I am a self-admitted electronics nerd, and have been riding with various Garmin cycling units over the years. I have had the Edge 705, 800, 510, and most recently, the 810 for a couple years. Recently, I was lucky enough to get my hands on a brand new Wahoo ELEMNT. I feel as though I have been a beta tester for Garmin for 10 years with negative compensation (buying a new unit when one breaks). With that said, I chose a few areas of key criteria to review in a friendly competition between the Garmin Edge 810 and the Wahoo ELEMNT. There are numerous areas where the two units are fairly similar, so I chose to focus my attention to the issues where they differ. Let’s get to it…
Ease of Initial Setup and Adjustability
If one was to just turn the unit on and ride with default settings, then the Edge 810 would win this competition. But nobody who buys either one of these units does this. We bike nerds want customizability and adjustability! We want all of our screens and settings to be perfect. The Edge 810 is clunky in this way. It takes a long time for the user to set up all applicable settings and fields. This is where the ELEMNT shines. The user simply has to scan a QR code to pair the phone and ELEMNT together via bluetooth. Then nearly all settings and adjustments are made from within the phone app, which is very user friendly. Adding and editing training screens is a breeze. Each main training screen can hold up to 10 fields, and they are also complemented by a map screen and an elevation screen. A second added bonus is that the ELEMNT phone app can be seamlessly connected to various external sites. I connected mine to Strava and RideWithGPS, and now all of my planned routes download to my Wahoo device and all of my completed rides automatically upload them.
Winner: Wahoo ELEMNT
Screen Contrast
I didn’t even know that this was an issue for me until I received my ELEMNT. The screen contrast is noticeably much darker and sharper than that of my Garmin. When the sun is low in the sky (morning/evening), seeing the Edge 810 is very tough from certain angles. This doesn’t happen with the ELEMNT. It looks crisp from all angles, regardless of sun glare. It also looks a little clearer with the backlight display turned on than the Edge does with the same setting.
Winner: Wahoo ELEMNT
Maps
The Garmin empire was built around maps and navigation, so you’d expect the Edge 810 to be head and shoulders above the competition in this category. While it is definitely better, it’s not by much. The Edge offers turn-by-turn navigation with an audible “beep” notifying the user of an upcoming turn. The ELEMNT lays out a “breadcrumbs” trail over a map. While there is a “beep” and LED flash if the user is off course, there isn’t true turn-by-turn navigation. I have, however, read that Wahoo has plans to implement that in a future firmware release. Initially, I thought that the lack of turn-by-turn would be somewhat of a deal-breaker for myself and others, but it wasn’t too bad at all. While the ELEMNT map screen doesn’t show road names, it does lay out the roads in extremely clear contrast. I had no problem following the ELEMNT course for a 40 mile ride.
Winner: Garmin Edge 810 (for now)
Customer Service
Customer service can make or break a person’s decision when deciding to throw down hundreds of dollars on an electronics device. With that said, this competition isn’t even close. I have never had a good experience dealing with Garmin customer service, whether it be through email or phone calls. Their customer service reps don’t seem to have a good handle on the intricacies of the specific units that they carry. Additionally, when I’ve had problems with faulty units, they told me that I had to pay for a refurbished one. Wahoo seems to have been proactive from the very start. They are constantly monitoring (and responding to) various forums and comment sections of blogs. They also have a daily presence in the Wahoo ELEMNT Google Group. I had an issue with one of my data fields when I was initially setting up the ELEMNT, so I gave their customer service a call. Within a minute, I was on the phone with an actual real live human being. She was extremely helpful and polite. Five minutes after that, my problem was solved and I was stoked!
Winner: Wahoo ELEMNT
In conclusion, the competition isn’t even close, with the Wahoo ELEMNT as the clear winner. That’s not to say that the ELEMNT doesn’t have a lot of room for improvement. I’d like to see true turn-by-turn navigation rather than just a “breadcrumbs” trail. I am also looking forward to the integration with Strava live segments, which is reportedly down the road. Battery life could also be improved a bit. But Wahoo is off to an amazing start. The device is only a couple of months old, and a few firmware updates could make a huge difference. Once Wahoo addresses those issues and a few others, they will have a true Garmin-killer!
9 MONTH UPDATE:
It's still the best! Since I've bought it, there have been numerous software updates. These range from minor bug fixes, to major updates that add a lot of functionality. I will absolutely never go back to another Garmin Edge unit.
Topics in this review include:
1. Overview
2. Pro’s and Con’s
3. Recommendations
4. How To Measure A Wheel For A Speed Sensor?
OVERVIEW
I’ve spent hours researching two brands of computers because I spend so much time on the saddle and because they are expensive. It’s obvious the leaders are Wahoo and Garmin. I watched YouTube video after YouTube video and what it came down to is ease of use.
