Coros Dura bike computer: Lightweight and longer battery life - competition for Garmin & Co.

The editors have really taken a look: A bike computer with a battery life of up to 120 hours? At least that's what the Chinese manufacturer Coros promises for its Dura bike sat nav, which has now been launched on the market. 120 hours - and we were already impressed by the values of the Garmin Edge 1040 with solar panel which, according to the manufacturer, should last up to 70 hours - and in our own numerous tests easily survived 3-4 day trips in the sun.

The second highlight of the Coros Dura: At 289 euros, the bike sat nav is also said to be significantly cheaper than the extended competition from Garmin, Hammerhead and Wahoo - with the exception of the Wahoo Bolt. And in terms of weight, the new device from China, at 97 grams (97.9 g according to our own measurement), should at least be lighter than the Edge 1040-Moppel (133 g) or the Hammerhead Karoo 3 (118 g).

What can the new Coros Dura bike sat nav do?

Whilst we're on the subject of weight, the question of size and therefore the display also arises. According to the manufacturer, the Coros Dura bike sat nav measures 99.5 x 60.8 x 15.7 mm. What is striking about the Dura is that not the entire surface is used for the display, but about a quarter for the solar panel. Therefore, only a 2.7 inch display is installed. Slightly larger than the handy Garmin Edge 540 and 840. However, the Chinese from Coros promise a better look for their touch display thanks to "memory-in-pixel" technology. More on this later in our first test of the Dura bike sat nav.

The Coros Dura can also be operated via a rotary dial on the right-hand side of the device. This also sets it apart from the others in terms of design. We have already gathered our first impressions of how it can be used to scroll through the menu. The Dura GPS device is also quite slim when viewed from the side and can be attached to a Garmin mount.

The Coros Dura Navi in figures

Battery

• Up to 120 h (without solar)
• With dual frequency up to 70 h (without solar)
• Solar efficiency: 1 hour in direct sunlight generates up to 2 hours of additional driving time
• Estimated charging time: approx. 2 h (15 ℃ - 45 ℃) // approx. 3.5 h (at 0 ℃ - 15 ℃)
• Battery capacity: 960 mAh

Dimensions

• Dimensions: 99.5 x 60.8 x 15.7 mm
• Weight: 97 g
• Bracket: 44 g
• Display: 2.7 inch
• Resolution: 400 x 240 pixel

Connectivity

• External data transmission: Bluetooth (smartphone with COROS app) // WiFi (directly from sat nav)
• Data transmission devices: Bluetooth and ANT+
• Up to 12 devices can be connected (e.g. heart rate monitor, power meter, indoor trainer, speed sensors, cadence sensors, bike radar, shifting systems from Sram or Shimano)
• Auto GPS mode via GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, Beidou, QZSS

Device sensors

• Barometric altimeter
• Accelerometer
• Gyroscope (gyroscope)
• Compass
• Temperature sensor

Features

• Data volume: 32 GB
• Water and dust protection to IP67 standard
• Bike Alarm
• Live Tracking/Safety Alerts
• Crash detection

Training

Training Load, Base Fitness, Load Impact (Training Management), FTP Test, Training Load Recommendation, Recovery Timer, Workouts, Training Plans, Activity Training Zone Alerts (HR and Power)

Links to other providers

Strava, Komoot, Ride with GPS, TrainingPeaks, Relive, Final Surge, Decathlon, Adidas Running, Nike Run Club etc.

Who is Coros?

The Chinese manufacturer Coros is currently represented on the market with fitness and training watches. "Our goal is to create products that solve problems for athletes - whether it's to help them train, explore the world or simply bring them closer to the sport they already love", explains Coros co-founder Lewis Wu. "Coros Dura is a clear extension of this ethos and is the ultimate companion for adventure and training."

To develop the Dura bike sat nav, the team at Coros gathered feedback from some of the best off-road endurance cyclists in the world, including Haley Smith, Cole Paton, Freddy Ovett, Hannah Otto and Amity Rockwell. In endurance races such as Traka 360 and the Unbound 200, as well as in the tight corners of the Nové Město Mountain Bike World Cup, the Dura Bike sat nav is said to have provided accurate data and navigation, worked flawlessly, had sufficient battery life and offered all the performance metrics that top athletes need.

Our first experiences with the Coros Dura bike computer

There wasn't enough time between receiving the bike sat nav and now to write a detailed review. However, we put the Coros Dura through its paces in the editorial office and on an extended tour.

The first impression is of course that - as with any new device - you first have to familiarise yourself with the operation. As Coros has a different menu structure, this is clear. However, you will quickly find your way around with the side rotary dial and the touch display.

The readability is very good, says our tester Sandra. The display is very focussed on the route shown as a thick line. One tester criticised precisely this reduction, saying that it lacked the map data that Garmin, for example, provides (contour lines, buildings, etc.). Both liked the brightness.

If you deviate from the route in navigation mode, a dashed line indicates the direction of the actual track. Handy for getting back on track.

Operating the Coros bike sat nav

The touchscreen has fewer touch points than Garmin's current Edge devices. This doesn't seem very fluid at first, but you quickly get used to it and can also do a lot using the wheel on the side in combination with the button next to it. The wheel clicks noticeably when you turn it, but the menu only jumps forward every 2nd time. Sitting at a desk, this makes a rather sluggish impression. On a bike, this is no longer as relevant because you don't have the same fine motor skills when turning the wheel as you do when relaxed at your desk.

Sandra continues: "So far, I have downloaded routes as gpx and then uploaded them to the Coros app. However, a direct connection from Coros to Komoot, for example, can be established so that all planned tours can be synchronised automatically - says the manufacturer. This should also work with the workouts from TrainingPeaks, but I still need to find out exactly how this works."

It is strange that there is no "OFF" button. The only way to switch off the Coros Dura is very cumbersome: you first have to go to "System", then to "More settings" and then switch off. However, Coros describes the Dura Navi as an "Always On" device, so it can update and synchronise itself in the background.

But even so, the battery lasts a long time. We have not yet been able to find out exactly how long, as Sandra's tours were too short.

Not a novelty (Garmin can do this too), but practical: if you also have the Coros sports watch and the Dura Navi, both of which are connected (they are because they know each other via the app), then the watch can automatically send the heart rate data to the Dura at the start of an activity. So if you have forgotten your heart rate belt or don't want to wear one, this is a good alternative.

An initial summary of the new Coros Dura

For less than 300 euros, the Coros Dura is a favourable alternative to the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar, especially in terms of battery life. - Sandra Schuberth, BIKE editor