So you want to buy a Garmin Edge GPS bike computer with maps and navigation directions, but you can’t decide which one? Here’s a comparison of the Garmin Edge Touring vs Garmin Edge 810. Both have maps and both will navigate for you. But which one should you buy?
Table Comparing Garmin Edge Touring vs 810
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest Price on Amazon Right Now: | $119.99 | Price not available |
| Unit Size | 2 x 3.7 x 1" (5.1 x 9.3 x 2.5 cm) | 2 x 3.7 x 1" (5.1 x 9.3 x 2.5 cm) |
| Screen size, W x H | 1.4" x 2.2" (3.6 x 5.5 cm); 2.6" diag (6.6 cm) | 1.4" x 2.2" (3.6 x 5.5 cm); 2.6" diag (6.6 cm) |
| Display resolution, W x H | 160 x 240 pixels | 160 x 240 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 3.5 oz (98 g) | 3.5 oz (98 g) |
| Battery life | Up to 17 hours | Up to 17 hours |
| Water rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Distance, speed, ascent/descent and GPS position | Yes | Yes |
| Optional heart rate, speed/cadence and power | No - optional heart rate monitor, but no cadence and power meter compatibility | Yes |
| Navigation? | Yes - once you pick a location, it will guide you to that location | Yes - once you pick a location, it will guide you to that location |
| Turn-by-turn guidance? | Yes - just like a car GPS, it will warn you a turn is coming, and tell you when to turn (with text and a beep) | Yes - just like a car GPS, it will warn you a turn is coming, and tell you when to turn (with text and a beep) |
| Relive and share your rides with Garmin Connect™ or Garmin Adventures | Yes | Yes |
| Plan and download new routes to follow | Yes | Yes |
| Points of Interest (POIs) specifically for cyclists | Yes | Requires optional City Navigator® maps to access general points of interest |
| Round-trip routing (input a starting point and distance, and the Edge will suggest up to 3 bike ride options) | Yes | No |
| Live tracking (allows others to follow your activities in real time, if you invite them) | No | Yes |
| GPS enabled? | Yes | Yes |
| Preloaded Maps? | Yes - Garmin cycling map on microSD™ card; optional detailed maps | Yes - Data card with City Navigator® for US, Canada and Puerto Rico street maps; optional detailed maps |
| BlueTooth to connect wirelessly to smart phone and upload data? | No | Yes |
| Smartphone app | n/a | Upload to and download from Garmin Connect; share to social media; LiveTrack; weather alerts |
| High-sensitivity receiver | Yes | Yes |
| Basemap | Yes | Yes |
| Ability to add maps | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts data cards | microSD™ card with Garmin Cycle Map | microSD™ card (some versions include a City Navigator microSD card) |
| Routes | Limited by memory space available | Limited by memory space available |
| History | Up to 180 hours | Up to 180 hours |
| Virtual Partner® (train against a digital person) | No | Yes |
| Courses (compete against previous activities) | No (you can create courses to follow the next time you ride, but you cannot compete against your previous time) | Yes (compete against your previous time by entering the % you want to improve by, then race your virtual partner) |
| Advanced workouts (create custom, goal-oriented workouts) | No | Yes |
| Time/distance alert (triggers alarm when you reach goal) | No | Yes |
| Interval training (set up exercise and rest intervals) | No | Yes |
| Heart rate-based calorie computation | No (it takes a guess, supposedly based on your weight, but it's usually too high) | Yes |
| Power meter compatible (displays power data from compatible 3rd party ANT+™-enabled power meters) | No | Yes |
| Can be paired with wireless ANT+ Heart Rate monitor? | Yes | Yes |
| Can be paired with ANT+ enabled eBike? | Yes | No |
| Can add GSC 10 to measure cadence? | No | Yes |
| Can add a third-party compatible ANT+ sensor as a power meter? | No | Yes |
| Connected features | No | Yes - live tracking, send/receive courses, social media sharing, weather |
| Activity profiles - store preferences for different cycling activities | No | Yes |
New and Improved Garmin Edge GPS Bike Computers and Garmin Connect
This video shows the new look and feel of the Garmin Edge bike computers and the upgraded Garmin Connect interface.
Clearly, Garmin Edge bike computers are now even better than ever. Perhaps most exciting is the new ability of the Garmin Edge Touring and 810 (as well as the more expensive 1000) to navigate for you, giving turn-by-turn directions, just like GPS units have been doing for car drivers for years. I don’t know about you, but I can’t think how I managed to drive my car for so many years without a GPS. It’s almost as strange as thinking of offices 30 years ago, when no one had computers (people worked on bare tables, using pens and paper!)
