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Wahoo is Garmin’s challenger in the field of bike computers. Their lineup includes:
- Wahoo ELEMNT Ace
- Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2
- Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v3
- Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM v2
- Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM v3
The choice between those ultimately boils down to your display size preferences. Below, I explain my experiences with them and compare their features.
KEY TAKEAWAY
My favorite Wahoo bike computer is ELEMNT BOLT v2. It’s compact, easy to use, has an easy-to-read display, and has most of the functionalities I need. On the other hand, it has an average battery life, lower accuracy due to the lack of multi-band GNSS, a small screen size, and is button-based. Feel free to buy it here or continue reading for more info.
Wahoo ELEMNT Bike Computers Compared
The following table compares the technical specifications of Wahoo ELEMNT cycling computers.
| Bike Computer | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v3 | Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM v3 | Wahoo ELEMNT Ace | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2 | Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM v2 | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v1 | Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM v1 | Wahoo ELEMNT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claimed Battery Life | 20 hrs | 25 hrs | 30 hrs | 15 hrs | 17 hrs | 15 hrs | 17 hrs | 17 hrs |
| Screen Size | 2.3in | 2.8in | 3.8in | 2.2in | 2.7in | 2.2in | 2.7in | 2.7in |
| Display | 16 mil. | 16 mil. | 16 mil. | 64 colors | 64 colors | 2 colors | 8 colors | 2 colors |
| Touchscreen | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| On-Device Navigation¹ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Multi-band GNSS | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Strava Live Segments | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connectivity | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Waterproofing | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Weight | 85g | 109g | 208g | 70g | 93g | 62g | 93g | 104g |
| Memory | 32GB | 64GB | 64GB | 16GB | 32GB | 2.78GB | 4GB | 2.78GB |
| More info | n/a | n/a | Wahoo ELEMNT Ace review | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2 review | n/a | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v1 review | Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM v1 review | n/a |
| Buy | n/a | n/a | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued |
¹On-Device Navigation means that the device can recalculate the route when you are off-course.
Wahoo ELEMNT Ace
- Ideal for: Those who want a large and easy-to-read screen
- Screen: 3.8″ (colored)
- Touchscreen: Yes
- Battery life: 30 hours
- Weight: 208g
- Full on-device navigation: Yes
Wahoo ELEMNT Ace was introduced to the market in December 2024. It’s by far the biggest ELEMNT head unit, with a huge 3.8-inch display. It’s too big and heavy for my taste, and I don’t recommend it to performance-oriented riders.
It’s also the first ELEMNT bike computer with a touchscreen display and speaker, and also the first bike computer with an integrated air sensor. Although it’s not as straightforward as previous ELEMNTs, it’s still pretty easy to use.
I struggle with defining who this bike computer is for. I think it was designed with older people in mind. Otherwise, I don’t understand why it’s so huge. It was also launched without all the advertised features, which is a practice I don’t like. Overall, it was a disappointment for me. You can read more details in my Wahoo ELEMNT Ace review.
Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2
- Ideal for: All types of riders and cyclists
- Screen: 2.2″ (colored)
- Touchscreen: No
- Battery life: 15 hours
- Weight: 68g
- Full on-device navigation: Yes
ELEMNT BOLT v2 is Wahoo’s latest bike computer. It was introduced in 2021 and replaced the original BOLT (v1). The screen has received the biggest upgrade. It’s colored (64 colors) now and still easy to read in direct sunlight. It can change the background of certain data fields based on your zones (e.g., power, HR).
BOLT v2 features full on-device navigation. This means it can retrace the route, take you to a selected point on a map, provide you with turn-by-turn directions, etc. BOLT v1 didn’t offer these features. You can read my BOLT v1 vs. v2 comparison, where you learn more.
Wahoo cycling computers are also known for their ease of use. I enjoy this feature because I can set them using my smartphone (via the ELEMNT Companion app). It’s easy, fast, and effective.
The buttons also got an upgrade and are now easier to click than on BOLT v1 or ROAM. You will also enjoy features like Strava live segments and seamless upload of your rides to Strava and other 3rd party apps. The downsides include the non-touchscreen display and sometimes inaccurate GPS. Read my Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT 2 review for more details.
Also available at competitivecyclist.com and amazon.com
You might be interested in this comparison of Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM vs. BOLT v2.
Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM v2
- Ideal for: All types of riders and cyclists
- Screen: 2.7″
- ROAM v1 (8-colors)
- ROAM v2 (64-colors)
- Touchscreen: No
- Battery life: 17 hours
- Weight: 93g
- Full on-device navigation: Yes
I used Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM for about 2 years, and it was a faithful servant. It’s unique thanks to the 2 LED strips that change color based on your power, speed, or HR. The top strip also shows you directions (flashing from left to right or right to left) if navigation is turned on.
I like ROAM’s ease of use, the large, easy-to-read display, and the possibility of setting it up via the smartphone. This method is more effective than setting it directly on the device using a few buttons.
ROAM offers most of the features you may need, such as structured workout support, Strava live segments, full on-device navigation, etc. The only thing I dislike is the buttons, which are hard to press. The bottom three are poorly designed.
Wahoo introduced ROAM v2 in 2022. It has larger storage, a more accurate multi-band GPS, a USB-C charging port, and other improvements. Read more info in my ROAM v1 vs. v2 comparison.
Discontinued Wahoo ELEMNT Computers
Here are the discontinued Wahoo ELEMNT bike computers. You may still find them in online marketplaces, but they are not sold officially.
- Wahoo ELEMNT was Wahoo’s first GPS bike computer. It was released in 2016.
- Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v1 became quickly popular among pros and amateurs after its release in 2017.
- Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM followed the popularity of BOLT 1. It was preferred by people who needed a larger screen.
Conclusion
Here is my summary of which Wahoo computer you should buy:
- ELEMNT BOLT v2 if you want a compact, sleek, and the latest Wahoo bike computer.
- ELEMNT ROAM v1 or v2 if you want an easy-to-use Wahoo bike computer with a large display suitable for navigation.
Also available at rei.com and amazon.com
Also available at competitivecyclist.com
Or, if you want to save some bucks, you can buy older models second-hand. Which of the current Wahoo ELEMNT computers is your favorite? Let me know in the comments.
