Rainmaker review covers how it works. I think one button toggles between three modes (zoom, east-west pan and north-south pan) while two others control the zoom/pan according to mode, and I think zoom is the default mode.

You can set whatever zoom level you like or set it to auto-zoom.

As long as the option(s) are there to suit think I could handle button presses on the occasions I’d use them

Might take punt and order the edge 530 see how I get on with it

Can anyone recommend a good top cap type fixing/bracket for a garmin?

https://www.76projects.com/shop/enduromount

Consider something that takes it away from the bars, I think these put the garming out of harms-way. You do need to stick it to your frame though. so you may not be keen  v cheap stem cap these are avaiable for pennies though if you happy to replace the stem top cap.

@nickc good shout(s) that man, would have never thought about attaching to my top tube, never seen or heard of those before, quite like the idea behind that! Not 100% it’d work on my frame as the decals aren’t completely flat so sticking could be an issue

In regards to replacing the top cap, I think I’d only use it when using the computer so original can go back on when needed,

Another vote for Edge 1030.

I use mine all the time. Having a nice big screen is pretty handy given that I'm old and my eyes are now out of warranty.

Battery - seems to last forever.

Even the gimmicky features I thought I would never used, like the Strava link, are actually surprisingly entertaining.

Komoot, Wahoo Roam, Sorted.

(If you have the budget)