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Never had one, I think I want one. For navigation mainly, on mtb and gravel/road using downloaded gpx files. I currently use OS maps on my phone, occasionally a paper map, a breadcrumb trail on a Garmin watch or a combo of all three. It works but it's a faff, requiring stops or struggling to see a watch face with old eyes. Not ideal. I'm not too fussed about performance data except perhaps HR. I'd like it to upload to Strava. Live tracking and accident detection might be useful as I often ride alone off road. Colour mapping would be nice with the ability to zoom in and out.
I'm thinking Garmin as I already have a Garmin watch and motorbike satnav and am familiar with the Connect app etc. My main question is how is the mapping off road? I imagine it's hunky dory on road, but how does it deal with singletrack trail junctions in the woods etc?
I'm drawn to the Garmin edge explore 2. It seems to do what I'm looking for. Good choice? Alternatives? Budget around £200 give or take a few quid.
I have the Explore - it's great. Explore 2 - better battery !
I have a karoo 2. It does the job you described but i don’t have a Garmin to compare it too
Mapping off road is spot on. Used twice now for multi day bike packing trips including the KAW and it was spot on. More reliable than my mate's 520 for locking on a GPS signal. Large screen a bonus.
If you don't need power meter stuff and training partner options, the Explore 2 is the best value for money. On all day trips I just plug in a small Anker cylinder power bank. That was enough to run the Garmin for 4 days.
Explore 2 is great, especially if you buy an 'out front' type mount if you have poor eyes. Navigation off road is generally very good but it is based on open street map data so can occasionally do some funny routing if roads aren't quite joined correctly. As long as you use your common sense as well it works just fine.
If you go Garmin - treat yourself to a TalkyToaster map. Current OSM map and all sorts of clever stuff to make it useful.
Note: The Garmin basemap is years out of date.
What they said up there on all counts. I've got an explore, it's great, the included maps are OK and some free OSM ones from https://www.openfietsmap.nl/ are even better.
Just turn off the collision detection if on a rowdy trail as you'll end up calling home saying you've crashed on any decent sized hits!
If you go Garmin – treat yourself to a TalkyToaster map
Home of the least useful, user un-friendly website run by map nerds that ever existed. OP, you don't ever ever ever need to go to Talky toaster, trust me. If you just want to download a route from I dunno, Strava or Komoot, the map on any Garmin will be perfectly adequate for what you want. My choice for off road, would be the either the 540 or 840 if you want a touchscreen or more storage.
It'll do all the stats you'll ever need, has a decent battery life, is small enough to go on your stem or top tube, or stay put on the rubber mount.
I’d make the case for the Garmin 530 because it doesn’t have a touch screen but uses buttons. Never had a problem with the supplied mapping, used all over Europe.
As per supernova, I've a 530 and it does the job well. Not too expensive & good battery life.
The standard map on the Garmin does the job for the vast majority of routes but it's never going to be up to OS 25k on a decent size screen so, if i do miss a turn that needs clarification or just need to do detour, i revert to the OS app on my phone (mounted to my bars on long rides like kaw etc)
Thanks all, a couple of other options to throw in the mix there. I will mull it over and get my wallet out in January 🙂
Garmin seems to be the most popular but it’s not the best. Routing is mediocre and it frequently doesn’t “connect” with things like HRM and power meters etc. Karoo has brilliant mapping and routing but the battery life on the Karoo 2 is poor compared to Garmin. The new Karoo however has excellent battery life, a superb clear screen with auto brightness and the same brilliant routing/re routing. Have a look at D C Rainmaker reviews for the full low down…
With the moist recent Strava silliness, I'd definitely be looking at a GPS computer that doesn't only do direct uploads to Strava!
Garmin uploads to Garmin servers, then to Strava. Not sure about others.
Garmin 1030plus. Only used for mapping and ride data. HRM and power stuff, not used. Big screen, not affected by raindrops changing screen things, good battery life,
I use this mapping and it is very accurate. https://openmtbmap.org/
Garmin with Talkytoaster maps here.
As far as the comments from Nickc are concerned...
