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This is a gear review about the Best Bike Computers for Touring, Bikepacking, and Mountain Biking 2024.
Paper maps and the old-style basic bike speedometer that worked off the size of the front wheel are being replaced by bike computers. While Smartphone Cycling Apps are OK, a good GPS Cycling computer is much better at tracking your location, speed and so much more.
The best cycling computers for Cycle Touring, Bikepacking, and Mountain Biking are super tough, able to give turn-by-turn navigation, and have long battery life that will last all day.
I’ve been using a bike computer for years and in this bike gear review, I’m checking out some of the best bike computers for 2024.
How We Tested
All the Cycling Computers in this review have been extensively evaluated and researched by the expert author who has many years of experience in Bike Touring and Bikepacking. Some of the Bike Computers were purchased by the author. They have been rigorously tested by the author in all kinds of weather while Bikepacking and Bike Touring. The research, testing, and experience of the author have combined to come up with the Best GPS Bike Computers for Bike Touring and Bikepacking 2024. Read the Review Policy for further details.
Best GPS Bike Computers 2024
The Best GPS Bike Computers in 2024 are:
Best Bike Computer 2024 – Overall
Garmin Edge 540 Solar
Pros:
> Although not cheap it represents good value
> Very long battery life
> Touch Screen Option and non-solar option
Cons:
> No touchscreen, but this is not really a negative!
The Garmin Edge 540 Solar offers the best balance between features, price, and extremely long battery life.
The recently updated Edge 540 comes with buttons to change screens and navigate the features. If you need a touch screen then the newer Edge 840 is for you.
The solar glass option to assist in charging the battery is a winner and a good option. While it adds to the cost it represents a good option and makes this unit a better alternative to the top-of-the-range Edge 1040 Solar or Edge 1050.
As with all the other Garmin units I like the solar option. Especially when bikepacking and bike touring where multiday battery life starts to become more important than a day cyclist that can easily recharge their GPS every day after use. Having said that, the features on the 540 are above and beyond what most Bikepackers and cycle tourers might need.
I like the map options and the option to customize your screen with whatever options you want to see when cycling. So whether you are a road cyclist, mountain biker, commuter, or bikepacker this unit has you covered.
There is also one of the best color screen GPS displays. Whether you are looking at maps or just the general front screen of the GPS it looks great.
Overall, the Garmin Edge 540 Solar is the best bike computer for 2024.
Best Cycling Computer – Runner Up
Garmin Edge 1040 Solar
Pros:
> Up to 45 hours of battery life or 100 hours in battery-saver mode
> Solar charging glass
> Lightweight
> Good display
> Great for Bike Touring and Bikepacking where battery life is important
Cons:
> Not the cheapest
The Garmin Edge 1040 Solar is one of the newer Garmin GPS Devices for your bicycle. One of the better features is the long battery life thanks to the built-in power glass solar charger. The battery life for the 1040 Solar is nothing short of incredible, 45 hours in GPS mode and up to 180 hours in battery saver mode.
It has almost all the features of the new Garmin 1050 but with a bit better battery life. It also has the same very large screen as the 1050, so those of us with eyes that are not as good as they used to be will appreciate the extra large screen.
It has every conceivable option that every other Garmin device has and more. It includes the power guide which lets you know how much power is needed to keep pace. And links with other devices via bluetooth and Ant +. It is at the top end of the market for 2024.
Overall, the Garmin 1040 Solar is the best cycling computer for battery life and well suited to anyone who wants this feature above all others.
Best High End Cycling Computer
Garmin Edge 1050
Pros:
> Has every feature you could want and many you will never use
> You can buy compatible mounts and sensors for it
> Measures such things as your VO2 max, hydration, altitude acclimation and the smoothness of your MTB descents
> Safety features include group messaging and tracking
> Excellent 20-hour battery life
Cons:
> Not Cheap
The Garmin Edge 1050 is the latest and greatest bike computer from market leader Garmin.
It has a good 20-hour battery life which extends to around 60 hours in battery-saving mode.
