Garmin Edge 530 vs Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT V2: *NOW* Which One Is Best?

In this video I compare the Garmin Edge 530 and the Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT V2. Basically: which is the best non-touchscreen bike GPS available to buy right now?

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🏆 Sportive Cyclist is a blog and YouTube channel that provides entertainment, inspiration and advice (hot tips!) for enthusiastic social and mildly competitive road cyclists.

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[industryrule-]

A few years back I bought a Wahoo Elemnt Roam and Garmin 830 at the same time to compare. I was able to setup and understand how to use the Wahoo while moving on a bike within a matter of hours. The Garmin took ages for me to setup and was a lot more complex to operate while riding the bike. I was spending a lot of time pulling over to the side of a road to perform functions on the Garmin that seemed dead simple on the Wahoo while rolling at speed. In the end, it was Wahoo for me.

[RickinHKG]

Thanks. I'm convinced. A BOLT V2 for Christmas. Long time Garmin user, ... but no more.

[francoism.S]

I had never tested the Garmin so my point of view is biased, but I really appreciate the clear visibility of the Bolt V2, and the buttons ideally placed… I don’t use training, I set tracks on Komoot and ride (gravel and roads), and for my usage, it is perfect !

[QCode]

I want to thank you very much for this review, for your time and effort, and very importantly I want to thank you very very much for having a clear opinion, and choosing a favorite and explaining why, while also explaining the the other device fairly, unlike most “reviewers” who tells you “both are great” without even giving a clear distinction of features so one can choose properly, thank you for your clear and honest review 🙏👏

[bernardvreulink]

WOW .... one of the best I have ever seen. No beating around the bush fast fact after fact. THANKS!!!

[ronfeldman]

I was a long time Garmin addict, Until I found the Wahoo Bolt V2. Wow, My life changed so much by using the Wahoo Element app and setting up an indoor training screen along with my outdoor ride screen. Seriously, The Wahoo Element Bolt V2 is easier to set up and use over my Garmin edge 530. Thank you for helping me to stop my Garmin addiction.

[martinsdroneandvideotech]

Had a bolt 1, then went to a roam 1, now changing to the 530, due to the inability of Wahoo to sort out a problem with the elemnt app crashing, if connected to Komoot

[RoubenFreeman]

Useful video, I now own a Bolt ⚡. Your review really made me laugh out loud, keep up the good work.

[cream]

Moved from the 830 to the Bolt, couldn’t be happier 😊

[Horstelin]

My bolt V1 still works like a charm.. wouldn't mind an update to a colored screen but as long as the bolt V1 keeps working so flawlessly I just can't justify the upgrade...

[santibaiona]

Thoroughly entertaining video. I will check out your other videos, but I'm pretty sure you've just gained another subscriber. Well done, Sir! 😉👍🏼

[gattmolson]

Great video, really liked the side by side comparison while riding. The Garmin screen isn't as contrastry or sharp as the wahoo. Still I think I would like to have the built in training features of the 530, or at least if I ever really trained I might like them.

[Peakabike]

Excellent as usual ! An odd creaking noise though in the background, the chair you were sitting on maybe ? I went from the Bolt v1 to the 530 and agree about the interface but still prefer the 530, especially since I'm also a runner and the training data gets nicely rolled up (or "Trued Up" in the Garmin lanquage). Also it's nice to have access to all the ConnectIQ apps, like the Varia Radar one that tells you at what speed a road hog is approaching from behind !

[ChadSterley]

Loved the humour in this one mate. Cracking review!

[michald-uu]

I have both and prefer... well, on road/gravel i prefer Bolt, better navigation, much better rerouting, better screen, ease of daily use. But when it comes to mountain biking or forests, Garmin wins in map area. Maps in Garmin are more detailed with on-screen POIs like shops or places to hide during rain. And safety features, I really miss accident detection on my Wahoo. Ah, I forgot about climb pro, latest Bolt update somehow solves it, but just somehow...
So, to sum up, I wish I could have Garmin maps in Bolt (or be able to upload own maps like I can in any Garmin device), climb pro and incident detection.

[yongling]

12:20 As of May 30 2019, Specialized ANGi subscription is made free (probably hearing from the community on how they probably hate the fact that such a safety feature needs to be paid for). I started wearing my Propero III past that date with the sensor pre-installed and used it without having to pay anything extra.

Now I'm on my second Propero III (first one broke from a fall), still using ANGi.

[scottshallow]

Great video. Side note, there is no shame in drinking decaf.

[skandhaprasath]

Hear me out!!
I just bought the edge 530 in 2024.. I love it. Battery life is bonkers man!! It will go 20 hours no doubt.
Also the display is color..and it's visible in sunlight without the backlight. It's like a Transflective display (not exactly I know). But I have no issues whatsoever.
It looks way better than the wahoo bolt in the videos on YouTube. IRL it's the kind Bro..Just buy it.

Color screen..Perfect maps..and navigation.and crazy battery life. And Garmin metrics and Customisation with app.

What more do you need??

[george]

I am returning my Garmin Edge 830 and getting the new Bolt. I don't care anything about sensors and fitness. I just want GPS mapping. Because the Edge 830 tries to be all things to all people, its menus are a maze. All that I want is navigation. For me, the rest is clutter.