Following the 2022 launch of Garmin’s newest flagship Edge 1040 bike computer is the Edge Explore 2.
Positioned primarily as a navigational tool, the Explore 2 strips away some of the myriad data most expensive Edge bike computers provide riders.
In fact, if you can do without the frills that other products in the ride-tracking powerhouse range offer, the Garmin Edge Explore 2 is a very capable and worthwhile bike computer.
Garmin Edge Explore 2 Specifications
An Edge 1040 with a solar screen costs over £600, but the Explore 2 can be had for less than half that price.
The Explore 2 has a 3-inch screen and sits between the smaller Edge 830 and the larger 1040 (and its predecessor, the 1030).
The display features 240×400 pixels and falls in both the 1040 and 830 range in terms of pixel density.
The unit itself is solidly built, but not brick and weighs only 104g.
It comes with a USB-C port, so you don’t have to worry about trying to orient the micro-USB cable you used before.
A water-resistant IPX7 rating (meaning the unit was tested submerged in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes) should safely get you through a stormy, wet winter ride.
In this look, the Explore 2 lacks the power pin connection on the back of recent Edge models, thus missing out on compatibility with Garmin’s power-extending battery packs.
However, Garmin offers a more expensive power mount bundle with a power pin for £339.99 (with the right connections it can also be charged from an e-bike battery).
However, if desired, it must be selected at the time of purchase. This tested standard model cannot be upgraded at a later date.
The Explore 2 is claimed to have 16 hours of battery life when recording with GPS on.
The Explore 2’s main “catch” is that it lacks all the features you get in Garmin’s other Edge models.
As for the hardware, that means there is no Wi-Fi connection to upload rides directly. Instead, upload to Garmin Connect and Strava via your phone, just like your old Garmins.
There’s also no support for Strava Live Segments (although you can use Strava to plan and sync routes). So for KOM/QOM capture this may not be the unit for you.
Garmin also ditched the ability to connect to an electronic drivetrain.
Explore 2 also cuts out much of the structured training support currently available on more expensive Edge computers.
For example, Garmin’s Recovery Advisor feature, which recommends projected recovery timeframes, is still available, but more in-depth live analysis tools such as pedaling dynamics, training load, and training effectiveness won’t help.
However, unlike its Explore predecessor, it comes with both ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity, giving you the added ability to connect to all the sensors you want to use.
This brings power and heart rate monitoring, calorie tracking, and more, plus compatibility with Garmin’s range of Varia light and radar products.
You can also connect, record and control your smart trainer.
In short, the Explore 2 removes some features that will appeal to performance-minded riders in their daily rides and training, but retains the basic features most other riders are likely to need. It has been.
Garmin Edge Explore 2 Performance
The latest Garmin user interface is a huge improvement over its predecessors, allowing you to see more information than ever before on a standard screen.
Finding your location on your device is easy and now includes trendline information (selecting the routes Garmin Connect users cycle most often). You can also view important weather information via your phone connection.
The screen is bright and crisp, and the touchscreen element is excellent and responsive.
A redesigned interface makes connecting accessories easier. I connected the Explore 2 to multiple sensors, including a light (like Garmin’s Varia RCT715), a heart rate monitor, and a power meter.
Utilizing the unit’s capabilities, it displayed live power, average power over 3 seconds, maximum power, average power, and kilojoules consumed.
Of course, if you’re a serious trainer interested in detailed live power metrics for your head unit (left-right balance, FTP analysis, etc.), the Explore 2 probably won’t meet your needs.
Not if you want a fully connected system with an electronic drivetrain.
I think omission here is a missed opportunity for the Explore 2, especially given the arrival of more affordable electronic gear with the 105 Di2 and Rival AXS.
The Explore 2 seems to have been a natural companion to these drivetrains, as it’s on a relatively affordable road bike.
I like to take a closer look at my data from time to time, and even with this in mind, I’m still impressed with what Explore 2 has to offer.
It is tied to the ability to record all the expected basic metrics, and even more unexpected talents.
In particular, Garmin should be commended for recognizing that smart trainers aren’t just for riders who train and race hard.
However, as the name suggests, this is really a navigational cycle computer, and Garmin is one of the best (if not the best) in the business at getting you where you need it.
With triple GPS, Glonass and Galileo satellite support, it finds its position quickly (much faster than my Edge 1030), saves 100 routes and records up to 200 hours of riding history.
The map screen is more detailed compared to the original Explore, and heavy traffic indicators on roads (denoted by dotted red lines) help you navigate through towns and cities while avoiding traffic jams and busy roads. is useful for
In particular, the reroute when I deviated from the planned course was impressive.
If you turn it the wrong way, Explore 2 will go in the right direction. I’ve never been stuck in the endless U-turn loop that some other systems have turned out to be capable of.
Planned routes from both Strava and Komoot are compatible with the Explore 2, thanks to the inclusion of Garmin’s excellent ClimbPro feature.
As you approach an uphill on your route recognized by Explore 2’s algorithm, ClimbPro will switch the screen to the next uphill graphic. Not only the elevation profile, but also useful metrics such as distance remaining, grade percentage remaining, climbs remaining, current grade and elevation.
It updates live as you climb, with grade graphics progressing from green to yellow to orange to red to indicate the severity of the grade.
It’s often perceived as a performance tool, but I think everyone can benefit from knowing what’s in store for them when they’re climbing hills. It helps you pace yourself and know when to take a breather and spin easily and when you can afford to ride harder.
As we mentioned earlier, Garmin claims about 16 hours of life for demanding use. This includes using it for navigation and connecting to sensors.
In our testing, we found about 15 hours between charges with one or two sensors or peripherals connected in a single ride.
If you don’t need a lot of power, we recommend that you get about 20 hours of viability if you don’t stress your navigation use and use battery saving mode when possible.
For eBike riders, the ability to connect to Explore 2 is also a plus.
With compatible systems, you’ll receive on-screen alerts for battery status, selected assistance level, and more. I think in many cases the display provided by the motor provider could be improved.
Garmin Edge Explore 2 Value for Money
How you measure value naturally depends on the functionality you really need. Here, I think the Explore 2 is a very worthwhile option if you don’t want the almost bewildering array of features that many other units offer.
As a point of comparison, the Hammerhead Karoo 2 offers a very large touchscreen and regularly updated (improved) system, and its interface feels like a high-end smartphone. That said, you’ll have to spend an additional £110 at the time of review.
The Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 is similarly priced (just £15 more), but its relatively small screen makes it difficult to navigate. It also doesn’t have a touch screen.
Garmin Edge Explore 2 Conclusion
Despite missing out on some of the niche and detailed metrics and performance analysis tools, the Garmin Edge Explore 2 is packed with an array of features that will appeal to many (if not most) riders. increase.
Ease of use and setup are also all big plus points, thanks to Garmin’s improved interface, clear and detailed screens, and reliable rerouting.
The fact that the standard version we tested here doesn’t have a power pin on the quarter-turn mount, so it can’t be upgraded to use a power pack is disappointing. Rather than forcing us to spend an extra £90 on options, we wanted this to be a possible upgrade path at this price point.
I also think the omission of connections to both Shimano Di2 and SRAM AXS drivetrains is an issue, but it’s unlikely to be a deal-breaker for most people.
The Garmin Edge Explore 2 could be described as “Edge-lite”, but for many prospective buyers it offers all the bike computers you need at a fair price.
