Nearly 20 years after announcing their first cycling-specific GPS device, Garmin finally has a GPS designed specifically for mountain biking. The Garmin Edge MTB boasts a unique combination of hardware and software features to meet the unique needs of trail riders in a package that will be familiar to longtime Garmin users. I got a chance to test the new Garmin Edge MTB over a couple of days in the Canadian Rockies, and here’s what makes this GPS device unique.
Garmin Edge MTB key specs
- Screen size: 2.13″ diagonal, 240×320 pixels
- Battery life: 14-26 hours while recording
- Weight: 56.8g (GPS); 60.4g (top tube mount with strap)
- Price: $399.99
- Buy from Garmin and Amazon
Trail-specific functions
Based on a Garmin presentation ahead of the launch, the brand is moving beyond purely performance-based features for cyclists. Andrew Silver, Garmin’s Lead Project Manager for Cycling, said previous Edge GPS units were “really about helping riders get faster and catering to those that had that as a goal.” However, he acknowledged that “faster is not always relevant to everybody,” especially for mountain bikers who may not be as endurance- and fitness-focused as road cyclists. With that in mind, the Edge MTB adds new features designed for trail and gravity riders.
One new feature, shown above, is a ride summary that displays the mix of trail difficulties from previous rides. Garmin also improved the Forksight trail navigation feature and added a Timed Gates function along with dedicated enduro and downhill ride modes. Naturally, the Edge MTB retains mountain bike-specific features introduced on earlier units, including jump and hang time tracking plus Grit and Flow scores.
Trail navigation improvements
One of the most annoying things about riding an unfamiliar trail system is navigating trail intersections. So, Garmin introduced a feature known as Forksight that displays information about upcoming trails on the device whenever the rider stops at an intersection. For the Edge MTB, Forksight data has been expanded to show not just the names of upcoming trails, but also the length, elevation gain/loss, difficulty rating, and direction of travel.
Out on the trail, this feature works well. A list of trails is shown, along with arrows indicating which way the trails are oriented ahead. This makes it easy to glance down and confirm which direction you want to go. On particularly dense trail networks — like the one at the Canmore Nordic Center where I tested the Edge MTB — it can be difficult to decipher which direction to go, and Forksight is a great solution.
Timing gates function
The new Garmin timing gates function allows riders to set up their own personal enduro course, and race to set their best times over multiple runs. Though this feature feels very race/performance-focused, it seems like it could be useful to downhill and enduro riders who are optimizing descending speed, rather than pedal efficiency.
Here’s how it works: The rider marks a series of virtual timing gates, either by walking or riding the course. Once the gates are set, save them, and start a ride. Then, select the timing gate series, and line up at the start. The GPS will automatically begin the timer when you cross the start line, and will start a new lap each time you pass a gate along the course.
During each attempt, you’ll see how you’re doing on each segment compared to your best run. A green bar indicates you’re ahead of pace; a red bar means you’re falling behind. I quickly got caught up trying to beat my previous best on each attempt, and I can see how this could be a very motivational training tool.
Unlike a true enduro course, there’s no way to set up liaison stages that aren’t timed. Each segment gets a time, whether you’re climbing or descending. For dialing in a downhill run in particular, I can see this function being very helpful. It even predicts a theoretical time based on your best run for each segment to get an idea of how you might do in a race along the full course.
A dedicated section in Garmin Connect allows you to analyze your attempts. You can also view much of this information on the device without the need to sync with Garmin Connect.
Dedicated enduro and downhill modes
The Garmin Edge MTB adds two new ride modes, enduro and downhill, both of which make use of a new 5Hz recording mode for improved accuracy. Up until now, Edge GPS units have sampled and recorded riders’ location position once per second, at most. With the 5Hz mode, location information is recorded five times per second, which allows for more granular data. This is especially important when riding at higher speeds, and for analyzing performance on tight, twisty tracks.
In the enduro ride mode, 5Hz recording is available while descending only. Pressing the lap button on the GPS toggles between climbing and descending modes. I thought it might be possible to trick the unit into recording in 5Hz mode for an entire ride — for example, to produce a more accurate trail map — but I’m told 5Hz is only activated if you’re in descend mode AND you’re actually descending. Because 5Hz recording drains the battery more quickly and requires additional data storage, it’s limited to very specific situations.
Another specific situation where Garmin allows 5Hz recording is in downhill mode. This is designed for use on park days when riders are making use of a shuttle or lift for the climbs. As soon as the GPS senses the rider is going uphill, it stops tracking. Once a descent begins, the GPS records the route at 5Hz.
Detailed 5Hz data can be viewed in Garmin Connect, though in my testing so far the more detailed track data cannot be exported in .fit or .gpx format for analysis in another platform. And even if it could be exported, it’s likely many platforms are configured to plot just one data point per second. Even in Garmin Connect, it’s unclear what you can do with 5Hz data beyond seeing a smoother track line on the map.
During a couple of my early test rides, I experienced a bug where the GPS unit would restart itself in the middle of the ride. This was not an isolated incident, even among several units available for testing. After doing a full factory reset on one of the devices, I didn’t experience any issues. Garmin continues to update the firmware for the Edge MTB, and it’s not clear if my device was running a beta version that has since been updated. A brand representative told me over email, “I believe we have hunted down your reset issue – should be fixed in our Day 0 SW [software] we will release in next day or so.”
