Judging by all the threads and posts on these forums about the bugs with the unit I'm beginning to wonder if the Edge 820 is a good buy, I've been looking for a new cycling computer and quite frankly the Wahoo Elemnt seems like a better option, yes it doesn't have a touch screen, but what's the point when the one on the 820 is barely functional? On top of that the Elemnt has turn by turn navigation too and the contrast of the screen is better, really don't see why I should be getting a 820 I'm hoping to get some input from the owners on this forum as I've been a long time Garmin user and am quite reluctant to make the switch.
The vast majority of the issues with the 705, 500 and now 820 are not solved by getting a new or refurbed unit. They're intrinsic to the software and hardware design.
On paper the Edge 820 should be worth the price. But in the real world half the features don't work and the other half annoys the crap out of you.
I sold mine and bought the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt and although I only have tried it for one ride so far, everything feels better, more thought through than on the Edge, and most important, it works as advertised. After the Edge 1000 in its first week and an Edge 820 the Wahoo is a real pleasure to work with.
Garmin as a leader in the GPS industry should be ashamed to have released such an inferior product.
The vast majority of the issues with the 705, 500 and now 820 are not solved by getting a new or refurbed unit. They're intrinsic to the software and hardware design.
And it won't change as long as Garmin continue to use the same platform for all devices. What works on one unit doesn't work on the others and totally screws them. At least Wahoo with the Elemnt and Elemnt Bolt have the units do exactly the same thing so shouldn't be nay issues with the firmware. But, the 820 is far too small screen size wise to be of much use with mapping and iConnect widgets.
And it won't change as long as Garmin continue to use the same platform for all devices. What works on one unit doesn't work on the others and totally screws them. At least Wahoo with the Elemnt and Elemnt Bolt have the units do exactly the same thing so shouldn't be nay issues with the firmware. But, the 820 is far too small screen size wise to be of much use with mapping and iConnect widgets.
The Elmnt has had the same features as the Bolt since June (according to dcrainmaker) and there hasn't been much excitement about that.
The basic form of navigation the Wahoo units provide is also provided by all of the Garmin units (500, 800, 1000 series).
The Garmins have never had problems with that basic form of navigation.
The "turn guidance" (big white arrows" doesn't always work well on the Garmins. It works well, if not quite perfectly, on the 800 (it might work better on the 800 than the newer units). In any case, the Wahoo units don't provide this level of navigation.
The Wahoo's implementation of this basic navigation might be nicer than how the Garmins do it.
The Bolt has only just been released? Even so, I see no reason to prefer it over the Elemnt given they perform the same functions. Screen size of the 820 is an issue for me and the Bolt is no bigger.
The basic form navigation is fine as it works. The Elemnt and Bolt now also do turn by turn with visual and audible signals without auto switching the screen to the map one like Garmin do. If I'm watching power, I don't want to look at the map, even temporarily without choice.
I've been one of the biggest fans of Garmin products for around 10 years, but enough is enough. They've taken their eye off of the ball and Wahoo have picked it up and run with it. Maybe its what Garmin need to wake them from their complacency and start treating users like customers again, instead of test guinea pigs and then being slow to respond to issues with firmware. Garmin seem to have a "one size fits all" with regards to the firmware, when unless the units have the same functions, it clearly doesn't work.
Let's not forget either, that Wahoo's units are far cheaper than Garmin's.
I've used a Wahoo ELEMNT before buying the 820, here are some thoughts on both:
ELEMNT (Observations from summer/fall 2016)
Good
- App is super well done
- Configuring pages through the app is WAY better than Garmin's stupid method
- You never get that 'what menu is that setting located' feeling that you always get with Garmin
- Screen is WAY easier to read than any Garmin
- Sync routes to and from device over WiFi/BLE. No more plugging in your device to load todays ride!
- Navigate and do segments at the same time.
- Training zones, fully customizable.
Bad
- Not reliable for long distances. Would die, lose connection to power meter etc.
- Smart phone notifications rarely worked. Tried all troubleshooting, it was just a big bug.
- LEDs didn't work well in daytime
- Internal beeper was very weak. Any Garmin has a better beeper.
- Can't follow a workout
- "Live Track" is just a dot on a map, sometimes doesn't work. Pretty lame...
- Ugly
Edge 820
Good
- Smartphone notifications work
- Pretty looking
- Reliable up-time
- LOUD beeper
- Follow workouts
- Live track works 100% of the time...and it's a track, not a dot on the map.
Bad
- Touch screen. Requires more than one swipe, unacceptable. Especially during hard efforts
- Stupid menu configuration
- Can't customize on website/app etc.
- Need to plug in or use 3rd party apps to load new routes.
- Garmin route creation/workout creator sucks
- Most Connect IQ apps are just junk. It is like the Blackberry App Store.
- Limited to specific zones
- One trick pony is only able to navigate or do segments
- Navigating to a destination on the fly sucks.
Some of the Wahoo ELEMNT issues have been solved by the BOLT. If Wahoo can sort out the live track and allow us to follow a workout, it is going to be a real Gamin killer. Unless Garmin comes out with an Edge 1010/1050 with a totally revamped menu structure...
I would say the 820 is worth it if you are looking for a small sized GPS that does turn by turn nav. ...if you don't need navigation then i'd recommend the 520. Or if you want a GPS to help navigate, the Edge 1000's larger screen might be a bit better. But I love my 820 now that most of my issues seem to be resolved.
No, they aren't "far cheaper". They aren't even always cheaper.
The Wahoo Elmnt Bolt is $250.
The Wahoo Elmnt is $330.
The Garmin 520 is the closest match to the Wahoo units.
The Garmin 520 is $300.
The ELemnt is more closely aligned to the 810/820 as the 520 doesn't do full mapping. Here, the Bolt is £175 and the Elemnt £219 far cheaper than the Garmins. If you insist on comparing price with the 520, it is £200 pounds here making the Bolt easily cheaper.
The ELemnt is more closely aligned to the 810/820 as the 520 doesn't do full mapping. Here, the Bolt is £175 and the Elemnt £219 far cheaper than the Garmins. If you insist on comparing price with the 520, it is £200 pounds here making the Bolt easily cheaper.
The Elmnt or Bolt don't do "full mapping" either.
The Wahoo devices just display maps (and not even street names).
As I said, you can put small maps on the 520 (which is a pain) but they have more detail than the maps on the Wahoo units have.
I don't know if the maps the Wahoo includes would work for mountain biking (for example). Since you can load your own maps to the Garmins (even the 520, in a limited way), the Garmins would work.
The turn instructions on the Wahoo units might be a bit nicer than what the 520 provides (but they work in a similar way).
It doesn't seem you can zoom or pan the map on the Wahoo units (I don't think the 520 provides that either). You can zoom and pan the map on the 800/810/820/1000 units.
The 800/810/820/1000 can also do routing on the device. That means you can use them without needing a cell phone or an available cell network.
If you have a strong interest in navigation, the Wahoo or 520 isn't the best choice.
