Garmin or fancy android phone

[beccaB]

I have a BIG birthday coming up and I'm trying to decide if I should ask for the Garmin that does the gps that you can see while you're riding(I'm a geotard, I get lost a lot), or one of those fancy android phones that can work with Map My Ride. I don't know much about either. It all intrigues me and it seems like either would be a useful and fun device, but I'm due for a phone upgrade anyway. I'm looking for pros and cons on both.

[SadieKate]

I've never lost GPS signal except under heavy tree cover. I cannot say the same for cell phones (smart or dumb). Depends on your cell network, but here in the Wild Wild West I wouldn't substitute a phone for GPS. FYI, they do NOT work off the same satellites.

[zoom-zoom]

I'd go Garmin. Something else I've heard is that the phone GPS systems eat the battery very fast. So unless you're just using it for short rides you could end up far from home with a dead phone and no way to find your way back or call for help.

[Eden]

I don't know either of these for sure - but there are two things I can think of that would give a dedicated GPS an advantage over a phone.

- better battery life. I think using some of the more intense features on my ipod I get 7 or 8 hours of battery. My Garmin (though I don't have the fancy one with maps) gives me more time between charges than that.

- no use of phone min/data plan. I would think to use something like "map my ride" you'd be using something that you have to pay for?

[beccaB]

Those are all good thoughts I hadn't considered. My husband has the lesser Garmin that doesn't give a gps to you at the moment, I think it's the 500. this is a really big birthday for me, and a milestone, considering my mom was in the end stage when she was the age I am now. I am so thankful to be healthy and alive and able to take good care of my health. in other words a celebratory purchase of the higher end Garmin wouldn't be totally frivolous.

[OakLeaf]

Supposedly the newest 4G phones get mondo battery life. If I were due for a new phone I'd be looking very, very hard at a LG Revolution or Samsung Charge. Even so, they claim some 6-7 hours usage time, which even if you finished a ride by then, it would stink to be scrambling to plug in your phone. And it's possible that they only get that kind of life when they're actually receiving 4G signal, which in most places people ride bicycles, you wouldn't be.

My HTC Incredible (first generation) gets just about exactly five hours running iMapMyRide with NO accessories - that's with keeping it on the car charger on the way to the ride, no HRM, no cadence, no power meter, and with the display OFF, just recording the ride to download later (and for the live tracking which I haven't yet been able to get to work). I can easily get 13-14 hours out of either my Garmin 705 or 310XT.

[Velocivixen]

@beccaB, okay, you said it is a "milestone" birthday, so now I want to know how old you'll be?

I have no insight into your original question though. Keep us posted.

[Veronica]

Thom's been using his new Samsung Infuse to record our hikes. I've been using my Garmin - guess whose battery runs out first?

Veronica

[blue_angel]

I have both a fancy Android phone and a Garmin Forerunner 305. The Garmin has the added benefit of being easily mounted onto your bike and working with a cadence sensor. No Android app lets you do that. To be honest, I never use the GPS function on the Garmin, except for when I download my workouts into the software, so I can't speak to that particular aspect, which might be what you care about more than mounting and cadence.

Either way, you'll get something great. And congrats on your milestone birthday!

[TrekTheKaty]

I recommend a garmin. I use the heart rate, cadence, speed and mileage features, along with downloading info to mapmyride (iphone, if we think we're lost). I have a garmin 305 (left over from running days) that DH just confiscated for Strava. Lately, I've been using mapmyride on my iphone. The ant+ handlebar mount is another $100, so i can't see my info while riding (jersey pocket). I also worry about battery life on long rides, so I'll be buying a Garmin 500(?) soon.

[tprevost]

definitely the Garmin! We splurged on new Garmins a few months ago (had the 305's before that) and the new ones are fabulous!!! Wish we had made that purchase a while ago!!!

[Owlie]

I have neither, and I know someone mentioned this up-thread, but I'd be concerned about those apps eating your phone's battery life and not having the phone in an emergency.

[Dogmama]

I LOVE my Garmin. I'd be concerned that a smart, high powered phone couldn't take the jostling on a bike (in addition to everything else about battery life, etc.) If I'm doing a new ride with tricky turns, I just print it out on my computer & carry the map with me in case I get lost. Believe me - I get lost coming out of public restrooms because I have no sense of direction. My legally blind friend guides me around downtown - no kidding.

My phone has a mapping function that will show me where I'm at & how to get out. The problem is, it doesn't show the road conditions. So that "shortcut" could be dirt road.

Are you telling what your milestone is?

[KnottedYet]

to heck with Garmin...

Nothing says "milestone" like a new bike!

[rubysoho]

I was all excited to use mapmyride on my droid2. I haven't been able to get "accurate gps" signal in any of my rides and so it cannot track my mileage. I am just outside D.C. So it isn't like there is an excuse for no signal. Go with the garmin! I wish I had one.