Garmin Explore 2 Review

[Tordis Hurrle]

TheEdge Explore (kinda a simplified version of the high-end Edge 1030) includes all the core stuff most cyclists want, like full turn by turn navigation on a color touchscreen display that actually works, smartphone notifications, data field customization, and even Connect IQ apps.

Now to wrap all these features up and walk you through the user interface and features step by step of the Edge Explore I put together this video, including some snippets from a ride this morning on it:

This is a dual ANT+/Bluetooth Smart cycling cadence sensor that you strap to your crank arm, but also does dual Bluetooth Smart, so you can pair it both to Zwift and another Bluetooth Smart app at once if you want.

This is one of the top straps I use daily for accuracy comparisons (the others being the Polar H9/H10). It's dual ANT+/Bluetooth Smart, and in fact dual-Bluetooth Smart too, in case you need multiple connectons.

Seriously, this will change your life. $9 for a two-pack of these puck Garmin chargers that stay put and stay connected. One for the office, one for your bedside, another for your bag, and one for your dog's house. Just in case.

This speed sensor is unique in that it can record offline (sans-watch), making it perfect for a commuter bike quietly recording your rides. But it's also a standard ANT+/BLE sensor that pairs to your device. It's become my go-to speed sensor.

This wifi-connected scale will track your weight and related metrics both on the scale display and in Garmin Connect (plus 3rd party apps like TrainingPeaks). It'll also then sync your weight to your watch/bike computer, to ensure accurate calorie data.

The HRM-PRO Plus is Garmin's top-end chest strap. It transmits dual ANT+/Bluetooth Smart, but also transmits Running Dynamics & Running Pace/Distance metrics, stores HR data during a swim, and can be used without a watch for other sports. Also, it can transmit XC Skiing Dynamics as well.

Still using micro usb? I know you made an excuse last year for still using Micro usb Ray, but its time for USB C on these products. I can now charge my Laptop and phone using usb c, more of these products need to follow. Just makes traveling easier, bringing less cords. Using one industry standard just helps everyone.

Bike tourists and commuters generally dont care about size either so they just use their phones and battery packs or the 1000 series. Small size tells me this is for roadies. Garmin seems confused and made a product that looks to be mostly useless. DOA.

Speak for yourself. As a tourist, I care greatly about size and weight. My tours frequently exceed 100K feet of elevation gain in 3 weeks. Phones are a crappy solution for navigation. The lack of a barometric altimeter is a bigger concern for me.

Why? I am not saying you are wrong, just wondering why WIFI so important. I recently upgraded my watch to a FR645 and have not bothered to setup the WIFI; the watch syncs to my phone and from my phone to God knows where.

Wow. Checks the boxes for what my wife needs, and has the group track so I know where she is at (Augh). At that price point the competition will be scratching their head as what to do in their product line.

Which Euro map did you use Ray? I need something to replace the standard Garmin 2018 maps on my 1030 as the latest release has broken routing. Instead of using cycling friendly roads it sends you off down unsurfaced paths and roads even when set to avoid. Few threads in the Garmin Forums about it, very annoying.

Great review, thank you! But I prefer the old and good button-operated GPSMap units in my bicycle tours. The touch units are somewhat light-duty IMHO (e.g. when wearing insulated gloves in -15 C). Shall I expect your review of GPSMap 66 some day?

I noticed in the comparison you have that there is a barometric altimeter on this model on the site it does not show that. does it have one or is it gps driven? if it is gps driven how accurate is that? also it does not have glonass should I care? seems gps locating is just fine here.

Hallo dc

Can you tell me what the best gps device is for mountainbike and if possible also for hiking will it be a bike gps or a handheld gps.

Will a bike gps not work for hiking.

Thanks

For the combination of hiking and mtb, you can look at Garmins handheld devices like Garmin 64-series, Garmin Oregon 700/750 series, Garmin Etrex 30x and Garmin Etrex 35 touch. Garmin have a good bike mount for their handhelds.

