Garmin Edge 530 vs Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2

[@mcwills]

A great review, which I can vouch for from my own experience (I recently replaced my Bolt v1 with the Edge 530). I miss the ergonomics and simplicity of the Bolt. Setting up the unit is SO MUCH easier using your phone, than the clunky buttons on the Garmin (I kept pressing the wrong one and it took me ages!). That said, once the Garmin is setup, it definitely has more features, like Climb Pro, bike alarm, sharp bend warning, drink/food reminders etc. Also, this may seem minor, but Live Segments is better on the Garmin, since you can race against more than just the KOM or yourself. To summarise my own thoughts, if Wahoo added more features, then I'd get the Bolt v2, but if Garmin enabled setup using the phone's app, then I'd be much happier with my Garmin. In fact I find it a mystery why Garmin don't do this, instead of adding features (like the ability to create maps on the device itself), which I doubt that many people want.

[@mlegrand]

Thank you so much for this feedback Matt! I think this’ll be useful to anyone trying to decide between these two devices. I’ll pin this to the top of the comments so other people can find it. 👌

[@miguelmoreira5248]

Hi Matt, I saw many people saying that the 530 doesn't catch many Live Segments because it doesn't recognize the segment or loses connection with the segment. Is that true?

[@mlegrand]

@@miguelmoreira5248 - Hi Miguel. I haven't seen that issue.

[@miguelmoreira5248]

@@mlegrand ty Matt!

[@JWKEL88]

I wanted to buy wahoo but the battery life deters me. I hope the battery could be longer.

[@tnan123]

The ergonomics of the wahoo is a big plus for me especially for someone who doesn't need all the extra fancy features. Great editing and intro as always :D

[@mlegrand]

Thank you Thienan! I’d love to see other brands think about that sort of stuff in the future. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@michaelnabielec6888]

Wahoo for me. Too many of my group buddies have a garmin and are frequently complaining about various issues (maps, firmware, etc). The wahoo…just works. (I have the bolt v1.)

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, the Bolt devices are solid. The V1 has a lot of the bugs worked out and the V2 is improved but they still need to iterate on the software a bit. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@dzzification]

You deserve much more subscribers Matt. Narrative, filming, editing, everything is on a very high level. You are doing a great job with these reviews. Keep on doing it and I am sure you'll get there. All the best and greetings from central Europe

[@mlegrand]

Thank you so much for the kind words! I’ll keep at it and comments like this help. 🙏

[@TheCelticClydesdaleShow]

Matt's skills are quite impressive, and his reviews are on par with the best of them. I actually strive to be as good as Matt with my own channel, but the guy is LEAGUES beyond me!

[@mikedio]

I’ve had the original elemnt since 2018 . I wanted to upgrade to the bolt V2 but wasn’t in stock on the main site. I’ve waited for 2 months to be available again but no luck . In the end i bought the garmin 530 for 228 euro and i don’t regret the purchase . After a week i even bought the garmin varia radar rtl515 to have a complete kit.

[@mlegrand]

That radar is fantastic. I didn't mention it in the video but both the bolt and the Garmin work well with the radar. They're both great devices. Nice work on finding that 530 on sale. 👌

[@dirkweyland9861]

Just to mention: Garmin Varia works also great with the Wahoo!! In fact, Varia connects to multiple devices at the same time, so my wife has varia connected to her Edge and it shows at my Bolt at the same time!

[@dennisobrien2653]

Been using a 530 and the Bolt2 a while and these are my differences. The Bolt2 takes a long time to 'auto-pause' so your ave speed is adversely lower than it is in reality. The Gamin 530 nails this. The top metric on the Bolt is always twice as large as all other info, whereas the 530 allows better screen variations. The 530 wins this hands-down. Sensor Drop Outs- If you stop for coffee, your heart rate sensor sometimes drops out and can't be reconnected mid-ride. You have to save the ride and start another with HR showing again. Grade - The Bolt2 shows a more accurate grade% - the 530 lags behind, but if trees block the GPS, the Bolt's grade goes out of whack. Visibility - the Bolt is brighter and clearer in all light. Buttons and set-up- The 530's 'enter' button is on the top right, contrary to all their other bike GPS's. The Bolt's buttons and smart phone functions are way better. For me- ave speed is important, so I prefer the 530.

[@mlegrand]

Wow, this is great feedback. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@Chaser96]

About that sensor drop-out issue: is that the Bolt or the G530 that drops out heart rate, causing you to have to save and restart the ride? That sounds very annoying, could be a deal-breaker for me.

[@manuelcordoba5096]

Sensor Drop Outs is for the garmin or wahoo? please clarify

[@clivegower-collins9012]

Good review. I will say that I started with a Garmin 530 that after about 12 hours of road use (never dropped etc) went 'black screen' on me only for me to see extensive web blogs about this problem that only seems to afflict the 530 and not its series siblings; on the Bolt V2 now and can't be happier. Three months after putting Garmin to our national distributor under warranty, well, still waiting to hear... For perspective I use a Garmin Instinct watch which I adore.

[@mlegrand]

It’s interesting how hit or miss Garmin. Can be with some of these issues. Glad the Bolt V2 is working for you. 👌

[@endo52]

I bought the bolt. I like the louder beeps for my Varia Radar. Couldn't always hear on my older 520. Maybe a little thing but I like it

[@mlegrand]

Good call Endo52! That Varia radar is such a helpful device. I hate biking without it. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@freekreuter4965]

Thanks for the review! It made my choice a lot less difficult. I prefer ergonomics over fancy features that distract me. I'll buy the Wahoo.

[@mlegrand]

I think you’ll enjoy it. I have a lot of friends that prefer it to everything else on the market. Let me know what you think when it comes and you’ve had a chance to use it a few times. 👌

[@RedWingsninetyone]

I have the Bolt V1 and love it. I've had it for about 3 years now. My favorite part is how simple it is. There's very little I'd change about it, including the display even though Wahoo has already moved on from it. It's super easy to see in the bright sun.

[@mlegrand]

Yes! It’s such a great device. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@rileym6500]

How is the navigation? And the battery life? I am looking into a bike conputer for bikepacking and those are the two key details for me..

[@rileym6500]

I am interested in a more simplistic bike computer, i dont need the fluff of hr and watts and hill climbs, i just want speed, distance, navivation, and a good battery life

[@mlegrand]

@@rileym6500 - I would say the mapping, navigation are a little better on the Garmin but the form factor is simplicity is a bit better on the Wahoo.

