Bytagand the publication "Test of the new Hammerhead Karoo meter/GPS"
The American brand Hammerhead presented this spring its third generation Karoo, a counter/GPS that we were able to testfour-handed over just over 7000 km. Perfectly integrated with the new Sram Red AXS group, this new Karoo benefits from a superb screen and a large storage capacity with maps from all over the world, for a responsive and easy-to-use device offered at a particularly competitive price.
By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©Sébastien Argentin
This new Karoo is the first meter offered by Hammerhead since the acquisition of the brand by Sram at the end of 2021. It is therefore on the occasion of the release of the new Red AXS group that Sram and Hammerhead have jointly presented the all-new Karoo, a computer/GPS designed to work perfectly with AXS electronic groupsets, and in particular with the all-new top-of-the-range Red and its buttons bonus placed on the upper part of the brake handles. Buttons connected via Bluetooth to the meter, and which allow you, if you wish to configure them, to change the pages of the meter menu or to launch intermediate times without taking your hands off the handlebars. A feature that we already knew with the Shimano Di2 groups and the Garmin, Wahoo or Bryton meters… but not Hammerhead, Shimano having decided to ignore compatibility with a brand of meters/GPS belonging to its direct competitor Sram!
Fortunately, The new Karoo has other assets likely to appeal to all users. Moreover, after a test intensive spread over two months and almost 5000 km with a Sram Red AXS group, this latest generation counter/GPS continued its route mounted on a bike equipped with a good old 11-speed mechanical transmission and rim brakes. The same bike on which had been installed for almost two years the previous Hammerhead Karoo. A good way therefore to note the developments (all positive) between the two versions.
What is the Hammerhead Karoo meter/GPS used for?
Due to its size and weight (121 g), it competes with the Garmin Edge 1040, with a 3,2" screen, a size that allows for a lot of information to be displayed without the device being too bulky either. The many maps available, as well as the ease with which it is possible to transfer previously plotted routes to the device and a precise and responsive guidance mode make it a counter/GPS of choice if you prioritize guidance during your outings.
It has the connectivity to be connected to all the sensors needed for live training monitoring, or for security. But overall it offers fewer functions related to programming or training monitoring than the high-end models from Garmin, as well as fewer social functions than, for example, the new Edge 1050.
Finally, the quality of its display and the design of the cards make it, in our opinion, a particularly user-friendly device that we enjoyed using, especially since its sale price is not excessive compared to the competition. At €499 (public price), it must be compared to the €599 of the Garmin Edge 1040, or at €399 from Wahoo Element Roam (non-touch).
A new application
Until the release of this new Karoo, Hammerhead was notable for the lack of a truly powerful smartphone application. It was therefore necessary to use the Suunto compatible application to download the outings via Bluetooth, or better, via the Hammerhead Dashboard website, provided you had a Wi-Fi connection. A super fast and efficient interface, but which can be lacking when you change locations often. But With this latest version of the Karoo, Hammerhead finally offers an application which allows uploads to and from the device, live tracking and output syncs even when wifi is not available.
You can access past rides, routes, and workouts from the Hammerhead website to review some data, and you can also connect various third-party apps like Strava, Training Peaks, TrainerRoad, or Komoot for example. The Karoo is also compatible with the Sram AXS app, which allows him to reconautomatically generate the material used and configure the group from the meter and see several types of information such as the development used or the remaining autonomy of the batteries of the derailleurs or the gear change levers.
The fact remains that this application is still being constantly improved, and is not yet at the level of Garmin Connect for example in terms of data analysis without going through the dashboard or the third-party applications mentioned above.
Improvements over the previous Karoo
This new Karoo meter/GPS is presented as a device very similar to its predecessor. Compared to the previous Karoo, it nevertheless offers a notable list of improvements :
- A dual-frequency/multi-band GNSS/GPS
- A 12-bit Android 64 operating system
- 64 GB of storage space
- 4GB RAM
- A 2 GHz processor
- A 3 mAh battery
- 30% increased battery life
- Higher screen brightness
- A Corning Gorilla Glass screen
- An ambient light sensor
- Better touchscreen handling in the rain
- Buttons with easier handling
- A menu now available in several languages (including French)
The meter has two buttons on each side to change screens or mark split times, and a new on/off button on the bottom of the device. The USB-C charging port is protected by a cover, whereas it was rather exposed on the previous version, with a rather fragile cover.
He benefits fromdoubled processing capacity, with 4 GB of RAM, as well as a storage space also doubled to 64 GB, which allows you to store a large number of maps from around the world. These are available for download by section. When you travel, you should therefore think in advance about downloading the map of the region you are going to in advance, if possible with a good wifi connection.
The manufacturer claims a battery life of more than 15 hours, even with multiple sensors connected (heart rate sensor, power sensor, rear radar) in ANT+ and/or bluetooth, and a very high quality display. The 480 x 800 pixel screen is really very visible, whatever the external conditions, while being very responsive, like a smartphone.
The Karoo comes with an easy-to-use mounting system that seemed very secure to us. The hold on the support is very good without being almost blocked as on the previous version where it was necessary to force to remove the meter from its support. Here, a small firm but easy rotation is enough to unclip it. The new support also offers a front-to-back adjustment so as to bring the device closer or further away from your pilot station.tage, according to your preferences. As with the previous version, the meter also comes with an adapter that allows it to be mounted on a Garmin support if necessary. The new Karoo is sold at the official price of €499., but it is also delivered automatically in the case of a purchase of a Sram Red AXS group, or with some limited edition bikes equipped with the transmission group of the American brand.