There are pre-loaded maps and the 64GB of storage allows a lot of storage of data and the ability to upload a lot of routes and other maps.
The Garmin Edge 1050 comes with almost every type of connectivity and option possible. It includes the power guide which lets you know how much power is needed to keep pace. And links with other devices via Bluetooth and Ant +. Also, you can connect it with your Garmin InReach when traveling in remote areas! I could keep writing about every single feature but it just does everything, click the links below to see them all.
Overall, the Garmin Edge 1050 is the highest-spec bike computer on the market at the moment, until the 1050 Solar is released.
Best Mountain Bike Computer
Garmin Edge 840 Solar
Pros:
> Measures such things as your VO2 max, hydration, altitude acclimation
> Excellent MTB tracking, including the smoothness of your descents
> Safety features include group messaging and tracking
> Up to 32-hour battery life using the GPS and 60 hours in battery saving mode
Cons:
> Garmin lack of speed to update any connectivity issues or software glitches
The Garmin Edge 840 certainly has a lot in common with the Garmin Edge 540 we reviewed for you earlier. I used the earlier model of this one, the Garmin Edge 810. This upgraded model is much better than what I have used in the past.
As you may imagine the Garmin Edge GPS tracking is excellent, giving you highly accurate readings for distance traveled, as well as all the dynamic performance monitoring that runs alongside it, such as current speed vs average speed.Â
You can pair the Garmin Edge 840 with various sensors in order to track such things as your heart rate, VO2 max, hydration levels and more.
If you are into mountain biking, you will love the MTB tracking. It can track jump difficulty, jump distance, and the smoothness of your descent.
Another great thing is how it offers off-course recalculation in case you split for your riding group to make a quick detour. And the safety features are pretty neat, too, with group messaging and tracking, and an alarm.
The battery life is very good. It lasts up to 32 hours in GPS mode and around 60 hours in battery saving mode. But if that’s not quite long enough for you, you can always pair it up with a Garmin Charge power pack or what I like to do is use a Lightweight Power Bank to charge the device.
The key difference between the Garmin Edge 840 and the Garmin Edge 540 is that the 840 features a touchscreen, whereas the 540 uses buttons. This brings the price up to a premium level.
It is important to keep in mind that the Garmin Edge 840 is like all Garmin products they tend to be a bit slow to update any software patches for their cycling computers. Some people will not like this, even if you are tech savvy Garmin is not very good when it comes to a user-friendly interface. Garmin is not Apple or Google!
Overall, the Garmin Edge 840 Solar is one of the best cycle computers for mountain biking, and people cycle touring will also love this cycle computer.
Best Budget Bike Computer
Garmin Edge 530
Pros:
> Very reasonably priced
> You can buy compatible mounts and sensors for it
> Measures such things as your VO2 max, hydration, altitude acclimation and the smoothness of your MTB descents
> Safety features include group messaging and tracking
> Excellent 20-hour battery life
Cons:
> Like all Garmin they are patchy and slow to patch software issues
The Garmin Edge 530 has been replaced by the updated 540 but that means that this version now represents very good value for money.
It is still one of the best bike computers for Bike Touring and Bikepacking. If you are cycle touring or Bikepacking this is the best budget bike computer for you and the price makes it even better.
The Garmin Edge 530 offers the feature set of the more expensive units and still has excellent GPS tracking. This works well for accurate distance traveled, alongside performance monitoring. I love how I can have my current speed right alongside my average speed, great when I want to get an idea of how I’m going for the day.
Like all the Garmin GPS Computers in this review, you can pair the Garmin Edge 530 with several different sensors. You can track your heart rate, VO2 max, hydration, altitude acclimation, and more with Bluetooth connectivity features. It also links with the Garmin Connect app to find routes.
Mountain Bikers will love the MTB tracking on this bike computer. It will track jump distance, jump count, ride difficulty, and the smoothness of your descent.
The maps bring up popular routing, and off-course recalculation if you ever make a detour. I also like how you can customize it with a range of free apps and widgets if you choose to do so.
Safety features include an alarm, and group messaging and tracking, which can come in really handy if you’re cycling with a group and they get split.
