Hammerhead has sold out their first run on pre-orders so plenty of people are buying into the Karoo 2.
A FB post on Hammerhead’s site will likely get a better response than here.
I’m just not sold on their ability to deliver without fumbling one thing or another.
I was on the original bandwagon for the Karoo 1 but got a refund before they delivered and am glad I did. Their attitude just rubbed me wrong and what was shipped was full of gaps compared to what was “promised”. I say that in quotes because if you carefully read their slick pre-order marketing materials the expected features were never promised out-of-box. Instead they were mentioned as potential features at some point in the future. Well the future has come and gone and they are yet to deliver on some of those “promising” concepts.
I am hopeful they get more things right on this second iteration, but I’m in wait-and-see mode.
In the meantime I’m about to commit to the all-in-one option. I am currently leaning towards a Palm on Numbershare through Verizon. As far as size and looks go it’s a winner. They are obviously targeting serious cyclists with this page on the Palm site –
The Buy Bike Mount link actually goes to Amazon for the expensive K-Edge out-front mount along with this quick-and-easy KOM Garmin Mount Adapter – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076P316M8/
An adapter should be all most of us will need to experiment with a small Android smartphone as our GPS with the Xert Player.
After more research the Palm is out. Turns out there are two Palms. A Verizon companion model introduced in 2018 that can only be used with Numbershare (2nd phone on same line) and a more recent unlocked model (more $) that can be used standalone with several carriers including Verizon.
However, you wouldn’t want this unit as your only smartphone or as a companion phone on a long ride. Besides the small screen limitations it’s underpowered for all day use. With sensors, GPS, and screen active the 800mAh battery won’t be able to power the device for more than a couple hours. (They claim 4+ with GPS only.) Who want’s a dead phone halfway through their day?
It’s USB-C fast charge capable, but I don’t want to carry a battery pack to keep going…
I’d still need my 1030 for long rides.
A ruggedized version with double the battery capacity might be ideal, but that’s not likely to happen.
Back to the drawing board…
If there will ever be a device combining the iPhone 11 Pro (at least an Xr anyway) with a Garmin 1030 (Wahoo Bolt, Pioneer SGX, Hammerhead Karoo, whatever), running all the apps you need, including Xert, and a 12 h battery life, I’ll be ready to pay for it
After testing with the Unihertz Atom L, I would not recommend it. It’s promoted as “ruggedized” but it isn’t really that rugged. Screen’s cracked on it after a relatively minor fall. Our Sony Xperia Compact has taken many more falls and hasn’t cracked.
In the meantime I decided to order a KingKong Mini from Hong Kong.
It’s practically the same size and weight as a 1030.
I’ll epoxy a MagCAD Garmin quarter-turn plate on the back.
For $99USD I can always give it away if things don’t work out the way I’m hoping.
I pre-ordered the Karoo 2 so add me to the list of those hoping to see the Xert app work with it. I have been using the Wahoo Bolt since it launched and really just need more navigation features as I do a lot of long back country rides now. I gave up on Garmin and will never go back to them.
I have to throw out another option here. Its the Leomo Type S. Not only do you get a functional phone (if you want to add a sim card), but you also get a fantastic analysis package for your pedaling metrics/bike fit. The Leomo attaches tracking sensors for 5 spots on your body and will track your motion in an extermely precise fashion, allowing you to analyzy the efficiency of your pedal stroke, both inside and outside.
It has not only Bluetooth capability but DUAL ANT+ capability to handle all the communications it’s capable of.
It’s Android-based and runs the Xert player very nicely. The form-factor can’t be beat as it’s nice and compact but easy enough to see. And having access to the Google Play store, it opens up plenty of options with regard to navigation.
I attached a photo to show its size compared to the Garmin 1030.
Looks like a fantastic piece of equipment for sure. But if you go for the 5-sensor kit option, €799 is a steep price and the “USB-C charging cable not included” made me laugh out loud.
For sure it can get spendy if you want the 5 sensor package. I know it’s still expensive but the cost is actually $799USD, not Euros (about 675 Euros - still a lot I agree). Not sure why they didn’t include a simple cable for the unit, since they include one for the sensors (they are MicroUSB), but since I have plenty of USB-C cables, I didn’t even notice. But your point is definitely well taken!
I will say, it’s some of the best built stuff I have seen. I had their first version which was dedicated hardware and it was solid as well. The new TypeS hardware added a lot of flexibility being based on Android. I’m an iPhone user but it’s nice to only need to take this unit on rides since I can use it as a phone in a pinch.
Ah - that’s too bad. And not knowing how the sim cards work, I wouldn’t want to buy a US version, shipped overseas, for fear the sim cards wouldn’t work.
I lost my Garmin Varia head light, which snapped off during a descend and fell off a cliff while in the Dolomites. The Knog. is a better alternative, as I need to replace the GoPro battery every hour.
The only thing GoPro advises is lowering recording quality, which is not why I bought a 4K camera…
Kingkong Mini is a no-go too.
Turns out the device doesn’t support any band/frequency for top US carriers.
Perhaps the Karoo 2 is my destiny but only if I see some stellar in-depth reviews first.
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If you have an Android that supports Bluetooth Internet Tethering, you can set up the KKM with that and still have connectivity on the road. Not 100% sure you can have BT sensors connected and have it tethered via BT at the same time.
(Edit: Looks like you can have it connected to your other phone and have it connected to BT sensors simultaneously.)
Hmm… back to Palm. Current promos include a Power Bundle for $299USD.
That’s an unlocked phone, Mophie Juice Pack case/power bank (doubles battery life), screen protector, 1 month free US Mobile.
The unlocked model works with most US carriers except Sprint. This model cannot be used as a companion phone (only available from Verizon). US Mobile’s pay-as-you go plans are reasonably priced.
I plan to test the Palm by inserting my Verizon SIM and nix my usual phone during rides.
The Palm screen is HD 3.3" 1280 x 720 (445 ppi) versus Karoo 2’s high resolution 3.2" 480x800 (292 ppi). That’s a big difference in resolution, but Karoo’s anti-glare matte finish and droplet rejection may be significant factors.
Technically you could swim with a Palm (IP68). Karoo is the standard IP67 (1 meter immersion up to 30 minutes). That’s plenty for the unplanned dunk during stream crossings or the inevitable toilet bowl incident.
Karoo 2 is 124 grams while Palm+Juice Pack is 131 grams.
The two devices are virtually the same size.
The Palm Power Bundle looks like a viable smartphone-as-cycling-computer option.
I’ll update my post after some real world testing with Xert Player plus Google Maps or Komoot plus Varia radar app and Strava.
OTOH the current promo could indicate things are not going well for Palm as everything is on sale, bundled or not. When you sign-up on their site they also send you a $15 off code.
I played with the Palm for a while, got a Mophie juice pack for it, but battery life is still not great and touch screen is way too finicky while riding on the road.
Had decent results with Xert player side loaded on the Karoo, but sensor pairing is a pain. So far no good solution.
