Garmin Edge vs Wahoo ELEMNT vs Coros Dura

"Garmin Edge" and "Wahoo ELEMNT" are whole ranges, so I've picked the models that actually meet head to head: the Edge 850 and the ELEMNT ROAM 3, which BikeRadar and Cyclingnews both tested against each other. The Coros Dura 2 Solar is the outlier, with several times the claimed battery.

I haven't ridden with any of them. Results below belong to the named outlet, checked on 3 November 2026.

£469.99 on garmin.com (UK), checked 3 November 2026. £359 on sigmasports.com (UK), checked 3 November 2026. £429 on coros.com (UK), checked 3 November 2026.

Battery: claims against rides

Garmin's claim: 12 h, Demanding use; 36 h in battery saver mode. Wahoo's: 25 h, though BikeRadar quotes 24 h. Coros's: 120 h, All systems (High) GPS, without solar.

BikeRadar's tester saw around 18 h from the ROAM 3 and nearer 11 h from the Edge 850 on the same general setup, while Cycling Weekly's tester regularly got 12 to 18 h from the 850. DC Rainmaker found the Edge close to spot-on with its claim using Garmin's standard setup, and dropping brightness to 30% roughly doubled it to 20 h. In that same bright-display test, the ROAM 3 at full brightness burned about 10% an hour. So your settings can swing this more than the badge.

The Dura's numbers come with a story. DC Rainmaker's estimates swung from 22 h in thunderstorms with navigation to 47 h on a sunny day on the latest firmware. An overcast evening ride estimated 80 h. He thinks it falls short of 120 h without solar, and still calls the battery "incredible" on most days. In the UK, plan for the cloudy end.

Coros's battery does trade against the screen. DC Rainmaker says the Wahoo and Garmin units are brighter, and that this difference is what you're paying for in hours.

Navigation and rain

Cyclingnews found the ROAM 3's routing easier to follow on a simpler base map. Its elevation profile is easier to read too, and it syncs Strava routes automatically, where Garmin hides the option in a submenu. BikeRadar's verdict on the Wahoo: excellent navigation, slow to start.

Garmin hits back on speed. Cyclingnews reports a satellite lock in seconds on the 850, against several minutes on the Wahoo. BikeRadar also calls the Garmin far quicker to switch on, though it rates satellite and sensor acquisition as similar. And DC Rainmaker says the ROAM 3's touchscreen was entirely unusable when wet, while the 850's was so-so with buttons on all sides as a fallback.

The Dura is the weak one here. DC Rainmaker says it can't get to every menu with buttons, which is a real problem when heavy rain makes the touchscreen mostly useless. His list of faults on final firmware includes re-routing that rarely works, sometimes suggesting mountain-climbing routes, plus constant ANT+ sensor dropouts when a Bluetooth power meter joined. He says Strava Live Segments didn't trigger at all. Firmware can fix much of this, but I can't recommend buying on that hope.

All three have accurate GPS in those tests, by his account, and none of it comes from a peer-reviewed source. I found no such study on these models.

Training tools

Cyclingnews says Garmin's app is better for training, with more features, especially for multisport. If you already own a Garmin watch, it's the easy route. Garmin lists VO2 Max, Training Status, Training Load, FTP, real-time stamina. Coros lists EvoLab: recovery, fatigue, training load, VO2 max, threshold zones. For the ROAM 3, the Wahoo pages I read state no such list, so that row says "Not stated".

Any of these pairs with a chest strap, and my strap comparison helps pick one. I explain why I prefer a strap to a wrist sensor in why wrist heart rate fails. The chest strap pairing guide covers Zwift and ANT+.

By rider type

Road and sportive rider who trains seriously. The Edge 850, especially if you own Garmin kit. Cycling Weekly rates its screen and response time the best of the three it compared, against the ROAM 3 and Hammerhead Karoo 3, and names battery as the weakest point. Carry a cable for anything past 10 hours.

Rider who follows routes all day or tours. The ROAM 3. More hours in BikeRadar's use, easier maps in Cyclingnews's, and on those checks the lowest price of the three at £359. It comes from a retailer, Sigma Sports. In rain, expect the touchscreen to quit and use its buttons.

Road racer who wants small and simple. Look at the ELEMNT BOLT 3 instead, at 84 g with buttons only. ProCyclingUK says it suits racing and training, but the 2.3 in screen limits map reading, and tests generally land below the 20 h claim.

Ultra rider chasing hours. The Dura 2 Solar, on paper. At £429 I'd wait. DC Rainmaker's conclusion is that the software isn't worth its asking price yet, and he retested on final firmware.

The gym and bike goal page lists every computer I cover.