It has a very good battery life and will last up to 20 hours with the GPS turned on. But if you need it to go on for longer, you can always pair it with a Garmin Charge power pack for an extra 40 hours of battery life or buy any good battery power bank.
If you were to buy the device alone, you also have the option to add on a dual heart rate monitor, a standard sensor, or a speed and cadence sensor if that is something that you want.
It is important to keep in mind that the Garmin Edge 530 is like all Garmin products, they tend to be a bit slow to update any software patches for their bike computers. Some people will not like this, even if you are tech-savvy, Garmin is not very good at being user-friendly. Garmin is not Apple or Google!
Overall, the Garmin Edge 530 is a good cheap bike computer at a good price. It is still worth a look despite several newer models being released.
Wahoo ELEMNT Roam V2
Pros:
> Preloaded with maps for all over the world
> You can filter for the shortest route
> You can receive smartphone notifications
> Wide range of software & hardware integrations
> Rechargeable battery with up to 17 hours of battery life
Cons:
> Not a touchscreen
The new Wahoo Fitness Elemnt Roam V2 GPS Bike Computer comes with great features such as a full color screen and preloaded maps for countries all over the world. It is a great bike touring computer. You get on-demand route generation, and you can save waypoints as you go along.
You can also filter for the shortest route if you are in a hurry. There’s a page for every element of your ride, such as a workout view, and map view. What’s more, all of the screens are fully customizable.
It’s compatible with a wide range of third party apps, including the likes of Strava, Ride with GPS, and Komoot.
It has new software integrations such as GoPro Connectivity and there are hardware integrations to take advantage of too, including electronic gear shifters, muscle oxygen sensors, and power meters.
And that’s not all – you can use it to receive your smartphone notifications too. The battery life is also really good. It uses a rechargeable battery which can provide up to 17 hours of battery life.
Overall, this is another one of the best bike computers for bike touring, mountain biking, and road cycling
Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt V2
Pros:
> Good Battery Life at 15 hours
> Good budget bike computer
> Good integration with bluetooth
Cons:
> No Touchscreen
The Wahoo Fitness ELEMNT Bolt 2 GPS Bike Computer is the new and updated version of the Bolt. It has a lot in common with the previous model such as the same 15-hour battery life and connectivity with third-party apps, like Strava, Ride with GPS, and Komoot. They also have the all-important turn by turn notifications and high quality color maps and navigation.
The Wahoo Fitness ELEMNT Bolt 2 GPS Bike Computer is still priced quite well considering the features but it is hard to compete with Garmin. This is a good basic GPS cycling computer with everything most people will ever need in a bike computer.
You can pair it with your smartphone for messaging, and get all kinds of workout data up on screen. And if you have a GoPro you can connect to the Bolt 2 and take photos and videos.
What’s more, the data is particularly clear and easy to read on screen – you won’t need to fish around for your reading glasses. The battery life is about 15 hours and unlike some bike computers, you can charge this unit while riding via a USB charger.
It comes complete with both a front mount and a stem mount.
Overall, the Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt 2 is another of the best cycling computers for those wanting a high quality bike computer with lots of features at a reasonable price.
More Cycling Computers to Consider
Here are more options that will be added to the list as soon as they have been evaluated and reviewed.
- Coros Dura Solar GPS Bike Computer
- Garmin Edge 130
- Garmin Edge Explore 2
Cycle Computer Comparison Table
| Brand | Battery Life GPS | Battery Saver Mode | Maps | Screen Face Size (inches) | Touchscreen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Edge 540 Solar | 32 hours | 60 hours | Yes Color | 2.6 | No |
| Garmin Edge 1040 Solar | 45 hours | up to 180 hours | Yes Color | 3.5 | Yes |
| Garmin Edge 1050 | 20 hours | 60 hours | Yes, Color | 3.5 | Yes |
| Garmin Edge 840 Solar | 32 hours | 60 hours | Yes Color | 2.6 | Yes |
| Garmin Edge 530 | 20 hours | 20 hours | Yes, Color | 2.6 | No |
| Wahoo ELEMNT Roam V2 | 17 hours | 17 hours | Yes Color | 2.7 | No |
| Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt V2 | 15 hours | 15 hours | Yes Color | 2.2 | No |
Bike Computer Buyers Guide
Mapping
The mapping function of modern GPS cycling computers is one of the main reasons to buy a cycling GPS. The GPS computers on these units are better than what you get on your phone when using google maps. So the mapping and navigation accuracy is very good. All have some form of mapping software or a choice of maps you can add to these GPS cycling computers.