[@RedWingsninetyone]

@@rileym6500 it works well for me, but I also have the V1. Are you planning on creating a route to follow or just using the map in general? Battery life is pretty good. My Bolt is about 3 years old now and I just completed a 100 mile ride with 8+ hours of moving time and 12 hours of total time, including breaks, and had 18% battery left at the end. That includes having a heart rate sensor connected and without navigation (and by navigation, I mean loading a GPX file to follow). In 2020 I completed another 100 mile ride with 10.5 hours of total ride time and finished with 30% battery left. That one didn't have a heart rate sensor attached, but was using navigation and a lot of backlight to start since I started around 5am. You can also plug in an external battery for more juice and it doesn't take too long to fully charge from nearly dead. If you're bike packing, you'll likely be fine using it all day and plugging it in at night. I'm also primarily a mountain biker that does gravel riding too. When using it for mountain biking, I tend to find I tend to use 10-15% per ride, and that includes having a heart rate and speed sensor attached. Sometimes it is even less though. The best part of the Wahoo system is it is very intuitive to use and relatively easy to set up using your phone. If you don't want a data field (heart rate or power, for example) you can simply put something else there.

[@IckStuff]

The quality of filming/editing is insane for the number of subscribers you have. Hope to see you blow up!

[@mlegrand]

That is really nice of you to say. 🙏 I typically only post one video per week and I've had very nice slow and steady growth which has been great. The smaller channel also allows me to respond and learn from everyone here in the comments. It's been super fun. Thanks for taking the time to actually comment. It means a lot to me. Let me know if you have any questions about either of these bike computers or want to see a video about a specific topic! Thanks again, Matt

[@Coolhandvic]

I returned my 520 because often, when I'd stop it thought I'd crashed and tried to email my emergency contact. On my rim brake road bike! Got the Wahoo instead. Far simpler to use, better interface. Not missing any "apps" that the Garmin gas access to.

[@mlegrand]

👍 - Nice, I think that’s what people need to figure out and hear. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it.

[@BuildPeakCompete]

Just bought the Bolt V2 after underutilizing Garmin features for 14 years. Really just want something that works and is user friendly. Wahoo nails it in that department. For athletes utilizing Trainingpeaks structured workouts, I’d say their UI for that is slightly better than Garmin. Integration with RidewithGPS also a big a big plus since most gravel and fondo routes are built with that platform. Great breakdown Matt!

[@mlegrand]

Thanks! I think you’ll love the V2. It’s a solid device. Hope you guys are staying cool down there! 👌

[@BuildPeakCompete]

@@mlegrand yeah no chance of that! 🔥

[@spicy_mint]

In case you weren't aware there is RidewithGPS/Komoot integration on Garmin through ConnectIQ, whenever I create a new route it automatically syncs to my 530

[@Air1_R1]

@@spicy_mint yeah on mine too it's sooooo cool ! It's synced then I went off road for a minute and my 530 simply stopped working. Fantastic

[@tomlockhart1045]

That was a really great comparison! My last Garmin head unit was the 500, so I loved the overview of what is new and how the Wahoo vs Garmin compare - nicely done.

[@mlegrand]

Thank you Tom!

[@stuartpage1971]

Really like the idea of the Wahoo as I've heard so many reports of the Garmin environment being buggy and unstable. Quite like th eidea of the Hammerhead Karoo2, but as it's a very new player I'm swaying more to Wahoo.

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, I really want to test the HammerHead Karoo 2. Maybe I’ll suck it up and buy it. 😬

[@stuartpage1971]

@@mlegrand gone for the Elment v2. so far, all good. not tried the routing options as yet, but is paired with the Tickr, cadence and speed sensors

[@mlegrand]

@@stuartpage1971 - I think you’ll like this device. Keep me posted. 👍

[@EepicPhail]

Really helpful review! THANK YOU for specifically talking about the ergonomics of the buttons.

[@mlegrand]

You’re welcome Patrick! Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@ankurjhaveri7380]

Didn't think I'd experience a blast from the past while looking into cycling computers! Great video, and I hope you are doing well Matt.

[@mlegrand]

Wow Ankur! So cool that you found this video. Hope you are well! Are you getting into cycling? I started triathlon after all of those years of running and have been posting videos about all this stuff lately. Let me know if you need help picking out a bike computer or anything.

[@ankurjhaveri7380]

@@mlegrand Glad to hear, Matt. I'll definitely reach out for advice. I started cycling about 3 years ago and enjoy it. I use a 520 plus, but don't like the buttons.

[@valentinlay]

Just saw your video while debating this choice (in 2024, there's 30€ difference between these two, but the garmin 530 is getting difficult to find) and for me the feature that gave the edge to the garmin is : crash detection and automatic alert to my wife! Really that's a safety feature which I don't understand why wahoo hasn't implemented it yet

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, I wonder if it's something on Wahoo's development hit list. 🤔

[@Mencius101]

I have a Wahoo Element Bolt v2 and been using it for over a year. I really like how the buttons are laid out and they are big so easy to press when you are on the move. It definitely is more attractive than the Garmin. That being said, I find the mapping very buggy. One example is often I will get notifications of turns displayed way too late. Another example is when I set a point of interest as my destination, the route it takes goes up and down random streets and no where close to the direction I am suppose to go. I have had my Wahoo crash numerous times when trying to import a gpx route file. That same route file was uploaded to my other friends Garmin devices with no issues.

[@mlegrand]

Sorry to hear about some of the issues you’ve been seeing. Garmin has always been a navigation company and I don’t think it should surprise us that they do it well after all of these years. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@NeedforspeedRS]

I’ve heard that problem since the roll out of the v2. It’s been almost a year now, is there any software update that could solve the issue?

[@rmaizel8266]

Great video. I own both. My knock on Garmin is that I have had horrible experiences with their gps. It has taken me off course several times which is not acceptable in a group ride. Also the climb grade percent feature is always wrong. It will show a negative percentage when I’m clearly climbing (like at 6%). Third issue the altitude is not right. So many times my mates have 5k of climbing via Strava, wahoo or different older garmin and I’ll be 1000 feet off. I have called garmin to address these issues and they cannot fix it at all. I liked the features of the garmin, but all the issues lead me to getting a Wahoo. So far, the wahoo has been reliable.

[@mlegrand]

Sounds like you've had some real back luck with Garmin. Sorry to hear that. I know there's been issues with the temperature gauge on some of their devices that would mix up all of the elevation data. Glad the Wahoo is working well for you. I've had the Rival for about a year now and the battery hasn't been great lately. Might just be an issue I need to resolve with Wahoo. 🤷‍♂️ Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@rmaizel8266]

@@mlegrand funny thing is I’ve have had a bunch of garmin products and use a Fenix for running etc. Again, great video

[@rmaizel8266]

@@mlegrand Just an update.... I have spent another few weeks with the Wahoo and even contacted Garmin to see about fixing this 530. Garmin was less than helpful and all of the "fixes" they offered did not work. The Wahoo has remained spot on and reliable. Now that I converted to Wahoo.. I also like the way it works so much better. The interface and app are just superior. I am a Wahoo convert. I left the Garmin on my gravel bike just because if the bike goes down, I won't care about the computer, but I have ordered the Wahoo wearable, and will report back on that one too.

