Best cycling computers 2023: Jump Menu
The list in brief ↴
1. Best overall
2. Best for training tools
3. Best app
4. Best on a budget
5. Best value overall
6. Best for navigation
Advice
How to choose
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The best cycling computers can give you a lot of data to both track your ride and your performance. However, all units are not created equal. So what's the best cycling computer for you?
Full mapping and navigation functionality may mean you will need a larger and more expensive cycle computer, with a more sophisticated display.
Those interested in data like heart rate, cadence and power will need connectivity to peripheral sensor devices; fortunately the days of cables and wires are over and even the more modestly priced units will have wireless capabilities as standard. Paired with one of the best cheap smart trainers it's a great way to ramp up your indoor training without spending a fortune.
If you want more detail on what to look for in a cycling computer and suggested alternatives, head to the buyer's guide at the bottom of the page. Alternatively read on for our pick of the best cycling computers we've tested and links to more detailed reviews.
The quick list
Best overall
The Hammerheard Karoo 2 features a great screen, quality navigation features, and responsive operating system already included, with more upgrades on the way.
Best for training tools
Garmin’s Edge 1040 Solar offers an impressive range of features. There’s also the solar charging and the general improvements to the user experience, making the device much more intuitive to use.
Best smartphone integration
A stylish and functional GPS that fits in between a pure adventurers tool and a racers assistant, just beware of faulty mounts.
Best for those on a budget
A fine tuned setup process, diminutive size and stable software make the Garmin Edge 130 Plus the easiest Garmin device to live with, a fit and forget powerhouse that'll cover 90% of riders with ease.
Best value overall
The Wahoo Elemnt Bolt v2 is cheaper than its big brother the Roam, but it’s hard to see how it's inferior, unless you consider a smaller screen and a battery life two hours shorter to be a disadvantage.
Best value for navigation
The Garmin Edge Explore 2 is ideal for most cyclists, from riding with a power meter to long distance exploring.
Best cycling computers
You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.
The best cycling computer overall
Hammerhead's Karoo 2 boasts a smartphone-like touchscreen that's easy to use
Now owned by SRAM, Hammerhead makes the Karoo 2, which works a bit differently from other cycling computers, with the ease of use and responsiveness of a smartphone that other cycling computers can't match.
That starts off with an Android operating system rather than something proprietary and Hammerhead releases regular updates to its software, so it's likely to be futureproof. It's also more fully integrated with your smartphone.
The touchscreen is also much more smartphone-like. It's super-responsive and you can pinch to zoom and, like a smartphone, navigate quickly between screens via shortcuts. The Karoo 2 is also quick to charge via its USB C port.
Read more: Hammerhead Karoo 2 full review
The best cycling computer for training tools
As the name suggests the Edge 1040 Solar can be recharged by the sun's rays
The ability to charge the Edge 1040 Solar via the sun is quite the attention grabber. Garmin says the Power Glass™ solar charging extends battery life up to 42 minutes per hour in battery saver mode, giving you up to 45 hours of battery life in what it describes as "demanding use cases" and up to 100 hours in battery saver mode.
It's worth nothing that this is based on an assumption of a continuous 75,000 lux conditions during daytime rides. Essentially that means consistently bright sunshine that you may well enjoy during summer rides but, depending on where you live, are less likely to experience during the cooler seasons. Naturally your expectations should match the amount of cloud cover.
The Garmin Edge 1040 Solar also features a revamped user interface that we found to be far easier to navigate that other Garmin models. The home page feature customisable data fields so you can easily scroll through your recent activity history, training schedule, weather forecast and more. You can also use the 'glances' feature to view data such as your recovery time.
Other interesting features include the Power Guide, which generate a pacing strategy for your chosen route to help you best manage your efforts. Naturally all this tech doesn't come cheap, but if you're after an all singing, all dancing cycling computer you're unlikely to be disappointed.
Read more: Garmin Edge 1040 Solar first ride
The best integration with smartphone app
The Elemnt Roam is Wahoo's 'navigation first' cycling computer
The Wahoo Elemnt Roam brings what we know and love from the Elemnt Bolt in a slightly larger format. Function and compatibility wise the Roam covers all the basics as well as phone communication alerts, live tracking, and structured training, to name but a few.