The GPS accuracy and battery life are much better on a bike computer, but the maps are not. Garmin and Wahoo have a lot to go to catch up to the mapping quality and technology of Smartphones. If only they had better maps!
Turn By Turn Navigation
Turn by turn navigation on a GPS computer for cycling is great for navigating around towns and further afield. If using a Garmin bike computer I can tell you from experience that their turn by turn navigation is not as good as Google Maps.
Once, when I was cycle touring in Alaska the turn by turn navigation on my Garmin instructed me to turn off the main road and into a lake. I suspect this lake was the home of an Ice Road in winter, but Google never sent me into a lake.
Tracking
Cycling computers have great GPS tracking which is great for recording your tracks of where you have been. You can also download map tracks and upload them to your bike computer and follow these tracks.
Whether the tracks are from other people, or from a GPX track you made, or third party app you can upload and download them from all the GPS cycling computers in this review. Either way, the tracking features on the GPS cycling computers are a great thing. I have well over 20000 miles of GPX tracks saved from my bike computer and downloaded to my home computer.
Accessories
Bike computers do a good job but most people will look at some sort of accessories. Some might look at a better handlebar mount but there are so much more. There are bluetooth accessories such as heart rate monitors, power meters, cadence sensors, and more. They increase the functionality of cycling computers, especially for those interested in the data that can be used to analyse your training.
Mounting
Most bike computers have some form of basic handlebar mounting or mount system for the steering stem. They also use a locking mechanism that locks them in place. Great for mountain biking, bike touring, and bikepacking which can be on really rough trails at times.
Connectivity
All the best bike computers have some form of connectivity with third party apps and devices to monitor your fitness, speed, and power. When you are finished with your ride you can upload to Strava, Garmin Connect and more if you choose.
Bluetooth ANT+ connectivity
The best bike computer will sync with multiple different bluetooth devices. All the best cycling computers will connect via ANT or Bluetooth Smart connectivity, but most will connect using both. Everything from Bluetooth connection to your smartphone app to connecting to external sensors for your power data is via these methods. Gone are the days of a USB cable.
Third Party Apps
Most high-end and even budget bike computers can sync with third party cycling apps such as Strava, MapMyRide, and more. Some even allow syncing with GoPro Cameras, Smartphones, weather apps and so much more.
Training
Most competitive cyclists want to monitor their heart rate, cadence, power levels and more. To get the most out of the high-end cycling computers they require extra accessories. Most of these can be purchased with the GPS unit in a bundle. These often save quite a lot of money.
Most people Bike Touring and Bikepacking want good mapping and navigation with not much else, so some of these functions might be overkill.
Screen Size
The bigger the screen the better it is to view and the more visual features you can fit on the screen. Especially for visually challenged people like myself who find their eyes are not as good as they once were.
Big data screens add to the overall cost in many cases. And as the screen gets bigger it also gets heavier, not something anyone wants with their GPS cycling computer. Most people are surprised just how big these screens are in real life. It appears some people want smaller screens nowadays.
Overall, bigger is better, but that will come at a higher cost.
Battery Life
All-day cycling is a must for cycling computers. For most people, 5-8 hours is a very good day in the saddle. For some, it is much longer. Fortunately, modern cycling GPS computers have very good battery life. Several things will affect the battery life such as screen brightness, BlueTooth connectivity, wifi connectivity, sensors, temperature, and more.
When I look for the best GPS cycling computers I want at least 12 hours of battery life when using all the features. And when I’m finished riding I can recharge and download the data from the GPS computer overnight. All the GPS Bike Computers on the list can do this and more.
