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I’m after recommendations for a new GPS device.
I’ve got an ancient Garmin Touring that completely failed on me yesterday. I only use it for navigation, but refusing to load the course for the mini-audax I was about to start and then the battery dying after 20 minutes left me almost stranded. I managed to download the route onto my iPhone used Bike GPX app. But I had no way to strap it to my bars, so it was in and out of a pocket, removing gloves every time I needed to turn it on. Lots of wrong turns and retracing steps was frustrating. I couldn’t get it to connect to my Apple Watch either.
I don’t want to use a phone on the bars, not with my habit of falling off so often. Something easy to use, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth so I can transfer from my phone or iMac. I also use Strava as a route creation tool, so exporting from there would be perfect.
So what device do I need for basic turn by turn navigation?
So what device do I need for basic turn by turn navigation?
The (vastly upgraded) little brother to the venerable old Touring. The Edge Explore 2.
You can access Garmin discounts via your STW subscription. The Explore model is the option that people go for when they don't want all the data/performance metrics, sensors etc of the higher end GPS. The 2 has a much longer battery life, decent maps, will link seamlessly to Strava via Garmin Connect (the app works with both Apple and Android) and it's fairly straightforward to set up and use.
Plus you don't need to change any of your existing mounts.
Leftfield suggestion, eTrex 22x?
I have an Edge Explore 2. It’s not perfect
The display is quite dark unless you turn up the brightness, then it eats battery
The charge port constantly falls open on a ride
There is no emtb setting so everything has to be changed after upload
However it’s roughly half the price of similar other Garmin models
There is no emtb setting so everything has to be changed after upload
If you're doing that on Strava then ActivityFix will automate the job for you
Also, there is no mtb setting, all my rides come as Gravel ride. Irritating. But I still like it and will recommend the edge explore 2.
I asked similar 6 months or so ago, I ended up with a Giant/Dash L200. Cannot fault it yet. Easily 10 hours of recording/reading, connects easily to my phone via wifi, reasonably simple to use. Linked below, they are available in a slightly smaller size, and are available cheaper than the link, IIRC, I paid £96.
https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/giant-dash-l200-computer
I made the move away from Garmin to a Wahoo Element Bolt last year. Been pretty happy with it. All settings are controlled via the app. Navigation works well and is fairly straightforward.
I've used my Garmin 530 for thousands upon thousands of miles and several years bikepacking without a problem. I just follow the route on the map, but you can choose to put turning directions on if you want.
I have the v1 Edge explore and I've had a few issues with it recently and I'm looking to replace it with one of these
https://www.bikemag.com/mountain-bike-gear/tested-the-coros-dura-part-2
I have the v1 Edge explore and I've had a few issues with it recently
I had the original Edge Touring and then the V1 Edge Explore and both developed issues. Battery life dropped off a cliff and the telltale sign on the Touring was that it would take AGES to acquire satellites. I used to put the unit out the front of the house on top of the car for 15 minutes before going for a ride so that it could find its location.
The Explore 2 has been good so far but I pretty much treat these things as disposable now. 4-5 years of use is a success in my book.
I'm amazed that the OP's Edge Touring has lasted this long!
I find Garmin's user interface a bit of a nightmare even though the hardware side is generally very good. For me, the Wahoo Elemnt Roam is much more intuitive in use. Straightforward app and if I don't use it for a month, I can switch it on and know how it works straightaway. Basically it just works.
If you're happy with Garmin's UI, then I guess that's fair enough, but I always feel like I'm engaged in a constant, low-level skirmish with the things 🙂
The missus has a Garmin and seems to find it similarly frustrating if the pre- and post-ride mutterings are anything to do by.
There is no emtb setting so everything has to be changed after uploadIf you're doing that on Strava then ActivityFix will automate the job for you
That looks good, but I cant get it to work. Strava imports my e-mtb rides as gravel rides.
I've tried setting a rule to change activity from Gravel to Emtb and getting no where fast 🙁
An error has occurred
[SERVICE] [SERVICE] Client error: `GET https://www.strava.com/api/v3/activities/13914954497?access_token=7c684209dcf216f6b6068d97ad2e379ee9fcc578` resulted in a `404 Not Found` response: {"message":"Resource Not Found","errors":[{"resource":"Activity","field":"","code":"not found"}]}
Beats me why its not working ?!?
I whinged a lot about the V1 explore, I'm currently very happy with an edge 540 (but I prefer buttons), 840 would make sense if you like touch screens more for navigating, 1030/1040 if you're wealthy enough...
I also got along ok with a Lezyne 'Super-pro' B&W screen, very good battery life, cheap as chips (because it's quite old tech now) which makes sense if you don't want to throw fistfuls of cash at a nav device.
But my suggestion of an eTrex was a serious one, they're navigation devices first and foremost rather than bike computers with nav' bolted on, bigger screen, you can load your audax or bikepacking routes easily enough, relatively cheap to buy, quite robust construction, bar mounts are available, but best of all they take AA batteries so battery life isn't constrained by your proximity to a plug socket or power bank. If you're trying to navigate epic journeys and you're not worried about HR or power sensors, they actually start to make some sense...
Re Activity Fix - it just doesnt like Google Chrome. Has worked fine on MS Edge.
Thanks for the heads up @thepurist !