Wahoo ELEMNT Bike Computers: Which One to Choose?

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Wahoo is Garmin’s challenger in the bike computers field. Their lineup includes:

• Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2
• Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM
• Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM v2

The choice between those ultimately boils down to your display size preferences.

However, this article explains their differences in more detail, and you also learn more about the discontinued Wahoo cycling computers.

Let’s dive in.

NOTE: All Wahoo ELEMNT bike computers are also available in bundles. They include additional sensors like an HR monitor and cadence and speed sensors. 

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 the latest bike computer from Wahoo. It was introduced in 2021, and it 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 entire comparison of BOLT v1 vs. v2 for more details.

Wahoo cycling computers are also known for their ease of use. This is the feature I enjoy 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.

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 v1 and 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 from right to left) if you have navigation turned on.

I like the ease of use of ROAM, the large, easy-to-read display, and the possibility of setting it up via the smartphone. I find this way more effective than setting it directly on the device using a few buttons.

ROAM offers most features you may need, such as structured workouts support, Strava live segments, full on-device navigation, etc.

The only thing I dislike is the buttons that are hard to press. Especially the bottom three are poorly designed.

Wahoo introduced ROAM v2 in 2022. It comes with larger storage, a more accurate multi-band GPS, USB-C charging port, and other improvements. Read more info in my ROAM v1 vs. v2 comparison.

The following table shows the comparison of current Wahoo ELEMNT cycling computers.

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 the Wahoo’s first GPS bike computer. It was released in 2016.
• Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v1 became quickly popular after its release in 2017 among pros and amateurs.

Wahoo ELEMNT Bike Computers FAQ

Conclusion

Or, if you want to save some bucks, you can buy older models seconds hand.

Which of the current Wahoo ELEMNT computers is your favorite? Let me know in the comments.