I’m not a Garmin hater, in fact I have had three Garmin’s over the years, and they are have served me well. However, their User Interfaces have way too much to navigate and configure. I want to ride, not program a bike computer. Don’t get me wrong, I am very computer literate with 30+ years’ experience writing code. I just want to ride.
Wahoo boasts that if you are familiar with using mobile Apps, you will be familiar with using a Wahoo Element. It’s true, the user interface is well thought out. There is nothing else to say, it’s that simple, and so is connecting other devices like speed sensors. I literally set up and personalized my Wahoo Element in about 10 minutes.
PRO’S AND CON’S
PRO’s
• Ease of Set Up.
• Large screen
• Easy to read in daylight.
• Crystal Clear Black and Grey Screen (Perfect in sunlight). Can also turn on a backlight which is just as easy to read at night.
• Decent Battery life.
CON’s
• It comes with a plastic one-piece platform/base computer mount. Also, it has no torque specification. If you accidentally over-tighten the bolt that hold it on the handlebar, you will strip the plastic threads that holds your expensive computer in place.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• If you want to have accurate data, buy a wheel sensor ($39.00) - do not reply upon GPS data, especially if you ride trails. GPS uses line of sight to run calculations. GPS data is why your STRAVA data is mangled and of course a couple other reasons – you get the idea. A wheel sensor will correct missing line of site GPS inaccuracies. However, you must enter the correct wheel size to have accurate data. I will explain how to do this in the next section.
• Upgrade to a K-Edge mount because the platform/mount that comes with the Wahoo Element is plastic. Yes, the K-Edge mount it’s an added expense and a little pricey, but worth it because it’s sturdy, and sturdy is an understatement. You will have peace knowing when you make it to the bottom of the mountain after hitting, jumps, drops, and rock garden your computer will be with you and in one piece.
HOW TO MEASURE A WHEEL FOR A SPEED SENSOR?
To make this simple, especially for newbies, there are multitude of methods to calculate wheel size. You will find lots of information on search engines, YouTube, cycling computer manufactures, and the sources goes on and on. However, what I found is the majority of these resources make this process more complex than what it actually is. SIMPLY PUT, IT’S MEASURING A WHEEL SO AN INDIVIDUAL CAN INPUT THE CORRECT NUMBER IN THE BIKE COMPUTER SO SPEED AND MILEAGE IS CORRECTLY CALCULATED WHILE RIDING.
You need a couple thigs before you get started.
• ¼ inch vinyl tube. I picked up ¼ tubbing from the local hardware store because it was cheap at $0.19 per foot. Buy about 10 feet, just in case you mess up. You will understand why in the directions below.
• Tape - Meaning you should use any tape that will stick to a rubber tire.
• Tape Measure
• Calculator
• Scissors
• Sharpie Marker
First, you need to measure your tire. When I say tire, I mean the outer rubber of the tire; the rubber that hits the dirt or pavement when rolling, NOT THE RIM that holds the tire. The most accurate method to measure a tire is as follows.
1. Run the vinyl tube along the outer rubber of the tire until both ends meet. See the attached image. It’s the green circle.
TIP: This is where I used tape. Since I did not have anyone helping me and I wanted to get an accurate measurement, I taped the tubing as I ran it along the tire.
2. After running the tube around the tire, mark where the tube meets each other. A snug fit will suffice. After running the tube around the tire, I pulled the tubing off and cut where I marked the tubing. Now you have one long piece of vinyl tubing that needs to be measured.
3. Using your tape measure, measure the length of the vinyl tubing that you just cut.
4. Now all you need to do is perform two simple calculations to get the number you need to input into you bike computer.
Calculations
1. Multiply Inches of tubing you cut from above x 25.4 = Millimeters.
2. Divide Millimeters from the first calculation by 1000 = Meters a.k.a. your Computer Input Setting
Example:
1. 89 inches x 25.4 = 2260.6
2. 2260.6 / 1000 = 2.261
3. Enter 2.261 into your computer.
CONCLUSION
Wahoo Element is my choice for a cycling computer, for everything I stated above in the Pro’s list and much more. In retrospect after using this for a few months, the choice of a Wahoo over Garmin is not even a consideration, the Wahoo Element wins every time.
****** Please let me know if this review was helpful by clicking the “Helpful” button below***** THANK YOU!
I took a chance and jumped off the Garmin train when I decided to buy a dedicated bike computer, rather than using my GPS watch. I was weighing the Garmin Edge or the Wahoo Elemnt, but took a chance on the Elemnt due to raves about it's ease of use and Wahoo customer service. I'm glad I did. The Elemnt took me about 5 minutes to figure out and get out on the road. Download the ap onto your phone. Scan the QR code on the screen of the Elemnt and it pairs in about 2 seconds. Then you configure the computer using the phone ap.