Data customization
In addition to the basic configuration, you can change the display layout as well as the background image, and add multiple data pages, which can contain up to 10 different pieces of information, whether in the form of numbers or graphs. All these personalized settings are made directly on the meter, in a fairly intuitive way. In use, you move from one page to another by pressing a bonus button on the Sram handles, by swiping the screen with your finger as with a smartphone, or by using a side button. Several modes can thus be set according to the displays you wish to favor, often depending on the type of practice (route, gravel, mountain biking, indoor, bike commuting, etc.).
It is also possible to slide some annoying data on the screen, such as smartphone notifications or live ascent data when they appear and hide the heart rate or power display for example.
As for the training itself, the new Karoo does not directly offer structured sessions, but It can be connected to the TrainerRoad and TrainingPeaks apps, so as to receive on the device the training plans and exercises to follow.
On route and in the undergrowth with the new Hammerhead Karoo counter/GPS
Switching from a Garmin, Wahoo or other computer to a new device is not always easy on the first outings, especially when it comes to configuring it according to your own habits. Still, it was not very complicated to get used to the new Karoo, especially with the new Red AXS group and its buttons bonus on the brake handles. Used on another bike with no connectivity other than The Hammerhead Heart Rate Belt (also very precise), we appreciated the responsiveness of the touch screen as well as its ease of use even with gloves. The device also proved to be perfectly compatible with different sensors such as a Suunto belt or a Polar belt, a Quarq or Garmin power sensor, or even a rear radar Garmin Varies, for which it provides clear and precise information on vehicles approaching from behind.
Once outside, The Karoo connects very quickly in GPS mode almost instantly, regardless of the environment or after changing location and we never noticed any loss of signal during the more than 7000 km of this test, whether on the route, mountain biking in the undergrowth, and even after forgetting to download a map during one of our trips in the south of France. On this occasion, we lost the Climber Tab mode, the equivalent of Garmin's Climber Pro, but which seems to us to be a little more precise and more readable. As a reminder, this mode allows the display of the slope and its variations in the event that you approach a hill, which allows you to manage your effort in relation to the difficulty or the approach to the summit. It is no longer useful today to follow a route beforehand to display this function, since the device automatically detects the foot of a climb, but you must at least have the map in the meter.
The maps are generally easy to read while riding. The device offers the possibility to lock the map with North at the top (a useful possibility on windy days, to manage the effort according to its direction) or with the track to follow facing upwards. The map also presents heat map data, which actually shows the routes most used by other users. A plus to choose different options for passing on new routes. Generally, following a track is simple and the device gives you all the necessary details including a beep that can be disabled. The function back to the starting point is found simply by swiping the screen from top to bottom to display the settings page on which a dedicated insert appears. Once selected, the guidance starts route simply like when you have to follow a track that you have previously entered into the meter. Be careful to set the guidance correctly at the risk of being taken onto paths or bits of route not always practicable by bike route...
The data processing speed is sufficient to not miss a change of direction when following a track, even in the undergrowth. The directions are reliable and the map's accuracy means you won't miss the small single tracks that can sometimes be found in the forest. In the event of an error, the device recalculates a replacement route to put you back on the right track. Note that it is not possible to enter an address directly into the meter, and that you have to go through the application. By searching for an address on Google Maps, it is easy to send the arrival point directly to the meter. Simple and effective, just like the partagand route between users via WhatsApp. Just click on the .gpx link and the Hammerhead app will reconcreates a trace to download and sends it to the meter.
The elevation calculation after each ride provides data comparable to the Wahoo Elemnt Roam computer as well as Strava's elevation calculation, and is not sensitive to bad weather, as is the case with some Garmin computers.
From a navigation point of view, The Hammerhead Karoo is therefore very user-friendly, and one of the most precise on the market.. Its screen is very readable and its responsiveness is in line with what you would expect from a high-end GPS. It does not have quite the same training functions as the Garmin Edge 840, 1040 and 1050, nor even a range that would make it indispensable for long-distance enthusiasts. It's up to you to decide whether these characteristics are essential. Finally, its non-compatibility with the Shimano Di2 system remains, in our opinion, a brake on its development. But This new Hammerhead Karoo nevertheless stands out as a highly recommended counter/GPS because it has been designed for the essential.
The meter/GPS HAMMERHEAD KAROO in short… The pros: readability, user-friendliness, GPS accuracy PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS VERSION
Processor : Quad Core 2,0 GHz - Memory : 64 GB of storage, 4 GB of RAM – Satellite connectivity: Multi-band GNSS (L1 + L5) – Satellite constellations: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BEIDOU – Recharge: USB C – Charging time: 30% in 30 minutes, 100% in 2 hours – Battery life: until 15 p.m. – Sensor connectivity: ANT+ and Bluetooth – Dimensions (in mm): 102,8 x 61,66 x 21,1 – Screen resolution: 480 800 pixels x – Screen dimensions: 3,2 " – Screen type: tactile – Water resistance: IP67 (water and dust resistant) – Weight of the device: 121 g – Operating temperature: -10°C to 55°C – Barometric altimeter: Yes – Ambient light sensor: Yes – Temperature sensor: Yes - Price: € 499,99 - Contact : hammerhead.io |
Bytagand the publication "Test of the new Hammerhead Karoo meter/GPS"
Nakan.ch talks about the excessive and non-adjustable volume of the alerts. Apparently, this didn't bother you.