[@mlegrand]

@@rmaizel8266 - is that the Wahoo Elemnt Rival wearable? Yeah, I'll be curious to hear what you think about that. Do you own a Garmin watch currently? Just trying to get an idea about what you'll be comparing it to. Thanks buddy!

[@bertranrubi2788]

Thanks Matt for the concise review. I am going for WaHoo

[@mlegrand]

Great call Bertran! It's a tricky choice but I have a ton of friends using that have been using the V2 and everyone seems to love it. Keep me posted on what you think of it.

[@jelle5003]

Great review! So what to do: Garmin edge 830, edge 530, the Bryton s500 or this boltv2? (Prefer touchscreen) or wait for newer devices? I think soon? Should I buy one of these or wait.

[@mlegrand]

I would say it all depends on when you need a new device. The BoltV2 is a great option despite the lack of touch screen. 👌

[@dperreno]

I think you did a good job of explaining which unit to get depending on your needs. For me, I don't race or train, I just ride, so the simplicity and ergonomics of the Wahoo win out. However, if I was a little more invested in really tracking my rides, then the additional features of the Garmin would probably tempt me to that device. But I don't think anyone can really go wrong with either one. Currently, I'm using a Bolt V1, but thinking about upgrading, if only for the ability to reroute.

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, the Bolt V2 is a nice little upgrade. You could always wait and max out the value of the V1. See what options you have available when you have to upgrade. Thanks so much for watching Doug!

[@NA15916]

I just ordered a Gramin Edge 530 two days ago because of the Climb Pro features. But damn it Wahoo just release their Summit Feature ...... I do actually love the type-c port and looking on the Elemnt Bolt V2. I chose the Garmin over the Wahoo bacause the Climb Pro function but everything is too late now.

[@mlegrand]

Well, I don’t think Summit is quite at the same level as Climb Pro yet. I do hope that Wahoo is investing heavily in developing this feature. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@pankajrishi]

Crisp and to the point review , highlighting the relevance to personal needs of each rider ; v2 being out of stock , I am drawn towards the Roam … hope it’s not too far behind the v2

[@mlegrand]

The Roam is not too far back at all. I think most people that have tested both still prefer the Roam. Thank you for the kind words about the review. It means a lot. 🙏

[@tolulopeobe]

The climb pro feature on the Garmin is probably the only reason I’d pick a garmin but then I don’t do any climbing in my city. I have the ELEMNT roam and I like it, the font, size of buttons, ergonomics, all of it and the bolt v2 seems to have improved on this with button shapes. Also the way wahoo uses their colours as you mentioned is just great, it’s not a lot but it works. I don’t think a bike computer needs that many gimmicks honestly especially not a touch screen. The hammerhead now is a whole other story, doubt I’d ever be sold on it. Great video as usual Matt 👍🏾

[@mlegrand]

Thank you Tolulope! I'm super curious about that Hammerhead. Super interesting device. I might have to suck it up and buy it just to test it out. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@mlegrand]

Update to this . . . I picked it up and have been testing it for a few weeks. Review to come.

[@tolulopeobe]

@@mlegrand oh nice. Exciting news Matt. Can't wait to watch and hear your views👍🏾

[@sebastianriosochoa5829]

I've got the Bolt1, and it just works... BUT i'm thinking about getting the garmin 530/830 just because of the Climb pro. thats a wonderful thing i do miss... a lot

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, it’s excellent. Tough call. You could wait and see what each company does next but it could be a while. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@SteveT__001]

I've had the Bolt 2 for over a month now, coming from the Garmin 520. The buttons really are much easier to use I always disliked the button positions on the Garmin. I have to say the the zone colour feature I really like especially when you are seeing double in the middle of an interval session it just makes quick reference easy. My 520 didn't have maps and I bought the Bolt 2 for its navigation which I find works really well although the rerouting seems to take you back to where you left the route rather than putting you back in the logical place depending on the complexity of the roads at that point. I don't need many of the advanced features on the 530 so not missing any of them. I don't subscribe to Strava Live Segments but if I did then the Bolt 2 would be a bit of a fail. The problem is it seems to lag somewhat on the GPS so turns come 30 metres late, not a problem for navigation but if starts live segments 30m late than that is a big fail, though I have not tried it. The temperature reading is way out, reading maybe 10% high, not a problem for me as I don't consider it important but it is something they need to fix. There have been a few other reported issues which seem to be pretty much fixed as far as I can tell with firmware updates so hopefully the Strava Live segments issue will be fixed as well. All in all I am pleased with my purchase.

[@mlegrand]

Thanks for the feedback Steve! I think these notes will really help a lot of people considering this device. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@dani_farkas]

Hi, I've also been using the bolt for a couple months now, and I agree that at the navigation part, it alerts you a little late (for me it's about 7 meters after turns), but for live segments, it starts the segment always at the right place. The navigation is a little annoying if you rely on the push notifications, but when you check the map regularly, i don't think it's that big of a big problem.

[@SteveT__001]

@@dani_farkas Good to know the live segments are accurate, I haven't tried them so was assuming they would be late as per the turns. Cheers

[@miguelmoreira5248]

@@SteveT__001 Have you tried them by now? How it went? Thanks in advance

[@UltimateTuner10]

Just left wahoo after 4 years on the system and no regrets. The Garmin is clunkier to set up and maybe use, but the Bolt and Roam I had were both plagued with GPS dropouts (even using a wheel speed sensor) and as a mountain biker this ruined a lot of my in-the-woods navigation and segment fun. With all the MTB specific features on the Garmins and the fact that none of my friends with Garmins suffer the same GPS drops, makes me feel like I should have switched long long ago

[@mlegrand]

For mountain biking, it seems like the way to go. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I do prefer the ergonomics of Wahoo devices. I’m testing the new Wahoo Roam right now and it seems solid. Just not a huge update to the previous model. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@viloino]

Garmin 530 screen is 2.6" (not 2.3" as stated in the video) - you can easily see that it is considerably bigger (wider especially) then bolt/v2.

