Looking for recommendations for a new bike computer. So far I’ve had a Garmin 500 which was fine and I’m currently running a 920XT triathlon watch. I’m looking for something with better routing/navigation but without breaking the bank. I’m pondering the Garmin 530+ or one of the Wahoo’s, the Bolt is very comparatively priced at the minute.
Does anyone have experience with both Garmin and Wahoo? What do you like about them? What don’t you like? Do you wish you’d bought something else?
I have a Wahoo Roam and love it but if navigation is your main concern I think the 530 would be a better choice than the Bolt. The bolt has GPS but the routing info isn’t built in. Therefore if you go off route it won’t re-route you and you have to find your way back on to the route itself. The Roam does have good navigation and routing but the Bolt and original Elemnt do not.
Anybody know if you can get the power button repaired on my Garmin edge 1000 ? Thanks
I have the 530 and like it, the gf has a wahoo and likes it…I went with the 530 just because everything else I have is garmin, but I really don’t think it matters, just pick which ever one tickles your fancy and youll be fine, there isn’t a clear better choice
Wahoo!
I’ve had an ELEMNT for 3+ years. Enough battery for 10 hours. Yet to navigate me the wrong way.
My experience with older Garmin units wasn’t good and their customer service worse.
I have both the Wahoo Bolt and the Garmin Edge 830, and I’ve been using them simultaneously for a few weeks now to see which of them I prefer. You can’t go wrong either way; they’re both well functioning, with distinct advantages and disadvantages.
The 530 is different from the 830 in a few respects, so keep that in mind when reading the following.
What I think Wahoo Bolt is better at:
What I think Garmin Edge 830 is better at:
Negative things about the Wahoo:
Negative things about the Garmin:
Elements I think they for practical purposes are identical:
Conclusion: As training tools, they are equally good. As for TrainerRoad Outside workouts, I favour the Wahoo. The Garmin is a technically superior piece of equipment, with lots of smart features, but Wahoo is ahead in terms of user friendliness. If I were forced to choose one, I feel inclined to pick the Wahoo.
I agree with all these sentiments. I have a bolt and a 530. 530 I use if I’m on some weird route I haven’t ridden before and I have a course loaded. Doesn’t happen that often.
I despise the garmin interface for changing things. They should have revised the entire system a decade ago but continue to push forward a UX that was crafted in the early 2000’s. Its unfortunate.
The Bolt just works. And for TR outside stuff it blows away the Garmin. Scale up and down the number of data points instantly on the bolt is another huge plus. On my workouts I only want to see 3sec power and maybe the interval time. OFF I want to see HR and maybe cadence and time remaining. Simple push of the up down buttons makes this super easy.
(edit): There are a TON of features for mountain biking and gravity on the garmin I simply do not use at all. If that’s something that appeals to you, another tick in the Garmin column maybe.
Switched from Garmin to Wahoo Element Bolt after getting sick of failed Garmin uploads via Garmin connect.
I’ll never go back… Wahoo navigated me turn by turn through the 800 mile Round Denmark Bike Race… never missed a turn & played quite happily with a power pack plugged in to it. Instant uploads via phone app whenever I chose to do it.
Works really well with TR outdoor workouts as well.
I picked the Garmin and mostly agree with what you wrote. Having used the Bolt and 530 here are my quick notes:
This is my workout screen during an interval targeted at 207W (in garage so power showing 0):
you can “rewind” an interval but not as flexible as Wahoo.
And post workout view after an “Ebbetts” style 4x8-min sweet spot workout:
If you want good navigation, then you need to look at the Wahoo Roam, not the Bolt. As noted, Bolt (or ELEMNT) will not re-route you if you get off course.
Unfortunately the Roam is a bit more expensive.
This is probably the one are where Garmin is superior. I personally prefer Wahoo over Garmin any day of the week. Easier interface, simpler setup, better overall experience…but I rarely use navigation, also. That said, I did just get a Roam recently and the navigation has been great the few times I used it.
