Garmin, a brand best known for its GPS tech across road cycling and outdoor adventure, has just launched its first bike computer built specifically for mountain biking. It’s called the Edge MTB, and it introduces a number of features designed to meet the demands of technical trail riding.

Unlike Garmin’s broader Edge range, which caters primarily to road cyclists and general fitness riders, the Edge MTB zeroes in on functionality tailored for the off-road crowd. That includes features for enduro and downhill use, trail-specific mapping, and mountain bike performance tracking.

Built to Withstand the Trail

The device comes in a rugged, compact design with a scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass lens and seven overmoulded buttons, which Garmin says are built to resist mud and grit. It includes both top tube and MTB mounts, allowing for a range of bike setups.

Battery life is reported at up to 14 hours during regular use and 26 hours in battery saver mode.

Focus on Precision and Performance

The standout technical addition is its 5 Hz GPS recording – a first for a bike computer in its class. This means the device captures location data five times more frequently than typical GPS cycling units, with the aim of giving more detailed trail line tracking, particularly useful during descents. The Edge MTB also makes use of multi-band GPS for improved accuracy.

Two dedicated ride profiles, Enduro and Downhill, allow users to track ascent and descent by segment or run, rather than as a single continuous ride. This could be useful for riders wanting to assess their performance across specific trail sections.

There’s also a Forksight mode, which provides data such as trail names, elevation profiles, estimated return distance, trail difficulty, and primary direction of travel.

Trail Mapping and MTB Dynamics

Trail navigation is supported by a range of mapping tools, including Garmin TopoActive maps, integration with Trailforks MTB trail data, and Trendline Popularity Routing, which draws from Garmin’s ride history database to suggest popular trail routes.

The unit also includes Garmin’s MTB-specific performance tracking metrics such as jump count, jump distance, hang time, and the brand’s own Grit and Flow scoring systems.

Other notable features include timing gates for race split tracking, incident detection, LiveTrack, and compatibility with Garmin’s Varia radar/lights and inReach satellite communicators.

Pricing and Availability

The Garmin Edge MTB is available now at an RRP of £339.99. For full details and specs, visit garmin.com.​