Polaris OBark

... for $250 (down from $300).

Link

Full disclosure: I own Garmin and get a $5 million dollar kickback for every device you purchase.

Aushiker

In the meantime, it is AU$499 in Australia ... no sign of a sale price downunder

EDIT: Any word of a possible solar version?

pdlamb

Wonder if they're coming out with an Explore 3, possibly with solar option, or if it's just going to be discontinued?

Polaris OBark

Probably neither. It goes on sale periodically.

The solar version of the x40 series notches the price up US$100 from the baseline. If someone really wants the solar with no compromises, the 1040 solar sells for about $600. One thing I learned while reading a bunch of reviews is that the solar charger only works when the Garmin is turned on, so it isn't like you can leave the thing on a picnic table for a few hours.

I have a 530 now that my kid wants (back), if I upgrade. I am almost tempted by this, but there are a few things I will miss:

(a) wifi (a convenience at the end of a ride; I don't have to use a phone to sync it)
(b) No electronic shifting integration -- I only started using this a few weeks ago, for a new mountain bike, but I will miss it.
(c) size. I am one of the few who prefers the smaller profile of the 530/540 etc.

The price, however, continues to tempt me. I would buy it from REI to cover myself for potential buyer's remorse, but they no longer list it.

The navigation is apparently significantly improved from that on the 530, which is a major source of frustration.

The natural choice for me is the 540 or 840. Apparently, unlike the 530, the 540 is a bit of a pain without touch-screen, but $450 for the 540 vs $250 for this, with a few compromises, is a big price jump.

Yan 

The Edge Explore 2 also doesn't have any training oriented features.

It's basically a bike touring computer.

mev

It is different, not sure the improvement is significant.

Last year I toured for six months through the US. Most of that time I was running both a 540 and a 1030 side by side and could observe the occasional differences. My perceptions:

1. Following an existing route almost always the same. Minor differences seen for (a) newer map, e.g if a bike trail was now constructed the 540 knew about it (b) slight differences in way points (c) the 540 seemed to rate something a climb sometimes when the 1030 didn't.

2. The differences came more when you get off route, e.g. to follow a detour or just because. The 540 picks differently e.g to where you are going vs. to closest point on the route? I often found it as easy to just get out Google Maps and where it worked to find a route than to have either 540 or 1030 to keep guessing.

3. In a small number of cases the 540 got so confused. Last summer the behavior was to report a distance of 1000s of miles until you rejoined the route. There was a firmware update that changed the behavior to just report it can't find a route.

Easiest way to see this was to run both side by side and then intentionally get off route and watch both algorithms try to find your way back. Perhaps the 540 might be slightly better except in the cases it gives up completely and then at least with the 1030 you have some route.

TiHabanero

Slightly off topic, please redirect if needed. It looks like these GPS units only work from scouted downloaded maps, they don't work like the map on a phone where I simply enter start and stop points and let it take me there. Is this correct?

Polaris OBark

I don't have the Edge Explore 2 or any of the x40 series (upon which it is is based), but my impression was that you could do that (create a route on the fly).

Polaris OBark

That's a disappointment.

My main complaint with the 530 navigation is, for example, I might be doing a simple counter-clockwise loop, using a pre-loaded "course". I might be going along fine for 10 miles, but if I just turn around to take a picture or something, It freaks out and decided I am going clockwise, and then for the next 15 miles it keeps telling me to make a U-turn. The really odd thing is if I am using ClimbPro or whatever it is called, it still gets that right, even though the navigation is screwed. Stopping and starting doesn't work. I have to clear everything and force it to re-calculate the route. It is bad enough that I try never to use it.

Aushiker

I do use training plans now with my Edge 1030, so that is one feature I would miss if there was a new Explorer Solar, but it would not be a deal breaker.

djb

I got an Explore 2 last year and while I hardly ever use it as you describe (Im here, I want to go there, find me a route) and yes, it does do this.
I even did it in the UK and worked well enough.
Sometimes I just used google maps to compare and a few times just used my phone when I was going not far and didnt want to waste time, as I have more confidence with google maps.

djb

when I started looking at bike gps options, totally new to this world, I pretty much just wanted a touring unit and for loading premade bikepacking routes. In the end this thing seemed to fit my needs and it does have all kinds of things I have no interest in and disregard, including talking with powermeters and that sort of thing.

I just hope it will be a useable doohicky for a bunch of years.
I also figure the solar trickle down will invariably happen to most of these things.

Yan 

​​​​​​All of the units being discussed in this thread can do that. You can input a destination on the unit itself and it will generate a route to get you there.

Polaris OBark

I think I read somewhere the 540 (i.e., non-touch-screen) is more limited in that respect. But you are right for the OP Edge Explore 2, as well as the 840 and 1040 (all of which are touch-screens).

TiHabanero

Yan, does the unit understand one is traveling by bicycle and route accordingly, or does it route the person as if they were in a car?

djb

By bike.