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This is my Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2 review. BOLT v2 is a successor of the ever-so-popular BOLT v1. I’ve been using it for the last few months, and in this review, I explain why I think it is the best bike computer on the market.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2 improves the main disadvantages of BOLT v1. This means it has a colored display, easy-to-click buttons, and a USB-C charging port. It also features full on-device navigation. Positives, like the ease of use or customization with a smartphone, remained. I love using it and consider it the best compact bike computer on the market. You can buy it here or continue reading to learn more.
My BOLT v2 rating at a glance:
Battery Life 3/5 | Ease of Setup 5/5 | Display 3/5 | Ease of Use 4/5 | GPS Accuracy 4/5 | Maps & Navigation 4/5 | Price 3/5 | OVERALL 3.7/5
More about this bike computer scoring.
Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2 Pros & Cons
These are the main pros & cons of ELEMNT BOLT v2 I found during its use.
Pros
- One strip of LEDs that can indicate your speed, power, or HR
- Easy-to-read display in direct sunlight
- Aero mount included
- Long battery life (15 hours)
- Set up via smartphone app
- Easy to use (the app and bike computer are intuitive) and customizable
- Full on-device navigation
- Easy to press buttons (better than on ROAM and BOLT v1)
- The internal memory of 16 GB
- USB-C charging port
Cons
- Relatively slow start-up time (about 35 seconds)
- The lack of a touchscreen display
- The display could be larger
I used all Wahoo bike computers (except for the original ELEMNT). I praise their ease of use, customizability via the ELEMNT app, and great screen readability.
The only complaint I have about the BOLT v2 is the display size. I am used to a larger screen from Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM. If Wahoo introduces ROAM v2, it could be an even better cycling computer for my needs.
Unboxing
Here are the contents of the BOLT v2 box:
- Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2
- Aero + stem mount
- USB-C charging cable
- Manual
Wahoo differentiates itself from other bike computer manufacturers with its aero mount. I don’t think it makes a noticeable difference (at least I didn’t notice it), but it looks sleek.
However, like most handlebar mounts, it is designed for rounded handlebars. If you have an integrated cockpit, you will need to purchase the two-bolt out front mount.
You might also be interested in my Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT 3 review.
Setup
The initial setup of ELEMNT computers, including the BOLT v2, is intuitive. You only need to scan the QR code with the ELEMNT app, enable pairing via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (at least on iOS), and pair the sensors.
Once you pair it, the app will quickly teach you how to control BOLT.
Then, you can adjust the pages and data fields directly in the ELEMNT Companion app. This is, in my opinion, one of the things in which Wahoo excels. Customizing data fields and pages is so easy.
I don’t like using the menus of bike computers. They are slower to navigate (unless you have a high-end beast like Garmin Edge 1030 Plus).
My Experience
Below, I share my experience of using BOLT v2 for a few months.
Display
The 2.2in (240ร320px) display of the BOLT v2 got the most significant upgrade. It still has the same resolution as v1, but it is now colored (64 colors).
TIP: Check out my entire comparison of BOLT v2 vs. v1.
For comparison, here are the screen sizes and resolutions of other alternatives:
- Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM 2.7in (240ร400px)
- Garmin Edge 830 2.6in (246ร322px)
- Garmin Edge 530 2.6in (246ร322px)
It still offers excellent readability in direct sunlight and can adjust the brightness based on the ambient light sensor.
BOLT v2 can fit up to 9 data fields at once (ROAM can fit 11), and you can use the right side buttons to zoom in and out.
LED Lights
BOLT v2 (unlike ROAM) has only one strip of LEDs on the top. Using the app, you can set them to indicate your speed, power, or HR. They can also show you directions if you have navigation turned on.
TIP: Read my entire comparison of ROAM vs. BOLT v2.
The LEDs will also flash when you receive a notification on your smartphone, during navigation, or if your Garmin Varia radar detects an object.
I didn’t actively look at them in the beginning. But now, I sometimes glance at them to check my power.
Battery Life
The claimed battery life of BOLT v2 is 15 hours. Based on my experience, I get the same or higher battery life, depending on what sensors and features I currently use.
