If you’re reading this Garmin Edge 830 review, then you must be looking for a tool that’ll help you to keep track of your location and avoid getting lost while enjoying your outdoor adventures.
In our experience, this is one of the best GPS devices on the market. It’s built tough, it’s rugged, and it has a ton of great features that are actually useful.
Garmin Edge 830 Review
In the Garmin 830 review, we’re going to focus on this particular GPS model which is in our opinion, one of their best releases to date.
But, as with anything, it offers a balance of pros and cons.
Setup
All you need to set up and start using this device is your smartphone via Garmin Connect, or you can just set it up via the device itself. With that said, you don’t get the same seamless app integration as you would get with the Wahoo devices.
The good news is that the Garmin 830 has a strong Bluetooth feature that was able to stay connected throughout the process. All you have to do to get started is to enter your bike’s weight and height to get the app started.
The vast majority of the app setup isn’t the easiest when compared to Wahoo but it’s much simpler than other Gaming GPS devices. We enjoyed using the intuitive screen while carrying out this Garmin Edge 830 review.
Design
After years of being at the forefront of GPS product design and manufacturing, Garmin is now at the stage of making its mark on the industry by creating products that follow a design that’s true to the brand.
Nowhere is this evident more than with the Garmin 530 and 830 models which are very similar to one another, with their black bezel and edging. You’ll also notice that they sport the same easy-to-use layout and crisp screen display.
Because it’s so small, this device is super easy to use because of all of the information that you need on a single screen. We definitely prefer its size to the larger and bulkier Garmin Edge 1030.
Display
Another feature worth noting on this Garmin Edge 830 review is the device’s record mode. It displays everything across four screens; one for current elevation, burnt calories (comes with pre-connected sensor), time, distance traveled, average speed, and current speed.
Another screen records your laps, basically one every 5kms, and it also tells you your current distance and speed as well as your average speed based on previous laps.
Next, you’ve got the map and navigation screen, which you can program to display your current location as well as your destination in order to make navigation easier. Finally, you’ve got a screen that shows you graphs with the last elevation, current altitude, and heading.
Installation
Installation of the Garmin Edge 830 is super easy since you can use your bike mount to attach it. And hey, even if you don’t have an attachment, they’re available at ridiculously cheap prices on the market.
The device itself is nice and compact and lightweight enough to not cause any issues when it comes to the installation.
You can also remove the mount if need be and take it with you wherever you go. In fact, it’s so small that you can easily put it in your cargo pants pocket or your backpack to protect it from theft and the elements.
Battery Life
Of course, we’d be remiss to not mention battery life when doing a Garmin 830 review. The battery on this device can last for up to 40 hours in battery saver mode or with your power pack, and 20 hours if you put it on GPS mode.
Basically, it all depends on how much you use the device and take advantage of its features such as the brightness setting of the display feature, how much you utilize the touchscreen, etc.
Price
We’ve come to one of the most important parts of this Garmin Edge 830 review – price. You probably have a budget that you’re working with and we’re happy to say that buying this device won’t break the bank.
Sure, it’s not the cheapest GPS bike tool available, but it’s also not the most expensive. Overall, this GPS offers great value for money considering all of the features and extras that it comes with.
Training Features
The Garmin 830 is very similar to the Edge 820 in its features such as the fact that it can calculate your threshold, functional threshold power (FTP), and VO2 max.
But, you’d need a power meter and a heart rate sensor to get the most out of these features, which this device doesn’t come with.
Food Notifications
Thanks to the eating notification and hydration alert system, you can now keep track of these markers when working out, as the device will tell you when your body needs food or water.
After all, we’ve all been guilty of thinking that we’re hungry when really, we’re just thirsty. Dehydration does that to you.
Grit and Flow Calculations
The Garmin Edge 830 makes it possible to set your personal records thanks to its Grit and Flow Calculations, which allow you to set specific goals. This will improve your motivation and give you something to aim for.
As they say, “your biggest competition is yourself”, and these features enable you to capitalize on that. You can keep track of all of your progress so that you know how your performance is improving.
Sensory Devices
The Garmin Edge 830 is not your average GPS device in that you can also connect it to other sensory devices to find out information such as your pace, jump time, expected difficulty of the ride, hang time, and mountain biking dynamics track counts. That way, you can track your performance and be informed on what you need to improve on for next time.
The more you work on these improvements, the better your performance will become in the long run. It’s truly impressive to consider all of the different metrics that you can track with this one device.
Traffic Alert
It’s worth noting that there’s a built-in notification system that comes with this device.
It’ll let you know when going through areas with recent car accidents or heavy traffic so that you can avoid them and take an alternative route. Isn’t that neat?
Apps
The Garmin Edge app section is a thing of beauty, even if we say so ourselves. That’s because it gives you various widget designs that are a sight for sore eyes, as well as the ability to download free data fields straight from the Garmin Connect IQ store.
This means that you can customize the Garmin Edge to no end, and don’t even get us started on the level of control that this thing gives you!
Other Features
In addition to being well-priced, the Garmin Edge 830 is the perfect addition to your fitness journey.
That’s because it’s compatible with most of the devices that you already use as part of your training routine. It has the ability to accurately measure important statistics such as altitude acclimation, heat acclimation, hydration, training load focus, nutrition, and VO2 Max.
Conclusion
We hope this Garmin Edge 830 review has been helpful to you in understanding what this GPS device has to offer. As you can see, it’s best in class and comes with a bevy of useful features which means that you get a lot of value for money with Garmin Edge 830.
In our opinion, it truly is the best GPS device for your bike, whether you have a training bike, a mountain bike, a road bike, or a stationary bike.