Gear News

Garmin launch Edge 820 and Edge Explore 820 GPS computers

Feature-packed Edge 820 offers navigation and wealth of performance data in compact unit

Garmin have launched the Edge 820, which takes many of the navigation and training features of the flagship Edge 1000 computer, but packs them into a compact unit.

Garmin have, in fact, released two new computers, and the Edge 820 and Edge Explore 820 share the same body, but the latter is essentially a stripped back version of the former, offering less features for a lower price. Which is? £329.99 for the Edge 820, £389.99 when bundled with a speed sensor, cadence sensor and heart rate monitor, and £279.99 for the Edge Explore 820.

The GroupTrack feature allows riders to keep tabs on each other

GroupTrack and navigation

The newest feature on both computers is GroupTrack, which is designed to let you see where your fellow riders are if, say, on a group ride and you get lost, detached from one another or dropped on a climb – assuming they also have a compatible Garmin and the GroupTrack feature enabled. It will also be available as a firmware update for the existing Edge 1000 and Edge 520 computers.

Both computers will also offer turn-by-turn navigation using the built-in Garmin Cycle Map, which includes points of interest and bike-friendly trails, displayed on the 2.3-inch high-resolution touchscreen, which Garmin say is designed to work just as well when wet.

Training data

While the Edge Explore 820 provides basic data and navigation, the Edge 820 steps things up a notch with a wealth of training data, including “VO2 Max, recovery advisor, FTP and watts/kg tracking, performance condition and advanced cycling dynamics,” according to Garmin.

The Edge 820 is also ANT+ compatible, so can be paired with a heart rate monitor, power meter and plenty of other third party equipment to provide further performance-focused data. There’s also the opportunity to get competitive out on the road with Strava Live segments.

The Edge 820 shares the same dimensions as the existing Edge 520

What else?

Battery life is a claimed 15 hours for both computers, and Garmin have also introduced a Battery Save feature which is said to extend battery life by 50 per cent by enabling the rider to wake the display only when its needed, while still tracking the detail of the ride as it ‘sleeps’.

Finally, both the Edge 820 and Edge Explore 820 measure 73 x 49 x 21mm, which means the unit is the same size as the existing Edge 520,

That’s the top-line information. We’ll be getting to grips with the Edge 820 at the end of the month, so watch out for a full review in due course.

Website: Garmin