Garmin have released two new models in the popular Edge series, the Edge Touring and Edge Touring plus. Great bike gps navigation and less expensive than the 800/810 big brother models.
As the name suggests, these new units are aimed at the touring market, so the focus here is purely on navigation. You don’t get the same performance monitoring functions as the 800/810, so there’s no cadence or power monitoring functions, and the virtual partner and workout functions are not present.
What you do get is a cut price version of the 810 with European maps included!
Visually, the units are exactly the same size as the 800/810, and they come in a rather fetching white. The Edge Touring retails at just £199.99.
What’s the difference between the two? The Touring Plus retains some of the performance/training functionality by linking to a heart rate monitor (ANT+ compatible), but you’ll need to buy the heart rate monitor separately.Touring Plus at £249.99.
One interesting software feature on the Touring models is the new “Roundtrip” feature. This allows you to specify a distance that you want to ride, say 30 miles. It will then calculate some routes for you to choose from, complete with visual elevation profiles, so you can see how much each route might hurt!
If you’re tempted by the Touring PLUS because of the heartrate monitoring, remember that it doesn’t come with the HR monitor. You’d need to get a Garmin Heart Rate Monitor separately.
You may be better off buying the Edge 800 Performance bundle, which includes the Edge 800 unit, plus the HR monitor, PLUS the cadence monitor. And only a fraction more money. Well worth the extra, if you want to use the device to help your training as well as for navigation.