Cycling Computer Rivalry: Garmin Edge 520 Vs. Wahoo Elemnt
If you are a cyclist, chances are good that you have a GPS bike computer in mind so you can see mountains of data right away and not ruin your phone’s battery every time you track your rides. The Garmin Edge 520 and Wahoo Elemnt are two of the newest and most forward-thinking options available, so let’s see how they compare.
Applicants
If you bike a lot, you will need a separate GPS module other than your phone. These bike computers are also waterproof and crash-resistant, taking them one step further than putting your phone on the steering wheel. Plus, they also track more data than you can on the phone and offer a variety of workout and workout programs to help you get better. The Edge 520 and Wahoo Elemnt aren’t the only options in this category, but they are two of the most attractive, and they are almost identical when it comes to features:
- Garmin Edge 520 ($ 299): Garmin has long been the most famous company in the GPS device space, but the Edge 520 seems like their first attempt at innovation in a long time. You will get the basics like GPS registration, which includes distance and altitude. You’ll also see live incline information, time and distance alerts for goals, advanced workout timers, barometric temperature information, and can customize laps as you spin in a circle. The Edge 520 has Bluetooth and USB data transfer modes, audible / visual alerts, support for Bluetooth notifications if you pair it with your phone, support for custom maps, and step-by-step instructions. It also supports just a few sensors heart rate, speed sensors pedaling , Shimano Di2 and more. An important new feature in 520 is Strava Live Segments , which allows you to connect a GPS device to your Strava account and compare your best biking time in real time while on the road. If you pair the Edge 520 with your phone, you can also share your location so family members can see where you are and travel partners can find you easily.
- Wahoo Elemnt ($ 329): Wahoo Elemnt is a relatively new player in the GPS game, but it does everything the Garmin 520 can do. Like the 520, it supports almost every sensor on the market and uses GPS to record distance. altitude, etc. Along with Bluetooth and USB, Elemnt also supports Wi-Fi to download your activity data and update the firmware. Once configured, it can work wirelessly without connecting to a phone or computer. The real innovation of Elemnt is that you can fully control your computer from your phone. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage, because you cannot set up Elemnt without an Android device or iPhone. Once you set it up, there is no need for a phone. This is most likely not a problem for most of us, but it is worth paying attention to.
In my testing, both devices retained GPS signals fairly well, including when I was out of range of a cell phone in the middle of nowhere. I also had no problem connecting any device to Bluetooth heart rate monitors or Ant + sensors to measure heart rate, cadence, speed, etc. They both do what they are supposed to do and I noticed only minor differences in the collected their mileage and altitude data.
Both the 520 and the Elemnt are reliable little bike computers, but they differ in many ways. I’ve spent the last couple of months with both of them and it’s hard for me to say that either of them is a bad choice. However, they do have different strengths and weaknesses that are worth considering before choosing one for yourself.
Edge 520 is smaller and more durable with a color screen, the item is bigger and clunky
In terms of aesthetics, it’s always better in the eye of the beholder, but the Edge 520 seems to be a more rugged device. It has a hard plastic case, hard rubber buttons (yes, buttons, none of these computers have a touchscreen), and a screen that seems to take a bump. The Edge 520 has a 1.9 “x 2.9” x 0.8 “body with a 1.4” x 1.9 “color screen. The color screen is not often used because the data screen you see while driving is black. white.it is a little hard to see in the sun, so I switched it to night mode to make it easier to read.
On the 520 itself, you navigate the menus using the set of up / down arrow buttons on the left side. On the right side are the “Enter” and “Return” buttons, and on the bottom are the “Play” and “Circle” buttons when you exercise.
Elemnt is slightly larger: 2.3 “x 3.5” x 0.8 “for the whole computer and 2.7” x 1.9 “for the screen. You navigate using contextual buttons that change depending on the screen on which you are, but the three on the bottom you can navigate through the menu, while the two on the side are directional. The case itself is a little more awkward to hold, and it looks like it’s Edge 520 wrapped in an Otterbox case. None of this means Elemnt is made It just doesn’t feel as solid as the Edge 520, which I’ve dropped more times than I can count.
