Garmin or Wahoo?

[rehab71]

Hi all,

Recently bought my first ever road bike (Cannondale Synapse) and am now after a GPS computer. Having chatted with my cousin and some of her friends at her bike club they all seem to have Garmins, however looking at her Strava she seems to constantly be having issues with it.

Some online reviews/videos report the same problems and it seems that Garmin are falling form the top of the tree. Having done some research online I'm thinking of getting the Wahoo Element Bolt. Has anyone got any real world experience they can share?

Thanks

[bigdom]

I’ve never had a Garmin, although I’ve had a elemnt for the past 12 months. Easy to setup via smart phone, works in all conditions, including rain which (according) to some threads on here, Garmin appear to have issues.

The buttons are easy to navigate with gloves on. The black and white text is viewable in any light, and can be backlit for when it’s dark.

Links up with the heart rate/cadence sensor every time. Works seamlessly with Strava and ridewithgps. If you haven’t planned a route, sometimes I don’t if I do a mixture of rock/track/woodland, if you get lost via the smartphone app, there’s a get me home function.

I tend to get around 15hrs between charges.

Edited by bigdom on Tuesday 28th November 15:53

[okgo]

As per the above, but I have a garmin 820 and it does all that too.

[djone101]

I was in a similar position to you last year and bought a Bolt over a Garmin based on the forum feedback I found. Very happy with that decision - it just works.

[Marcellus]

I too have read all of the issues with Garmin, however now had a 1000 for over 3 years (15,000 miles) and not had all the issues reported!

[smn159]

djone101 said:

I was in a similar position to you last year and bought a Bolt over a Garmin based on the forum feedback I found. Very happy with that decision - it just works.

Same here - very happy with my choice

[BobSaunders]

Bought a wahoo elemnt bolt, as well as RPM, heart rate, and cadence. Works first time every time. Never failed.

As i pull up to the house and end the ride it auto syncs to the wifi and uploads data to strava, by the time i am through the front door after fishing for the key i am seeing what KOM's i have not achieved..

I bought it over the Garmin because of the constant upgrades and patches, and they listen to their user base, and it's stable.

The black and white screen is easy to follow, and can be used with gloved fingers.

The only pain in the ass is if you want to alter where you want to ride or want to re-route - you have to use your i/phone.. but then again, we all now carry it with us 24/7..

edit to add - i plan all my rides on strava and it auto-syncs it all - so i can chose routes as appropriate.. or directs you to the start of the route if required.

Edited by BobSaunders on Tuesday 28th November 19:00

[nammynake]

I moved from Garmin (the excellent but basic 500) to Wahoo BOLT. It’s fantastic. I know several people who’ve changed from Garmin (various models) to the BOLT and they’re all converts.

[DS240]

bigdom said:

I’ve never had a Garmin, although I’ve had a elemnt for the past 12 months. Easy to setup via smart phone, works in all conditions, including rain which (according) to some threads on here, Garmin appear to have issues.

The buttons are easy to navigate with gloves on. The black and white text is viewable in any light, and can be backlit for when it’s dark.

Links up with the heart rate/cadence sensor every time. Works seamlessly with Strava and ridewithgps. If you haven’t planned a route, sometimes I don’t if I do a mixture of rock/track/woodland, if you get lost via the smartphone app, there’s a get me home function.

I tend to get around 15hrs between charges.

Edited by bigdom on Tuesday 28th November 15:53

Not really much to add to this... not used a garmin bike computer but would recommend the bolt. Been very happy with it.

[rehab71]

Thanks all, that's really useful. Think you've cemented my thoughts and I'll go for the Wahoo.

