Garmin Edge 820 Review

[Jeff Sammons]

All:

For those of you thinking about a new GPS unit, I thought I would share my recent experiences with Garmin's most up to date unit for cycling, the Edge 820.

I've been using Garmin GPS's since 2008 when I purchased my first GPS for cycling, the GPSMAP 60CSx, the Cadillac of cycling GPS's in its day.  I upgraded to the Garmin Edge 1000 in early 2015 for my trip to PBP that year and have been generally happy with it until it died from water exposure this past February.  I've ridden in rain on many occasions and never had an issue, but for some strange reason, this time was different.  Since it was the start of Brevet season, I needed a new GPS for my upcoming rides.

Although I read about and heard of lots of complaints for the Edge 820, I went ahead and bought one anyone.  Over the years, I was used to all the little idiosyncrasies of Garmin products, so I though I could suffer thru them.  Also, a new Edge 1000 was over 2 year old technology at this time, but it is still their most pricy unit in the Edge product line.  Garmin keeps trying to load in new features and options with every new model, so I thought I would go with their latest technology.  Some of the new stuff I liked and others I could care less about.  My primary purchase decision revolved around having a unit that could navigate a route.  I decided to buy the unit on Amazon in case all the complaints were true and I needed to return it.  I didn't want to hassle with my local bike shop about trying to return a $449.00 GPS, if necessary.

Here is a link to the review I wrote on Amazon about my experiences:

https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-010-01626-00-Edge-820/product-reviews/B01I0LA8X4/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_ttl?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews&sortBy=recent#R2EZHTVRR6RHSO

Since the Edge 1000 was nothing but a paper weight at this point, I decided to try Garmin's out-of-warranty repair service.  For $99.00 they will repair or replace your unit.  I got back a refurbished unit that looked and worked like new.

Bottom line is that I returned the Edge 820 to Amazon today.  I could have waited until Garmin eventually fixed the Edge 820 software bugs, but now I had a perfectly good Edge 1000 and didn't need two units.  Besides, everyone is speculating the Garmin will bring out a refresh the Edge 1000 sometime later this year.  So maybe I'll buy the new one when it comes out.  The one thing I do like about the Edge 1000 is the bigger screen, you can see more map detail when navigating.

Jeff Sammons

[Bill Watts]

I can't see your review on the link you provided.  Anyway, I started using an 820 this Spring, and I mostly like it.  I've been using Garmins since 2009: I started with an Edge 605, and then used the Edge Touring, which was a simplified version of the 800.  

Mostly, I like the 820.  The big advantage for me is that it has much more internal storage, and so does not need an SD card, which was a point of vulnerability for both the 605 and the touring.  I generally like the smaller screen, but it does give me less mapping information about surrounding areas.

But this unit continues the tradition of bugginess that I have found in all of my Garmins.  It will sometimes simply lock up.  I find, though, that it is easier to reset, and I haven't been in a situation where I could not ultimately get it to do what I wanted.  As with my other units, though, I frequently lose turn-by-turn navigation.  One of my perennial frustrations is that if you get just a little bit off-course--because you missed a turn, because you have to take a detour, or because you need to get off the road to pee--it throws off the navigation, and nothing I do--including turning the unit off and on--brings it  back.  But I have mostly learned to cope with that.

Bill Watts

5365

[John Jost]

I purchased the Garmin 820 last fall.  Overall I am "satisfied" with the unit and would rate it a 6 our of 10.  I like that the battery lasted an entire 300K (13 1/2 hours total time) and still had about 20 percent left in the tank.  I really like the fully customized screens. The navigation worked great for me.

What ticks me off even after using five different heart rate monitor straps (3 Garmin, 1Cateye and 1 Wahoo) is that my heart rate is not being accurately recorded throughout the ride.  For example riding up a slight incline 2 percent or so, at 15 mph my heart rate displays 68 to 80 bpm. Other times it does not record at all. Doesn't matter if I am indoor or outdoors.  I have tried different routes, different trainers, tv and fan on, tv and fan off, lights on and lights off.  Everything works except the heart rate monitor portion.

None of the firmware updates have resolved this, and yes I have been online with Garmin tech support on several occasions.  And yes I know how to wear an HR strap.  I never had any issues with HR with my Polar.

 

John Jost
"The greatest sorrow in life is regret"

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From: Bill Watts <wmhw...@gmail.com>
To: randon <ran...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2017 1:56 PM
Subject: [Randon] Re: Garmin Edge 820 Review

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[Andy Bailey Goodell]

I've been relying on Garmin Etrex models (currently using a 20x) and only have positive reviews. It's small enough, runs on AA batteries, lasts 700km on one set and I can swap it out in 10 seconds and never fuss with charging while riding, routes on a breadcrumb trail that doesn't have the recalculation issues other units have, has a color map that is free and downloadable (even editable if I find a road that has issues), doesn't shut off after 400km like the other garmins, and the latest one cost me around $150.

I don't use cadence or heart rate, but I gather that the 30x model does do that if you fancy those features.

I know GPS choice is nearly as personal as toilet paper, so YMMV, but I can't see why people spend way more for what seems to be more problematic units that don't handle the length of randonneuring rides particularly well. Did I mention that I've never lost a track in some 30,000 miles of tracking?

(necessary disclaimer that I'm just a happy customer, no affiliation or bribery involved)

Andy in Dover, NH

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[Susan Otcenas]

I bought a Garmin 820 last fall and am not enamored of it.  I much prefer my old Garmin 800, which still works.

If anyone wants the barely used 820, let me know.   $250 (plus a few bucks for shipping) via Paypal to me and it's yours.   I don't have the box anymore, but have the unit and mounting bits.

SUsan