[@mlegrand]

Oh man! I can’t believe I made that mistake. Sorry about that and thanks for catching and correcting me. 👌

[@arnienz1962]

@@mlegrand This should probably be pinned because i just had to go and reaearch this as i had the same thought

[@mlegrand]

@@arnienz1962 - Done ✅

[@samuelfawdry6411]

I prefer the Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt button layout sure the start up time is longer but it’s not a deal breaker for me as it takes about 40 seconds to get out the house so I start up the computer when I attach it to the bike and by the time I shut the front door it’s good to go

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, it takes me forever to get rolling on the bike. But I figured it was worth mentioning as a difference between these two devices. It's probably not a deal breaker for anyone but it'd be nice if Wahoo could speed that up somehow. 🤔 Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@samuelfawdry6411]

@@mlegrand also I think Garmin needs to up their game I’d like to see the start stop lap buttons a little more ergonomic on top of the device than where they are I see a lot of my mates in oxygen debt doing intervals and they find it tricky to hit lap button if they got it out in front mount where as I hit my lap button on top it’s easy I am not second guessing if I done it or not I think if someone can live without the extra features that Garmin has got then Wahoo is a excellent option

[@mlegrand]

@@samuelfawdry6411 Totally agree Sam. I’ll be curious to see if Garmin makes any changes in future devices. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@robwalker4653]

I am looking to buy one of these. If Garmin released a 540 tomorrow, I'd probably buy it. I am wary of buying the 530 when it's a few years old now.

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, that's a hard call. It's so hard to know when or if Garmin is going to release something. Or Wahoo for that matter. It feels like they should both do something this summer but I don't have any insider info. If you have something that's functional and will work for a good while, I'd hold off. If you need something, you need something. They are both great devices. Best of luck Rob and let me know what you end up with! 🙌

[@jeffondrums]

I’m a Mtn biker but new to the bike computer game. Thnx for the review & comparison, some good points covered. Can’t say I’m any close to a decision though, Lol. I do like the Trailforks integration on the 530 though …

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, I do believe the 530 has more mountain biking features. Hopefully I didn’t just make the decision making harder. 😆 Thanks for watching and commenting

[@rossettoroxy8323]

Hello! Can wahoo navigation also be used for walking? I would also like to use it for trekking as well as mountain biking

[@mlegrand]

It’s designed for cycling but I guess there’s nothing stopping you from using it in other ways. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@stevehambley55]

On my 3rd Garmin starting with the Edge 305 years ago and now on the 520. Would like to try the Bolt but all my data presently uploads to Garmin Connect and hate to lose that feature. Also the issue of changing all four of my K-edge out front computer mounts would add to the cost.

[@mlegrand]

I’ve been on Garmin for a long long time also and didn’t find the switch to Wahoo all that bad. That being said, this 530 (and this series) are the best Garmin computers I’ve ever tested. I think you’ll be impressed coming from the 520. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment Steve. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@unstealthypanda]

Is the garmin connectivity still a pain in the arse? I ended up getting rid of my Vivoactive because it dropped from the app & refused to upload workout data 2/3 times a week. Now looking at a Bolt V2 because I'm wanting to avoid that headache!

[@mlegrand]

The Bolt V2 is an excellent option. The bluetooth connection to the phone may still have the same issues but what's nice about these bike computers is that they can connect directly to wifi and upload your ride. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@unstealthypanda]

@@mlegrand thanks Matt! Bolt V2 looks like the way to go

[@wcseong]

Hey, I always enjoy your video, nicely done, very easy to understand & enjoyable. I am already subscribe to your channel quite some time. Noticed you did replied to most comment & question from audiences. Great effort man! Keep it up, looking forward for more videos from you.

[@mlegrand]

Thank you Alex! I really appreciate that. Let me know if there’s ever anything in particular you’d like me to dive into. 👌

[@jemhor]

Wonderful material. Am still on the lookout for my first bike computer. Haven't really made up my mind. Leaning towards Garmin because of the ecosystem of it. But who know what happen in the coming weeks. Take care Matt :)

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, I really enjoyed testing the Garmin. Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help. 👍

[@lukaug]

So finally which device do you prefer? Still both are recommended in 2022 ?

[@mlegrand]

Right now I do like both devices. I think if you're mountain biking, I'd go with Garmin otherwise you could go either way. Garmin is due for an update so if you can wait it might be worth doing that as well. Thanks Lukasz!

[@DanielPerez-fg3vq]

Great review ! Very useful, thank you !

[@mlegrand]

You are very welcome Daniel! Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@hopleyp]

I would like to go with the Bolt but can't find a shop with any in stock in the UK

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, I think this thing is hard to find right now. So sorry Phil. Hopefully the chip shortages from China come around soon. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@xibauaca]

Can any of these two (Edge 530 or Bolt V2) receive heart rate data directly from an Apple Watch 8?

[@mlegrand]

Not that I’m aware of. I think the Apple Watch doesn’t broadcast HR but there are third party companies with apps that transfer HR data. Peloton and Zwift for example.

[@insanegixxerdude486]

Scored a bolt V2.0. Had the V1 for a month before the V2 released. I like the enhancements over the v1. Loading maps is much easier and straight forward compared to garmin as well. I’d say for ease of use go for the wahoo. For in-depth data go for the garmin

[@mlegrand]

It's actually been really fun testing these devices. Good call on the v2. It's tricky to find those in stock now. 👌

[@insanegixxerdude486]

@@mlegrand thanks Matt. I picked up the v2 from R&a cycles in Brooklyn New York on their website. Not sure if they have stock as of now. Shipped to Canada within 2 days. Highly recommend them.

[@perryvath7617]

I really like my 530… except for button placement; however, the side buttons do mirror the buttons on my Forerunner watches (245 & 945).

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, minor issue but it seems like it’s something they could fix in future iterations if they’re listening. 🤞 Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@bradster0001]

Hey Matt - great video - question for you. I will need to use the bike computer to help me stay on course in a very outback area (that is mapped with GPS route ahead of the race). I am hearing that the Bolt is late to informing of biker off route. Is that your experience and how might I best confirm this? Thanks in advance!

[@mlegrand]

I've read that but didn't really experience it. I do tend to believe the people reporting it. Overall, I prefer the 530 for routing for whatever that's worth. Best of luck with the event! You'll have to let me know how it goes. 👌

[@tn9274]

Hi.. I just join the bolt v2 train. Probably you can shed some light to me. I already success setup the companion app, the device, pairing all sensors, and connected to wifi and even able to update firmware. however when i want to download new maps, it seems like the device keep disconnected from wifi as soon as I leave the wifi network selection page in the app. previously I deleted the preloaded other countries map, I suppose it got deleted when the wifi keep connected during firmware update. now my device has no map because I can't my it stay connected to the wifi. Already tried to connect to other mobile phone, set the home router as 2.4Ghz band & WPA security only. no luck. any tips & tricks?

[@mlegrand]

I haven't experienced this issue but it sounds extremely frustrating. I'd reach out to Wahoo support and see if they have any ideas on how to stabilize that wifi connection.

[@tn9274]

@@mlegrand Thank you for taking time to respond. Have sent an email to wahoo hope there will be response soon.

[@mamadove76]

Another nice video and review!

[@mlegrand]

Thanks Dove! 👍

[@desert.mantis]

Question: Do both devices show contour lines (i.e., elevation on topographic map)? Thanks for your video.

