You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
hit me with your knowledge people, do I grab a 520 in the sales or spend the extra money on the newer 530?
will be used for route following etc mainly
Read some negative things about the older ones not being very reliable?
thanks!
Personally I'd get the Wahoo Elemnt or Roam.
The 520 will die, the battery life is terrible after a while, they have syncing issues and they really don't like the rain.
In a similar boat OP, some good deals to be had on the 520. Need to replace by ailing 800.
FIL has the 520, been faultless for the few years he's had it. He's a fair weather rider so can't comment on rain. When he's used the map it's worked just as well as my old 800 if not a tad more consistently.
The 520 will die, the battery life is terrible after a while, they have syncing issues and they really don’t like the rain.
I know its a sample of 1, but mine has had 3 years use (2 rides a week average) will do 2 full days of riding with HR monitor on one charge, used in rain and mud with no issue. (non touchscreens are great for the rain).
Syncing problems have happened occasionally, seems to have sorted it by opening the garmin connect app on the phone first.
Downside is lack of internal storage for maps, if you want proper navigation rather than a blue line to follow.
I've a 520 and it's been fine in the rain, the only issue being the usual Garmin one of the hole for the barometric pressure sensor getting blocked by water so in-ride height gain, etc doesn't work. Everything gets sorted once you upload it to Strava.
Don't know about the 530 but the 520 (not the plus version) has limited space for maps and it's a bit of a palaver generating them and getting them onto the unit but there are instructions on the web on how to do this. Also you can't scroll the map, or at least I haven't found out how to, basically your position is in the centre of the screen at all times. No zooming in/out either. Sounds a pain but in practice when road riding it's been fine.
My 520 died this week after 3 years of use twice a week in all weathers. As others have said, its a pretty good unit. Sync'ing is sometimes hit an miss, but usually works once turned off/on. I uploaded 3rd party maps using DC rainmakers guide - not great, but fine for the road, and got us around the Elan Epic off road route (which was lucky considering the lack of paths and directions).
I'm weighing up getting a 520 PLUS in the slaes or the Wahoo Element Bolt. Same price. Will work with Garmin HR, Speed and Cadence sensors i have already.
Will probably get the 520 Plus over the Wahoo as the map on the Wahoo looks poor.
It may be a consideration, the 530 has a great battery life - 20h or something and mine seems to get more. Means you can go off for a weekend on the bike and not worry about the charging.