The last couple of years have seen Solar Glass added to many models. This allows the battery to trickle charge which gives a much longer battery life. While this feature costs a little more I like this feature and believe it is the best option for those cycling in remote areas such as Bikepackers and Cycle Tourers.
GPS Watch
I’ve tried using a GPS enabled hiking watch as a cycling computer and I find they just don’t do a good job. There was a time not long ago when the battery life on a GPS watch was nowhere near as good as dedicated GPS enabled cycling computers. Times are changing quickly with GPS watches getting much better. But when cycling it is rather annoying to look at your wrist for details. I even mounted one around my handlebars and it was still rather average.
Handheld Hiking Computer
Before I started using GPS bike computers I was using a Handheld Hiking GPS with a bike mount. It was able to tell me my speed, direction of travel, and it had decent battery life. But it wasn’t able to do everything that even the most basic cycling computer can do.
Overall, it was a good introduction to the possibilities. If you have one of these hiking GPS devices, try it out. After a while, you will probably do the same as me and get a dedicated basic cycling computer.
Smartphone Apps
Smartphones cycling Apps are not quite there when it comes to being used as a cycling computer. But they are getting close. Probably within the next 5 years, we may be using smartphones a lot more as cycling computers!
Smartphones don’t use the same GPS technology as a GPS cycling computer. The GPS signal is not as strong or accurate, especially when away from wifi, cell phone towers, and cell phone signal. They are good, but not as good. Also, the battery life is not as good as any dedicated GPS cycling computer. Keep in mind that the basic computer on a budget GPS cycling computer is better and more accurate than a smartphone.
A smartphone can be connected to the cycle computer to take advantage of weather updates and more.
Having said that, I suspect that with a couple of years Smartphones will catch up and replace even the best bike computer on the market. Watch this space to find out if I’m right!
Budget
How much money do you want to spend. The best bike computer is not cheap. Sure it comes with a lot of functionality but do you need it all. For most people reading this review a good cycling computer with decent battery life and a good mapping function will be enough.
Unless you are a competitive cyclist or a gear nerd who loves the data then the best bike computer is not always best. If you are bike touring or bikepacking you probably don’t want all the features that increase the price of the cycling computer.
Conclusion
So, the biggest factor influencing your decision on which one to buy will probably come down to the price tag. And just how many functions do you need on your bike computer. If you want the best you will have to pay a lot of money.
The Best Bike GPS Computer for touring, road cycling, and mountain biking in 2024 is:
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bike Computers worth it?
With built in mapping, turn by turn navigation, long battery life and all the basics such as speed, elevation and distance they are worth it. The Garmin and Wahoo are certainly worth it as a good bike computer
What is the Best Bike Computer for Cycle Touring?
The best bike computer for bike touring is a choice between models from Garmin and Wahoo. The Garmin Edge 530 and the Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt are two very good options at a reasonable price.
Can I use a Smartphone as a bike computer?
Yes and No. A smartphone will have most of the features of a basic bike computer but will not be as good when it comes to battery life or accuracy. Bike computers have a much more accurate GPS than smartphones.
Do I need a bike computer for bikepacking?
A bike computer is great for bikepacking. It can tell you where you are with great mapping features and tell you how far to the next waypoint such as your planned campsite for the night. You can also upload maps and GPS routes form other riders and follow their routes.
BikeHikeSafari Gear Review Process
The author, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small independent adventurer and outdoor gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
BikeHikeSafari is not part of a large blog network and is proudly independent. All reviews on this site are independent and honest gear reviews of outdoor products by the author.
The author, Brad McCartney is a very experienced triple crown thru-hiker, adventurer, and bike tourer having spent 1000s of nights sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag (Read more). He was a manager of an outdoor retail store and is very experienced in what is important when using and testing gear for reviews like this.
BikeHikeSafari will never receive any money for reviews and they do not accept sponsored reviews on this website. All the comments about the gear reviews are from the author based on his years of experience. Hope this independent review was helpful for you.