[@mlegrand]

There are options to download lots of different map types on Garmin. Some are paid options. I don't think topographic maps are an option on Wahoo Elemnt devices.

[@jc74435]

Great video Matt. Does the Bolt have Extended Display Mode for triathlons like the Garmins have?

[@mlegrand]

If you use this computer with the Wahoo Rival watch, they have this transfer feature that allows your data to be displayed on the bike computer device and then ultimately be combined into the full multisport data set on the watch.

[@roborovski008]

navigation wise for road cycling, which is better?

[@mlegrand]

I would personally say Garmin. Thanks for watching this one Roborovski!

[@roborovski008]

@@mlegrand may I know why ?

[@mlegrand]

The maps look more detailed to me and I prefer the routing.

[@roborovski008]

@@mlegrand thank you, sorry for asking so many questions. on map page, may I know how many field you able to add in? like my current edge 130, i can only have 2 data slot during navigation(map page).

[@mlegrand]

@@roborovski008 - Yes, it's two on the 530 if I remember correctly. I don't have the device any more. I try to give away all the stuff manufactures send me after reviewing them. I give stuff away to people who comment so hopefully you can enjoy some videos and maybe win something some day. 👌

[@jimmymooo]

Any feedback on Wahoo Bolt v2 Strave Segment? I hate Edge 520 Segment I can't change the goal to PR on the fly, which I have to do manually on Strava Web.

[@mlegrand]

I haven't done a lot of testing on that. I have heard that the Bolt seems to have a delay to pulling up strava segments but I'm not sure. I'll have to do some testing.

[@mcwills]

Is that definitely right? According to Garmin's support site, during the segment, you can choose which effort to be compared against: the KOM/QOM, your PR, your goal, or the time from another athlete. I've only just bought the 530 and haven't test this yet! :)

[@jimmymooo]

@@mcwills Maybe 530 you can but not on 520. If you search online, the workaround is going to Strava segment on 520 to manually select which to target first. Some doesn't even show PR even though I have rode many times, and the workaround for this is to go to Strava segement dashboard (ONLINE) to set a "goal", then back to 520 to select the goal. Terrible setup.

[@callumsmith338]

Take this as you want, but my wahoo Tickr heart rate sensor has nothing but trouble using the bolt, and works flawlessly using my Garmin 530. It doesn’t build confidence when there are issues when communicating with a manufacturers own sensors.

[@mlegrand]

Have you tried other heart rate monitors with those two devices? From a technical stand point, it’s weird because there’s just streaming data coming in. I can’t think of any reason the brand would make a difference. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@antonaroundtheworld]

thanks for the review. I have both devices currently in testing. I prefer the bolt from UI and ergonomics and how its set up how you load routes. the Garmin is really shitty designed but as you say it has some more features and longer battery life. it is also cheaper (200€) vs. boltv2 (260€). I am probably going for the bolt V2 but I miss a cool climb feature.

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, and I wonder if Wahoo is working on some sort of Climber / Climb Pro feature. They have to be feeling the pressure. Thank so much for the feedback on your experience with both products. Super helpful.

[@lorellaborotto3728]

Hi! Si better wahoo elmnt bolt or garmin 530?Thanks

[@mlegrand]

Hi Lorella! I like both. I think it depends on a lot of elements that I talk about in this video. The Garmin has more features.

[@rrosomasa]

I don't know why ppl complain about the buttons on the Garmin. When is mounted on the bike, you don't need to put your finger directly on the opposite side, therefore you're not hitting the opposite button. And with the buttons on the bottom of the unit, I only use them for start and stop, I'm not constantly reaching out to them, so is not a real issue. I had the Edge500 before, but i think the 530 is a great unit, it has tons of great features, their maps are great. Highly recommend

[@mlegrand]

Don’t get me wrong, I like the 530 a lot but those buttons are currently right up against my handlebars and when doing a workout I like to hit the split button right on the interval time. I find it a small annoyance. The buttons on the Wahoo are better all around. It might be a small thing but I wanted to point it out in this video because it’s something you’ll touch each ride where as some of the other differences might never be an issue. (ex battery life) Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@zaida500]

Perfect for what we need

[@mlegrand]

Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@likemarksee]

Why are you going back to the Element Bolt V1 , Is there anything V1 does better than V2?

[@mlegrand]

Nope, I am giving away the V2. I try to pass along anything companies send me but I paid for the Bolt V1.

[@Sambrouillard]

I am currently shopping for my first head unit. I wondered how was the dynamic between the two brands? I come from the Garmin world, my running watch is a Garmin, my trainer is a Garmin too, but I have a strong penchant for the wahoo, the ergonomics and its look are really attractive. I was wondering how the bolt would cooperate with my tacx flux 2. Additionally, since I live in Canada, the wahoo is still not available for some reason, so that's makes me more hesitant. Thanks for you awesome review.

[@mlegrand]

I haven’t tested Wahoo with that trainer so I can’t speak to that but I do switch between Garmin and Wahoo head units and watches and for the most part everything plays nice together. I don’t think you can go wrong either way. Best of luck Sam and let me know what you end up doing and thinking about the purchase. 👌

[@HarishChouhan]

I used Wahoo Bolt V1 for 2 years, then tested Garmin for a bit before buying Bolt V2. This comment might get some angry, but I feel Garmin is like Windows OS wearas Bolt is like a Mac. Bolt has some limitations in terms of no external apps you can use, but that said, it's easy to use. I have some mates who prefer Garmin because of the features but noticed that hardly use those features. Wahoo is easy to use. The new Bolt V2 uses colors in a useful way. Examples are different colors for grade, HR & power data. Live segments work perfectly. Garmin bike computers promise a lot of features that are useful if you need them but hard to get around them. Garmin is great in terms of maps, and Wahoo just sucks in that part. Wahoo on the other hand does not offer a tonne of features, but what it offers is very easy to use so you end up using them more often. Also, while the new Bolt V2 has USBC charging. I think wahoo put some cheap stuff in there. Can't use my iPad charger and cable. Only works with a USB-A to USBC cable. Saw many users reporting this on reddit.

[@mlegrand]

This is tremendous feedback and I think it’ll help a lot of people trying to choose between these two devices. Thanks so much for posting this. I don’t disagree with the PC vs Mac comment. I find Wahoo more ergonomically useful but the Garmin has an advantage in terms of features. So if you’re mostly mountain biking for example, I think the Garmin makes more sense. But we’ll see what Garmin does next. They are over due for an update. Thanks again!