It found my sensors (ANT HR strap, and speed/cadence sensor) instantly, and I was on my way. On the fly, you can page through various customizable screens and show more or fewer lines of data. Uploads data (via Bluetooth connection to your phone) to Strava, instantly. Super sweet!
First let me start by saying this is my first true bike computer - prior to purchasing the ELEMNT I used the Strava iPhone App with Quad Lock securing my iPhone to the bike stem. Although effective, there were many draw backs to the Strava App/iPhone set up including battery drain (especially on 2+ hr rides), lack of screen customization, and the worst of which were frequent signal drops and/or app freeze.
Fast forward to using the ELEMNT. Since owning it I've logged ~1,000 miles (3/4 of those outdoors) and it's been flawless. Below are my Pro's and Con's with a perspective of previously using my iPhone and Strava App
Pro's:
> Initial set-up is extremely intuitive and user friendly.
> Size and mounting. The ELEMNT is much smaller than my iPhone while providing a much better presentation of data. Additionally the "out-in-front" mount is much better from a viewing and bike position perspective. It also comes with a stem mount but does not work with asymmetrical stems which is what I have.
> Data Gathering and Presentation. The amount of data it can track seems limitless (assuming you have the necessary data collection hardware) and the ability to create multiple screen/page's is a huge plus. Although I've only created 3 screens/pages (Indoor, Short Outdoor, Long Outdoor), I can see how this would be a big plus for those who have a wide range of cycling/training scenarios.
> Battery Life. I'm not sure what the true battery life is but I have ridden multiple 1+ hr rides before the battery indicator show's 50%. An added plus for me is I can now use my iPhone for safety purposes (I use RoadID app so my wife can track my solo rides which sends her an alert if I remain tationary for more that 5 min) without worrying about battery drain from two apps running at the same time. Paired with the ELEMNT App, you receive reminders on your smart phone to charge the battery.
> GPS Reliability. In ~30 outdoor rides (some in areas with very poor cell coverage), I have yet to experience a dropped GPS signal.
Con's:
> At this point I see no downside or inconveniences with the ELEMNT
Overall, very please with the unit. Serves its purpose very well and have not had too many issues with it. The support from Wahoo on the Google group is very good. Firmware release schedule seems to be monthly which is nice.
I've been using the ELEMNT with the TICKR HRM since April 2016. I upgraded to Strava Premium several months ago and have been using Strava Live segments feature for a few months consistently on every ride (I ride usually 3 times a week). I have not had too many issues with the Strava Live except for a couple rides ago it basically did not work at all (perhaps a user or firmware issue, not sure but it's fixed now after latest firmware update). It does not lose/drop the segment or however somebody reported above. And I still have the original unit I bought. I had bought the Edge 520 but the display was smaller than the ELEMNT's. The display on the ELEMNT is a perfect size and very readable.
The upload at the end of the ride to Strava works very reliably nowadays, but sometimes it takes several minutes and it depends on the wifi or LTE/4G availability and/or the companion ELEMNT iOS app being open, etc.
The setup and usability is very good. You can customize and/or add pages as well. I ride a lot in the dark and the light is very sufficient. Battery time is good enough for me and I think I can get easily at least 6-10 hrs (depends on the light on or not, etc.) but I have not fully tested battery life yet. LEDs are nice and customizable as well (for HR or speed for example).
You should be able to buy a unit as an REI member and return it if you don't like it. No worries, I recommend it highly. Be advised I have not tried any other ANT accessories, just the bluetooth connection to the TICKR. Btw, I did notice on a recent ride when I forgot to put the TICKR on my chest until mid-ride, that it took quite a while for the ELEMNT to pick it up and start using my actual HR rather than 135 bpm (which ELEMNT or Strava uses apparently when there is no data available).
Also be advised that there is a new route me anywhere feature as of WF42-1217 which I have not tested yet. Seems handy if you're lost and need to get home or hit a gas station, etc. Cool thing is new features are being released regularly via firmware updates. Give it a shot!
Feature Product
- Download, pair, configure and ride! Wahoo's free companion app automates pairing and manages the configuration process for fast, frustration free setup.
- Automatic route downloads and uploads when sync'd with compatible third party apps (Strava, RideWithGPS, Best Bike Split, Komoot, and more).
- Automatic route downloads and uploads with compatible third party apps -Strava, RideWithGPS, Best Bike Split, Komoot, Singletracks, MTB Project+
- Build a route and get pop-up and LED notifications on screen so you never miss a turn.
- Fully integrates with Strava Live Segments to give you accurate progress status and the Final Push to beat your goals.
- 100% Wireless - only plug it in to charge it! Sync, acquire and push data via ANT+, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.
