Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs. Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM

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This is my comparison of Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs. Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM.

I have experience with both bike computers, so I summarized their pros, cons, and differences in this article.

The main difference between Edge 1030 Plus and ELEMNT ROAM is that 1030 Plus has a larger 3.5″ touchscreen display while ROAM only has a 2.7″ non-touchscreen display. Garmin also offers more features and has a longer battery life (24 vs. 17 hours). On the other hand, ROAM is more user-friendly, and you can set it up via a mobile app.

Continue reading to learn more.

Edge 1030 Plus vs. ELEMNT ROAM Basics

Here are the main differences between Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs. Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM.

Let me now explain them in depth.

In the Box

Both bike computers come with two included mounts – stem and out front mount. 

Remember, Garmin and Wahoo mounts are not compatible with each other.

Another difference is that while Garmin uses a standard mount, Wahoo designed an aero mount. 

Physical Dimensions & Weight

There is a significant difference between the dimensions and weight of both head units.

Garmin Edge 1030 Plus is larger mainly because of its larger screen (more about it later). It’s one of the largest bike computers on the market.

Its dimensions and weight (124g vs. 93g) make it less suitable for day-to-day riding.

Edge 1030 Plus vs. ELEMNT ROAM Features Comparison

Below, I compare selected areas that I find important as a cyclist. You find the winner at the end of every section.

Ease of Setup

The approach to setting up your new bike computer differs between Wahoo and Garmin.

The pairing process of Wahoo ELEMNT computers is easy and straightforward (you basically just scan a QR code). Then, you can set up everything via the ELEMNT Companion app.

Garmin Edge computers are less user-friendly, and their introduction guide is too long. Yes, some of them can import your settings from previous Garmin devices (which is awesome if you already are in Garmin’s ecosystem), but you need to set everything else using the device.

I like the straightforwardness of ROAM more, but the 1030 Plus offers some handy features, which I explain below.

Winner: Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM

Display

The display size and type is the biggest difference between 1030 Plus and ROAM.

1030 Plus has one of the largest displays (3.5″) of all bike computers. It dwarfs ROAM’s 2.7″ display.

The larger display is better for navigation, for example. However, Garmin doesn’t allow you to set more than 10 data fields (11 on ROAM) which means the individual data fields are larger on 1030 Plus. 

Unfortunately, they are not always easier to read because of Garmin’s glossy display. ROAM display is easier to read in direct sunlight. 

Winner: Garmin Edge 1030 Plus

Battery Life

The Garmin 1030 Plus has an advantage when it comes to battery life. According to Garmin, it can last up to 48 hours with light use.

However, this claim is not very meaningful since most people will likely pair it with sensors, making the 24 hours of battery life with heavy use more realistic.

During my testing, I was able to use the device for about 18 and a half hours while connected to a Varia radar, HR sensor, and power meter, and using navigation intermittently.

To extend the battery life, I had to decrease the display’s brightness, which I had set to ‘Auto’ mode to increase brightness in direct sunlight.

In comparison, my ELEMNT ROAM, which is about three years old, has a claimed battery life of only 17 hours, but it still provides me with around 14 hours of use with the same sensors.

Winner: Garmin Edge 1030 Plus

Control & User Friendliness

The 1030 Plus features a touchscreen display with additional buttons (for starting a ride, lap, and turning the device on and off). 

The interaction with it is like when using a phone, but the 1030 Plus screen is less responsive.

Touchscreen displays have a few disadvantages, though. For example, they may not work 100% well when you have sweaty fingers, wear full-finger gloves, or it’s raining, but 1030 Plus works pretty fine. 

However, sometimes when I ride in a TT position with my hands holding the bike computer, I accidentally go into the menu or another screen. So I have to use the lock screen feature.  

On the other hand, ROAM has 3 buttons under the display and 3 on the sides. The buttons under the display are hard to press and would deserve a better design. 

Luckily, ELEMNT bike computers are user-friendly, and you find everything within a few clicks. Unlike Garmin, where you can dive into the ‘menu rabbit hole.’

My learning curve with 1030 Plus was longer than with ROAM. Sometimes, I still struggle to find the feature I am looking for. Maybe because of so many features available or less user-friendly menus.

Winner: Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM

Maps & Navigation

I divided the following part into two sections. One focuses on navigation, turn-by-turn directions, etc., and the other on the use of offline maps.

Navigation

Garmin Edge 1030 Plus and Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM can provide turn-by-turn directions and recalculate your route when you go off-course.

The difference between these head units is that Garmin is less dependent on your smartphone. You can search and create new routes directly from it.

With ROAM, the on-device experience is not as flawless (and some features are missing), so I recommend using Wahoo with your smartphone.

The turn-by-turn directions work well on both devices. Wahoo provides them sooner and can also recalculate routes faster. But you can’t select what type of roads to include (depending on what bike you ride). 

Garmin can do this, and it can also alert you about dangerous turns. In addition, you can leverage the POI (Points of Interest) navigation. These ‘points’ include grocery stores, gas stations, tourist attractions, and more. 

1030 Plus can also suggest a route based on the given distance, starting point, and direction.

Offline Maps

Both devices come with preloaded maps that are relatively detailed. However, you can also download selected locations.

While with 1030 Plus, you have to use a desktop app (Garmin Express) to download maps to it, with ROAM, you can use the smartphone app (ELEMNT Companion).

One of the most significant limitations of ROAM is the 2.78GB of internal memory. It allows you to download only a few countries.

Thanks to the 32GB internal memory on the 1030 Plus, you can download maps of half the world. This makes the 1030 Plus less dependent on your smartphone.

Winner: Garmin Edge 1030 Plus

Extras

Garmin Edge bike computers, especially the 1030 Plus, are packed with more features than ELEMNT ROAM. To name a few:

• ClimbPro shows stats about the upcoming climbs based on a pre-planned route. This feature is helpful for climbers and riders who want to better pace themselves in climbs.
• MTB Dynamics measures your jumps, grit, and flow. It’s useful mainly for mountain bikers.
• Incident/crash detection detects if you crash and notifies your emergency contacts.
• 1030 Plus can suggest workouts (and rest days) based on your activities.
• Virtual Partner set a virtual partner that you can use for pacing yourself. 

ROAM, on the other hand, only offers one extra feature that Garmin doesn’t have. The LED strip can indicate your speed, power, or HR. 

Both head units can display Strava live segments, of course.

Winner: Garmin Edge 1030 Plus

Total score: Garmin Edge 1030 Plus (4) | Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM (2)
Overall winner: Garmin Edge 1030 Plus

Edge 1030 Plus vs. ELEMNT ROAM Pros & Cons Summary

Below I summarized the pros & cons of both head units.

Edge 1030 Plus vs. ELEMNT ROAM FAQ

My Verdict

The clear winner would be the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus if I were to rate only features. 

However, other features, such as user-friendliness, need to be evaluated as well. Here, for example, the Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM has the upper hand.

So, which one should you buy?

Go for 1030 Plus if you don’t mind spending more on a features-rich bike computer with a large touchscreen display.

It’s less dependent on your smartphone, and features like incident/crash detection can save your life.

If you are looking for a more compact form factor with a button-based interface and customizability via a mobile app, ROAM is the way to go.

When you learn to use it with your smartphone (for example, for post-ride analysis), it offers a lot for much less.