Can the Garmin Enduro 3 Replace Your Bike Computer? A Real-World Review
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What if you could finish a 515 km endurance race and still have 80% battery left on your bike computer? That was my reality when I ditched a dedicated bike computer in favor of the Garmin Enduro 3. But is great battery life enough to make a watch a true replacement for a bike computer? After four weeks with the Garmin bike mount, here's my real-world review.
Quick disclaimer: While this review focuses on the Enduro 3, it's essentially a variant of the Fenix 8. Most of what I'm saying here applies to the Garmin Fenix 8 51mm Solar as well. This article contains affiliate links — purchases through these links help support my work at no extra cost to you.
The Mount: Rock Solid
I mounted my Enduro 3 on my bike using a simple handlebar mount from Garmin, and let me tell you — this thing is solid. I rode through some seriously bumpy roads and not once did I worry about the watch coming loose. The mount system is, in my opinion, absolutely secure and tight. If you already have a Garmin bike computer and want to run both, there's also a compatible quick fit mount that supports both your watch and a dedicated bike computer on the same handlebar setup.
Screen Size: Small but Workable
My first thought when I fired the Enduro 3 up as a bike computer: the screen feels a bit small. If you're coming from dedicated bike computers or even using your phone with Google Maps, it takes some adjustment. But here's the thing — it's totally workable. The MIP (memory-in-pixel) display is absolutely brilliant in direct sunlight, which is exactly what you need on long rides where readability is key.
Battery Life: The Real Game Changer
During my 20-hour tracking session on the endurance race, I only used 20% battery. My buddy with a 47mm Fenix 7 Pro started at 100% and was down to 15% by the end of the race. The solar charging on this thing is no joke — I recorded 343,000 lux of sunlight exposure during the ride and was actually expecting even better battery life by the end of the day.
That said, I did use the backlight a bit during the last 2 hours in the dark, and the occasional glance at the map might also have contributed to further battery drain.
Navigation: Functional with Caveats
I'll be honest — navigation on a 1.4-inch screen requires some squinting. But Garmin's implementation is clever. You get a clear line with directional arrows, and as long as you're following the line, you know you're on track. For ultra-distance events where you're mostly following long stretches of road, it works perfectly fine. When not on the map screen, small arrows show you the general direction.
The only real safety concern: sometimes you need to look down and focus on those small arrows, which takes your attention off the road.
Interface and Controls
For tracking road biking, I mostly swapped between the map screen and my main data screen — which was my primary screen for about 95% of the race. The five-button interface worked flawlessly, way better than trying to use a touchscreen with sweaty, sticky fingers covered in energy drink and sunscreen. I kept touch controls off the entire time.
One feature I didn't use but could see being valuable: the built-in LED flashlight. You could actually use it as a supplementary bike light with strobe mode for visibility. I have dedicated bike lights so I skipped it to save battery, and I wouldn't recommend relying on any Garmin's LED lights on a race like this in case your watch dies due to excess battery drain.
What About Cheaper Alternatives?
The Enduro 3 and Fenix 8 sit at the top of Garmin's lineup, but not everyone needs to spend that much to get a capable watch-as-bike-computer setup. I've used several Garmin watches over the years, and the concept works across price points — with trade-offs, of course.
My previous daily driver was the Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar, which I wore for nearly two years before upgrading to the Enduro 3. It handles navigation and activity tracking just as well for bike mounting, though you'll notice a significant difference in battery life during those longer 12+ hour efforts. For most day rides and even medium-distance events, the Fenix 7 is still more than capable and can be found at a steep discount now that the Fenix 8 is out.
If you're on a tighter budget, the Instinct line is worth considering. The Garmin Instinct 3 Solar delivers solid GPS tracking and impressive solar-assisted battery life at roughly half the price of the Enduro 3. The screen is smaller and the mapping is more basic, but for riders who primarily follow a pre-loaded route and want the essentials — speed, distance, heart rate, elevation — it gets the job done. There's also the Instinct 3 AMOLED variant if you prefer a vibrant display over solar endurance — though you'll sacrifice some battery life compared to the Solar version, which is a meaningful trade-off for long-distance cycling.
The Verdict: Should You Use an Enduro 3 as a Bike Computer?
For long-distance cycling events with minimal navigation requirements, I think the Enduro 3 is absolutely brilliant. The battery life alone justifies using it over a dedicated computer for ultra-endurance events. I think it's also safe to say the same about the Fenix 8 51mm Solar, even though the battery life is not quite on par with the Enduro.
However, if you're doing technical rides with lots of navigation, or if you're in the enthusiast road cycling segment, the screen size might frustrate you.
If you already own an Enduro 3 or Fenix 8, a bike mount costs next to nothing — it's a no-brainer to try it out. Add an external heart rate strap and the HR sensor allows you to get very accurate HR readings during your ride. This combo has been an essential tool for my preparation for Den Store Styrkeprøven, and I think it makes a lot of sense if you have an Enduro 3 or Fenix 8 and are considering getting a dedicated bike computer.
Have you tried using your sports watch as a bike computer? Drop your experiences in the comments below, and feel free to ask any questions. Don't forget to subscribe for more real-world gear reviews!
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