Description
Wahoo Fitness is breaking the GPS bike computer stereotype! equipped with blue tooth smart and ANT+ dual-band technology, elements pairs seamlessly with all of your cycling sensors. No more confusing menus! elements comes with a free companion App that allows you to set up your data fields, customize profiles, track performance, and share ride data effortlessly. Plus, programmable LED quick look indicators provide a quick way to see if you're on Pace with important performance metrics like speed, cadence and power.
Excellent computer! I have a garmin edge 500 and 800. Never made the upgrade to 520 or 820 because while they made improvements, the new screens were garbage. The screen on the elemnt is crisp and clear in all conditions. The best part may be the incredibly easy set up with the app. Also, it pairs flawlessly and easily with all devices and integrates with third party apps. One of the most annoying things with my garmin was how regularly it would drop the signal from my power meter. Garmins are everywhere, but this just may be a better choice overall!
When I first purchased this device, I was skeptical, as I have always relied on my iPhone, Apple Watch, and/it Garmin Forerunner to track all my stats. Howich better could this “bike computer” really be?
WOW! I was blown away at the simplicity of set up, the REAL-TIME measurements, ability to sync to all my sensors and devices, including my iPhone and apps like Strava and Training Peaks. And then the compactness and fit of this device on the bike makes it so convenient to glance at during training rides, with all the data, or a zoomed in version of what’s important inches from your tucked in position.
Outstanding product! A+ investment...makes me feel like going on rides more often just to use it!
***Update 02SEP2017***
This gps has been flawless through two 80+ mile rides on my island hill climb. Not a single missed que or wrong turn. I gave away my Garmin Edge after the first weekend I used the Elemnt. The LED turn notifications are visible in bright day light. No problem seeing the screen with both yellow safety glasses and polarized dark tint sun glasses. If you ride off course the LEDs all blink red until you are back on course. Once you are back on course they blink green. Very cool feature. After over 7.5 hours of use the battery is still at 43%. It took me two seconds to get over the black and white screen. I love this think. No regrets.
***Original Review*
I am already loving this GPS. Out of the box it needed firmware updates which the companion app took care of in a hurry. No four hour garmin-style update required. My routes synchronized directly from my RideWithGps account. No need to convert to the buggy gpx or tcx garmin-style format. I started a route and shared a ride link with my support vehicle and sure enough they can see my exact location on the course! Text messages, emails, and phone call notifications on screen. Sweet! I will ride my 80 mile hill climb course this weekend and report back on the gps routing function. My Garmin literally chokes on the guidance cues and tries to route me back to start even when I select not to. My guess is the guidance on this Wahoo Elemnt is spot on. I am very impressed so far. I'll give it five stars if it makes it through my ride without a garmin-style meltdown.
5 Star display, 5 Stars for the LED function. 0 Stars for the Grade function. It is wildly inaccurate. Showing 0.0% when going up a 5-7% grade, even shows -% when going uphill. My 12 year old Garmin Edge does a very good job at this. if you want to see what grade hill you are going up or down, forget this unit. Everything else (GPS, speed, miles, etc.) is fine, but then that is basic info that every unit has.
UPDATE 2/5/18 - 5 STARS! Replaced the first unit thru Amazon Prime (THANKS Amazon Prime!). Grade function is working as it should. First unit must have had an issue. Everything else is great - wireless updates, integration, UI, excellent unit!
The company has made a key trade-off achieve a superior usability that includes long battery life, continuous communication with satellites, audio/visual prompting at intersections, a clear, crisp, scaleable display. So what doesn't the ELEMNT do? Re-routing on-the-fly is the primary gap in functionality compared to the alternatives. That said, the alternatives reportedly do a poor job of it.
WIth the ELEMNT, you create your route before you ride using one of a handful of partner mapping tools (Strava and Ride with GPS are two examples). The phone will sync with the cloud and the ELEMNT with the phone. Bam: the route is on board and ready to ride. If you decide to take an alternate route, you're on your own ... but if you can navigate yourself back to the planned route, the ELEMNT will place you on the map and recalculate your position and metrics (such as mileage to the next turn, or turns, and end point). That works for me.There are on-board maps and it is certainly possible to re-route your course mid-ride using your phone with the "Take me to [insert destination here]" feature, though roads and turns will be system-generated. Plus, the routes you have created in the past are stored in memory and available to select.
I also appreciate the ability to send a link home so my position can be monitored by family and friends (important for back country as well as in-town training rides - which I often ride solo. The ability to be notified of incoming calls and see text messages on the display is a good safety feature - keeping me from reaching for the phone while rolling.
There's a lot more to say about this product - the Wahoo web site is rich - check it out. Your biggest decision won't be between a Wahoo and another branded alternative, it will likely be a decision between the ELEMNT and the Bolt. That one boils down to the size of the display - functionality is identical.
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