Garmin Explorer 2

I can't speak for the Explorer 2 but neither my dakota, edge810 or edge explore have been problematic regarding the screen. Other than to ensure you fit a screen protector straight out of the box to protect against gritty finger tips!

I’ve got the original Edge Explore and no issues with the screen. I’ve used it mainly for downloading other peoples routes to follow and have found it to be spot on.

Ditto, my original Explorer is fine in the rain. Main issue is poor battery life, but the mk2 seems to be better.

I had the first version and the battery was not great, telling you full when it was near 0%. Edge 2 is better, but the bit to protect the USB port is not good enough.  But I will still recommend to buy it! Nothing perfect.

I've got the 1st Gen Explore (which itself was a replacement for the Edge Touring, the precursor to the Explore). Reason for buying was that as with the OP, I had no need of the training add-ons but did want something to do nav.

Touchscreen is good although it can get confused if you've got thick winter gloves - more than once over the Festive 500, I ended up in sub-menus and screens I didn't want to be but to be fair, it was still better than trying to use my phone with the same gloves!

The battery life isn't amazing - it'll do 12hrs in battery save mode and just recording the route (rather than navigating you around it) but if you have it doing directions, re-routing, it's paired with other sensors etc and you're using the moving-map display a lot it'll drop rapidly to <6hrs runtime. You kind of learn to manage that a lot but for something aimed at the longer distance rider, it's not great. The new Mk2 is supposed to offer "up to 16hrs".

Caveat that my Explore is about 15 months old now so the battery could be degraded.

Look at the battery life claims before you choose.

I have the explore 1 and it's great, especially for navigation... Apart from battery life. Which sort of contradicts the "Explore" name. I just supplement it with a power bank, but that's not the ideal solution, if buying a new computer I would definitely look harder at battery life and power bank options.

At 16hrs Explore 2 has a better (claimed) battery life than the Explore 1, but IIRC the 530 claims 20hrs(?), Mostly down to having a bit less screen to power. And the "power bundle" version of the explore 2 offers a posh mount to help extend range, but it's another £100 quid and doesn't actually include a powerbank, it seems to be aimed more at E-bikes now...

The standard 530 offers good navigation, includes the garmin power bank pinout on the mount if you want to buy one at a later date and has better battery life out of the box, that would actually sway me towards it now having had an overall 'good' Garmin with sub-par battery.

Note: Navigation always reduces run time and battery life drops off over time on all Garmin units (IME).

Good points on battery, typical navigated rides I do are in the 3/4/5 hour range. So it would appear that I should have plenty of juice.

I'm coming from an Etrex 20 which ate through batteries fairly quickly.

On battery life, the 830 is far better. I did a 300km audax on one charge with about 20% still left at the end.

I have a 530 and an Edge Explore 1. The Explore is a much nicer nav device, because you can very easily pan the route to check things out, which can be helpful with stuff like route recalculations; when you are navigating without a plotted route; or if you want to plot a route on the fly to say get you home or through a complex bit.

Apparently the Explore 2 can have the external power connectors (yay) but only if you buy it with that up front. Boo.

I sold my Edge Explore and bought a 530

The touchscreen was great but the battery life was awful, the turn by turn nav was written by a car driver so it would constantly lead you to a main road at every opportunity and I missed the more advanced features from my 520 like strava segments, Vo2, temp etc more than I thought I would.

Having said that, I would have kept it but the battery life was just too bad for it to be practical for me.

The 530 is better in almost every way IMO.

Edge Explore 2 battery life is great, I’ll be on 80% when my wife’s Explore 1 is flat.

Screen still works with wet, muddy gloves on. Occasionally takes a second swipe to get it to switch screens. That’s wearing gloves that won’t operate my phone at all.

the turn by turn nav was written by a car driver so it would constantly lead you to a main road at every opportunity

Mine doesn' do that - are you sure you have the routing set to 'off road' ?

How about this as an alternative? https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/garmin-edge-1030-plus-gps-cycle-computer/rp-prod198835

Now similarly priced to the Explore2 and looks to have decent battery life...?

Have to say that I really like my 530, but after a few years I think my battery is a little degraded (used to be able to 3-5 good distance rides out of it until it got to 50%), but my main issue is offroad route tracking. Actually is OK, if the route is preloaded, but doesn't seem to recognise bridleways and tracks on the base map which is a major frustration for the riding I tend to do now.

my main issue is offroad route tracking. Actually is OK, if the route is preloaded, but doesn’t seem to recognise bridleways and tracks on the base map which is a major frustration for the riding I tend to do now.

Plug it into Garmin Express for an update.

I gave my Explore an update at the end of the year and the mapping is noticeably better now. It takes AGES though - make sure you've got about 3-4 hrs (yes really!) for the unit to sit there plugged into the laptop.

@crazy-legs thanks for that, will give it a try tonight...with the ability to see bridleways on tye map it'll be perfect for my needs again! A powerbank'll sort any battery worries for me.