[Closed] Garmin etrex versions for biking. Enlighten me please

It's a while since I used an eTrex but unless you're desperate to avoid a touchscreen the only real advantage for use on a bike is battery life and the ability to carry replacement batteries if needed. But you can use an external battery with an 800, so it's not a big deal.

Other than that, they're a lot bulkier and the handlebar mount is far less versatile than the quarter turn mounts.

On the ease of use front, to be honest most Garmins are much of a muchness.

What reasons do you have for wanting to move on from the 800? Maybe something else is a better fit. Or maybe you're better off with the 800.

I do this. I have an eTrex 30x. I also have a 520. I can't get my head around the navigation on the 520, and I like to see my riding info...speed, distance etc. I've not found a way of showing that and mapping info at the same time. Certainly don't want to have to start messing about scrolling through screens until I find the info I want.

So, I got out my eTrex. I pre plot my routes and store them on the sd card. The unit is mounted on my stem, right behind the 520 on it's out front mount. This way I can see everything I need all at once.

I have the eTrex set up for turn by turn directions, with a beep warning when approaching a turn. I use the compass pointer to point in the direction of travel. It does work remarkably well. The main thing is to be accurate when plotting the route.

I can follow a trail, or a breadcrumb route, but this gives no turn by turn directions. I do like to take my time studying my maps to get the route right, so being a bit fussy at that stage isn't any hardship for me.

Yes, it uses 2 x AA batteries. But one set will easily last all day, and usually two full days. I use Eneloop rechargeable and they work just fine.

For my style of riding/navigating this is a perfect set up. YMMV.

I've got an older 30 rather than the 30X or Touch versions, but here's my understanding:
the Touch 35 is slightly bulkier than an Edge 800, although the screens are the same size
The Edge has more cycling training features, but the eTrex is more outdoorsy so better suited to walking, geocaching, area calculation (walk around a perimeter), etc, as well
The AA batteries are a bonus if you're likely to be out for more than 15 hours without the possibility of external charging
The 35 will support HRM and speed/cadence sensors, so is a jack of all trades, or go cycling-specific with the 800

Hmm. Ok. Thanks for the advice all.
Think I’ll stick to the edge 800 then.

If you are into multi-day cycling trips then the use  of AA batteries is very much a positive.

Is it?

I’ve got a 5200mAH power bank. It weighs 120g, takes up about as much space as a pair of AAs, will in theory charge an Edge roughly five times, and can be recharged with a wall charger that I’d already be taking for a phone anyway, or from my dynohub via my Luxos headlamp, which can also recharge the Edge directly while in use.

Whereas AAs would mean carrying more batteries and an additional charger. Granted, you get the ability to buy single-use cells from petrol stations along the way, but you can’t recharge from a dynohub while riding.

Some people will get on better with AAs for whatever they’re doing, but for others integrated batteries can be better when it comes to multi-day use.

I have an etrex legend HCx you can buy off me if you'd like to give one a try. Two handle bar mounts included.

The upcoming 530 looks to be a great bit of kit

@scotroutes I’m in the same position as @Bez with a small power bank and a dyno hub.
I can see the appeal of using AAs but would rather be sustainable

I have an etrex legend HCx you can buy off me if you’d like to give one a try. Two handle bar mounts included.

I used to have one of those. Great piece of kit. Think I prefer it to the 30x, but it gave up the ghost on me and I couldn't get a replacement.

@Bez - it does very much depend on the ground you are covering and therefore the general speed you are travelling at plus the length of time you will be away from charging points. I don't think the Etrex has a built-in charger whereas the Oregon series do.

The main problem with directly charging Garmin devices from a dyno-hub is that when you stop they think that there's no more power and ask about switching off rather than switching automatically to the internal battery - I've yet to find any way of configuring this so if anyone knows I'd like to know. Garmin assume that external power sources are only from car and boat batteries, they haven't considered dynamos.

For more technical terrain where your general speed is below 10kmh then batteries are most efficient up to the five to seven day sort of mark. Doesn't matter if you are using a fitted rechargeable battery as found in the Edge series or rechargeable AAs as found in the Oregon. Powerbank style battery or replacement AAs are fine. Over easter we did four days riding off-road in the Highlands, I just topped up the Oregon from a powerbank. I had a spare set of AAs as well just in case.

Once you get in to faster or longer trips then a dynamo hub along with a powerbank battery is the better option. Charge the powerbank during the day whilst riding then recharge devices at night. Keeping my phone in airplane mode until I actually needed to use it means I don't need loads of power for that. I've a 10,000mAh powerbank and use about a quarter of its charge to top up a pair of Duracell AAs in my Oregon after a day's riding. That amount of charge equates to about eight hours of riding at around 15kmh. Last year in France I could have continued indefinitely like this without needing access to a mains socket.

Our device usage is all different but on the Rovaniemi 150 in February with little screen/map access my Oregon lasted the whole event on one set of AA batteries, I finished in just under 20hrs. On trips with more studying of the map the batteries have lasted 16hrs. The Etrex series are said to have better battery life, mainly due to smaller screen, so it's quite possible to get two day's touring out of one set of AAs