The Garmin Edge Explore 2 is a cycling computer with a sporty touch. Not only does the computer help you on your way, you also collect a lot of ride data to keep a close eye on your performance and progress. Nevertheless, the device feels a bit dated. You can read more about it in this Garmin Edge Explore 2 review.
Garmin Edge Explore 2
Price € 299.-
Format 11 x 5.6 x 2.1cm
Weight 104 grams
Screen 3 inches (400 x 240)
Connection usb-c
Other IPX7
Website www.garmin.com
7 Score 70 
- Pros
- Battery life
- Integration with apps and Garmin services
- Negatives
- Looks outdated
It may feel a bit crazy to use a cycling computer in 2022. It is somewhat reminiscent of the Garmin and TomTom car navigation boxes from about ten to fifteen years ago. Perhaps it is also a product group that is slowly disappearing from the scene and being replaced by a smartphone at the wheel. Or through an e-bike display.
That doesn’t have to cause existential problems for Garmin, as was the case with TomTom. Cycle computers, apps, wearables. Regardless of which electronics you use for your bike ride: Garmin is (or is) leading the way.
What do you use your cycling computer for?
Nevertheless, there are specific uses that make a cycling computer worthwhile. You can use the device to navigate on roads, bike paths and even forest trails. Wrong turn? Then the computer recalculates your route, although the warning beep cannot be missed: it goes through both the marrow and bone.
Compared to the first generation, the accuracy of the GPS has been improved thanks to Glonass support. You can enter the final destination manually, or load a specific route.
Thanks to the connection with your smartphone, you can activate accident detection, which informs emergency services and contacts in the event of a fall. We have not been able to test how well this function works in practice. The cycle computer does not have its own SIM card, so such a smartphone link is necessary for this.
There is also a kind of bicycle alarm that goes off if the smartphone and bicycle computer are out of range. Although it seems stiff to me that this really stops a bicycle thief. The alarm will sound when the Garmin moves out of Bluetooth range. In short, when the thief has already cycled away. However, it is a good way to stop cycling computer thieves.
Finally, you use the Garmin Edge Explore 2 to collect route and health data. Think of speed, height difference, calorie burn, and so on.
The battery life depends a bit on how you use the device. But assume an hour or two. An advantage compared to navigating with a smartphone on your bicycle handlebar. A smartphone has much less battery endurance. You can charge the device again via the USB-C port.
apps
The link with your smartphone comes in handy for this, because the Garmin app shows this data in a clear manner. If you have multiple devices from this brand, such as a Garmin smartwatch, this data ties in seamlessly with the other collected health and performance data.
You can also link other services. For example, Strava and MapMyRide. If you are a recreational cyclist, you will also like the connection with Komoot, so that you can easily import routes with cycling nodes so that the Edge Explore 2 helps you with navigation.
To link other services you need a second app: Garmin Connect IQ. It’s a bit clumsy that you need a second app for this.
Navigate
Although navigating with the Garmin Edge Explore 2 is fine, navigating through the apps and the device is less accessible. It is often difficult to set everything up to your liking and to find what you are looking for, and everything does not always work smoothly. Before I had successfully made my first ride, I had already made several starting attempts, swearing and sighing. The interface on the bike computer itself also makes the device look even more outdated.
Nevertheless, the screen is easy to read on the road due to the matte finish and brightness. A rain shower or a dusty path does not cause any problems. You can secure the Garmin Edge Explore 2 with elastic on the handlebars via an included attachment. Optionally, you can purchase a powermount version that you connect to a Bosch or Shimano control panel.
Conclusion: Buy Garmin Edge Explore 2?
There is hardly a better cycling computer than this Garmin Edge Explore 2, especially for the sporty cyclist. The navigation works well, integration with other apps is nice and the link with Garmin’s health and performance measurements is excellent. Still, it all feels a bit outdated, especially due to the design, slowness and interface. As a result, it is only a matter of time until a smartphone takes over these functions.
Buy the Garmin Explore 2 at Bol.com
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