Elemnt has another big difference in its basic design: the LEDs on the outer casing itself. These LEDs are customizable, so you can customize them to alert you to upcoming turns if you follow turn-by-turn directions, alert you when your heart rate is dropping, or alert you to upcoming Strava segments. It’s a nifty little feature that helps you stay focused on the road, but given the Elemnt already has a fairly large display, the added warnings don’t improve the overall gaming experience that much.
At the end of the day, the Edge 520 feels like something you can run over multiple times with a tank, which is exactly what you want from a GPS computer tethered to a moving car. The Elemnt looks more like a toy, although in my tests it has survived many drops.
App-based customization of Elemnt is much easier to use
One long-standing problem with GPS devices, especially small bike computers, is the awful interface and general awkwardness that comes with setting them up. The Garmin 520 beats its predecessors here, but the Elemnt blows it out of the water.
While the Edge 520 is an improvement over earlier Garmin models, it still remains a failure in interface design. Menu screens sit awkwardly within other menu screens, and it is often difficult to find the options you want. Edge 520 lets you customize your home screen so you can choose what data is shown when you cycle, but you have to go through a maze of bad design to customize it. For the first time in years, I had to open a technical product manual to figure out how to use it, which is a testament to how poorly Garmin’s operating system is and how unintuitive it is. The good news is, once set up, you don’t have to mess around with it anymore. You can upload your data on a bicycle in the Internet by connecting the Edge 520 to your computer via USB or Bluetooth and applications Garmin Connect O ny O ˙U g p h O n e .
Conversely, using Elemnt is a pleasure. This is because it doesn’t force you to use outdated LCD menus, but instead, you do everything on your phone via the Wahoo Fitness app . This means that with just a few taps, you can change the stats shown on the home screen, link Elemnt to whatever sensors you have, customize the LEDs to work, download routes from Strava or Ride With GPS for turn-by-turn navigation, and more. It’s incredible how much easier it is to use Elemnt. It only took me a few minutes to set it up exactly the way I wanted it and I never had to open a manual to do this. Even Elemnt firmware updates happen through the app, which means you don’t have to pay attention to them. This is great because a lot of firmware updates have been released adding various features to Elemnt.
Even loading a preloaded route to use on Elemnt for turn-by-turn navigation is intuitive and easy. Conversely, downloading a route on the Edge 520 requires you to connect it to your computer and download the routes first, and even then the download process before traveling is confusing. While none of the computers have a direct routing option, where you just connect to a destination and get directions, Elemnt is still the easier to use of the two.
Verdict: Edge 520 has Garmin pedigree, but Elemnt is more forward-thinking
Aside from the solid body, the Edge 520’s biggest selling point is its namesake. Garmin is a well established company that has been making these things for a long time, so you know your $ 300 investment will come with long term support as well. Garmin is still updating the firmware for many of its older devices, so there is no reason to believe they won’t be doing the same here.
Elemnt, however, is so easy to use that it’s hard not to recommend it. My only complaint is the size. While the Elemnt looks a bit smaller than the Edge 520, it gets a lot more attention. Personally, I do not want to pay so much attention to these things, so less is better for me, but your preferences may be different.
However, it cannot be denied that the Elemnt feels like a device made in 2016 for modern people, and that alone makes it an easier recommendation. The Edge 520 feels as awkward and awkward to use as that odd GPS unit still found in the dashboard of a 2002 Nissan. Throw in regular Elemnt firmware updates that pack additional features, and it’s pretty clear that Elemnt is looking to a future where the Edge 520 is still beating and screaming in the past. If you don’t mind sitting at the forefront with fresh company, Elemnt is your choice. If you don’t mind the archaic set-up process, want to save $ 30 and would rather buy from a company you know, go for the Garmin Edge 520.