It's the best rival for the more pricey Garmin Edge 830, but doesn't get a touchscreen, which is actually a benefit for some riders who ride in wet weather and find this feature far from ideal. The three main control buttons are well sited too, at the bottom of the unit's face; they're large and easier to use than the small side-mounted buttons of many cycling GPSs.
The battery isn't as long lasting as some of the other computers' claimed times, but it's a handful of extra hours over the Bolt.
Read more: Wahoo Elemnt Roam full review
The best budget cycling computer
The Edge 130 Plus is stripped back and simple but still very capable
We know that this buyer's guide is looking very much like a best Garmin cycling computer guide, but it just goes to show the brand's domination in the field, with the Garmin Edge 130 Plus no exception, having gained a Cycling Weekly Editor's Choice Award.
The Edge 130 Plus is stripped back and simple, yet a very capable cycling computer. Using buttons instead of a touchscreen, it's easy to set up and changing data fields is a breeze to do, even on the fly.
It can pair with ANT+ and Bluetooth accessories like heart rate monitors, cadence sensors and the best power meters. It is a device that would suit those who want to push their performance, chase Strava Live segments and train, but who don't need the top-end features offered at higher prices.
Read more: Garmin Edge 130 Plus full review
The best value overall
Wahoo's Elemnt Bolt V2 expands on the original now featuring a color screen
We are big fans of Wahoo's cycle computers for their ease of setup and bombproof software.
The Wahoo Elemnt Bolt has received an upgrade with more memory and a color screen. It's still button operated rather than its 2.2 inch screen being touch sensitive, but the buttons are now convex for easier operation, particularly when wearing gloves.
Set-up, pairing to a smartphone and configuration remain super-easy though and data is clear and legible. The LED array can help guide you too, although we didn't find it very useful.
Mapping and route management have been upgraded as well and there's clear turn-by-turn navigation and plenty of on-board map coverage without needing to download more basemaps. Navigation can be hit-and-miss though.
Other features include structured workouts, Strava Live integration and multisport handovers, as well as the newly-added Summit Climbs that give you a gradient profile for a pre-mapped route. Battery life is around 15 hours and there's quick USB-C charging.
Read more: Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 full review
The best value cycling computer for navigation
The Edge Explore 2 is a kind of antidote to the all-singing, all-dancing, solar-powered Edge 1040 Solar. It costs less than half as much as the 1040 and it’s aimed at the rider who doesn’t need all the performance metrics or the outdoor structured workouts. There’s also no Strava Live Segments. That said, it will pair with Bluetooth and ANT+ sensors, syncs everything with Garmin Connect (via Bluetooth; it doesn’t have WiFi), uploads to Strava and other training apps and gives you smart notifications, group ride messaging and incident detection - always handy.
If you've been using a heart rate monitor and power meter you'll get 'Highlights' after finishing your ride - a new V02max (if applicable) and recovery time - which feeds into Garmin Connect once synced and adds to your overall fitness data if you're tracking it.
So although navigation is the Edge Explore 2's primary function - and it does it incredibly well - training is by no means neglected.
In testing we found the Edge Explore 2 easy to set up, easy to use, easy to afford (relatively speaking) and ideal for most cyclists most of the time. It doesn't have the range of options (only three activity profiles for example) or the latest version of ClimbPro, and it's a shame you don't get an out-front mount in the box, but overall it's a great unit for the money.
Read more: Garmin Edge Explore 2 full review
Bryton Rider 420 E cycling computer
Bryton's Rider 420 E delivers an impressive price-to-performance ratio
The Bryton Rider 420 is one of the brand's more budget-friendly options. The fully-featured head unit supports every sensor under the sun and provides advanced data metrics like normalized power and TSS.
While it doesn't have a colour screen, it can offer turn-by-turn directions, though without a base map you are just following a black line on a blank screen. Device setup can be done on the device itself, or through the companion app, which isn't totally intuitive but still works pretty well. Best of all, with a 35-hour battery life, it will outlast most other computers on the market.
With around 77 available data fields, it's comparable to the Garmin Edge 130 or the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt, but it isn't exactly a fair fight as for the price saving you do lose maps and user friendliness, but if you're on a tight budget, it's a fair price for a functional unit.
Read more: Bryton Rider 420 full review