[@HarishChouhan]

@@mlegrand True. They are already market leaders and just need to make the features more accessible. All new products (sensors) always offer integration with Garmin's before anything else. Glad I found your channel. I'm going to participate in my first Ironman 70.3 on May 8th this year in Da Nang Vietnam so finding your content useful. Switch to Silca Latex tubes, and thinking of the sweat sensor you posted. btw, about watches, I'm still confused. Any advice on which watch to get? I love my Apple Watch series 7, as I wear it everyday and offers me more value. Was thinking of getting Wahoo watch but it seems to lack on so many aspects which are not Tri related. Found Coros Pace 2 which is value for money but still confused.

[@mlegrand]

@@HarishChouhan - Glad you're here on the channel also. Let me know what kind of content you'd like to see. I do have some good Ironman experience and I like to post training tips and advice but lately it's been tech review stuff. Speaking of which, I think you should consider the Forerunner 955 or even this morning's announcement, the 965 from Garmin. Don't throw away your Series 7. You'll still miss features from that watch but I think you'll find the training metrics on the FR 900 series to be much more suited to triathlon. Keep me posted on what you end up with and how you're liking it. 👍

[@jeffsoutdoorsadventures8842]

What one is better for not only tracking but picking up trails for mountain biking and roads without having to import a route ? I want to just turn on and go

[@mlegrand]

I 100% agree. Downloading and adding routes is a pain. I'm always short on time and just want to ride. I personally think the 530 has more detailed mapping. The device should come pre-loaded with maps in your area but you can get different areas if needed. Zooming in and navigating a map would be easier on a touch screen like the 830 but it's more expensive. 😬 Best of luck and let me know how it works out. 👍

[@jeffsoutdoorsadventures8842]

@@mlegrand I’m stuck between the 830, 1030 plus and the wahoo Element Bolt V2.

[@mlegrand]

@@jeffsoutdoorsadventures8842 - I'd hold off on the 1030+ only because there have been rumors that the next iteration is overdue. (I don't actually know any details)

[@jeffsoutdoorsadventures8842]

@@mlegrand wouldn’t that be done with an update ?

[@mlegrand]

@@jeffsoutdoorsadventures8842 - Just different mapping regions - www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/08/how-to-install-free-maps-on-your-garmin-edge.html

[@creativechimp03]

Does anyone have feedback on what is best for just turn by turn and uploading routes from Kamoot? I’m primarily a mountain biker but do road ride too, I use Strava to record rides but only use Kamoot over other apps to plan rides and follow routes. Need something easy to get the turn by turn right as the iPhone and Apple Watch I’ve been using for now are awful at it. Thanks.

[@mlegrand]

Hi Samuel, in my opinion the Garmin would handle turn by turn nav and mountain biking better. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@creativechimp03]

@@mlegrand really very kind for you to reply Matt. Appreciate that, I think I’ll grab a garmin then, they are good value currently too.

[@mlegrand]

@@creativechimp03 - Let me know what you think. 👍

[@Superman-Shiba]

Can you please review Lezyne mega XL

[@mlegrand]

I would love to review that computer. I'll reach out to Lezyne and ask if they are willing to send me one. If they send me something I'll also do a giveaway with the device. 🤞 Thanks for watching Shibashis!

[@dougnevitt2257]

Is there a MTB platform on the bolt v2 to get trail details?

[@mlegrand]

I don’t think there is something specific but the maps do show some trails. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@Epiqe]

Is Garmin 530 worth in 2023? It is on sale for 209€ but I have heard that it has a lot of problems with gps tracking, rerouting issue, no POIs…

[@mlegrand]

I’d probably suggest the newer stuff just so that you continue to get software updates but I didn’t have a ton of issues with the 530. I think it’s a great device.

[@Epiqe]

@@mlegrandthak you for kind reply ✌️😎 I’ve chosen Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 instead 😂 There were better reviews on wahoo.

[@iancowell9446]

When is the garmin giveaway ending and the winner being announced? I’d love a good computer but just got a new bike so can’t purchase one now.

[@mlegrand]

Hey Ian! I gentlemen named Jeremy won this device recently. I do have a few other bike computers to review and giveaway soon. One is the super nice 1030+ from Garmin. I just need to find time to get all of the testing done! Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@trailsrfr]

I guess Garmin would nullify a key selling point (touchscreen) of their more expensive devices, if they would make it easier to configure the edge 530 etc.

[@mlegrand]

I guess 🤷‍♂️ - Hopefully Garmin just goes for it with the 500 series and then figures out some other way to distinguish between higher end units.

[@virkelie2]

The Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 does not show street names on their maps? If that's the case, l'd definitely choose the Garmin.

[@mlegrand]

Well, I don't want to be misleading. The Garmin will show the upcoming street name that you're riding towards if you have the map screen showing which I like. The Wahoo does seem to show less street names in general.

[@virkelie2]

@@mlegrand Thanks!! That helps me a lot!!

[@hardmtnbiker]

I like my Garmin Edge 530 and it’s pretty bombproof. I think that Wahoo and the others will never catch up with Garmin.

[@mlegrand]

The 530 is one of Garmin’s better bike computers over the years. I can’t wait to see what they do next.

[@maasterr123]

Great review. Edge is 100$ cheaper at the moment. Is it worth to spend extra money on the Bolt?

[@mlegrand]

It depends on what you’re using it for most. I’d also be curious as to what Garmin will do next now that these are getting older. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@maasterr123]

@@mlegrand Mainly to track the routes created with strava or shared by friends.

[@mlegrand]

@@maasterr123 - Either device should be able to handle routing with Strava. The maps and navigation might be a little better on the Garmin. Keep me posted on what you end up with Damian!

[@mathewcarter6724]

I believe the Wahoo app is also better to use than the generic Garmin. I would have been Garmin until the new generation of bolt. It seems to be easier to use.

[@mlegrand]

Good feedback Mathew! Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@thokro6152]

If you want to use the bike computer for serious navigation the wahoo is the better choice, even if the maps are less detailled. But I have to say that at the moment none of the available bike computer are really good in navigation. Every simple phone with komoot or google maps would perform better than any bike computer on the market. For me this is very disappointing, especially in the case of garmin, because they should know how to implement it.

[@mlegrand]

Tho, I have to agree with you on that. I recently had both of these computers on my handlebars and found myself reaching back and grabbing my phone for directions. Crazy. 🤦‍♂️

[@mbastos1000]

Hands down, the Wahoo V2 is far better just for the design and easy to use front buttons. I don't see myself riding a road bike with very fast people and trying to reach a Garmin hidden button... No way! Forget it!

