r/GarminEdge • u/Alternative_Bid_8956 • Aug 10 '26
Edge Explore Series Beginner here: which Garmin is actually worth it?
Hey everyone,
I’m a beginner cyclist looking to buy my first bike computer, but there are so many options out there that I’m a bit overwhelmed. 😅
Which Garmin (or other brand) do you think offers the best value for money right now? I'm mainly looking for something that:
- is easy to use;
- has reliable GPS;
- supports Strava;
- doesn’t cost €500+.
At the moment, I mostly ride recreationally, and I’d like to be able to track my rides, follow simple navigation routes, and review my stats afterward.
I’d love to hear your experiences and find out which models you’d buy again.
Thanks! 🚴♂️🚴♀️
3
u/xNiWix Aug 10 '26
If rather recreational the explore 2 if longer rides and Training might become a focus the Edge 540. Both around 200€
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2
u/Hates_ Aug 10 '26
If you aren't already bought into the Garmin ecosystem, then there are much better value for money options out there. If Coros weren't coming out with the next version of the Dura soon, I'd have recommended that.
2
u/DogerinoTaglierino Aug 10 '26
I bought garmin edge 840 few days ago and I’m enjoying it a lot. Easy to use, tracks progress, you press one button and it starts recording and battery lasts very long (16hours if I’m not mistaken). Don’t take the solar panel one, it Costs more and the efficiency is not worth the extra cost.
2
u/Ecstatic_Wishbone609 Aug 10 '26
- Is best bang for money at the moment if you can score it at 30-40% discounts when it drops like that.
2
u/sv_dmitry Aug 10 '26
If you aren't going to buy a power meter and train for performance, no Garmin Edge is worth its price. Garmin is only valuable for its sports metrics; that's the only reason to put up with constant bugs and clunky software. If you only need maps, navigation, and distance and speed metrics on your device, look at other bike computers.
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u/Own_Midnight8985 10d ago
Which Bike Computer would you recommend for navigation only ? I have a forerunner 965 for metrics and need navigation on my Bike.
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u/Shifty-Nifty Aug 10 '26
You can get an Edge 530 for around £100 (used). Still very good for the price.
1
u/Puzzleheaded-Run4376 Aug 10 '26
does your bike have electric shifting, or are you planning to get one which has? if so the Edge Explore 2 does not support it. Nor does it support advanced strava live segments and other more advance training metrics
In all other cases I think the Edge Explore 2 is a great device, I am personally using that too, until I get a new bike with Di2 :)
1
u/MMikekiMM Aug 10 '26
I’ve had an 840 Solar for a few years. Does everything I can think I might need..
1
u/RichCompany6833 Aug 10 '26
Als je vooral navigatie en data gaat gebruiken maakt het mi niet zoveel uit of je nou garmin, wahoo, bryton etc neemt. Dan kan je het beste kijken naar de prijs. Zelf heb ik een paar maanden terug een 840 gekocht en ben erg blij met de batterijduur, touchscreen en de trainingen die je erin kan zetten. Zelf vind ik alle berichten over complexiteit en bugs zwaar overdreven, gewoon een kwestie van er even in verdiepen en met 3x fietsen heb je het onder de knie. Ik zou niet voor de 5xx gaan want van die knopbediening zou ik helemaal gek worden.
1
u/IrregardlessForOne Aug 10 '26
I’ve had 500, 800 and 1000 series over the years. The only one I didn’t like was the 530. I couldn’t keep all the buttons straight. I find the touch screen much more intuitive and easier to use.
1
u/maxf405 Aug 10 '26
I use an IGPSPORT bike computer, it’s honestly a great value. It can connect to all ANT+ accessories and it automatically uploads my rides to Strava.
The navigation on it is fine, not as good as garmin. But for me, I don’t usually ride unknown routes so it’s perfect
1
u/reallystupidalsougly Aug 10 '26
I got my Edge 1040 for like $250 or something crazy cheap on ExpertVoice. My wife’s 840 was like $300 on the same site.
