What Garmin should I buy?

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hoppym27

Well-Known Member
What I want is one that is good for tours with decent mapping and enough battery to last a full day, budget is 150 to 250...any recommendations?
 

screenman

Squire
I am off with Garmin now, my swim needed a new oring, they do not sell them.

Out of warranty they have an exchange policy, a reconditioned one in exchange for your old one £82 a new one is only £103. Come on Garmin, supply us swim users with a simple service item.
 

Heltor Chasca

Out-riding the Black Dog
I would seriously think about the Wahoo Elemnt. Using cycle.travel and/or Ride With GPS, it is a very good option for touring. Lasts 200km+ on a TCX file. The smaller Bolt would work but you might want to see more of the map on the larger Elemnt. They are on reduced price tonight I believe.

I binned my Garmin Edge Touring. 3 years of hell.
 

Ian H

Ancient randonneur
I'm happy with my Etrex 20. I seldom ask it to route, except over short distances. It shows a pre-loaded track to follow. I prepare tracks on gpx editor (other mapping programs exist). AA batteries last 600km or more and are easily replaced.
 

r04DiE

300km a week through London on a road bike.
Another vote for the Wahoo ELEMNT, or ELEMNT BOLT. I haven't even had mine delivered yet but have lots of experience with Garmin and I have read lots and watched plenty of videos about the ELEMNT. It is the future. Buy it.
 

StuAff

Silencing his legs regularly
Location
Portsmouth
^What they said. Or spend a bit more, wait a few months to actually get it, and buy a Hammerhead Karoo. Pre-order price (still available right now, but they're about to start shipping the first orders) is about £280 including shipping and all the taxes. I'll be getting mine some time in the spring. A bit of a punt, they're a newish company, but they've already delivered one product to market successfully and the Karoo looks very, very promising & more than a match for the rather more expensive Garmin Edge 1030, let alone the 820. 3.5 inch touch screen, 3000 MaH battery (estimated battery life 10-15 hours, endurance modes might well extend that further), runs Android, full mapping... Oh, and they don't seem to expect end users to be beta testers.
 

Ming the Merciless

There is no mercy
Location
Inside my skull
Etrex 20. Rock solid. Runs off a pair of AA batteries for 24 hours. Colour mapping (use free open street map) and shows a purple line for your planned route.
 

steveindenmark

Legendary Member
I am another Elemnt Bolt convert. I have had mine for about 4 months and use it most days. I am using it with RidewithGPS and am trying to confuse and baffle it. I have not managed up to now. It downloads my routes from my android phone extremely quickly and never puts a foot wrong. My backup is my Garmin Touring which is in the dark ages in comparison. I could never trust it to get me to my destination without some messing about. But the Bolt does exactly what it is supposed to do and is simple to operate.

I do carry my Garmin Touring with me as it is good to find shops and petrol stations, but I dont need it for re-routing.

A lot of the ultra distance riders use the Etrex 30. They like the battery life and how they can re-route on the fly. If I could get one cheap enough as a back up. I would ditch the Garmin.
 
Wahoo Elmnt for me and Katharine, both converts from Garmins (520 and 820). Much easier to set up and use, clear display with customisable fields, integrates with Ride with GPS for routes, and Strava to record rides. The LEDs give clear indications of heart rate and directions (when following routes).
 
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