The Explore 2 is designed as a midpriced touchscreen GPS device for riders whose main need is navigation rather than detailed training sessions or analysis. It showcases a lot of the latest Garmin technology that you would find on the $599 / £520 Edge 1040 – one of the best MTB GPS computers – in a smaller, more basic package.
It’s aimed at recreational all-round riders with few specific functions for off-roaders, but even Garmin’s core mapping can be decent for off-Tarmac use. With a reputation for strong satellite reception and with touchscreen functionality at a good price, the Explore should be a promising buy. I found it unnecessarily complicated in some areas, mainly around setup and menus, and like many other GPS models, limited in off-road road route generation. But once you’ve settled on the handful of functions you want to use most of the time, out on the trail it was a reliable companion.