I suspect that in a few years, we will wonder how we ever managed to ride bikes without GPS navigation directions.
The Garmin Edge Touring and the Garmin 810 offer very similar abilities, with built-in maps and turn-by-turn navigation abilities. The Touring costs $250, and the 810 costs $400. That’s a very big difference. For that much money, the 810 would have to offer up a whole lot more than the Touring. But does it?
So Which One Should You Buy: the Garmin Edge Touring or the Garmin Edge 810?
Both are top-quality bike computers with touchscreen controls and 17 hours or more of battery life. They are identical in size and weight. Both are GPS-enabled , of course. Both are rugged bike computers that will withstand rain and snow. Both will enable you to record your rides, runs or hikes, and review them online. Both come with preloaded maps to help you find your way around. However, a comparison of the features shows that the Edge Touring and the Edge 810 are in fact very different bike computers.
Readers with eagle eyes will already have picked up the main reason to choose the Garmin Edge Touring – the price is a lot lower. But what do you get for your money? If we compare the Garmin Edge Touring vs 810, do the differences justify the extra cost of the 810?
The Garmin Edge Touring
This pretty well-priced model has a very clear identity – as its name suggests, it’s for touring. Everything about the Garmin Edge Touring is geared towards finding your way around. So it is aimed at people who want to go places on their bikes, but not necessarily train for fitness or train to become competitive cyclists. It features the revolutionary new option of navigation with turn-by-turn guidance (and so does the 810).
Related: Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner Cyclist Training Plan: Phase 1
The Garmin Edge Touring may suit you very well if you plan to commute by bike, go for fun rides on the weekend, and do extended bike tours in faraway places.
| Buy it now! Find the best price for Garmin Edge Touring Navigator | |
| REI | $ |
Related: Indepth Review of Garmin Edge Touring
The Garmin Edge Touring is ideal for finding your way aroundThe Garmin Edge 810
| Buy it now! Find the best price for Garmin Edge 810 | |
| Backcountry.com | $ |
| Competitive Cyclist | $ |
| Competitive Cyclist | $ |
The Garmin Edge 810 has a very different focus. As is apparent from the table above, it comes with a whole suite of features that cater to the serious athlete who is training for fitness or competition. Most notable are features such as competing against yourself (in the form of a Virtual Partner) and interval training.
Then there’s the ability to pair up a cadence sensor and a power meter – both considered indispensable by most serious athletes. In short, the real strength of the Edge 810 is in its training support for dedicated cyclist athletes. It has a large menu of training metrics that are accessed by swiping through. These include speed, altitude, power, heart rate, cadence, calories, gears (for Shimano Di2), time, distance, temperature, sunset time, workout counters, and more.
The Garmin Edge 810 offers a suite of features for the serious athlete. Note on the right-hand photo that you can actually see your power output on the goA very nice cherry on the top is the wireless capability, which seriously reduces the amount of hassle involved in getting your data uploaded. Finally, if you are the kind of athlete who goes for very long rides, it is nice for your partner to be able to log in and verify that you are in fact still alive and cycling. If you’re really lucky, he or she may even figure out that you are nearly home and get dinner started!
Related: How to Get Bike Fit: Complete Bike Training Plan
Heart Rate Monitor and Speed/Cadence Sensor Options
The Garmin Edge Touring offers the ability to pair up via ANT+ wireless technology with a heart rate monitor. The Garmin Edge 810 offers the ability to pair up via ANT+ wireless technology with a heart rate monitor, PLUS a cadence sensor and a power meter. All of this costs extra, of course. However, it’s nice to know you can get it if you need it.
Related: Monitor Your Exercise Intensity with a Heart Rate Monitor to Get Fit
Bottom Line on the Garmin Edge Touring vs 810
It comes down to the kind of cycling you plan to do. If you ride purely for transport, pleasure and vacation tours, then the Garmin Edge Touring is for you. It even offers a couple of features that the more expensive 810 does not offer, such as route suggestions and cyclist points of interest. If however your focus is on training for fitness, and building up your speed, fitness and power for races, then the Garmin Edge 810 is hands-down the better choice – it’s a no-brainer, really.
It comes down to what you plan to do on your bike. It’s best to choose the bike computer that matches your needs. Over the long term, this is going to be much more important than the price difference. These two bike computers are entirely different, so ideally the choice should be based on how the features fit your needs – not on price.
Related content: Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity Wristband Review
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