I'm thinking getting a Garmin (or similar) for use on road and on mtb solely for navigating on the go.....not bothered too much about using it to record rides or speed etc. would mainly be using it for riding routes I don't know so can follow set routes. What is everyone using? Im not keen to go all bells and whistles or mega expensive...but want something functional with decent battery life.
Garmin Edge Explore is pretty good
For road I use a Garmin Edge 520. Small screen and loading maps is a bit of a pain - the 530 is easier in that respect - but you get turn by turn directions. I use an Oregon off-road for various reasons.
Don't expect turn by turn directions to be available off-road as the underlying mapping used by any of these devices might not be set up. Basically it needs to know there's a junction rather than just a turn to one side or the other. That information depends on what's been input to the mapping not the device.
Edge explore is the best and cheapest for actual navigation. Really happy with mine and it's been reliable.
And you do get turn by turn directions off road, mostly, because it uses OSM mapping and that has most RoWs on it and in my area a load of the cheeky MTB trails too!
Edge 520 Plus comes with the topo-active maps, it's ok for following a track and mapping is ok.
If you build the route on Garmin connect it will give you turn by turn off road, but it's not great (as @whitestone says above).
If you just want maps, something like an etrex could be a better bet.
Edge Explore. Plan the route on your phone, upload it and ride. Simples.
Mobile phone ?
I have used Garmin 810, Edge Explore all excellent for me, now using watch which is not as visually great but covers all my sports.
its mainly going to be used for downloaded routes. Would that mean that the routes have been set up to give turn by turn directions? Sorry, don't know much about GPS devices.
Depends. Turn by turn cues/instructions are in TCX files not plain GPX files. See this page: https://ridewithgps.com/help/export-routes-to-garmin-device
If the device has a map then you can still follow the line on the screen, you just won't get text like "Turn left in 150m" appearing.
They aren't turn off your brain devices.
Edge 530 and download the free Trailforks app for it. I’m very, very happy with mine. Screen is descent size, as is resolution. Battery seems to last forever, with numerous sensors attached.
Have a look at the wahoo elemnt, I got one after a garmin 800 and find it easier to use, great battery life and easy for navigation 👍
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/reviews/computers-gps-watches/wahoo-elemnt-cycle-computer
I'm in a similar position to the OP. Drawn towards Garmin as I can get 30% through work. Which one would you buy considering the discount?
I've got no interest in training or heart rate monitors. Never used Strava so no interest in that unless I can use it to find hidden gems.
I'd mostly use it to explore the Peak or the Lakes without carrying a map or pulling my phone out every 5 minutes. Also when I get the opportunity to go somewhere new I'm usually alone.
How easy is it to use Trailforks on the move? Or do you have to set everything up before you leave the house?
EDIT: I'm never going to use it on the road. Ever.
If the device has a map then you can still follow the line on the screen, you just won’t get text like “Turn left in 150m” appearing.
Normally you will. You won't on an Elemnt/Bolt because they don't support on-device routing, but the Roam and all mapping-capable Garmin devices will do it.
Drawn towards Garmin as I can get 30% through work. Which one would you buy considering the discount? I’ve got no interest in training or heart rate monitors.
Explore. Try to hope the firmware isn't too buggy, but it's the best Garmin out there other than its closest relative, the 1030, which is a whole lot of money for training features. Or if you've got cash to burn, don't mind (quite a lot of) extra bulk, and want something more suited to the Great Divide or hiking trips, have a sniff of the Oregon and Montana. Overkill for single-day cycling, though.
Garmin Etrex 10/20/30 with maps from TalkyToaster is what I use. Cheap complete UK mapping in OSM with amazing detail, Etrex can last for days on a couple of AA batteries available everywhere. Keep it simple without going for the touch screen version.
with the Etrex can you load routes onto it?
its mainly going to be used for downloaded routes. Would that mean that the routes have been set up to give turn by turn directions? Sorry, don’t know much about GPS devices.
The Garmin Edge Explore calculates the turn by turn stuff when you start a route.
There a few ways to get routes onto the device. You can use Garmin Connect but I use Strava to plan routes and then there's an app for the device that lets you download them from Strava, via the phone's internet connection when the phone is paired.
How easy is it to use Trailforks on the move? Or do you have to set everything up before you leave the house?
I haven't tried trailforks on the device, but generally you can do everything on the device. It's the successor to the Edge Touring which was designed for touring meaning you want to plan or modify routes on the fly. You can use it like a car GPS, e.g. navigate to a point on the map, find my nearest cafe, take me to the Rose and Crown etc. The routing on the old Touring was bonkers but on the Explore it uses Trailforks for routing and is pretty good.
I got it because I was often in new parts of the country for work and didn't know my way around. I'd plan a route on the computer but usually end up modifying it on the fly due to failing light or legs or whatever.
It really was a game changer. I used to print off sections of map and stick them in my pockets or up my shorts legs. Don't miss those days!
with the Etrex can you load routes onto it?
Yes, it's what a lot of riders on the HT550 and similar rides do. You are better downloading "tracks" though rather than routes - confusing terminology on Garmin's part - routes are a series of waypoints with no defined line between them, the device will choose the "best" way whereas tracks are an actual traceable line and depending on the number of points used to create the track can be accurate to a metre or so.
with the Etrex can you load routes onto it?
Yes.
I used to use GPSies to create custom routes, I really liked the web site, but it's now alltrails & I haven't used it yet. Strava is also good for creating a custom route, if your not sure where the route should go you can follow the heatmap track. Also Cycle Streets is great for creating road routes, I've used it for creating long road rides, but I can throw in the odd bridalway, so check before committing. Also, Strava (& others) gives the option of downloading others routes to follow. I download the routes as a GPX into a file on my desktop & save then there, I then just move them onto the Etrex as needed. I believe the humble Etrex holds favour with many a multi day endurance rider / racer. If I can figure out the IT tech I can't be too hard!!! Check eBay for some good pricing on new/used.
Ah - yes, important point made by Whitestone about downloading as a GPX track & not waypoints for longer rides. The Etrex can only cope with so many waypoints and will then end. GPX Track download option is what you want.
used for downloaded routes
Then the Elemnt will work fine with turn-by-turn. It doesn't do on the fly, but with a RwGPS route, it's great.
Had mine 4 years now, and never had a single issue with it. Compare and contrast with the issues some Garmin users have (and I have a Garmin watch. I've turned off updates after the last farce)
Edge 530 works for me on and off road using Trailforks and Strava.