Author Topic: GPS Advice  (Read 24701 times)

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Offline vlicon

GPS Advice
« on: February 01, 2018, 01:11:48 am »
I'm looking for a GPS to use for bike touring and bikepacking. It needs to have capability to track in or out of the US. it will strictly be used for navigation. The performance options are not necessary. Does anyone have experience, positive or negative, with the Garmin Edge Touring? Are their any comparable GPS units I should consider?
Thanks in advance.

Offline Nyimbo

Re: GPS Advice
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2018, 02:14:30 am »
The best web review,site that I had experience with is www.dcrainmaker.com site. I will paste in a link below that I was reading  recently but look at the whole site at their comparisons and the indepth reviews of individual units.  The reviews are amazingly complete.  They’ll have much more info than you need about features you may never use but they will also give you a ton of info.  I spent a week last year reading about everything when I was choosing the GPS I wanted to use.
Keith
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/01/quickly-creating-devices.html

Offline mdxix

Re: GPS Advice
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2018, 10:46:02 am »
The two contenders for the top spot are Garmin Edge 820 & Wahoo Elemnt.

Minor differences between the two:
  • Garmin: comprehensive log platform, color screen, accident detection.
  • Wahoo: easy map management, sharp screen, completely wireless mobile, & very user friendly.

No device offers reliable turn-by-turn navigation. You simply have to follow the track on screen.

Unless you are attached to Garmin platform through an activity tracker or other device, I recommend the Wahoo for smooth user interface, built-in world map, & complete wireless management.

DC Rainmaker has a detailed head-to-head comparison between the two. Both are winners. You cannot go wrong with either. It depends on your priority.

Does anyone have experience, positive or negative, with the Garmin Edge Touring?
Edge Touring is a fine product. With just a bit more cost, you can get the Edge 820 with GLONASS for accuracy, accident detection, & more current device for longer support. The Touring has been around for 4+ years.

It needs to have capability to track in or out of the US. it will strictly be used for navigation.
For Garmin devices, review previous post to download maps.

For the Wahoo Elemnt, you manage maps directly from the mobile app for any country in the world.

Offline DarrenBnYYC

Re: GPS Advice
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2018, 12:16:20 am »
Also remember that you don't need a bike-specific GPS. A small handheld with a handlebar mount works well, too, and often they are easier to load maps and routes on to.

The Garmin eTrex 20 or eTrex 30 are really popular models with the bikepacking crowd.

Offline Inge

Re: GPS Advice
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2018, 02:59:58 am »
The etrex 30 would be my advice - have been using one for some years now. Like the fact that it uses rechargeable batteries which last up to 4 days. Like the fact that OSM is pretty easy to use on it. You can swap out the micro usb card if you need more memory or if it gets broken. It sits on my handlebars on a mount and has yet to fall off - though for security it is also attached to the bars/ handlebar bag with a piece of string.

I use a powerbank to re-charge the batteries. The powerbank gets charged whenever possible so that it is always as full as possible.
« Last Edit: February 05, 2018, 12:43:57 am by Inge »

Offline DanE

Re: GPS Advice
« Reply #5 on: February 04, 2018, 07:43:03 am »
I would prefer the Garmin Etrex series over the Edge since you say you are going to use it for bike touring and backpacking. The Edge series is fine but they use an internal rechargeable battery and USB charging. That is fine for day riders who are home every night and can plug the thing in. The Etrex uses standard AA batteries. When on tour or backpacking you can just through new batteries in it and keep on going. This works well in bike touring as you can buy a 4 pack once a week and be good to go. At home I use regular rechargeable AA batteries that recharge by putting them in the charger and plugging it into the wall to save on battery cost. I just find in bike touring and especially backpacking it can be difficult to find a place to recharge. The Etrex 20 I have is very economical on batteries and I can get two full days out of it for sure and most of the time get three. It basically lasts sixteen hours so can get three five hour ride days out of it. I also have an Oregon series which has a larger color screen, but it comes at the cost of battery consumption.

Offline rmball28

Re: GPS Advice
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2018, 09:04:54 pm »
I have an edge touring and find it to be quite unsatisfactory.  I wanted to use it for touring and routing.
It freezes constantly, to the point where I have stopped using it.  Not even the speed and distance functions are reliable
Garmin's interface is not intuitive and the computer software is glacially slow because it needs to download the maps from the Edge each time you use it and the interface is USB 2.  The real kicker is that the maps they use are primarily public domain.
I would send it back to Garmin but the warranty expired and they don't want to hear about it.

Offline jrswenberger

Re: GPS Advice
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2018, 02:14:00 pm »
I'd also throw in my recommendation for the etrex 30. We've used ours around the world without much difficulty. There are multiple online sources of maps you can download to the memory card and it takes normal AA batteries. I have no use for turn by turn directions so that's not an issue. We don't using it that often but, for us, it is just to make sure we're heading in the generally intended direction. It's really nice when you get off the pavement and away from people, especially since many times the 'help' you get from locals isn't really that helpful.

