Waterproof cover for phone!

[Cathryn]

Hi! Super grateful for any bright ideas.

I use my phone for navigation, with my route on Komoot. I really like it, I find it very very easy to follow. I have my phone on a quad lock and all is well…when it’s dry! When it rains, it all goes horribly wrong. My phone gets wet and often nearly dies. Navigation becomes almost impossible, which, in the rain and often in a foreign county, is very stressful. I have the quad lock hood but it doesn’t keep my phone dry so that’s not a proper solution.

I bought a Garmin Edge Explore a few months ago and have tried to get used to it so I can use it instead of my phone. But honestly I don’t like it very much. At all.

I’m thinking about buying a more expensive and reliable garmin or Komoot but before I shell out more money, I wondered…has anyone found a waterproof phone cover that allows them to see their phone for navigation, with decent visibility and touch screen, in the rain?

Can anyone save me some money?

Thank you!

 

[fossyant]

What's wrong with the Explore- used mine loads for bike packing and general navigation - they are better than using the phone - I'm not fitting a very expensive phone to the bike - it get's tucked up in a rucksack. You may need a little longer getting used to it. Be wary using a phone in wet weather, can get expensive. I don't think you can get a cover that's quad lock compatible

 

[Cathryn]

What's wrong with the Explore- used mine loads for bike packing and general navigation - they are better than using the phone - I'm not fitting a very expensive phone to the bike - it get's tucked up in a rucksack. You may need a little longer getting used to it. Be wary using a phone in wet weather, can get expensive. I don't think you can get a cover that's quad lock compatible

I just find the explore not very easy to use. Also it keeps freezing and the battery dies really quickly! I’m not a fan.

 

[OldShep]

Have you tried the Quadlock poncho?

 

[fossyant]

I just find the explore not very easy to use. Also it keeps freezing and the battery dies really quickly! I’m not a fan.

You may need to spend a bit more time with it - was it new when purchased. Mine never freezes and battery life is pretty good if you turn off some of the extras (sensors, screen time out, backlight) - none of which are needed as the unit springs into life for navigating where needed. I would do a factory reset and start again. I've no issues with mine, and I'm not worrying about wrecking a phone. I have a small Anker battery pack 5000 mah, which is about four times the Garmin's battery capacity if you need it for an all day ride.

 

[Cathryn]

Have you tried the Quadlock poncho?

yes but it’s not fully waterproof in downpours or long days in the rain

 

[Cathryn]

You may need to spend a bit more time with it - was it new when purchased. Mine never freezes and battery life is pretty good if you turn off some of the extras (sensors, screen time out, backlight) - none of which are needed as the unit springs into life for navigating where needed. I would do a factory reset and start again. I've no issues with mine, and I'm not worrying about wrecking a phone. I have a small Anker battery pack 5000 mah, which is about four times the Garmin's battery capacity if you need it for an all day ride.

Maybe I’ll try the factory reset, someone else suggested that too. Thanks.

 

[fossyant]

Turn off auto re-routing also as its rubbish. Always has been since the early models. Been very happy with mine for navigation, especially off road. It just works. I usually have power save on, as I don't really look at the devices when riding as I've had a garmin that long. Coming upto junctions etc, it will spring into life then turn off when not needed. A tap on the screen brings it to life again. Backlight is set to 0 or at most 10% as it's not needed in daylight. Route uploading works seamlessly using the Garmin app, syncs using my phone. Open navigation, select route, and press go. I don't touch it until I get to the end. I'll sometimes pause it when we stop for food. Also means I am not hammering the battery of the phone, which you might just need. The Explore 2 has a better battery.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

I've no experience of the Garmin, but my Wahoo easily lasts a day's battery and has never frozen.

For the exact reasons you suggest, plus the vulnerability of it, I'd never use a phone on the bars.

 

[Baldy]

I just keep the phone in my pocket and have directions through my headset. Took some getting used to the voices in my head feeling. Not perfect but it does work. I use Ridewithgps, I assume the others give directions.

 

[ColinJ]

I've no experience of the Garmin, but my Wahoo easily lasts a day's battery and has never frozen.

My Wahoo (Bolt v2) lasts more hours on a charge than I need it it to, BUT... it has glitched out on me when navigating several times! It happened again on Wednesday, during a 101 km route. It suddenly announced that I had reached my destination when I still had over 20 km to go!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I’m thinking about buying a more expensive and reliable garmin

I can recommend the Explore 2.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I once found a smashed up phone in the road with the remains of a broken quadlock attached to it. I don't trust them.

I'd recommend a GPS, but I'll leave others to suggest specific models.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

My Wahoo (Bolt v2) lasts more hours on a charge than I need it it to, BUT... it has glitched out on me when navigating several times! It happened again on Wednesday, during a 101 km route. It suddenly announced that I had reached my destination when I still had over 20 km to go!

People do seem to have widely differing experiences with some of these gizmos.

If you just start the route again you can continue with navigation without losing any data (ive used this for different reasons)

 

[ColinJ]

If you just start the route again you can continue with navigation without losing any data (ive used this for different reasons)

I didn't need to do it on Wednesday because I had (fortunately!) taken my old Garmin Edge 200 along for backup and that is 100% reliable. I will reboot the Bolt the next time that the problem happens and see if it starts navigating again after that.

As for waterproof covers for phones... I can't help there, but I agree that getting a dedicated bike GPS working properly is the way to go - forgive the pun!