Navigation device: 810/elemnt bolt/etrex?

fontmoss

I had a look through a few of the forums and couldn't see existing thread or a forum this sits better in but feel free to move it mods!

So I've started riding more frequently again over the last 6 months and recently did the 3 pistes sportive (100 miles, 8,000 feet of climbing) and it's broadened my horizons. I'm thinking of doing some overnighters and possibly the nc500 although maybe just some more sportives/reliability rides. I'm using a garmin 500 but I'm after something to use to navigate a route. I've looked at the above units and I've hit an impasse. Partly because I'm not sure what it will end up being used for. For example I'd be tempted to get an etrex so I could use it for day after day but it seems like it would be a clunky thing for the majority of what I'm doing at the moment. Similarly the bolt looks like a great unit especially being able to route from your phone whilst you're out riding but how useful is it when it's monochrome? The 810 looks like a solid shout second hand and I'm leaning towards that at the moment. The 820 I'd kind of written off due to cost and feedback about the touchscreen. I'd ideally like to have a trial of some of them but don't know anyone with them so looking for real world feedback, thanks!

cgfw201

No experience of an Etrex, but I’ve owned a Garmin 500, 520 and now an Elemnt Bolt.

The Bolt’s by far and away the best option of those. The battery lasts 3x as long as the 520, it’s got worldwide OSM maps and the screen is excellent. It’s monochrome but it’s easy to read, the navigation is much easier to follow than on the 520, and the UI is way more intuitive with the phone app. The ability to re-route mid ride from your phone is really good.

StillGoing

fontmoss wrote:

I had a look through a few of the forums and couldn't see existing thread or a forum this sits better in but feel free to move it mods!

So I've started riding more frequently again over the last 6 months and recently did the 3 pistes sportive (100 miles, 8,000 feet of climbing) and it's broadened my horizons. I'm thinking of doing some overnighters and possibly the nc500 although maybe just some more sportives/reliability rides. I'm using a garmin 500 but I'm after something to use to navigate a route. I've looked at the above units and I've hit an impasse. Partly because I'm not sure what it will end up being used for. For example I'd be tempted to get an etrex so I could use it for day after day but it seems like it would be a clunky thing for the majority of what I'm doing at the moment. Similarly the bolt looks like a great unit especially being able to route from your phone whilst you're out riding but how useful is it when it's monochrome? The 810 looks like a solid shout second hand and I'm leaning towards that at the moment. The 820 I'd kind of written off due to cost and feedback about the touchscreen. I'd ideally like to have a trial of some of them but don't know anyone with them so looking for real world feedback, thanks!

I've owned the 705, 810 and 820, and currently the Wahoo Element. The 810 was a great little unit when released and until the 520 came out. Garmin's prowess for putting different features for different devices, but using the same firmware soon wrecked some functions of the 810 such as Bluetooth and LiveTrack. I eventually switched to the 820 and have to say it is utter rubbish IMO, but then, being long sighted, a small screen was always going to be a problem.

The Element has been a revelation, far better than a Garmin. The monochrome screen is easy to read in any light conditions, but could do with a little colour for the mapping to differentiate between A and B roads and rivers. But then, how much time do you spend looking at the screen? Turn by turn works if using routes created with Ride with gps and Komoot although the audible alert is a tad too quiet. Wahoo's big plus though is it simply works and is so simple to set up and operate.

fontmoss

Cheers guys! Bolt sounds like a solid bet.

Matthewfalle

Would a map be a silly idea? add a bit of adventure to it all?

bondurant

I'm all for a bit of adventure and romance but having to take out and unfold a map every 20 minutes would be a pain in the ar$e

Matthewfalle

Why would you do that? If you're going to get lost every 20 minutes I suggest you stray no further than your garden.

FWP here guys .......

fontmoss

A map would be great. One that told you when to turn. And was always open. Navigating by satellites? You could call it nav sat? Prob never catch on though

bondurant

I nearly went to go and explain, then I remembered...it's Matthewfalle.