Best bang for your buck altimeter cycling computer

[Nickster]

I'm looking at buying an altimeter cycling computer for my mountain biking endeavors. Everything I read online seems to be very contradictory about which ones are accurate and which aren't. I then took a look at the Garmin edge range but found their altimeters to be of the barometric variety as well and assumed they would have the same inaccuracy problems

 

Does anyone have advice as to which is going to be the best bang for my buck

 

Thanks

[Brogue]

Also need a multi-function (non-Garmin) wireless altimeter puta for my MTB. Bigish screen, easy to read (at speed), easy to use (without breaking my neck). You get the pitcha . Thanks man, you saved me the effort of opening a fred.

 

PM me with the general consensus in a few days.

[Lostee]

...

PM me with the general consensus in a few days.

 

Lol at this part! hehehe

[Butterbean]

I don't know about accuracy but my Bryton didn't cost an arm and a leg and it's got all the functionality you may need.

 

Plus the after sales service is outstanding.

[Johan Bornman]

I recently switched to a Cateye Adventure. It has an altimeter, total accumulated climb, temperature, countdown mileage counter whacchamacallit, and all the other stuff.

 

It is small, doesn't require charging every night (works off a small CR2032 battery) an is nice and compact.

 

I've given up on charging Garmins and putting up with Polar's crap.

[JGR]

I don't know about accuracy but my Bryton didn't cost an arm and a leg and it's got all the functionality you may need.

 

Plus the after sales service is outstanding.

Ive had some doggy reading on mine of late, most the gain not so much the distance. New website is crap

 

Battery life is good (I think this is hit and iss with electronics) and light weight

[ibruegge]

got my cheap-ish Edge 200, trick is to upload the routes afterwards to have the ascent corrected (from barometric to actual GPS based, or something like that).

[Gambithunt]

I think I'm going o get the Garmin Edge 500, after a tone of research it seems to be the best clue for money.

[Daybreaker]

I have did some research for a new bike computer the last few weeks as I also wanted altimeter capabilities. My conclusion is that if your are not using a map functionality, stick with a non-GPS unit. My reason for this is primarily price and battery life. You can get everything an expensive Bryton/Garmin/Polar can do (altitude, cadence, HR, temperature, post ride analyses ect, ect) without having to spend over 2000 bucks. I would go for Sigma. Good value for money, being a German brand. Go for either the Targa whitch is a MTB specific computer with all the functions you might need on a MTB. Or the ROX series from sigma. ROX 8 has over 70 functions (yea that's **** load!) of course with a accurate barometric altimeter at around R1800. Works like a charm!

Edited July 8, 2013 by dAyBrEaKeR

[Shebeen]

Gps or non gps? Barometric are much more accurate but need to be constantly calibrated. Combination of both is therefore best

[MTBc]

I think I'm going o get the Garmin Edge 500, after a tone of research it seems to be the best clue for money.

 

After riding with an Edge 305 for 8 months, have just upgraded to the 500 a couple of weeks ago. Very happy with the unit, works well.

[Cacher]

I have been using a Blackburn Atom SL 5 and it has been working great. I think it cost in the region of R600. Only thing that I do not like is that every now and then, it will all of a sudden not pick up the wireless signal, as I have it at almost at the maximum distance that the transmitter and unit can be apart. Can I bring it closer. Nope. I am using it on a 29er and everything is as close as it can be. My solution will probably be to search for the Backburn Atom 6 (I think they retail for about R900) as you can locate the wireless transmitter at the back wheel and thus have a much longer transmission range.

Johan Bornman : I was looking at the Cateye Adventurer as well, but I was advised to go for it, as the new high powered lights seem to interfere with the signal from the transmitter. Have you found this to be the case?

There is also the option of the Ryder cyclecomp which goes for about R450. Apparently is has a long transmission range, but what I do not like about it is that the "font" in which the altitude, climbing, distance, etc is shown at the bottom of the screen is a bit on the faint side for me.

[Kranswurm]

I have a cyclosport which is a good comper with HR and barometric altimeter

I have no need for a gps on a bike unless I am in the bush exploring then I take my handheld in my back pocket

[nickcza]

For anyone who has Momentum Multiply, go check out the discounts you get on Garmin and Bryton cycle computers.

 

I picked up the Edge 500 Bundle for R1900