Originally Posted by
sstorkel
On tour, I carry a smartphone (iPhone 5) and a dedicated cycling GPS (Garmin Edge 800). The Garmin is mounted on the bars and is powered on whenever I'm riding. The smartphone stays in my handlebar bag and is powered off unless I actually need to use it. The Edge 800 has better battery life and a screen that is more readable in direct sunlight.
Thanks sstorkel. Saves me typing the same thing. Only difference is I now use a Garmin Edge 810. My smartphone is a HTC One, which is totally useless in sunlight and if used as I use the Edge 810 would kill the battery in no time. That said I can counter that using my dynamo.
Also I note that unless I have actual network coverage, it will not route for me in GPS mode, just show where I am.
In my experience tools designed to to multiple things generally don't do as well as tool designed to do a specific task.
Andrew