Garmin Alternatives

[NGM]

I'm looking for a new bike computer after my Garmin 530 was stolen (along with the bike that was attached to it). I've been a garmin user for maybe 15 years or so now and for bike computers it was a no-brainer in the past. But recently I've found their after sales service to be really poor. By that I mean it is generally well-meaning, but always slow and very often incompetent. Also, I find the heart rate monitors (chest strap style) often stop working after a year or so.

I generally don't keep up-to-date with this sort of tech so maybe there are now much better options and the market is more competitive. I do remember a little while ago people talking about the Hammerhead Karoo being a "Garmin killer" it was so good.

https://www.hammerhead.io/products/karoo

Then there's also Wahoo, Bryton and Polar that I'm aware of.

I'm looking at a second hand garmin 830, but do people have other brand recommendations? It doesn't have to be touch screen (like the 830), but that's generally the product level I'm looking at.

Thanks

[mecheng89]

Magene. Local stock, much cheaper than Garmin, just as capable.

[Dexter-morgan]

I think wahoo is a good alternative, I am a Garmin fan-boy but my soft strap is a Wahoo.

[Furbz]

Hammerhead Karoo 3

[guidodg]

Hammerhead all the way...

[NGM]

Early days but we seem to have a front runner. Thanks for the input.

[Mike Dewing]

My mate just replaced his old garmin stuff with Magene and he’s loving it so far..

[Dexter-morgan]

One of the main reasons, I use Garmin is Vitality, so I have become so used to the ecosystem.

[Jensie]

I like Wahoo elemnt Roam. Easy to setup and operate.

[SwissVan]

2 hours ago, NGM said:

I'm looking for a new bike computer after my Garmin 530 was stolen (along with the bike that was attached to it). I've been a garmin user for maybe 15 years or so now and for bike computers it was a no-brainer in the past. But recently I've found their after sales service to be really poor. By that I mean it is generally well-meaning, but always slow and very often incompetent. Also, I find the heart rate monitors (chest strap style) often stop working after a year or so.

I generally don't keep up-to-date with this sort of tech so maybe there are now much better options and the market is more competitive. I do remember a little while ago people talking about the Hammerhead Karoo being a "Garmin killer" it was so good.

https://www.hammerhead.io/products/karoo

Then there's also Wahoo, Bryton and Polar that I'm aware of.

I'm looking at a second hand garmin 830, but do people have other brand recommendations? It doesn't have to be touch screen (like the 830), but that's generally the product level I'm looking at.

Thanks

I think you can take Polar of your list of bike computers, they have not kept up with the other oem’s in this field

[NGM]

1 hour ago, Dexter-morgan said:

One of the main reasons, I use Garmin is Vitality, so I have become so used to the ecosystem.

Ya I'm sort of in this ecosystem too. To be fair, I've liked all of the Garmin stuff I've owned and most of it has worked very well. I have a Garmin Fenix 3 that I bought in 2016. While the straps have needed replacing, the body is indestructible. I've made very little effort to look after it and electronically I really can't fault it. But my 530 would occasionally provide very dubious elevation readings (it was not the result of a low pressure system). Essentially it just wouldn't pick up changes in elevation on some rides. I asked Garmin to take a look at it (it was still under warranty) and the best I got back was a badly worded email about 4 weeks later asking for proof of purchase. Correspondence was so slow thereafter that the warranty actually expired during that period. 

Edited March 19 by NGM
typos

[ChrisF]

33 minutes ago, NGM said:

Ya I'm sort of in this ecosystem too. To be fair, I've liked all of the Garmin stuff I've owned and most of it has worked very well. I have a Garmin Fenix 3 that I bought in 2016. While the straps have needed replacing, the body is indestructible. I've made very little effort to look after it and electronically I really can't fault it. But my 530 would occasionally provide very dubious elevation readings ( it was not the result of a low pressure system). Essentially it just wouldn't pick up changes in elevation on some rides. I asked Garmin to take a look at it (it was till under warranty) and I best i got back was a badly worded email about 4 weeks later asking for proof of purchase. Correspondence was so slow thereafter that the warranty actually expired during that period. 

 

Sort of in the same boat ....

 

Started with Polar.  Been with Garmin for nearly a decade, bike computers and watch .... completely buying into the ecosystem.

 

I love VivoActive 4 watch.  But as I am doing more and more park walks, aqua, gm etc the battery life is becoming an issue.  Seldom get two full days, including the various activities.   If I do a cycling weekend, thus using the Edge and not the watch, the watch battery life seems fine.  Seems more of a GPS battery time thing than an issue with the watch.

 

Currently looking at Garmin watches that provide more battery time, including GPS activities.  The price jump to the "big battery" models are "not nice".

 

Now considering alternative brands .... and then get back to the reality that staying in the Garmin ecosystem has significant advantages to keep all stats together .....

 

 

Hold on, let me put the watch on the charger while I type ....

[michaelbiker]

Hammerhead Karoo for me. Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 is second on my list. Karoo just keeps improving with every update not to mention older models get almost all of the same updates.

[NGM]

Hammerhead users - how do you find the battery life? From all the reviews I've read people generally like it more than, say, the garmin 830, but the complaint is always battery life. Granted, these reviews often refer to the Karoo 2.

[tinmug]

Garmin user here. Have had Garmin GPSs for twennysomething years. Yes, it works. But I won’t get another. My support experience has been meh, UX also meh. 
 

Wahoo next time (because last time I looked into a Hammerhead it seemed just a stretch too far … perhaps local support for them exists these days?). I’ve heard very good things about local support for Wahoo products. That counts. 

[michaelbiker]

25 minutes ago, NGM said:

Hammerhead users - how do you find the battery life? From all the reviews I've read people generally like it more than, say, the garmin 830, but the complaint is always battery life. Granted, these reviews often refer to the Karoo 2.

I have had a Karoo 2 since 2019 when it was an early bird unit. I charge it after every ride. It lasts between 5-8 hours now depending on screens brightness but when I use battery save mode I have done 12 hour days without issue. I keep a small battery pack on hand that goes in my top tube bag for longer bike packing days when I need nav and the screen on all the time. The new Karoo 3 I think lasts a lot longer and has a more advanced battery save mode that you can customise.