Garmin Edge MTB hardware and form factor
The Garmin Edge MTB has a few new specs we haven’t seen from the brand’s cycling GPS units. Each spec is designed to make the Edge MTB more rugged and durable for the rigors of trail riding, while also protecting it from damage in the first place.
Gorilla Glass screen protection
The Edge MTB is the first Garmin cycling device with a Gorilla Glass screen lens. My Edge 530 has picked up many scratches over the years, and a more durable, scratch-resistant screen is a welcome upgrade.
Sealed button covers keep dirt and water out
If you look closely at the buttons on previous Garmin Edge devices, there’s a small gap between the button and the case. Over time, dust and water can work their way in between this gap, leading to sticky buttons. Honestly, I thought I was the only one who had this problem with my Edge, but apparently not.
So, the new Garmin Edge MTB uses a new design with “overmolded buttons.” Basically, this just means there’s a rubber-like cover that stretches over all the side buttons to keep them protected. It gives the GPS a seamless look, and also ensures smooth button operation over time. The buttons have a slightly raised profile compared to previous Edge GPS devices, which makes them easier to feel with gloves on.
All-new top-tube mount
With the release of the Edge MTB, Garmin is adding a new top-tube mount that’s included in the box. The mount can be attached to an accessory mount bolt, or if your bike doesn’t have this, you can use the included Voile-style strap. I found the strap holds the device securely and is simple to attach. The mount is backward-compatible with GPS units that work with quarter-turn mounts, and should be available for purchase separately in the future.
Mounting a GPS to the top tube has a couple of advantages. First, it tucks the unit out of harm’s way in case of a crash. As mountain bikers know, bar-mounted GPS units can be susceptible to encounters with trees and rocks on the trail.
Secondly, the top-tube mount keeps the GPS unit oriented in the direction of travel, and doesn’t rotate depending on your steering. The downside is that this makes looking ahead at the trail difficult compared to a bar-mounted GPS that’s closer to your field of vision. Then again, I know plenty of riders who find screens and devices on the bar distracting, so if you’re someone who rarely checks the GPS during a ride, this is a welcome option.
On my first ride with the top-tube mount, I accidentally knocked the ride stop button with my knee a couple of times without realizing it. The solution: move the GPS as far toward the head tube as possible, and tilt the GPS mount slightly toward the left side of the top tube. After making this adjustment, I didn’t have any accidental button presses.
Edge mountain bike mount also included
In addition to the top-tube mount, the Garmin Edge MTB comes with the Edge Mountain Bike handlebar mount. This mount fits bars with a 35mm or 31.8mm diameter right out of the box, and is designed to tuck the device inside the bars, rather than out front, to protect the unit from getting snagged or damaged in a crash. The mount can be flipped to allow for out-front mounting, and should fit mountain bike cockpits with shorter stems.
The Garmin Edge MTB is smaller than other Edges
The Garmin Edge MTB is notably smaller than previous Edge devices. It seems part of the reasoning is that a smaller unit is less likely to get snagged on the trail, or to break in a crash. Many years ago, Garmin pushed another GPS unit for mountain biking, the Edge 200, which was a good bit smaller than other Edge units at the time. That device never really caught on, according to the brand, and I suspect that’s due in part to the smaller screen. Personally, I’ve never broken a GPS in a crash, though I have lost them many times. I also smashed one in a car door.
Fortunately, Garmin has managed to pack plenty of information and usability into a small screen space. Still, I can’t help but wish the screen were larger to make it easier to view maps and data at a glance without taking my eyes off the trail ahead.
With such a small form factor and lighter weight, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some road and gravel bikers adopting the Edge MTB to save a few grams and a fraction of a watt. It’s possible Garmin will come out with a larger version of the Edge MTB eventually — the Edge MTB Plus, perhaps. After all, there’s the Edge 1040 which comes with a taller and wider screen than the Edge 540 and 840 units.
Edge MTB vs. Edge 540
The Garmin Edge MTB clearly traces its lineage to the Edge 540, and going back even further, the Edge 530. Compared to the Edge 540, the Edge MTB is notably smaller and lighter weight. According to my calculations, the pixels on the Edge MTB are smaller (ie more pixels per mm) than the Edge 540 for a smoother-looking display. The Edge MTB has double the built-in memory of the Edge 540.
With the backlight enabled, the Edge MTB screen is brighter than my Edge 530, though unfortunately I don’t have an Edge 540 to compare.
| Spec | Edge 540 | Edge MTB |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 2.6″ diagonal | 2.125″ diagonal |
| Screen resolution | 246×322 pixels | 240×320 pixels |
| Memory | 16Gb | 32Gb |
| Weight | 80.3g | 56.8g |
| Battery life | up to 26 hours | 14-26 hours |
| MSRP | $349.95 (device only, currently $249.95) | $399.99 |
Pros and cons of the Garmin Edge MTB
Pros
- Great for navigating unfamiliar trail systems thanks to Forksight improvements
- Timed gates are a fun training aid
- More rugged and durable design offers peace of mind
- Good to have another option for mounting to the bike
Cons
- Small screen size can be hard to view at a glance
Bottom line
The Garmin Edge MTB is the mountain bike GPS we’ve been waiting for all these years. Though it’s not perfect, it’s a great start and shows that Garmin is paying attention to what trail riders want.
Correction 6/17/25 @ 10:23a: All buttons are overmolded, not just the side buttons.
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