Outdoor phone + cycling apps

[Francois Smith]

I'm in need of opinions please: with the abundance of cycling apps and the bluetooth HRM straps available these days, I'm in two minds - should you still buy something like a Garmin EDGE 500 / 800 or do you go the route of a rugged outdoor phone with a cycling app and a HRM strap?

 

If the latter - which phone would you recommend as a waterproof, rugged outdoor phone for mountainbiking purposes.

[Active Monkey]

I had the garmin plug in stick for iPhone with a garmin HR strap and later the wahoo blue HR strap and cadence sensor for the 4S and its not worth it.

 

It works but with very limited functionality. Just get a polar or garmin.

 

A polar rc3 with built in gps or garmin405 is the same price and much better.

 

If you really want these phone accessories things cyclelab sells them.

[Minion]

Have a look at the Sony Ericcson Xperia active. It's designed specifically for what you have in mind and supports ANT+, so you can use the same accessories you'd use with a Garmin.