I mostly ride with a connected power meter, HR monitor, and Garmin Varia RTL515 radar. With this setup, I reached 16 hours and about 15 minutes of battery life.
The navigation and map screen demand more power. I didn’t perform a specific test (95% of the time, I ride with navigation turned off), but it should last you for a half-day trip (12 hours).
One small detail worth noting is the battery indicator that appears when I turn the BOLT off. It reminds me when to recharge it.
Control
To control BOLT, you use one of the 6 buttons. They feel more intuitive than buttons on the Garmin Edge 520 or 530.
The buttons on the first generation of ELEMNT BOLT were fine, but the second-generation buttons are easier to press.
You must use the smartphone app to adjust data fields, set the LEDs, etc. I like this possibility because it’s faster to browse a smartphone than on a computer using buttons.
On the other hand, you have to have your phone with you and take it out of your pocket if you want to adjust settings.
I take a phone on every ride with me, so it’s not an issue for me. But I know riders who don’t like this smartphone-bike computer dependency.
Maps & Navigation
In terms of maps & navigation, BOLT v2 got one of the biggest upgrades. Now, it features full on-device navigation.
It will recalculate a route if you deviate from the planned one, take you to a selected point on a map, and provide turn-by-turn instructions.
Thanks to the colored display, it’s also easier to read the map. The 16GB internal storage will allow you to download many more maps than the very limited storage (2.78GB) of BOLT v1 or ROAM.
I tested the navigation during a few rides. It worked fine except for areas with a weak GPS signal.
Custom Alerts
One of the extra features on Wahoo ELEMNT bike computers is the possibility of setting custom alerts using the ELEMNT app.
Until recently, I did not use this feature. But it’s helpful. You can set notifications (based on time, distance, or burned calories) that remind you:
- Eat and/or drink
- Clean and lube your chain
- Recharge your power meter, shifters, etc.
- Increase/reduce your cadence
- Increase/reduce your power
- Etc.
Pretty cool, huh?
Here are a few screenshots from the Custom Alerts Manager in the ELEMNT app.
Connectivity
Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2 offers ANT+, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connectivity. It can:
- Pair sensors and devices like power meters, HR monitors, cadence and speed sensors, Garmin Varia Radar, etc.
- Automatically upload your activities to Strava or other compatible 3rd party apps.
- Control smart trainers. So, for example, you can increase/decrease the wattage of your intervals in an ERG mode.
The pairing of devices is again performed via the ELEMNT app. I didn’t experience any issues (like not finding the device).
Unfortunately, Wahoo bike computers can’t wake up Varia radar from the standby mode like Garmin Edge bike computers. So, you have to turn it on (and off) manually.
Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2 Alternatives
Here are some of the Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2 alternatives worth considering.
- Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM has a larger display (2.7โณ) but fewer colors (8), and its buttons are harder to press. Read my in-depth ROAM review for more info.
- Garmin Edge 530 is also a button-based bike computer, but it offers more features (including metrics for mountain bikers) and a larger display (2.6โณ). Read my in-depth Edge 530 review for more info.
- Garmin Edge 830 is the advanced, touchscreen version of the Edge 530, but it is also more expensive. Read my in-depth Edge 830 review for more info.
