Forum menu
So before lockdown I was doing more rides in the Lakes/N Wales outside of trail centres, saving GPX files to my phone and checking my progress as I went. However my poor sense of direction and limited experience mean I need to stop and check my phone a lot.
I'm tempted by a garmin 530 or similar, the ability to monitor performance stats would be useful down the line I'm sure but my main priority would be loading in GPX files to follow to save me stopping so much. I see the 830 has a touch screen, is this of much benefit in the real world?
This would be my first computer so a total novice, have also seen good things about wahoo. Any user experiences would be great, thanks.
Touch screen is useful in that you can scroll the map, pinch to zoom and the like. Your post mentions both the 530 and 830, the 830 has a touchscreen, the 530 doesn't.
Have a look at this review - https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/04/garmin-edge-530-cycling-gps-in-depth-review.html
I've the 520 which is fine, my wife has the 800, also fine.
If you download a TCX file you'll get turn by turn instructions when on road and possibly off-road but that depends on the underlying mapping.
A much cheaper alternative would be a paper map and figuring out where your route sits in relation to everything else.
how does touchscreen cope in the rain, would be my concern
Touchscreen (on Garmins at least) is fine. I've used a 510 and an Oregon without problem.
OP, I've not had experience of Wahoo so no recommendations or otherwise there. My Garmins have basically just worked so I've had no reason to look elsewhere. My 510 eventually died but it had lasted eight years, probably well in excess of its design life, replaced it with the 520.
I recently got a 530, very good IMO, great battery life too. I haven't used much for navigation, mainly ride stats, very happy so far with it
Navigation is one (the only?) hing that Wahoo are a bit lacking on, even on the new roam.
If you want proper navigation, OS maps etc then the wahoo won't be your best choice.
However, the basic breadcrumb navigation on my wahoo bolt hasn't stopped me following it for 30/40 mile rides.
Have a look at Garmin explore, made for navigation, and the touchscreen is great even in the rain
DC Rainmaker (linked above) is the site to go to for all techy advice
I've had a wahoo elemnt for a while and I love it. Great battery life, reliable, good simple nav and with it paired to my phone easy to configure. I prefer no touch screen as I sometimes run with it in a pocket and get it out to check. I had a garmin 800 and far prefer the elemnt 👍👍 miles cheaper than a garmin was as well
I bought a 530 but sent it back straight away and got the 830, very glad I did. Basically the same feature set but with the touch screen which is good. It's not iPhone level good, but when you are used to using touchscreens all the time it's much better than buttons.
Great units all round, use it for MTB, commuting, road etc. Integrates well with trailforks and nav is great on road.
+1 for the Wahoo. My Garmin sits in the draw, I find a wahoo a lot more robust and configurable via my phone. Can upload box and use a route finder like Komoot.
I haven't tried a Garmin since I switched to a Wahoo element from my 810 that was killed by updates. It's generally very good. It can be a bit annoying as the maps show all the bridleways and footpaths but not fire roads so you can get a bit baffling when crossing FC land. Having said that I used it for the Atlas Mountain Race and it got me across Morocco without issue.
If you create routes in ridewithgps and 'pin' them then they will automatically appear on your wahoo with cues.