I’m in the same boat. Having had the 500 and 920xt, all my data is in Garmin Connect. I’m tempted to go Garmin just for that continuity but I just want to make sure I’m not going to miss out on a killer feature from Wahoo.
I also had the G500, switched to the Bolt in 2017. I love the ability to use the phone to set the screens. And my favorite feature is the ease with which I can enlarge the display. Each screen can serve multiple functions, which is great during races when I need just 2 or 3 large numbers.
Also, their support is great. After almost 2 years my front button melted in the sun (Philippines - its hot!). They just told me to send a picture of the issue and they sold me a new one for 40% off.
Navigation is not a huge deal for me as I’m a natural explorer and not afraid of getting lost - some of my most epic rides. 
I’ve had a Garmin 820 and now a Wahoo Element.
I LOATHED the Garmin, HUGE POS.
Care to elaborate?
I have a Bolt. I’ve been mulling over going to the 530 for a while, and haven’t quite been able to justify it yet. I keep trying though, but too much of a “nice to do” rather than “need to do” at the moment.
There’s a few things about the bolt that bug me. Navigation, unless you map the route yourself, isn’t turn by turn. Calorie count is off the wall - not an issue when you have power, but I don’t always have it.
Positives for the 530 are mainly around making proper use of the first beat metrics. I have a 245 watch, so I’m interested in tracking the bike. The crash alert is great - I was tracking on the watch (on my gravel bike, which I don’t have power), and came off. The alert worked really well. I believe the navigation is a step up from the bolt. The battery life, which made me pick the bolt over the 520 at the time, also fixed.
830 v 530 - a lot of it is buttons v touch screen. Circulation issues mean I’m full finger gloves most of the year, so buttons is a plus for me!
I do brevet rides and rerouting is a “no-no”. So this is not a problem for me as long as it beeps at me and tells me I am off route. I would also like for it to give me turn-by-turn instructions that pop up and light up … in the middle of the night when I am half delerious and need som prodding.
Does it give turn-by-turn?
I tried a Garmin etrex something-or-another 30 and it was absolutely miserable. You could put a route in there, a brevet route, and it would immediately start rerouting you if it thought it had figured out a better route, which would lead to disqualification for a brevet ride. I sold it for half price a month after I bought it.
My Garmin 800 died (battery) after faithful service for years. I replaced it with a (actually 3 units, before Garmin got it right) with a 810 that worked for a couple of years, but this year it is starting to give “route calculation errors” and no longer gives turn-by-turn. Strange, because it will still flag when I go off route, but it will not give me turn-by-turn.
So will the Wahoo give turn-by-turn? If I go off route the rule is I have to retrace my ride back to the point where I left the route, so I absolutely do not want any automatic re-routing.
The Elemnt/Bolt will give you Turn- by-Turn if the route is uploaded from Komoot’s or RWGPS only. If it’s from other sources like Strava it will give you a breadcrumb to follow on the map screen but will not alert you to an impending turn.
Is it likely a Bolt replacement will be out soon? I feel like the 530/830 are on the next gen cycle whilst Bolt is a bit older and due an update?
I like the simplicity of the Bolt and buttons that work with big gloves etc but the Roam is big and the Bolt isnt as advanced as the Garmins.
I have the same Question and looking to replace old 1000 Garmin model. Have been putting it off but now im doing more outdoor rides, i want to get a new one. Mainly the battery isn’t great anymore
I dont know if the same issues persist. I find it gets confused if way out and back routes overlap and it gets confused. It thinks im off route when im on route and the pop up reroute question persists
It locks sometimes when riding and this annoys me when i cant see data with reroute question covering up screen. Touch screen was poor so was thinking buttons are better but 830 reviews say this is much better. Need a long battery for GF’s.
Does the Wahoo have features that impact Wahoo Kickr/Bike interface that it doesnt allow with a Garmin?
