Garmin Dakota 20 or Edge Touring?

[danielgroves]

The Dakota 20 and Edge Touring GPS units are both in the Amazon Black Friday lists for today… I've wanted to get something for a while so this could be my chance to get something at a price I can actually afford!

I know a lot of people on here use the Dakota 20, not sure if anyone uses the edge touring. I'm interested in what you all like and/or dislike about each unit? I've got until 16:00 today to pick one and then attempt to get it.

[danielgroves]

I shall add, I'm currently leaning towards the Dakota 20 based on AA batteries being easy to get form any shop on multi-day trips. However, I do use an Anker battery anyway, so can easily charge a unit via USB.

The Dakota also states:

850 MB of free internal memory mean you can store up to 1000 waypoints, 50 routes, 2000 geocaches and an active tracklog of up to 10,000 points and 200 saved tracks.

So, does this mean I can essentially store 10,000 * 200 "points" between each download? What sort of distance/time is this going to last before I need to download in front of a computer?

[Richpips]

So, does this mean I can essentially store 10,000 * 200 "points" between each download? What sort of distance/time is this going to last before I need to download in front of a computer?

Dakota - A 13 hour 95 mile day on the HTR used 1.4MB of data, which suggests you could ride for a year+ before you needed to download anything.

[Dave Barter]

I would go for the Dakota. I have an Edge800 and a Dakota and prefer it.

Pros:-
-external batteries
-easier to load tracks/routes
-longer run time
-larger screen (please check I am comparing against an Edge not Edge Touring)
-lanyard
-more weather proof (if the Edge still has the flappy rubber port protectors, I've sent two back to Garmin when the USB connector has corroded)
-auto recording of tracks even if you forget to start the timer
-tracks recorded as GPX files not .FIT files
-much cheaper

Cons:-
-bigger
-desperately rubbish mount when compared to Edge, a nightmare to get on and off the bars
-track storage nowhere near as simple as the Edge. Recorded routes can end up split across files
-no off route warnings when following tracks (may be there I've not found it), Edge has this for TCX files

**edit** "lol" trust me to fall foul of the swear filter

[danielgroves]

Thanks Dave, that's really helpful. Sounds like my instinct was right with the Dakota being the better option.

Have you had any issues running out of space for tracking on multi-day rides?

[Dave Barter]

Absolutely never. The main issue is that the tracking can end up spilt over several files and you have to be a little careful when stitching them together, I gained then lost a few KoMs on the BB200 as a result. Luckily I'm an honest fellow ;-)

[danielgroves]

Excellent, thanks for your help Dave