Old iPhone with battery case works well. Does have limited battery life still but can often be acquired for free or cheap and is very easy to operate. I use my daughter’s SE, which was free, and is great.
Navigation ?
I'm looking for a "cheap" navigation/computer device because I don't want to use my phone.
I don't really care about comparing stuff with other people and social media.
I just want to navigate, and keep track of my personal records.
What are my choices?
Thank you
I don't really care about comparing stuff with other people and social media.
I just want to navigate, and keep track of my personal records.
What are my choices?
Thank you
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
I used my Android phone (Samsung S9) for a few years before finally giving up and getting a Garmin 530. I've also used older Android phones in the past. Navigating on the phone with Trailforks is still much better than on the Garmin due entirely to screen size, however the relatively low battery life AND touch screen sensitivity were the two critical issues with using a phone. The phone wasn't designed to operate well when covered with sweat.
I've been generally happy with the 530 and would strongly recommend Garmin. Using the maps with buttons is pretty tricky though, so if you are primarily looking to navigate with maps you might only be happy with the 830 (or 1030) which are significantly more expensive.
Old iPhone or Android phone with a separate battery?
I've been generally happy with the 530 and would strongly recommend Garmin. Using the maps with buttons is pretty tricky though, so if you are primarily looking to navigate with maps you might only be happy with the 830 (or 1030) which are significantly more expensive.
Old iPhone or Android phone with a separate battery?
I have a Garmin 530 as well, and I like it.
It puts a Trailforks map right on the screen so I don’t have to drag my phone out to look at TF.
That said, TF isn’t free anymore. Between the cost of the G530 and annual TF subscription, the price of entry is not particularly cheap.
The convenience is worth it to me but I imagine there are many who’ll say, “No way. Too expensive.”
I do wish the 530’s map screen was bigger. But since I wear long finger gloves all year (heavy ones half the year), I want buttons, not a touch screen. I think that both the 830 and 1030 are touch screen.
=sParty
It puts a Trailforks map right on the screen so I don’t have to drag my phone out to look at TF.
That said, TF isn’t free anymore. Between the cost of the G530 and annual TF subscription, the price of entry is not particularly cheap.
The convenience is worth it to me but I imagine there are many who’ll say, “No way. Too expensive.”
I do wish the 530’s map screen was bigger. But since I wear long finger gloves all year (heavy ones half the year), I want buttons, not a touch screen. I think that both the 830 and 1030 are touch screen.
=sParty
Might need to reset some expectations.
What's cheap? Without specific numbers on that, we don't know your frame of reference. Traditionally, more expensive devices offer more advanced and more versatile navigation capabilities.
Also, what EXACTLY do you want the device to do navigation-wise?
Do you want maps that show you all the trails so you can follow them visually? That one is relatively easy, however, don't expect all the trails everywhere to appear on digital maps. That's never going to happen, no matter what hardware/software ecosystem you're using.
Do you want turn-by-turn instructions like you get in your car? Again, reset your expectations. This is sortof possible. But it's dependent on all the trails you want to ride being accurately mapped and present on whatever device you're using. You'll get that sometimes. Sometimes you won't. How frequently each occurs will depend on your source of map data and where you're riding.
Do you want to plan your route ahead of time, load that onto the computer, and have the computer show you the route on the map and tell you when you've strayed from it? That's great, because this is how most GPS devices are actually designed to navigate you. Further, you don't need fancy mapping capability to do this. The first time I actually used this kind of functionality was with a Garmin Forerunner 310xt watch that has no advertised mapping capability. But I could still load a planned route into it and it would show a screen with the planned path on it (no other reference points or basemap data), and if I had programmed them into the route ahead of time, would even give turn notifications.
What's cheap? Without specific numbers on that, we don't know your frame of reference. Traditionally, more expensive devices offer more advanced and more versatile navigation capabilities.
Also, what EXACTLY do you want the device to do navigation-wise?
