best Garmin for MTB use?

[commonguy001]

I’d just use a garmin and have Trailforks loaded on your phone. Make sure you have your state map preloaded and you won’t need cellular to see where you’re at. I have Trailforks on my garmin as well but don’t like how it works, it’s probably just me but I found it cumbersome so I just pull my phone out if I’m lost. If you need to see where you’ve been to get back, regular garmin maps work fine for that.

[jpritchet74]

I went with the Garmin 530. I'll report back with how it works out.

Thanks for the input everyone!

[SpeedyChix]

For anyone looking for 830 feedback it’s a great device and the touch screen works. The screen is much brighter than a 1030 and the size of the 530 and 830 are great for road or mtb. Trailforks works great on it. I tried both the 530 and 830 and went with the 830. Found it easier to work with.

[djg21]

Originally Posted by pritchet74

I went with the Garmin 530. I'll report back with how it works out.

Thanks for the input everyone!

I got one for my wife to use on her Tri bike. The buttons were impossible to use when the unit was installed between aero bars, so I sent it back, and likely will get her an 830.

I have a 1030 that I use on the road and on my MTB. Garmin just released beta software that has all the same MTB functions as the 530/830. You can look at the Garmin forum to find links to the beta software. https://forums.garmin.com/. I loaded the trailforks Garmin ConnectIQ app, and it works fine.

As far as maps, I own the Garmin Topo maps from years ago, and I loaded them using the Basemap PC app, so I see both the street maps and topo maps simultaneously.