[anonymous-user]

A few people in our club seem to have terrible trouble with their Garmin

I have noticed it seems to be the same people time and time again

I am leaning towards user error being the most common problem

[millen]

I've had a Bolt for 8 months and 5,000 miles and am very pleased. No direct experience of Garmins though 90%+ in the cycle club use them - one bought a 1000 a few months ago and had problems eg with it failing to restart after a pause and in uploading routes to it, but I feel these were really 'user problems'. Another bought a new 820 which gave problems - transpired it was a 'returned' model as it already had a few routes on it! His replacement 820 has been fine.

For the Bolt/ Element I'd summarise
+ve's
Simplicity, reliability, configurability. Easy to upload routes from RWGPS. Everything just works.

-ve's
Climbing screen is too slow to react. Starting elevation sometimes out of kilter but total climb and descent always agree well.

Mapping is the real weak point. The base map is hugely detailed (eg shows all the parking aisles in my local Tesco) but holds no metadata (road designations, names etc). TBT navigation works very well from RWGPS and Komoot routes but not with Strava routes or gpx/ tct files set up by others. That said, having the basic breadcrumb/ chevron route without TBT isn't a showstopper for me - if in unfamiliar terrain or urban jungle I'll switch to the map screen when approaching junctions and it still bleeps angrily if you do go off route. Inability to properly pan or zoom the map is a pain and the 'Take me to' function in the companion app can be a magical mystery tour for a road cyclist.

So if mapping and navigation is your prime requirement, you might find better functionality on some Garmins.

[ajk]

I'm on my 4th Garmin 1000 (the other 3 having all failed and been replaced under warranty), this one's been better but doesn't really work in the wet (elevation stats don't wok and screen locks), randomly switches itself off and freezes and the upload via WiFi works about one ride in 20.
I won't be putting any more money Garmin's way and will defo go for a Wahoo next time, I've a few friends who've switched to Wahoos and they all swear by them.

[z4RRSchris]

i have just had another 1000 replaced under warrenty, they are sending me a 1030 now.

it just got fked everytime it was wet / sweat

[neil-1323bolts]

Another vote for the element bolt great bit of kit, never failed yet, auto upload to strava is brilliant , again as above never had a Garmin but put off buy bad reviews and horror stories , go for the Bolt

[m444ttb]

I bought a full size ELEMNT a few weeks ago to replace my Garmin Edge 1000. So far the only thing I’m missing is the ability to use it as a back up recording device while on my turbo trainer as it won’t connect to my KickR via ANT+. It’s on their development list but can’t confirm when. Set up is much easier than with the Garmin, but that wasn’t a deal breaker. On the fly changes via my iPhone are very welcome though.

I’m yet to try routing, but my Garmin set a pretty low benchmark over the last two years. Crashing with pre-loaded routes, randomly not providing the turn by turn directions, and creating inappropriate routes amongst other things.

Another thing I’m yet to try is the structured workout function. With the Garmin it was via the TrainingPeaks app and the ELEMNT takes the same data so I’m expecting a similar experience.

[Chicken Chaser]

For those with the the BOLT, can you say why you didn't just get the ELEMNT? I'm looking at upgrading my Garmin 500 and the Wahoos are top of the list.

[benny.c]

I went for the Bolt for its neater size as I’d get no benefit from the bigger screen (or the few extra features).

[smn159]

For me it was the smaller size plus it was a fair bit cheaper at the time

[Herman Toothrot]

JPJPJP said:

I am leaning towards user error being the most common problem

I think Garmins have their idiosyncrasies that once you know about you avoid if you are sensible, often I have seen people complain that for example the USB port can get wet easily, those people then seem really surprised when they have fried yet another unit and Garmin have eventually 3 or 4 units later said no more.

This sort of behaviour by the user is in my option a bit "Homer Simpson, repeatedly trying to get the beers off the live high tension cables..".

Why not do something simple like blow in the USB port to get any water out before plugging it in? I use my 500 every ride and have for several years, I plug it in after ever ride, but I blow the rain out of the port 1st if its been wet, my units never missed a beat, it's been 100% reliable. Common sense goes a long way, but is apparently lacking.