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

Garmin outdoor GPS units were expensive and bulky, heavy, ugly and had lousy displays a few years ago. One paid a few hundred dollars for a device, then another hundred for roadmaps that didn't include updates. The screen was a "transflective" LCD with a plastic cover. The resolution was poor, colors were washed out and a screen protector had to be used to protect the screen from scratches. In comparison, the Edge Explore is fine hardware. The price of $250 includes cards with upgrades. It's small, light and beautiful. It has an excellent display, like a modern smartphone. The resolution is very good, the colors are bright. The glass coating looks durable and scratch-resistant. However, the screen does not react to gloved fingers. In cold weather, remove gloves or use a capacitive touch instrument. This is very bad since the battery is not very big. When it's warm, I leave the backlight off until I touch the screen. But in winter it doesn't work so well. I don't blame Garmin for that. This is a side benefit of using a modern display designed for other purposes. Another downside is the non-removable battery. There is no way to use multiple AAs for long trips. It's a compromise Garmin has made in order to offer a robust device in a small package. It takes a lot of plastic and gaskets to make a waterproof battery case that can be opened and closed daily. My main objection to Edge Explore is the software. When I drive I use the website to create a .gpx file. But the file is just a suggestion. I often do workarounds just because I feel like it. My old Garmin was able to show the route (.gpx file) and my path. It was easy to take a detour and scroll the map to see nearby roads. I call it breadcrumbs or tracking mode. Edge Explore only does one thing - it provides step-by-step instructions for courses. Using Edge Explore, when I copy the .gpx file to the NewFiles folder, the route is converted to a .fit course. The only option is to choose a course and then wait for the GPS to calculate the turns. If I make a detour while driving, the GPS constantly gives instructions on how to get back on course. The beeps can be turned off, but the map shows big white arrows showing the turns I need to make to get back on course. You cannot zoom or pan the map to explore nearby roads, you must leave the track. Edge Explore has many other features. As far as I can see, these are checkbox features that are designed to compare well with competing fitness trainers. I don't need to connect GPS to my phone or send a message if I fall, or send pre-formatted messages to others who may be riding with me. These functions have nothing to do with navigation and do not contribute to discovering an unknown and interesting part of the landscape. I give Edge Explore 5 stars for the hardware. Garmin had to make some compromises with the Edge Explore's design, but overall they've chosen their options wisely. The device is modern, small, robust and has an excellent display. I give the program 2 stars. Garmin did the opposite, adding marginal features that make cycling less enjoyable than it should be. Edit: I found that rate recalculation can be turned off. This greatly improves the behavior of the GPS when I leave the GPX route or go back on the route. It's still not breadcrumb mode, I still can't zoom and pan the map. I'm still checking the software on this device.