GARMIN ZUMO XT2

Ross Mowbray / £529.99 / www.garmin.com

We’ve been getting to grips with the latest iteration of Garmin’s Zumo biker sat-nav. Packed with features and ready-loaded with European maps (with free access to the R.O.W), there’s a lot to like about this top-of-the-line bit of kit But is it worth the money? And why would you go for it over the cheaper TomTom? Or the older Garmin XT it supersedes?

It’s got all the good stuff you’d expect for something that costs over 500 quid: a super-clear 6” TFT screen; live traffic updates; hazard alerts; an adventurous routes option (which’ll search out twisty roads so you don’t have to); a selection of different map layers (depending on your terrain); and the option to record your rides, too. It’s also easier to map out your routes on the sat-nav itself; though there’s also a new Tread app on which you can plan routes and wirelessly whizz them over to the device. It’s clever and very easy to use, but probably not as capable as the BaseCamp software that was both loved and loathed by Garmin owners of old.

There are more differences to the old model: it’s lighter, has a longer battery life, and features a new USB-C connection to make it easier to plug into your bike.

It’s also better at tracking your location, updating your position 10 times every second (instead of just once).

The big selling point of the Garmin is its ability to provide mapping for off-road routes. It’s something the TomTom doesn’t do; and while you can find apps for your phone that’ll do a good job, the Zumo XT2 is far superior. It’s super-easy to load GPX files on to the device, and with 32GB of internal storage (and an SD card slot), you’ll have no trouble with space.

The XT2 builds on the winning formula of its predecessor, but it more capable, longer lasting and easier to use. That’s a win in my book.