A lot of triathletes I know have them. And moving to CO here, they seem a lot more common than when I was in IL, probably because speed becomes a near-impossible judge of effort level with the mountainous terrain.

few years on. the Edge Explore still seems like a good product. i have a question for touring/multi-day ultra endurance events, i have a power meter on the bike but Edge Explore does not support power meter natively. looks like Connect IQ can cater for this, but judging from your video and article, it looks like the power data is recorded slightly differently to native power data. My question is then, without a tablet/laptop and only my iphone/android phone, is it possible to review my power data? thanks

I still use my old Garmin Dakota 20 that I bought back in 2010 for all my trips, and have been really happy with that. I load the micro sd card with free openstreetmap map files for a whole country at a time. Last summer I did a 250 km trip on two pairs of AA batteries with it, as it uses little power with the backlight set to 0.

Spec/pricepoint wise Garmin have nailed it for the vast majority of cyclists considering a GPSr unit whitout taking away too many sales from the top units. Looks like there may be sensible thinking at Garmin HQ for once!

I would be interested in seeing a phone added to the comparison table. My now more-than-two-years old android phone can display and record data from my Garmin (ant+) power meter, my bluetooth HRM, all completely customisable, and of course, also offers live navigation (and the ability to change routes on the fly). Of course, it also natively provides weather, notifications, etc., it has a magnetic compass, barometric altimeter, and apart from not clearly not being designed for any sport, I believe it ticks all the boxes in the above table, including electronic gear shifting, and it is (today) cheaper than some dedicated bike computers, which offer less features.

My one question is whether the popularity data applies to the rerouting, or does it just try to get you back on course as quickly as possible? For example, if the first left back towards your course is a busy 4 lane road with lots of cars, but the third street up is a quiet street with a designated bike lane, which way will it take you?

Lastly, I was about to buy an Edge Explore 820 yesterday (it was a great bargain, on sale), but I was hesitating because of the negative reviews re:touchscreen issues. Would this be a better option? For comparison, the Edge Explore 820 price I was offered is roughly 15-20 per cent below the RRP of this new Explore model

On the garmin site the edge explore is in the list of compatible devices for the edge remote control. In your review it says it is not supported. I could also not see it while you were scrolling the list of sensors on the device in your youtube review.

Ok, just confirmed with Garmin. The Edge Explore units apparently got into peoples hands slightly faster than they expected. The update to allow pairing to Garmin Connect Mobile (smartphone app), and Garmin Express should go live a bit later this evening.

2. Will this unit eliminate the need for RWGPS? Or will I still have to use it to get routes onto the device? If I still have to pay $80/yr (according to the new price increase) for RWGPS, I might as well keep using my phone.

1. What kind of mount(s) do we get in the box? This would be my very first mountain bike GPS and I have nothing to mount it on for now, so it would be handy to know if I need to buy anything else right now.

Anyway, if this is just a question of maps, there should be no problem for mountain bike navigation. No reason the Edge Explore navigation system to be less accurate than that of Edge 520 or Edge 820, right?

Just made my first (short) ride with it. After 90 minutes capacity was 80%. I had navigation on and did a lot of testing. Perhaps without navigation battery lasts Longer?

There is a battery save mode. The screen will only turn on when a waypoint is coming up or when you touch the screen.

Did anyone notice Froome wearing a Fenix 5 on the last stage of the Tour in addition to his Garmin computer? Wander if he was using extended display or what the purpose of the additional computer was?

I already asked the question at Strava. But because Ray specifically states that strava routes are available I was wondering wether he had some bata test access or similar to the app. Hence my question wether he actually had it installed (or had been told or expected that it will become available)

If you read the instructions for Connect IQ developers for the Edge Explore you will see that as long as you are not using power meters or training functionality than all application for the Edge 1000 will work with no problems on the Edge explore. The only thing you need to do is check the box that it is available for the Edge Explore also.

Maybe the RouteCourse guys can make the workflow for transferring Strava routes with their app slightly more intuitive on the smartphone. (Now you have to copy passte the Strava route url manually but they should be able to pull a table with route name and URL quite simple using the Strava Api) Than we do not need to worry about this anymore.

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