Out with the old (520), and in with the new (540)!
on January 16, 2025
Posted by: TGNJ
Needed to replace a tired 8 year old Garmin Edge 520! Decided on 540 Solar - solid middle ground solution for my needs. Packed with features - some I hope to leverage someday! Good form factor, new optional mount charging capability compatible with my many existing mounts, USB-C port (yay!!), fast performance, reliable saving/uploading of rides, big battery capacity/life super, solar charging is awesome!!! Needed reliability of buttons vs capacitive touchscreen for wet conditions and some gloves. Treated myself to an orange silicone protector case for extra protection for bumps and drops. Nice. Overall running well, zero issues, very happy. Still learning new features!
After my beloved Edge 1000 finally died I invested in the Solar Edge 540. It’s relatively easy to use and practical it is hard to see. its much smaller than the Edge 1000 and unless it has light right on it its very difficult to read. When you are going 20 mph plus on a bike you don’t want to have to stare for long periods at the handlebars.
I wanted the simplest GPS for MTB weekend warrior work, just to follow a track and record time and distance - and this is the simplest Garmin offer - way over the top, suited to serious bikers with all the gadgets and gizmos that make them 'faster'. There is little intuitive logic built in. I will insure it and then throw it over a cliff.