Review on 🚴 Garmin Edge Touring Essential Navigator by Matthew Fadoul

I've been waiting a long time to buy a GPS bike computer, but the Garmin Edge 810 was a bit expensive for me. I wanted a device that would record trips, show speed and distance, and have mapping and navigation capabilities. While the 810 had all of that, it also had a ton of stuff I didn't need. When Garmin announced its Touring model, I was excited. Here's what I think so far: Mapping - Maps that came preloaded on the device are pretty good. The device shows which roads I am on and also recognizes local cycle paths. I created a map on Garmin Connect and downloaded it to my device. A piece of cake. The map size is one size, so some items look a bit small as I don't wear reading glasses when driving. Auto start/stop is great. Set the timer to turn off at 5 km/h or slower. Worked without any problems. Display - The touchscreen is better than expected as it works when I'm wearing full finger cycling gloves. In sunlight, the data screen is displayed perfectly even with dark sunglasses without a backlight. The map is easier to see when the backlight is on. Accuracy and GPS - The device acquires satellites very quickly, much faster than my Garmin 110 running watch. In terms of accuracy, Garmin has had a few years to get it right and they seem to be getting it right. The menus and navigation are a bit confusing at first and could definitely use better user guidance. However, once I figured out how to set up the screens things got a little better. This is probably the only weakness of this device. Battery life. It's too early to tell, but early readings showed I used 15% of capacity on a 2 hour ride. The device should be on the road for at least 10-12 hours without any problems. Overall - 5 stars. Everything I need. The price is a bit high and Garmin doesn't offer a discount, but they have better devices. So if you want to create maps without draining your iPhone battery, this is your best choice.