Open Maps instead of Garmin?

[Blue Hills]

The Garmin 530 is very good for following routes. I create the routes on Strava and they magically appear on my Garmin. I have also used the 'navigate to start' function when cycling in Kent when halfway though a course. It took me a different and quicker way back which was great.

The maps are detailed enough for most uses and even include POIs now.

I have used Garmin for 6-7 years back from the Garmin 200, 510, 520 and finally the 530. I have to say I am experienced with Garmin issues but the 530 seems to have finally addressed 99% of them.

It's a fantastic head unit. You can also charge it on the go!

Am intrigued as to why you have so many.
I got an etrex20 years ago, since bought secondhand another 20 and a 20x for redundancy.

 

[cyberknight]

The new Explore does everything the 1030 does except power metres and the training stuff, which is stuff most of us don't need.

I have the same and im equally impressed with it

 

[Mark pallister]

I think I'm in the 'avoid garmins' camp, mainly as the three or four I've used don't pass the crucial test of seamless usability.

The maps are a bit of a faff but the most irritating thing as that the screens are laggy and can take ages to load of reload when the map is really detailed. Add in intermittent reliability issues, especially with connectivity, and the frustration they cause renders them pointless. I want a GPS device to make my life easier and the navigation, especially when tired, quick and fullproof.

I can see the appeal of an etrex for a long tour, esp the AA battery functionality, but the etrex I've had a play with was again a frustrating device, slow, map freezing issues and lacked any kind of wireless connectivity.

Which is all a rambling way of saying I think my Wahoo Element Bolt and a very good power bank is the best option for me, albeit without the detailed maps. But then if I want more detail for a particular area or to check something out, I always have my phone with me with Google Maps, and if I was heading out into the sticks, it's got just about enough memory available to download OSMand and a map of Europe.

The newer garmin ,ie the 530/830 ect have really upped there game
I swore I’d have no more garmins and bought a wahoo roam
I’ve recently swapped to a garmin 530 and am v happy with it
in my oppinion it’s a step up from the roam ,everything is a bit quicker,the mapping is way better and climb pro is superb

 

[Joffey]

Am intrigued as to why you have so many.
I got an etrex20 years ago, since bought secondhand another 20 and a 20x for redundancy.

I don't have them all still, I would just upgrade as soon as the new one came out. The old one would get sold on eBay or sold to one of the lads who I cycle with. I keep toying with the idea of getting the 1030 bus but I think the wife would murder me!

 

[Oldhippy]

I have an open map, but only when I get it out the panniers. Then I fold it up, put it away and carry on. 😁

 

[HobbesOnTour]

I think I'm in the 'avoid garmins' camp, mainly as the three or four I've used don't pass the crucial test of seamless usability.

The maps are a bit of a faff but the most irritating thing as that the screens are laggy and can take ages to load of reload when the map is really detailed. Add in intermittent reliability issues, especially with connectivity, and the frustration they cause renders them pointless. I want a GPS device to make my life easier and the navigation, especially when tired, quick and fullproof.

I can see the appeal of an etrex for a long tour, esp the AA battery functionality, but the etrex I've had a play with was again a frustrating device, slow, map freezing issues and lacked any kind of wireless connectivity.

Which is all a rambling way of saying I think my Wahoo Element Bolt and a very good power bank is the best option for me, albeit without the detailed maps. But then if I want more detail for a particular area or to check something out, I always have my phone with me with Google Maps, and if I was heading out into the sticks, it's got just about enough memory available to download OSMand and a map of Europe.

Osmand & Wahoo now work seamlessly offline. Great for on the fly planning

 

[Milkfloat]

I keep toying with the idea of getting the 1030 bus but I think the wife would murder me!

If you do decide to go for it let me know - I might be able to help you out.

 

[livpoksoc]

Thanks all for the input. I'll use it on some short local routes this week and see how I get on. Looking forward to it!

 

[Blue Hills]

Climb Pro is another example of those evil tech companies like Garmin and Wahoo hypnotising us into becoming addicted to their product.

It's not at all necessary, and I spent my whole life never thinking that it was necessary. But now I've used it, I need it. It's so cool.

ok I'll bite, after passing on the earlier reference I saw to it.
What the hell is ClimbPro and why do I need it?

 

[gcogger]

My Garmin (Edge Explore) doesn't seem to have a clue about the current gradient, unless it's consistent for a long way. For example, it might say I'm on a 4% gradient when the road sign says it's 12% (the road sign is correct). I sometimes have it telling me I'm going downhill by a few percent when in fact I'm going uphill by something like 6-7%. I hope the units with the ClimbPro feature can do better!

 

[ColinJ]

My experience of gradients on GPS devices is that they show you the average gradient for the past (say) 50m or 30 sec or something, I don't know what. So it takes a while to react, and won't show you a peak gradient if it doesn't last long.

I did a stretch of road that was like a mini-rollercoaster. The GPS kept indicating that I was climbing steeply when I was descending and descending steeply when I was climbing. I got annoyed with it and replaced the gradient readout with something more useful!

 

[Blue Hills]

You don't need it. Nobody really needs it. Some of us may say we do, but we don't.

It's a little profile of the current hill that you're labouring up showing where you are on the overall thing and some stats like how far, how much elevation to go, current gradient and so on. Given that a lot of my riding this year has been on routes designed simply to wiggle round in circles pointlessly going up as many hills as possible (thanks @ColinJ) I've found it invaluable useful an interesting diversion.

If I lost it it would be a disaster first world problem.

i can see that that would be quite handy on fearsome climbs - mind you I have recently discovered that if I download a track with elevation data from free cycletravel to my humble etrex20 using free openfietsmaps I get a series of alternating high point/low point distance readouts - so shows me the distance to the top of any climb I am on. Not sure where this functioinality is coming from (cycle travel, the loaded maps or garmin) but works fine and dandy.

 

[gcogger]

My experience of gradients on GPS devices is that they show you the average gradient for the past (say) 50m or 30 sec or something, I don't know what. So it takes a while to react, and won't show you a peak gradient if it doesn't last long.

Mine has these errors over significantly longer distances than that. I think it just has trouble when there are too many trees, so the GPS signal isn't great.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I prefer not to know how long a hill is. Just settle into my rhythm and the top will come when it does.

 

[Tribansman]

I prefer not to know how long a hill is. Just settle into my rhythm and the top will come when it does.

Oh to be a patient fellow! I'm definitely in the 'likes to know what's coming and when it will end' camp