The only issue we've had was from our original 30, after a few years of backpacking and touring with it. We were caught out in the open by an incredible rain and windstorm shortly after entering Turkey from Bulgaria. There was no available cover and the microburst flooded the road with over 1.5in of rain in about 15 minutes. There was significant wind and water damage to the next town we came to. I didn't even think about the GPS at the time and the seals must have failed. It powered up fine but the display was ruined and no amount of drying helped. We had a replacement shipped to Istanbul and have been using it since.

Enjoy the ride,
Jay
ACA Life Member 368

Offline CanvasAndSteel

Re: GPS Advice
« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2018, 04:57:09 pm »
Another rec for the Etrex.  20x.  The 30x gives you a compass and altitude.  You get the same with the etrex, but the compass works off gps and you have to be moving.  Altitude information with the 20x comes not from the unit, but from your map.  Aside from those two things and $80-$100, they are the same.

Offline froze

Re: GPS Advice
« Reply #9 on: November 22, 2018, 09:57:55 am »
I am very interested in this discussion myself since I am planning on doing quite a bit of bicycle touring over the next few years.  I originally was looking at the typical Garmin Edge Touring that most sites recommend but then I found out about Etrex and GPSMAP® 64st.  It seems places that review these units don't even mention Etrex or GPSMAP® 64st so I didn't even know about them for cycling use till by accident!  And I have also heard A LOT of complaints about the Edge series of devices that have been slow to respond, misguided navigation, and high degree of unit failures, so after reading about the Etrex and the GPSMAP® 64st I got to thinking about perhaps something other than Edge products may be better?  Most of my touring will be done on paved roads, while dirt and gravel will be avoided if possible but I have no problems riding on those surfaces if absolutely necessary, but I want to stay on paved roads.  It would also be nice if the map system had bike shops, campsites, restaurants, stores (like Walmart or a grocery store), points of interest, etc would be very nice to have on the mapping system.  Of course since I would be camping having replaceable batteries could be a benefit I hadn't thought of till I read this thread, I may not always be around an outlet! so independence from an outlet might be a plus.

Does Adventure Cycling have downloadable maps for these Etrex or GPSMAP® 64st units?  More than likely I will follow Adventure Cycling routes most of the time but may stray off to see something.

Apparently from this thread the Etrex seems like the better choice.  Any advice would be great.

Thanks

Offline TCS

Re: GPS Advice
« Reply #10 on: November 24, 2018, 01:11:58 pm »
Okay, Garmin Etrex 20x, super, yep, looks like the cat's pajamas.  Uh...recommended handlebar mount?  Base map, Garmin cycle map, Topo 24K?  Thanks!   :D
"My name is Pither.  I am at present on a cycling tour of the North Cornwall area taking in Bude and..."

Offline JHamelman

Re: GPS Advice
« Reply #11 on: November 29, 2018, 09:01:20 am »
Does Adventure Cycling have downloadable maps for these Etrex or GPSMAP® 64st units?  More than likely I will follow Adventure Cycling routes most of the time but may stray off to see something.
Thanks

Yes, we have GPX Data available for use on a Garmin GPS device. You can learn more about what the data is and how to manage your device on our website.


I hope this helps get you started.


Best,
Jennifer

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

Jennifer Hamelman

Adventure Cycling Association
Inspiring and empowering people to travel by bicycle.
800/755-2453, 406/721-1776 x205
www.adventurecycling.org

Follow Routes & Mapping on Twitter: @acaroutes

Offline froze

Re: GPS Advice
« Reply #12 on: November 29, 2018, 10:07:05 pm »
Thanks for the reply; at this time it seems like the GPSMAP 64st is the best bet from what I've read, it loads maps and address search with directions way faster than the Etrex 30, unless someone can explain why it's not better than the Etrex 30..

Offline DarrenBnYYC

Re: GPS Advice
« Reply #13 on: November 29, 2018, 11:03:46 pm »
I have both an eTrex 30 and the older version of the 64S (a 62s) that is basically the same size and shape.

I have used both on the bike, but I like the eTrex a lot better for touring and bikepacking. It is smaller, weighs much less, and consumes less space on my bars. And less weight and more compact size means the eTrex stays put on my bars, whereas the larger 62s has a habit of loosening up occassionally.

Also, I don't notice any issues with the eTrex being "slow". Besides, while on tour, what's the hurry? I wouldn't worry whether one is a split-second faster than the other unit.

Finally, the eTrex is a lot cheaper than the 64s - I would use that money to splurge on something else that you value, like a lighter tent or sleeping bag or something.

Offline froze

Re: GPS Advice
« Reply #14 on: December 01, 2018, 09:47:11 am »
I have both an eTrex 30 and the older version of the 64S (a 62s) that is basically the same size and shape.

I have used both on the bike, but I like the eTrex a lot better for touring and bikepacking. It is smaller, weighs much less, and consumes less space on my bars. And less weight and more compact size means the eTrex stays put on my bars, whereas the larger 62s has a habit of loosening up occassionally.

Also, I don't notice any issues with the eTrex being "slow". Besides, while on tour, what's the hurry? I wouldn't worry whether one is a split-second faster than the other unit.

Finally, the eTrex is a lot cheaper than the 64s - I would use that money to splurge on something else that you value, like a lighter tent or sleeping bag or something.

Thanks for that information that was very helpful.  I didn't think about the speed issue like that!  Yeah, while touring I'm not in a hurry!

Thanks again.