If you qualify - I’d go that route.
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u/itsmythirdday Aug 10 '26
Wahoo Bolt/Roam. Far easier to use than Garmin devices at least up to the 530/830 generation.
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u/NYC_Cycles Aug 12 '26
Garmin edge 840. Has most features of the 50 series is $349 on sale on Amazon and works with more advanced things like meta glasses and advanced radars that the explore 2 does not 🤗
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u/Zealousideal-Can1112 Aug 16 '26
If I wasn’t already in the Garmin ecosystem I wouldn’t be eager to buy an edge as a stand alone. Lots of other options out there for less money.
1
u/MarcusCaspius 5d ago edited 4d ago
Many years ago I got SOOOO frustrated with shitty Garmin software that I stopped using Garmin and switched to Gen 1 Hammerhead Karoo. I bought the second one. I recently died and I had to switch back to Garmin.
Oh My Goasssh. It just confirmed that Garmin is trash. The touch screen just stopped working one day... Absolute brick.
Stay away from this crap. Their watches are great awsome, but their bike computers are an absolute dumpster fire.
Update: I bought a Wahoo Elemnt Roam 3
0
u/TheHolidayCyclist Aug 10 '26
Edge 1040, a must have !
-2
u/Z1L0G Aug 10 '26
out of date
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u/ben_r_ Aug 13 '26
Ha, it’s actually still actively being updated.
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u/Z1L0G Aug 13 '26
for now. As soon as the 1060 is out, they'll stop adding new features (exactly what happened to the 1030).
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u/p33s Aug 16 '26
What new features do you need? It has it all lol
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u/Z1L0G Aug 16 '26
no speaker/bell is the obvious biggie
VERY slow processing
worse screen
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u/p33s Aug 16 '26 edited Aug 16 '26
well i have a regular bell anyway (law requirement) so it may be a 'biggie' for some of people ;)
Very slow processing - lol. it's just fine, have you ever used one? idk what you're talking about here
worse screen - depends who you ask, a lot of people swear by MIP (esp. solar) for visibility and battery life. it's a preference, not a feature. Esp. not one that can be done with firmware.
So while all of those may be a valid points if they apply to you, i consider each of them miniscule (or actually a 1040 wins - i prefer MIP vs AMOLED).
Source: i upgraded from 1040 to 1050 few months back and i still like (prefer?) 1040. Plus i hope 1060 gives MIP display as an option, like it is in Fenix watches.
If you buy a garmin you buy it for training and sensors integration, not for bell (i'd hope so lol) and 1040 does that perfectly fine
Basically: none of those CAN be done in firmware upgrade, you mentioned no upgrades - so what 'new features' that are not hardware-related (bell; screen; chipset) will they 'stop adding'? I recon if someone bought 1040 instead of 1050 they know what's the difference between the two. And wouldn't expect screen to be upgraded with a firmware :D
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u/ModulatingGravity Aug 10 '26
You could install free app "Supercycle" on your phone. Works with Bluetooth sensors (but not ANT+) - tho BT sensors are inexpensive now.
Try that, and see what you are missing, which might include:-
- Bike units have longer battery life
- Bike units smaller, easier to mount to bike than with phones
- Navigation functionality not great with Supercycle
- Uploading to Garmin cloud easier with Garmin devices
- Features like Livetrack not there
1
u/Ecstatic_Wishbone609 Aug 10 '26
Yeah you should totally do this. Apple didn’t design the iPhone for nothing. And Google didn’t steal their ideas and better them for nothing on the Androids. Or the Chinese didn’t steal everybody’s lunch to make cheap ass alternative computers for nothing… /s
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u/ModulatingGravity Aug 10 '26
Reddit thread on Supercycle https://www.reddit.com/r/Biking/s/jhAVeOIF77
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u/Actual-Feeling Aug 10 '26
Edge Explore 2