Garmin Edge Explore 2 GPS Cycling Navigator Review
The Edge Explore 2 is the Garmin built for following a route rather than chasing a number. It is also the unit the cheaper mapping computers are measured against.
The verdictThe safe mapping buy. It costs about twice a BSC500 and the extra money buys Garmin's maps, rerouting and a long support record.
The Explore 2 strips out the training features Garmin sells on its Edge 540 and above. There is no training load, no pedalling dynamics, no Wi-Fi and no electronic groupset pairing. What is left is preloaded Garmin cycling maps, on-device routing that finds its own way back when a road is closed, ClimbPro on a loaded route, and incident detection through a paired phone.
The 3 inch touchscreen is the same size class as the budget mapping units, and Garmin describes it as glove and rain friendly. Independent reviews broadly agree it responds well with full-finger gloves. Three physical keys handle power, lap and start/stop, but menus and the map are touch only, so a wet screen on a cold descent is a different job from the full button layout on an Edge 540.
Garmin claims up to 16 hours. BikeRadar reported roughly 15 with sensors connected, which is close to the claim for once. On a multi-day trip that still means charging every night. Garmin's Power Mount version is aimed at e-bikes, so on a pedal bike the answer is a power bank.
The real case for it is the support behind it. It had more than 500 owner reports on Amazon US at 4.2 stars when we checked in October, and a quarter-turn mount system with a large aftermarket. That track record is what you pay roughly double a BSC500's price for, and it matters most on the day a unit fails 200 km from a shop.
What works
- Preloaded maps with on-device rerouting
- ClimbPro on loaded routes, free
- Garmin support and mount aftermarket
What doesn't
- Menus and map are touch only
- 16 hour claim means nightly charging
- No training metrics or groupset pairing
Buy it if
Riders who want Garmin maps, rerouting and support behind a unit they navigate a whole tour by
Skip it if
You want full button control in winter gloves, or you can live with a smaller support network for half the price
Others we scored in this category
One email when something changes
We re-check prices and picks quarterly. When a recommendation changes — or a product we rated well turns out not to last — you hear about it. No weekly digest, no gear-of-the-day.
By subscribing you agree we can email you when a recommendation changes. That is the only thing we use your address for. Unsubscribe in one click; we don't sell or share the list — see our privacy policy.