GARMIN EDGE EXPLORE 2 REVIEW
Better GPS navigation on a budget
Garmin has been hard at work it seems with the recent launch of the Edge 1040 Solar and Edge 1040 devices, which are their pinnacle performance and navigation GPS computers. At $750 and $600, they’re not in the budget for most cyclists who are simply looking to track their rides and explore new routes with the help of a reliable navigation head unit. This is where the Edge Explore series comes in and the most recently upgraded offering, the Explore 2. What has been a commuter/touring computer gets some upgrades on the second version that may lure many cyclists beyond those that consider themselves “casual” riders.
THE TECH
The Garmin Edge Explore 2 most notably has added the ability to pair and record power data, which the first generation lacked. Additionally, the computer has a 3-inch color and touchscreen display, which even the performance-oriented Edge 530 doesn’t offer. The screen has high contrast for easy viewing in any light conditions but lacks an ambient light sensor. The most notable feature is the mapping with ride-type-specific maps. Garmin has been the standard for navigation, and this unit doesn’t disappoint.
Garmin will have two models of the Explore 2—one that is sold stand-alone with the classic and basic rubber strap mount. The unit will not have power pins (like the performance-oriented Edge 1040, 830 and 530) and is not Edge Power Mount compatible. They will, however, have a bundle deal—the Edge Explore 2 Power Mount bundle. This unit does have the power pins on the back of the device, allowing full compatibility with a host of external power options that Garmin offers.
For some time, Garmin has moved to the USB-C charging and communication port, something we really like. The battery has a claimed life of 16 hours and offers a battery-saver mode. The Explore 2 has ANT+ and Bluetooth but lacks Wi-Fi connectivity. This means pretty much every sensor type is compatible. While Garmin targets both recreational and leisure cyclists, there are enough features that cyclists of all levels would be happy.
THE RIDE
There is no hiding it; like the Edge 1040, the Explore 2 is a large unit that does remind us of strapping our mobile phone to the handlebars. For some, that might be a bit too big, but it comes in handy when navigating unfamiliar roads and trying to follow a route. The added convenience of having a touchscreen means that it’s easy to swipe from data fields to maps and back. Navigation with the Explore 2 has been spot-on. The best part and something that most other brands struggle with is rerouting. If you take a wrong turn or have to detour around something, the Garmin never seems to miss a beat and offers an updated route.
This is an underrated feature, as many other models will route you in circles trying to get you back to the location you went off course. In the real world and from our experience, that is not ideal and leads to a confusing experience. The Garmin also does a great job of highlighting dangerous corners or busy streets and intersections without being obnoxious. This lets you focus on riding safely and being better prepared for the road ahead.
We’re encouraged to see the industry begin spec’ing power meters as standard equipment (on higher-end bikes). Although some consider power an unnecessary feature for recreational or leisure cyclists, let’s recall that it is the best way to track calories on a bike accurately. It is also a feature that has historically been very expensive, but companies like Stages, 4iiii, Rotor, SRAM and even Garmin have made huge advancements in allowing the cost of entry to come down. The power data that the Explore 2 offers is far more limited than what you get on the performance computers but more than enough for most. You can have live power, average power, the 3-second average power, lap power, and max power numbers and kilojoules.
For us, the biggest miss is that the Explore 2 doesn’t support Strava Live Segments. However, it allows you to sync with Strava for upload and has Strava routes. This means you can’t race for PRs or the top KOM/QOM on a favorite segment live, but if you put down the effort on your ride, you will be rewarded when you’re done, because some of the most involved and active users on Strava are the less competitive. Strava has become more of a social platform for the active, so not having full Strava support surprises us.
Since the unit is not performance-oriented, it also lacks structured workouts and shifting support. However, from our experience, those are features that very few riders of all levels use. The 3-inch colored touchscreen is great, and for comparison, the 1040 is 3.5 inches, the 830 is 2.6 inches, and the 530 is 2.6 inches but not a touchscreen.
THE VERDICT
At the end of the day, we have been using the Edge Explore 2 for a few rides and have been really surprised at how many features it offers for $300. We would consider ourselves performance riders and use power on almost every ride. While the Explore 2 doesn’t offer us the normal data fields that we would use like normalized power and normalized power lap, it does offer 3-second average, which we always use.
Not having Strava segments is a bummer, but sometimes they can also be annoying, so we haven’t missed them too much. Many computers claim to have Wi-Fi but need the app running on your phone to work. The Explore 2 needs the app to upload or download since it doesn’t have Wi-Fi, something that the other Edge devices can do automatically. It is slower than Wi-Fi, a lot slower, but gets the job done and has been more reliable than other brands that require significantly more user fiddling.
If you ask us, this is a great option for those who want solid navigation and want it big and clear. The unit is easy to set up, and no app is needed on your phone to get it customized and going. Overall, we set up our unit in less than 10 minutes and were able to make quick data-field changes during a ride. Garmin has a list of other features the Explore 2 supports, and while we have never used it much, the ClimbPro feature when using a route was a fun way to manage our effort on a climb.
With two options available, most won’t need the power pins that allow you to run an external battery or utilize the new Power Mount. The Explore 2 is compatible with the Varia line of Garmin products, allowing you to monitor traffic approaching from the rear with radar. This is a great safety feature for many and something we think will only grow in popularity over time.
No matter if you consider yourself a casual or performance-oriented rider, the Edge Explore 2 offers plenty of computer for most. Sure, it doesn’t have all the training support for the committed racer, but the navigation is spot-on. The addition of power data is awesome, and we can overlook the fact that we don’t have the full spectrum of data points to obsess over mile after mile. At $300 you have to decide if Strava Live Segments and added performance data on a smaller non-touchscreen of the Edge 530 is better, or if the larger and touch-compatible version of the Explore 2 is. In reality, they are both so much better than anything we had 10 years ago that you can’t make a bad choice. Compared to a Wahoo, which offers better Strava Live Segments than Garmin, the touchscreen makes using the Explore 2 instantly easier, but in our opinion the navigation on the Garmin is better, too.
PUNCH LINES
• Navigation that over-performs the competition
• Large color touchscreen
• Limited power meter support
• Only some of the Strava features
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