| Bike Computer | Claimedย /ย Realยน Battery Life | Screenย Sizeย / Touchscreen | Weight | Multiโband GNSSยฒ | ClimbPro | Buy | Battery Life | Easeย of Setup | Display | Easeย of Use | GPS Accuracy | Maps & Navigation | Price | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Edge 840 | 26h / 24.2h | 2.6โณ / Yes | 85g | Yes | Yes | Checkย Price Checkย Price (tredz.co.uk) | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4.3 |
| Garmin Edge 840 Solar | 32h / n/a | 2.6โณ / Yes | 89g | Yes | Yes | Checkย Price Checkย Price (tredz.co.uk) | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4.1 |
| Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2 | 15h / 16.2h | 2.2โณ / No | 68g | No | Yes | Checkย Price | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3.7 |
| Garmin Edge 1050 | 20h / n/a | 3.5โณ / Yes | 161g | Yes | Yes | Checkย Price Checkย Price (tredz.co.uk) | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4.3 |
| iGPSport BSC300 | 20h / 16.9h | 2.4โณ / No | 67g | No | No | Checkย Price | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4.1 |
| Garmin Edge 1040 | 35h / 31.4h | 3.5โณ / Yes | 126g | Yes | Yes | Checkย Price Checkย Price (tredz.co.uk) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4.0 |
| Garmin Edge 1040 Solar | 45h / n/a | 3.5โณ / Yes | 133g | Yes | Yes | Checkย Price Checkย Price (tredz.co.uk) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4.0 |
| Garmin Edge 1030 Plus | 24h / 18.6h | 3.5โณ / Yes | 123g | No | Yes | Checkย Price | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3.4 |
| Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM v3 | 25h / 28h | 2.8โณ / Yes | 109g | Yes | Yes | Checkย Price | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4.1 |
| Garmin Edge 830 | 20h / 13.4h | 2.6โณ / Yes | 82g | No | Yes | Checkย Price | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3.4 |
| Hammerhead Karoo 3 | 15h / 12.3h | 3.2โณ / Yes | 118g | Yes | Yes | Checkย Price | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4.1 |
| Sigma ROX 12.1 EVO | 14h / 13.4hยณ | 3โณ / Yes | 110g | No | No | Checkย Price | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3.7 |
| Magene C606 | 25h / 16.5h | 2.8โณ / No | 105g | No | No | Checkย Price | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3.6 |
SCROLL HORIZONTALLY FOR MORE INFO
ยนBattery life in real-life use with multiple sensors connected, auto brightness.
ยฒEnsures higher accuracy of GPS.
ยณCurrently in testing.
Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2 Technical Specifications
Here is the summary of the main features and the technical specification of the Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2.
Technical Specifications
- Battery life: 15 hours (USB-C charging)
- Screen size: 2.2in / 55.9mm
- Touchscreen: No
- Weight: 68g
- Dimensions: 77.5ร47.2ร21.3 mm (3.05ร1.86ร0.84 in)
- Strava live segments: Yes
- Smart trainers control: Yes
- Smart navigation (rerouting): Yes
- Connectivity: ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- Waterproofing: IPX7
- Internal memory: 16GB
My Verdict
Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2 is a worthy upgrade over the first generation of the popular BOLT.
The form factor remained more or less the same, but Wahoo fixed the main shortcomings of the previous generation. Most notably, the display and buttons.
BOLT v2 also features full on-device navigation, and 16GB of internal memory provides you with enough storage for activities, maps, and routes.
The only disadvantage for some riders could be the lack of a touch-screen display that we know from Garmin Edge 830 or Edge 1030 Plus.
However, thanks to the customizability via the smartphone app, easy-to-click buttons, and intuitive interface, I don’t mind it, and I enjoy the smartphone-bike computer synergy.
Considering its price and pros and cons, I believe BOLT v2 is the best bike computer for most riders.
I hope you find this review helpful. Let me know in the comments if you have experience with ELEMNT or Garmin Edge cycling computers and your opinion about them.
Recommended Accessories
Below, I include a few accessories worth using with the Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT v2.
Wahoo TRACKR Radar
Garmin Varia RTL515 Radar
Hi Petr a basic question.
Can I create workouts manually on the bolt v1 and v2?
The info from Wahoo does not state one way or the other only indicating using another service like TrainingPeaks
Thanks
Hi Ian,
No. There is no way to create them directly on the device. But they already have a few workouts preloaded. If you want custom workouts, then you have to import them using 3rd party apps. ๐
โ Petr
I won a Bolt v2 from a hillclimb race a couple years ago. At the time, I was using a Roam so didn’t have any immediate use for it. When the inevitable happened and the Roam recorded it’s last ride, the Bolt was there to quickly take it’s place. It’s a good little unit, initially hard to get used to the smaller screen (compared to the roam). I’m a self confessed data nerd and like to see ALL my ride metrics on the 1 page, one the Roam, this was possible as the screen size allowed them to be displayed at a readible size, however the Bolt is shrunk hust that little bit to much to read at a glance. I’ll be entruiged to see if Wahoo see fit to produce a new version of the Roam ๐ค
Hi Dave,
Congratulations for the win! ๐
Yeah, I am curious whether Wahoo releases v3 this year. I hope so.
โ Petr