Skip to main content

Hammerhead challenges Garmin with lightning-fast Karoo cycling computer

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Every seasoned cyclist knows the value of a good cycling computer. The ability to navigate different routes, track your speed, evaluate your training, and create training plans is essential to fitness development. While Garmin and Wahoo have traditionally dominated these ranks, Hammerhead’s introduction of Karoo adds a new layer of functionality to cycling computers.

The Karoo is a new generation of cycling computer — integrating characteristics of both cell phones and traditional computers. The operating system was built on Android and loaded with world-class applications. The designers are constantly updating the database and adding new features — ensuring you will never lack for functionality. The device allows you to connect to multiple Bluetooth and ANT+ sensors simultaneously. Its standout feature? No phone is required — Karoo includes onboard 3G cellular and Wi-Fi capability, allowing for streaming, sharing with friends, and other real-time tools.

Recommended Videos

Karoo’s offers a plethora of fully comprehensive maps, including multiple layers and filters for dirt, road, gradient, and more. You can create new routes directly on the computer and utilize turn-by-turn navigation even on mountain biking trails. Build routes or make changes while you’re offline, on the road, or on the trail. Unmapped routes can be followed by GPX files or while in Compass Mode.

The operating system provides for a high level of performance and training, equipped with tools that allow you to analyze metrics, understand your training efforts, and even utilize training insights. Karoo is capable of syncing up to power, heart rate, speed, and cadence sensors — and this is just the beginning. Its seamless integration with Strava and other apps allows for you to share your rides with friends, post your efforts, and find friends located nearby.

The computer features an easy-to-read transflective display, a light sensor that helps reduce battery consumption, and Corning Gorilla Glass 4 — so that you don’t need to worry about bumps in the road or obstacles in your way. The battery provides for 10-15 hours of run time depending on your settings and the device is rated to IP67 weatherproofing standards, ensuring that rain or snow won’t slow you down. In addition, the buttons are designed for wet weather, allowing for complete control in any conditions. The standard quarter-turn interface works with any Garmin-type mount and ships with a BarFly 4 Max.

Sign up on Hammerhead’s website to get access to Karoo at a special discounted price.

Amanda Ellis
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Amanda is an outdoor junkie and digital nomad with an insatiable hunger for gear. Based out of Raleigh, NC she travels to…
The best hurricane trackers for Android and iOS in 2024
Best hurricane tracking apps.

The hurricane season instills fear in those who find themselves in the paths of these storms, and in their loved ones who are concerned for their safety. A hurricane app is essential if you’ve stayed up all night worrying about a family member who's alone during a destructive storm.

Many hurricane trackers are available to help you prepare for these dangerous events, monitor their progress, and assist in recovery. We’ve compiled a list of the best apps for tracking storms, predicting their paths, and providing on-the-ground suggetsions for shelters and emergency services. Most of these apps are free to download and supported by ads. Premium versions are available to remove ads and add extra features.

Read more
Best lawn mower deals: Cordless, gas, electric and robotic
A robot lawn mower in a backyard while a family relaxes.

Mowing a lawn can be very therapeutic unless you have an older lawnmower, which makes life difficult and constantly causes you frustration. Luckily, you can snag a new lawnmower for a pretty good price, and even the more budget-oriented options have a lot of quality-of-life features that you wouldn't find on lawnmowers ten or even five years ago. To that end, we've gone about and collected some of our favorite lawnmower deals across the board, including some great robot lawn mowers that are worth checking out.
Litheli Cordless Lawn Mower U20 Handy+ -- $120, was $140

If you want a solid lawn mower, this offering from Litheli has a 13-inch cutting width, which is pretty good for the deal that you're getting. Even better, you get a 30L grass bag so you're not having to clean up after yourself, and you can mow for longer without having to stop. You also get 5 height adjustments so you can hone in the length of your grass to the perfect height, plus you get a 4.0Ah portable battery included.

Read more
Juiced Bikes offers 20% off on all e-bikes amid signs of bankruptcy
Juiced Bikes Scrambler ebike

A “20% off sitewide” banner on top of a company’s website should normally be cause for glee among customers. Except if you’re a fan of that company’s products and its executives remain silent amid mounting signs that said company might be on the brink of bankruptcy.That’s what’s happening with Juiced Bikes, the San Diego-based maker of e-bikes.According to numerous customer reports, Juiced Bikes has completely stopped responding to customer inquiries for some time, while its website is out of stock on all products. There are also numerous testimonies of layoffs at the company.Even more worrying signs are also piling up: The company’s assets, including its existing inventory of products, is appearing as listed for sale on an auction website used by companies that go out of business.In addition, a court case has been filed in New York against parent company Juiced Inc. and Juiced Bike founder Tora Harris, according to Trellis, a state trial court legal research platform.Founded in 2009 by Harris, a U.S. high-jump Olympian, Juiced Bikes was one of the early pioneers of the direct-to-consumer e-bike brands in the U.S. market.The company’s e-bikes developed a loyal fandom through the years. Last year, Digital Trends named the Juiced Bikes Scorpion X2 as the best moped-style e-bike for 2023, citing its versatility, rich feature set, and performance.The company has so far stayed silent amid all the reports. But should its bankruptcy be confirmed, it could legitimately be attributed to the post-pandemic whiplash experienced by the e-bike industry over the past few years. The Covid-19 pandemic had led to a huge spike in demand for e-bikes just as supply chains became heavily constrained. This led to a ramp-up of e-bike production to match the high demand. But when consumer demand dropped after the pandemic, e-bike makers were left with large stock surpluses.The good news is that the downturn phase might soon be over just as the industry is experiencing a wave of mergers and acquisitions, according to a report by Houlihan Lokey.This may mean that even if Juiced Bikes is indeed going under, the brand and its products might find a buyer and show up again on streets and trails.

Read more