Wahoo launch the Elemnt Roam GPS computer, their first with a colour screen

Wahoo Fitness have unveiled their new flagship GPS device, the Elemnt Roam. It adds expanded navigational features and a colour screen, which will appeal to both road and off-road riders. 

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The Roam is sleeker and smaller that the original Elemnt but a little chunkier than the Elemnt Bolt; we measured our test unit that has just landed in the office at 8.5cm long x 5.5cm wide and 95g, compared to 7cm x 4.5cm and 62g for the Elemnt Bolt.    

The unit shares many of the same features as the Wahoo Elemnt and Elemnt Bolt, charging via micro USB and getting both out-front and stem mount options in the box. The mount is specific to the Elemnt Roam, but has a very similar appearance to their others. 

Customisation of the data fields in done via Wahoo's recently revamped app for both iOS and Android, and it's simple to use with three big buttons on the front, scroll buttons on the right side and an on/off button on the left. The screen can be zoomed in or out, and it can connect to any ANT+ and Bluetooth devices such as power meters and heart rate monitors. 

The new features include an ambient light sensor that automatically turns the screen backlight on or off and adjusts screen brightness according to the light conditions, inside or out. 

The new Smart Navigation includes the option to automatically reroute you on to a planned route when you go off course, create new routes on the go and a 'take me home' option. The 2.7” colour display should make the maps easy to follow, and the battery life is a claimed 17 hours with all the features running, more than enough for a full day's exploring and more. Wahoo say the Elemnt Roam was made to answer demand as more cyclists are exploring "lesser trafficked" areas nowadays, so in response their new unit has much improved navigational features.  

The Elemnt Roam comes at a levy compared to Wahoo's other computers, and at £299.99 this is their priciest device yet. We'll be testing our unit thoroughly over the next few weeks to bring you our verdict, in the meantime if you already reckon it's the one for you we've seen it for sale on Wahoo's website and Evan Cycles.