I have never used my current bike computer to follow routes but would like too. I have a Garmin Edge 540 but feel that the screen maybe a little small?
Any suggestions or is the Edge 540 OK?
The 540 will be fine. I'd suggest starting by using the Connect website to make a route that you're already familiar with then following that using the 540 so you can get familiar with how it prompts turns and work out if you want any extra data fields. For example I have "Distance to next" on screen when I'm following a route.
I use an 840 - same size screen as the 540 - and it works fine for me for following routes.
If you just want something for following routes & don't need training features, the Edge Explore 2 is well worth a look.
https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/802162/
Hammerhead Karoo has some of the best routing and importantly re-routing performance. Doesn’t continually try and route you back to the start if you deviate. It will route you back to the track and finds the re-route quickly. Links with Strava, Komoot etc. Battery life isn’t as good as a Garmin (circa 10hrs) but its performance is outstanding. Or a Wahoo is good but not as good as the Karoo IMO.
Given you already have the 540, I’d give it a go first. The screen size is fine (depending on your eyesight). Ahsat has used the 530 for years and loves it. I prefer the larger screens, currently on a 1040 for the battery life, but it’s overkill for most things
currently on a 1040 for the battery life, but it’s overkill for most things
Although currently much more affordable than it has been due to being superseded by the 1050.
I've got the Edge Explore 2. I wanted the larger colour screen without all the millions of confusing features and training stuff that I'd never use.
It does what I need which is follow a marked route or wander aimlessly and have popular trail names pop up on the map.
@sharkattack @PJay does the Edge Explore 2 try and reroute you back to exactly where you lost the course or, like the 1040 which a friend has, the most sensible/nearest route to get back on course?
Cheers
Another vote for edge explore
If you just want to plot and follow routes it's great
I've just put my Edge Explore into a drawer.
With Talky Toaster maps the mapping and route-following is excellent, particularly if following trails through the woods.
However, the battery life is mediocre (rarely lasts until lunchtime), it crashes repeatedly, and I got fed up waiting 10mins for it to start.
So - I swapped to a Coros Dura.
Wow, it's fast. Mapping is merely OK, but still better than the Garmin Basemap. Used it to follow a route on Friday and it did an excellent job.
Had it three weeks now and I am still at 50% charge. Doesn't talk to the ebike though which is annoying.
As said the 540 is perfect for following a preloaded route. As you ride along the map will pop up 150m before each turn telling you to do whatever.
Absolutely no point upgrading unless you really want a bigger screen but those screen. At 62 with crap eyesight I manage.
One convenient improvement though is the Garmin remote. Makes switching between screens alot easier.
Regarding the comments on Garmin Edge Explore battery life. There is a big difference in battery life between the Edge Explore and the Edge Explore 2. The "2" has very good battery life.
Bryton do a colour 3.5" screen computer, no idea how they perform, but they claim to have good navigation including offline maps.
Lezyne Mega XL and Super Pro both have decent navigation on tarmac with offline maps, but neither have terribly big screens.
I'm still using a Sigma computer with about a 1.5 inch screen and no mapping for navigation. A Garmin 500 series would be luxury!
Having said that even a breadcrumb trail to follow is fine usually. Occasionally I have to go a few meters up a wrong trail before it tells me I'm off course, but have never got completely lost.
Edge 540 owner here, it is definitely a good enough device to navigate with (IMO/IME). Previous experience was with the Edge Explore (V1) which had a good sized screen but bobbins battery which very much took the shine off, the newer one apparently addresses that battery life issue and has a similar UI to the 540/840.
I also used (still have knocking about) a Lezyne Super Pro, a comparatively basic device but able to run a route for a similar duration to the 540, just without the ability to do more fancy routing/re-routing and with a B&W display.
I don't think you'll do much better than the 540 unless you throw some money at an Edge 1030/40/50.
Best thing you can do now OP is plan/download a local route (so you actually know more or less where you are) on your PC/Mac/Phone, push it to the 540 with connect and just give it a test, see how easy you find following it, if the prompts work for you, is the map view sufficient, do you want auto re-routing on or not?
You can customise the map display and how prompting works and that makes a difference.
Garmin "Renewed" Explore 2 is £168 on Amazon. I've had an Explore 1 and a Venu that were "renewed" and other then a different (but still Garmin branded) box you wouldn't know it wasn't a regular retail item.
Garmin "Renewed" Explore 2 is £168 on Amazon.
New ones are ~£170 via the STW Members discount links to Garmin.