[@mlegrand]

Wahoo seems to continue to improve these V2 devices. The new Summit Free Ride feature is a nice addition. I did a newer comparison of this Bolt V2 vs Garmin's new 540 but that was before Wahoo announced the Summit Free Ride feature. 🤦‍♂️ kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4HNZJSJaZ6CZ9E

[@fixierya]

How about garmin edge explore 2

[@mlegrand]

I don’t have that one to review just yet but it looks like an interesting option. 👌

[@sankarshr7065]

Informative video 👍. I would like a video comparison with the Hammerhead Karoo vs Garmin 530/ 830

[@mlegrand]

I'll reach out to those guys again. They haven't been super responsive to me. I'm super interested in their new device. Seems like a really innovative device. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@andrewgibson8477]

Great review. TBH I'm not too stressed about the Navigation systems, as when I'm riding I generally know where I'm going, I'm more interested in which provides the better data fields and user-friendly interface. Which appears the be the Bolt. Do you agree? and, I have a garmin watch, am I gimping myself by not going garmin with garmin?

[@mlegrand]

I think you’d be fine to mix and match. I’m like you, I typically know where I’m going also. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@gunny6517]

I use the Garmin Edge 530 with the Edge Remote (makes life easier and safer)…. 🇺🇸

[@mlegrand]

That's interesting Gunny. I actually have never tested the Edge Remote. Absolutely anything to help keep us safer out on the roads. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@onel810]

The most important feature to me is the smart notification. Unlike Wahoo, Garmin can access your preferred app notifications while connected to your phone. I think this is the one holding me back buying Wahoo.

[@mlegrand]

Being over notified is no fun for anyone. One thing Garmin does well is provide a lot of detail and customization options. Thanks Gerard for watching this one and taking the time to comment.

[@jaselikesbikes]

Another well made video Matt. The Wahoo is probably better for my eyes with the "zoom" feature.

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, I like the zoom feature and the contrast seems excellent on these devices. Hope all is well!

[@TheCelticClydesdaleShow]

I dunno, man. If I were a computer kind of guy, I think I'd swallow that extra 9g for the extra 0.1" of screen! The Garmin's buttons do sound annoying, though. I think if I had one of these, I'd have to knock over a bank for a really good HR strap and some really nice power sensing pedals or a Power Tap hub. Yet again, Matt, your opening segment is beyond top notch! I'm starting to think you have more skill in your left pinky toe than I have at all! lol

[@mlegrand]

I actually think you’d like a dedicated bike computer. If you ever try one, let me know what you think. Thanks for all the kind words and the continuing support. 👍

[@TheCelticClydesdaleShow]

@@mlegrand the bigger screen may make my crappy eyes happier. The screen of my 920XT doesn't exactly make it easy to see, especially when I'm not wearing my Rx glasses.

[@ddahstan6876]

GPS conundrum... Should I always carry two cheap smartphones with removable batteries for bike backpacking, or bite the bullet and shell out some tough dough for a Wahoo.... After much thought I would still have to carry a few spare phone batteries along with at least one power bank to cover my arse for a long journey. So, I think it'll be wise to get a Bolt V2 where I can simply just use the power bank to charge it when it starts running low on juice. Looks like power bank charging is MUCH More promising for the Bolt than for a smartphone in terms of battery life usage! I'm gonna go with this route, a win-win decision, because I would still have two devices for GPS navigating, which at least one is an actual dedicated cycling GPS unit. Let alone, it's a joy to declutter my handle bar and ride with smaller or less things! Thank you for your insight review. The Bolt v2 is screaming at me right now :-)), but I'm going to have to look to see if anything else that's Affordable and Bolt-V2-Equivalents that even have better battery life. Suggestions?

[@ddahstan6876]

Wahoo is reliable and positive to start out with...will stick to it! And USB-C charge!! *Bam. Root. Root*

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, I think a battery power bank is going to be the way to go for bike packing. I like the Bolt V2 but you'll probably need to charge it for the adventures that you're thinking about doing. I don't know what your buying time frame is but you might want to wait to see what kind of holiday deals companies post towards the end of this month or if you have even more time, I'm sure there'll be new products coming out. Thanks for watching this one Dda!

[@lokatorursynowa5778]

Wahoo KING of bike computers , end

[@mlegrand]

This review could have been so much shorter. 😀

[@rxmendxmen567]

Choose Garmin. My Garmin Edge 520 Plus lasted for 4 years and counting. Wahoo Element Bolt V2 stopped working after a few weeks

[@mlegrand]

Good feedback for people to hear. My experience with wahoo has been much better. They’ve been rock solid. Hopefully you got a refund or something 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@edmundomoreira7158]

Can we use the Wahoo at MTB? Thanks

[@mlegrand]

Yes you can! Just ride with it as normal. I've used it on my mountain bike without issue. Garmin just happens to have some extra mountain bike specific features. Thanks for watching Edmundo!

[@MrXsim1]

Hey Matt, thanks as always for the very professional and relevent review of the products! I would've been curious to know more about the synergy of the two brands with their own other gadgets, like their watches! My friends seem to mostly use the Wahoo Bolt and are very satisfied with their bike computer, so that's probably what I'd go for aswell.

[@mlegrand]

There is some interesting handoffs that can happen with each watch brand. Wahoo’s new Rival watch can be switched over to be displayed on their bike computers during a triathlon and Garmin has a similar feature. It’d typically only be used in some sort of race scenario but I’ve test them and they do work. Thanks Simon for watching and commenting!

[@fitgearhunter]

This makes me wish I biked so that I could have more gadgets. Good review! Does the Garmin give training load via the device? And wahoo do some version of the same?

[@mlegrand]

Yes Garmin has its similar training load metrics. Wahoo doesn’t have something exactly like this but you can use third party apps to track it.

[@JFomo]

I bought the Wahoo because of USB-C. Just wish the screen was bigger.

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, so nice that they switched that. My guess is that all of the next round of bike computers will have USB-C. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@adamtiyce]

Great review as always Matt. Looking at buying my first bike computer but as someone who needs glasses to see up close which do you think has the better display for 47 year old eyes to look at?

[@mlegrand]

Maybe something with a large screen. You’ve got the Roam or the 1030+ with large screens but they both cost more. Both of these are pretty visible but the Bolt is probably a touch better. Mapping is always going to be a bit tricky but you can always stop and zoom. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@ClaudioPelleoss]

I've just bught the garmin 530 and i can hardly read the minor letters. I wouldn't go for something with a smaller display. Actually I do not understand why they don't do a device with a 4" screen. 70% of the riders are above 40 years old... I don't want extra feauters, just a bigger display! You can consider also the Lezyne Maga XL (as big as the garmin 530) but cheaper (of course with some function less).

[@mlegrand]

@@ClaudioPelleoss - Displays do seem to be trending larger. The 1030+ has a very large display but it’s pricey. 💰

[@obidavekenobe]

I've just upgraded my aging o.g. bolt with fancy pants edge 1040, and I'll have to say that Garmin Connect is for more powerful then Wahoo on the software side of things. For example, to plan a route I would have to have another account with strava or RWGPS. To analyze my ride I'd need a Training peaks acount. And this would all be paid subscriptions $$$. Subscription hell! Garmin Connect is more a one stop shop for your training needs. So felt the Bolt2 just wasn't much of an upgrade for their price bump.

