Monthly Archives: January 2013

Garmin Edge 810 In-Depth Review

The Garmin Edge 810 is a cycling GPS with built in mapping navigation that aims to build upon the previous edition of the unit, the Edge 800.  I’ve been testing the unit for a while now, and have a pretty good grasp on how well it works and how the new features and functionality pan out.

Is this $499 unit worth the cash though?  And are the new features enough to make you want to upgrade?  The answer might surprise you.

Because I want to be transparent about my reviews – Garmin sent me a final production Edge 810 unit to test out, though, it’s been running beta and release candidate firmware.   In the new few weeks I send them back to Garmin and then go out and get my own (to be able to support y’all in the comments section down the road). Simple as that. Sorta like hiking in wilderness trails – leave only footprints. If you find my review useful, you can use any of the Amazon or Clever Training links from this page to help support future reviews.

Lastly, at the end of the day keep in mind I’m just like any other regular athlete out there. I write these reviews because I’m inherently a curious person with a technology background, and thus I try and be as complete as I can. But, if I’ve missed something or if you spot something that doesn’t quite jive – just let me know and I’ll be happy to get it all sorted out. Also, because the technology world constantly changes, I try and go back and update these reviews as new features and functionality are added – or if bugs are fixed.

So – with that intro, let’s get into things.
Unboxing/Components:
While I received a final production unit, the unit sent to me for testing did not have the final box with it.  So I’ll circle back for a proper unboxing once I’ve got a full retail kit.

Of course, I still have all the components and what’s included – so let’s dive into that.

The Edge 810 looks identical to that of its older sibling, the Edge 800.

In fact, the only visual difference between the two units is the outer case styling has “Edge 810” on it.

Like the 800, this unit features three buttons.  On the left side, you’ve got the power button, which also controls the light/display options, as well as allows you to access sensor state information such as ANT+ connectivity and smartphone connectivity (as well as weather).

On the front of the unit, there are two additional buttons.  The bottom-left button is for setting a lap, while the bottom-right button is for starting and stopping an activity (as well as pausing/resuming).

If you turn it over, you’ll find the USB port (mini-USB), as well as the MicroSD card for loading maps (or to use as additional storage):

The touch screen itself hasn’t changed any from the Edge 800.  It’s still a full color, resistive touch screen, which means that it works just fine with gloves and the like (unlike your smart phone).

Read More Here →

Garmin Edge 510 In-Depth Review

The Garmin Edge 510 is the Garmin’s latest cycling GPS computer to holistically track and manage your cycling workouts and races.  It aims to build upon the Edge 500 that was released about three years ago.  I’ve been using the unit for some time now and have a pretty good idea of how it stacks up against not only the older Edge 500, but also the other units in the marketplace.

Is this $329 unit worth an upgrade over past units, especially at a $75+ premium?  And how do the new connectivity and social sharing features work out?  Let’s dive in to find out.

Because I want to be transparent about my reviews – Garmin sent me a final production Edge 510 unit to test out, though, it’s been running beta and release candidate firmware.   In the new few weeks I send them back to Garmin and then go out and get my own (to be able to support y’all in the comments section down the road). Simple as that. Sorta like hiking in wilderness trails – leave only footprints. If you find my review useful, you can use any of the Amazon or Clever Training links from this page to help support future reviews.

Lastly, at the end of the day keep in mind I’m just like any other regular athlete out there. I write these reviews because I’m inherently a curious person with a technology background, and thus I try and be as complete as I can. But, if I’ve missed something or if you spot something that doesn’t quite jive – just let me know and I’ll be happy to get it all sorted out. Also, because the technology world constantly changes, I try and go back and update these reviews as new features and functionality are added – or if bugs are fixed.

So – with that intro, let’s get into things.

Read More Here →