Review on Garmin Edge Explore - Advanced Touring Bike Computer with Connected Features, 010-02029-00 by Gary Lucas

I've always avoided Garmins. These were undoubtedly functional and feature-rich units, but Garmin was more interested in keeping the bean counters happy than offering a competent and functional product at a reasonable price that most other casual or enthusiast riders could afford. With this new Edge Explore I think they've finally hit the mark and delivered a value-for-money device with all the features you could want at a price point that most people won't immediately scoff at . The color touchscreen could be a bit brighter but has a good refresh/refresh rate for map navigation and is easy to read even in direct sunlight. It's also very responsive and responsive to the various taps and swipes you need to navigate. The menu system is intuitive and pairing with your smartphone and optional sensors is quick and hassle-free. The battery life of any device is nowadays always a requirement for increased durability and endurance. After driving it for almost two weeks, I noticed that out of the box with all notifications and alerts enabled, the battery percentage reaches around 70% after 1.5 hours and around 50-55% after around 3 hours. Ride. Enabling battery saver mode and disabling unnecessary alerts will increase battery life, but I still doubt you'll be able to get anywhere near Garmin's claimed 12 hours. The battery saver mode turns off the screen after a few seconds. To wake the device, simply touch the screen and use it normally before the device goes back to sleep. This is probably for the best as it should keep you focused on the road instead of staring at the device while driving. If you drive more than 5-6 hours, make sure you have a power adapter on hand to charge the device. Overall I am very happy with the device so far. If you don't need advanced training features like structured workouts, Strava Live segments, or power meter support, but want a no-frills device that can guide you step-by-step with a beautiful color touch display, you'll probably be very happy with it Edge Explore.