[@mlegrand]

That 1040 is a very nice device. Garmin does provide lots of metrics and options there. Great choice. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it and it’ll last a long time. Thanks for posting your feedback here. I think it’ll really help others. 👌

[@dirkweyland9861]

A great review and many valuable comments! One topic has not been addressed though....integration with a smart trainer! As I own a wahoo kickr core, the integration with an element is just perfect and can't be covered by a Garmin device. As I am just making the decision between upgrading to Bolt V2 or Edge 830, this is a major point. Since Garmin purchased Taxc, I guess they are going to have a great integration there. My wife uses the edge 830 and is really very happy with it. However, me coming from the Wahoo Bolt V1, I am so happy with the buttons and usability and iPhone setup and kickr integration....I guess I can't take the step to the Edge just for some of the nice features like climb pro. Doing many intervals and structured workouts - usability comes first for me. Being a triathlete I own a forerunner watch and yes, it would be nice to also have the bike data together with all the other stuff at the Garmin portal - which is a lot better than using the Wahoo App!!! However, in my case all training data consolidates at training peaks, so I am good. However, if you use a Garmin watch that may be a plus to also have a Garmin Edge because you can't upload to the Garmin portal from non-Garmin devices.

[@mlegrand]

Good points Dirk! I think usability is the main draw to the Wahoo devices. It’s hard, I like them both for different reasons. Hope triathlon training is going well and thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@karlasidera]

I think i might stick with Garmin..as iv been using the 520 since it was released few years back..

[@mlegrand]

Stick with it and maximize the value out of that 520! 🙌 I will say that the 530 does feel like a big upgrade from those ‘20 series devices but it’ll also be interesting to see what they come up with next. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@kidsafe]

Apparently the new Bolt's USB charging is non-standard and doesn't work with a lot of true USB power devices/chargers.

[@mlegrand]

I wish I still had this device. I'd love to do some testing. That's the problem with me giving stuff away to all of the subscribers here. Maybe I can borrow one and do some testing. Thanks for letting me know Yoog.

[@villekilpia5633]

Hi. Amazing review Matt. I wonder if you could help me. I've been having a hard time deciding between these two devices. It will be my very first bike computer and to this day my only tracking device has been Polar Vantage watch. Here are some points of my opinions: - I really dont care about the battery life (I wont do any 300km rides etc. If it lasts for 5 hours, thats enough :D) - I never go to mountain biking and only ride on paved roads - I like the idea of ClimbPro of Garmin, but I dont know if I need that bc I live in Finland and this country is an absolute pancake. - Also im not sure if I would be concerned about the difference between buttons' location, I just think that Bolt looks better, while garmin has a little bigger screen which I like. - I have only cadence sensor, but I probably will buy heart rate sensor and speed sensor - I dont care about Connect IQ, theres nothing for me. So far these devices have been level, but recently I have I have become more inclined with Wahoo but I really can't decide. I dont know if you can even find the point of this comment but thanks for the video anyways!

[@mlegrand]

Good comment with good details about what you’ll use it for. I’d suggest the Bolt V2. It’s a great option for what you like to do and Wahoo added a climbing feature recently. 👌

[@villekilpia5633]

@@mlegrand Thanks for your time & advice and nice to hear that they added climb feature!

[@rangsimon]

I think a should stay with garmin because I use watch from garmin and I want combine all my workout in same algorithm to calculate my performance and maybe I do like the garmin ecosystem did.

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, having everything in Garmin Connect helps when looking at training load. I have mixed the two and it’s worked fine. Everything ends up in TrainingPeaks and Strava but it’s things might not add up in other locations. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@panchocaas6475]

It kind of sounded like you wanted to sell the Garmin to us haha The wahoo doesn't have an equivalent to climb pro? Which btw I think must be improved by Garmin..

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, it's interesting. I didn't really want to convince anyone to buy one in particular. I'm going back to the old Bolt but I do think I'll miss both of these computers. They're super nice. Ultimately, I'd be inclined to wait and see what these companies do next year. Could be interesting. 🤷‍♂️ Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@miguelmoreira5248]

@@mlegrand Do you think Garmin will launch 540 next year? This v2 of bolt is really new, so I don't think Wahoo will update the devices on its price range.

[@mlegrand]

@@miguelmoreira5248 - I would expect the 540 to launch next year but don't know for sure. 🤷🏻‍♂️.

[@thekiteflyer1]

Just moved over to the 530 from a Wahoo roam V1, as the elemnt app has become extremely buggy(crashes when syncing during setup with Komoot) and the support is terrible, I've had a support ticket in for the past 3 months about this problem and it's still not solved, so bye bye Wahoo after about 5 years

[@mlegrand]

Wow, so sorry you had such a hard time with Wahoo kiteFlyer. Hope Garmin treats you better and that you got a smoking deal on that device!!! 💨

[@febryanvaldo]

Want simplicity? Choose Wahoo. It's the least annoying bike computer as Ride Adelaide said.

[@mlegrand]

Yeah, I agree with that. There is so much stuff that we don’t ‘need’ when out there biking. But that’s just me. I don’t want to speak for what others might want in a cycling computer. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@Check-it-out]

Garmin is a criminal company. They (tried) to charge me 125€ for a new battery that died only 2 weeks outside warranty. A part that costs them less than 5€ ! Disgusting ! No more Garmin for me. NEVER !

[@mlegrand]

Oh man Michiel. Super sorry that you had such a bad experience with Garmin. I'd love to see these companies make it easier to repair these devices. Lithium batteries tend to last about 2-3 years, right after warranty runs out. It'd be nice to just quickly and easily buy a 5 battery and switch it out. 🤷🏻‍♂️. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@Check-it-out]

@@mlegrand Many years ago i heard that legislation was in the making to demand from manufacturers that they make their devices battery-replacable. But that is many, many years ago. I guess it won't happen. Too much money at stake. That would cost Apple a gigantic amount of profit, among others. But it would be a gigantic improvement for us AND the environment !

[@mlegrand]

@@Check-it-out - I thought there was some sort of ‘right to repair’ legislation being worked on recently. www.post-journal.com/news/local-news/2021/08/right-to-repair-electronics-proposed/

[@rolandklees9369]

Roland K

[@mlegrand]

Hi Roland 👋

[@Bellissimovolere]

I wasted my money on one of these..No out front mount available for integrated aero bars.. lags badly.. takes ages to sync.. not good..stay with Garmin

[@mlegrand]

There should be some aero at mounts for the wahoo bolt V2. Were you able to return it and get the computer you wanted? Thanks for posting this feedback for others.

[@JoshMKelly]

TH IQ APP / EDGE 2

[@mlegrand]

Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