Yes the website is not the best in the world, but it's run by a single person who is super helpful with technical support - and the website is not the product, the maps are (you only use the website for downloading map updates, really, and it's perfectly capable for that)
Yes, if you just want to download a route from Strava or Komoot, the standard Garmin maps are adequate but, if you plan your own routes, and want to see the same mapping on your PC and your Garmin, then TT is far better.
Each to their own, I suppose, but there's a free version of TT and Basecamp, so you can make your own mind up before subscribing (competitive prices) and getting regular (more regular than you'd expect) updates
The Karoo doesn’t have its own server to sync too. So mine uploads to Strava and Komoot.
Battery life is fine provided you’re use isn’t ultra events IMHO. I think it’ll do 10 hours. The day i was out for 14 hours i just charged from a power bank during lunch and it did the day.
Garmin seems to be the most popular but it’s not the best. Routing is mediocre and it frequently doesn’t “connect” with things like HRM and power meters etc.
I'll confess to a slight bias towards Garmin because as I said in the OP I own other non cycle Garmin devices. I'm definitely willing to consider other brands though. Surprised about the routing though as it's fine on my Zumo XT motorcycle satnav and Instinct 2 watch. I won't be using a power meter but might use a HRM.
I'll be honest I'd not even heard of the Karoo but will check it out. What about Wahoo? In my very limited experience that seems to be the main alternative to Garmin that gets discussed regularly.
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The Karoo doesn’t have its own server to sync too. So mine uploads to Strava and Komoot.
Yes it does, all rides and all the associated data are synced to Hammerhead as well as being able to upload to Strava, Komoot, AXS Web and Suunto Heatmaps. Hammerhead has the ability to convert rides to routes and has some basic rout editing but creating routes on Komoot/Strava and then just saving them will sync straight to the device.
EDIT - they’ve seemingly added a whole load more services that you can sync to as well..
Surprised about the routing though as it’s fine on my Zumo XT motorcycle satnav and Instinct 2 watch
RE-routing is where the Karoo excels; it’s virtually instant and doesn’t just try and send you back to the original route at the point you deviated. It actively re-routes extremely well. Karoo/Hammerhead are owned by SRAM.
I’d make the case for the Garmin 530 because it doesn’t have a touch screen but uses buttons.
If you’re planning on moving about on the mapping, which I think you are, I’ll make the case for the exact opposite being true. I have a 530 and generally think it’s a great device up to the point I want to look a little bit off course or zoom in/out, at which point I want to throw it in the bushes because the controls are so shocking. I just get my phone out, at which point i might as well not have the maps.
The touchscreen on my 510 was no trouble for the 6 or so years I had it and I really wish I’d spent the extra on the 830 (or that Garmin had actually put enough buttons on the 530 for map nv to work). The Explore 2 looks good at the moment.
What about Wahoo? In my very limited experience that seems to be the main alternative to Garmin that gets discussed regularly.
I have a Wahoo Roam 2 on the gravel bike and love it. I upgraded from a Wahoo Bolt v1 and avoided Garmin because at the time they seemed a bit faffy and with loads of features that I just didn’t need.
I don’t think it’s particularly cutting edge anymore but the battery will do an all day ride and then some, and the screen is incredibly easy to read. Plus personally I like the physical button only operation. I’ve also always found the map perfectly good for my local gravel.
In short I think it’s solid kit but these days I think for the money they’re maybe a bit behind the curve on the feature set, especially if you’re into the more advanced stuff.
if you plan your own routes, and want to see the same mapping on your PC and your Garmin, then TT is far better.
I've not so far ever got lost, so "better" is debatable I guess, but as you say, each to their own.
Update, I've ordered a Garmin Edge Explore 2 (at £199). It's not arrived yet, but it seems to meet my modest needs, I'll report back if it doesn't. Thanks for all the advice.
I have a 530 and generally think it’s a great device up to the point I want to look a little bit off course or zoom in/out, at which point I want to throw it in the bushes because the controls are so shocking.
I've a 530, and I don't find the controls too problematic. Had an 820 before, and the touchscreen on that was a disaster. Frustrating at the best of times, and *completely* useless as soon as it got a single drop of water on it.