Do you want maps that show you all the trails so you can follow them visually? That one is relatively easy, however, don't expect all the trails everywhere to appear on digital maps. That's never going to happen, no matter what hardware/software ecosystem you're using.
Do you want turn-by-turn instructions like you get in your car? Again, reset your expectations. This is sortof possible. But it's dependent on all the trails you want to ride being accurately mapped and present on whatever device you're using. You'll get that sometimes. Sometimes you won't. How frequently each occurs will depend on your source of map data and where you're riding.
Do you want to plan your route ahead of time, load that onto the computer, and have the computer show you the route on the map and tell you when you've strayed from it? That's great, because this is how most GPS devices are actually designed to navigate you. Further, you don't need fancy mapping capability to do this. The first time I actually used this kind of functionality was with a Garmin Forerunner 310xt watch that has no advertised mapping capability. But I could still load a planned route into it and it would show a screen with the planned path on it (no other reference points or basemap data), and if I had programmed them into the route ahead of time, would even give turn notifications.
Buy an Etrex Touch 35, or even a 25 if you don't care about HR and cadence sensors. It's way cheaper than an Edge, has a map, works well and is built like a tank.I'm looking for a "cheap" navigation/computer device because I don't want to use my phone.
I don't really care about comparing stuff with other people and social media.
I just want to navigate, and keep track of my personal records.
What are my choices?
Thank you
2 years ago, after 7 years with a Dakota 20, I replaced it with an Etrex Touch 35 and couldn't be happier. Sold the Dakota for 70€ and bought the Etrex for 210€. The Dakota was working great, but it didn't support the magnetless cadence sensors I wanted to use.
My Etrex, as did my Dakota previously, has survived falls, crashes, storms, and whatever I've thrown at it. When battery life starts to dwindle, just buy a pair of rechargeable NiMh AA batteries and you're good to go for a couple of years.
Perhaps I should have put more info on what I want. I just want to use it for turn by turn navigation if possible, and of course plan my route ahead just like I use my phone, Tomtom, and Garmin for vehicle navigation. I just want to keep track of where I've been, and my mileage. I don't care about heart rate, speed, etc.
A 2nd hand Garmin 810 should do the job.
Otherwise an eTrex touch will do the navigation better and will still connect to Garmin Connect for record keeping.
Otherwise an eTrex touch will do the navigation better and will still connect to Garmin Connect for record keeping.
it's not going to work exactly like your vehicle navigation when you're on trails. that's the expectation you need to lose (I suspected as much).Perhaps I should have put more info on what I want. I just want to use it for turn by turn navigation if possible, and of course plan my route ahead just like I use my phone, Tomtom, and Garmin for vehicle navigation. I just want to keep track of where I've been, and my mileage. I don't care about heart rate, speed, etc.
if you do a LOT of legwork prior to your ride and build a route with turn notifications programmed into it, you can get close, but you won't be able to navigate on-the-fly and have the computer auto-adjust your route the way your vehicle will. to be certain, the device is capable of that kind of routing. it's the maps that at best are only partway there.
the reasons for this are pretty lengthy and various, but suffice to say that trail networks are not mapped out the same way that road networks are.
getting such solid navigation prompts takes enough work that most of the time I don't bother with it. I am content with maps that simply show my location relative to other landmarks (which may or may not include all of the trails that I'm riding).
I haven't used an Edge 530. What data/info does the Trailforks map add? For example can you select a trail and pull up elevation profile/distance info like on your phone? Does it add a topo base map or other layers, any other useful functionality? Or does it just display trailforks trails on the 530's map?It puts a Trailforks map right on the screen so I don’t have to drag my phone out to look at TF.
That said, TF isn’t free anymore. Between the cost of the G530 and annual TF subscription, the price of entry is not particularly cheap.
Just the map. I use my phone for research.I haven't used an Edge 530. What data/info does the Trailforks map add? For example can you select a trail and pull up elevation profile/distance info like on your phone? Does it add a topo base map or other layers, any other useful functionality? Or does it just display trailforks trails on the 530's map?
=sParty
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
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