The Garmin Edge 510 and 810
Garmin recently launched two new Edge cycling GPS systems: the Garmin Edge 510 and the Garmin Edge 810. There's a major difference with these GPS units compared to anything Garmin had launched before — the Edge 510 and 810 can both pair with your smartphone to offer real-time online tracking of your ride.
Garmin are the leaders in cycling GPS. We own an old Edge 205 which has clocked up several thousand miles, but we were very much looking forward to getting our hands on an Edge 510 or 810 to try out the new features.
Features
So what do the new Edges do?
- Distance — using GPS technology, the Edge tracks your location to within a couple of feet, giving accurate tracking of the distance you've cycled.
- Speed — again using GPS (so no wires), track your current speed, average speed, fastest lap and more.
- Elevation — both the 510 and 810 track your elevation with a barometric pressure sensor, which is much more accurate than GPS elevation alone.
- Cadence / Heart Rate / Power — both models can be paired with cadence, heart rate and power monitors, though a power meter typically needs a separate ANT+ device.
- Maps — this is where the two models differ. The Garmin Edge 810 has full street mapping capability, showing roads and turnings and letting you plan a route home on the go. The Edge 510 has no mapping capability, but you can upload GPX/CRS files to give you a dotted-line route to follow.
The above are the standard features Garmin GPS units had offered for years. So what's new?
New Features
- Weather — with smartphone connectivity you can get live weather forecasts and alerts as you're out on your ride.
- Activity Profiles — customise data fields and device settings based on the type of ride, such as road, mountain or touring, switching profiles with a tap of the screen.
- Personal Records — when you complete a ride, the Edge 510 and 810 display any new personal records, including farthest distance, most ascent gained, fastest 40k and best 20-minute power average.
- Live Tracking — let friends and family follow your ride in real time via your Garmin tracking page.
- Social Media — share your ride to Facebook, Twitter and other networks as soon as you finish.
Differences Between Models
As mentioned, the major difference is mapping: the 810 has full streetmap-style mapping (like a car sat-nav), while the 510 doesn't, though it still lets you follow a course via a dotted-line route. Other differences at launch included:
- Screen size — 2.2 inches diagonal for the 510 versus 2.6 inches for the 810
- Weight — 80g for the 510 versus 98g for the 810
- Battery life — 20 hours on the 510 and 17 hours on the 810
- Price — basic bundles priced at £249 for the 510 and £379 for the 810