REVIEW - ENRICHMENT April 13, 2018
GARMIN'S VARIA VISION
The first in-sight cycling display from Garmin, Varia Vision enhances your road awareness by putting the cycling information you want right where you want it ā in your line of sight. The lightweight display attaches to either side of sunglasses and relays information directly from your compatible device. Now you wonāt lose focus while trying to nail your targets for a workout, find the next turn or stay aware of cars approaching from behind.
The first thing to know about the Varia Vision is that itās more accurately described as a āremote displayā than a standalone unit. It is essentially a secondary monitor for your Garmin Edge. Said differently: It doesnāt have GPS in it, nor does it have the ability to directly talk to all your existing sensors..
Varia Vision displays up to 4 crucial data fields plus clear, color-coded graphic displays at any given time. This allows you to view information such as your heart rate, power and speed and still keep your eyes peeled for potential hazards in front of you. Varia Vision can even help you find your way with detailed navigation prompts, complete with street names, directional arrows and distance to turn. Varia Vision vibration alerts let you know when youāre approaching segments, completing laps, leaving a workout zone or receiving a call/text. Plus, if you have it paired with Varia rearview radar, youāll gain valuable peace of mind knowing when vehicles are approaching from behind. It has also Advanced Technology in a Featherweight Design. Varia Vision in-sight cycling display weighs just 28 grams, so itās never cumbersome to wear. A built-in ambient light sensor ensures that Varia Vision data is always easy to see, even in direct sunlight. A glove-friendly touch panel makes it simple to switch between displays. Plus, it features an 8-hour battery life and weather-resistant design so it can endure even the longest and harshest rides.
Itās probably no surprise that Garmin is getting into the heads up display market. The category is still quite young, especially on the sport side of things. Right now the only released competitors in sport are the Recon Jet and 4iiii units. The mount system is awesome. If nothing else, Garmin can usually be trusted to come out with brilliantly simple mounts that just work. This would be one of them. Itās super tiny, yet seems remarkably stable. If the display pod fell off this mount, itās likely because youāve face planted into a shrubbery. The crispness and contrast of the display. Having tried every heads up display on and not yet on the market, Iām more than familiar with many having washed out colors. This doesnāt. Itās surprisingly sharp. Out of the way yet still visible. A key aspect that some other HUDās struggle with. Of course, itās just one (sorta rainy) ride. Itās entirely possible I could do a second ride and the thing causes me to run into a Metro bus. But not everything sticks out to me as positive, notably two specific items. Itās expensive. As well as the technical execution on this product, itās rather pricey at $399, as thatās in the ballpark of what most other fully capable GPS-inclusive HUDās cost.
Not obligated but Iām recommending all the cyclist to purchase a bit expensive yet a very helpful device to enhance road awareness.














