Edge 705 worth it?

[theFuzz]

So i'm looking at starting my foray into long rides and bikepacking. A GPS is going to be needed and from the forums it looks like a 60cs(x) and the eTrex line are popular choices but i dont see much on the Edge 705.

Realistically I would prefer a device that has the following:

Ability to uploaded .GPX so I can follow routes
Easy to read screen
Expandable memory via SD card
Good mount option for a bike
Good battery life
Standard computer status of speed, distance, etc because I would like to just use one device on the bikes.


Seems like all fit the bill and have their following so curious what the deciding factors would be???


Thanks

[Pivvay]

705 has rechargeable batteries, ETrex uses AA's. This is a big one. There are work arounds if you really want the 705 features but I think I pretty much get all the features you're asking for out of an ETrex vista HCx

[AZTtripper]

Just went and check it out at the garim site.

Seems like there are a lot of features that one doesn't need for bikepacking like wireless transfer to other 705's. I just can't imagine a time when I would meet someone out in the field and say here let me send you this great ride.

Features eat up battery life ETrex series are up in the 30 plus hour range more on lithium add the fact that this one only gets 15 hours and since it's rechargeable and now you have to carry the charger.

Looks like a cool unit and might be great as a training tool it seems over kill for basic navigation the ETrex will do everything a standard computer will and for less money the way it looks.   

The only thing I can think of is that maybe the Edge might hold up better in the long run as it is made for bikes. I am on my second Legend but then the first one did last for a couple of years including 800 miles on the AZT as well as several OTB's.

[psc38]

Another good one might be the new Oregon 550T, the reviews seem pretty good and it runs on AA's. I'm looking for a GPS as well and this seems the best choice so far although it is on the expensive side! The etrex and 60 series have been around for a while now but by all accounts are still popular.

[DaveH]

I've been using a 705 (in anger!) now for about a year.  I've done lots of multi day stuff with it - GLR, CTR, KMC, 8 days of bikepacking, as well as daily training logging.  The beauty of the 705 is that it can interface 3rd party devices like speed, cadence, and power sensors.  I use mine with a power tap hub.  Unifying training and navigational electronics is the holy grail for me, I seem to always have too much crap in my cockpit.  It's a training device first, a navigation GPS second.

On the plus side:

500 MB storeage (that's a lot)

not sure what the track point limit is per track but I can show the entire CT at once on the unit.  It is much better than other GPS units I've used.

relatively small, lightweight

clean, out of the way bike mounting options

The downsides - and a few are big:

#1 is power management.  I have yet to push beyond the 4 day mark without experiencing some sort of power failures.  A simple USB replicator charging system is not as simple as an actual battery connection.  When charging the 705 while it is turned on (ie using it), something goes bad, not sure what, but strange unexpected things happen.  The end result is dead batteries in both the charger and 705.  I don't know a good way around this one - and I nearly borrowed a 60CSx for CTR because of it.  I still couldn't keep the 705 working 100% after day 4 of CTR, same gremlins shut me down.

#2 is product maturity level.  Garmin is releasing firmware updates about every month or two, sometimes to offer new features but more often to fix all the bugs of the previous version.  Essentially, the consumer is the product tester.  Online forums are full of WTF posts in regards to the 705.

#3 is the unit is underpowered.  It does so many things that it can freeze when doing something like map panning.  It's processor does not seem able to handle the many tasks it is designed to do, at least all the time.

#4 the GPS navigation features are not implemented similar to other units like the 60CSx or vista series.  Once firware 2.5 was released you could display GPX tracks on the map, so this hasn't been an issue since then as that's about all ya need.

The 705 only makes sense if you will use it in tandem with other sensors - HR strap, power meters, cadence sensors, and use the data for training purposes.  For bikepacking alone it is a poor choice.  The Vista HCx is simple, reliable and all you need for bikepacking.  The 705 is that and a whole lot more, but with some shortcomings as well.

[theFuzz]

Awesome replies so far. If possible I would like to use the device for tracking my normal rides in addition to the bikepacking so having one device is really attractive, and the mounting seems solid.
The battery reports to scare me a bit. It will be quite a while before I'm adventurous to head out for multi day trips but i'd hate to be SOL in the wilderness when a few packable batteries could have saved me. Too many decisions...

[jonesy792]

I have no experience with the 705 but can say that I love my vista HCX, great battery life, expandable memory (I have 8GB in mine!), weather resistant.  The only possible negative is that the screen is really too small to be used as a map by itself, some of the larger screened GPS's may have an advantage there (at the expense of battery life)

[DaveH]

The battery reports to scare me a bit. It will be quite a while before I'm adventurous to head out for multi day trips but i'd hate to be SOL in the wilderness when a few packable batteries could have saved me. Too many decisions...

the power issue is mostly an issue when racing.  Charging the 705 while it is turned off is quite reliable.  That's something  you can do in camp on a bikepacking trip, but during a race there is very little non-moving time...so if you don't plan on racing multi-day stuff perhaps it could be the best of both worlds for you.

[theFuzz]

Thanks for the responses everyone. You can pick up the HCX  with Bing.com cashback for about 190 now so I guess that makes my decision for me...
I'm sure the 705 is sweet, but not double!