The Elemnt Bolt has long sat at the core of Wahoo's bike computer offerings. It is the simplest, no-frills option in the American tech company’s range, marketed as the best choice for racers who are looking for a compact, easy way to read data without any complications. As a long-time Wahoo user, I was excited when it was announced at the end of last year that the Bolt would be getting its third makeover with features such as improved battery life, an upgraded colour screen and GPS capabilities, as well as more internal storage and processing capacity. My main concern: would Wahoo do too much to this neat, straightforward device which I’ve always loved for its usability?
To give a brief history of the nifty gadget: the first iteration of the Bolt (released in 2017) offered some basic mapping but lacked functionality compared to its competitors. In 2021, Wahoo brought out the Bolt V2 which saw some much-needed, major updates, trickling down from Wahoo’s larger, navigation-focused Roam model. Colours were introduced to maps and metrics on the training pages alongside an ambient light sensor for the screen brightness to change in different conditions. Smart navigation features with re-routing were added, plus more storage, better battery life, improved buttons and a more reliable USB-C charging port. It was a big makeover for a device that had admittedly started to lag behind in the market.
Four years on and we have the Elemnt Bolt V3. It’s fair to say that the room for improvement between versions is smaller now than it was between iterations one and two of the Bolt, but Wahoo still promises some changes that make it worth an upgrade. The main selling points are based around the Bolt’s display: it has a high-resolution TFT display, slightly larger than previous Bolt screens, plus 16 million colours versus the Elemnt Bolt 2’s 64-colour screen. Wahoo also boasts an improved interface for fast setup and easier ride management via the Wahoo app, as well as increased storage of 32GB, and longer battery life at 25 hours for all-day riding (depending on usage, such as backlight brightness, GPS settings, and the number of connected sensors.) These aren’t radical changes, but refinements on existing features.
Set-up and initial impressions
Setting up the Wahoo Bolt V3 is a relatively simple – though slightly time-consuming – process. The Wahoo Elemnt app connects to your phone via Bluetooth and through the app you can download maps and set up pages as you wish. It’s possible to configure pages specifically if you’re connected to Strava Live segments, a music device or on-bike camera. Unfortunately, the Bolt certainly wouldn’t win in a cyclo-cross start against its other head unit competitors: the start-up time initially takes a couple of minutes, though this does improve with continued use.
Unlike some Garmin models which offer more screen layout options, you can only change the number of fields on the Wahoo Bolt display by zooming into the screen using one of the six side buttons (the more you zoom in, the fewer boxes are visible). To change data fields, you’d need to use your phone and the app. For me, I like the simplicity of a just few button presses to get a clearer screen – it’s useful when switching quickly between viewing more data and doing efforts where I only want to see time and watts. If you’re more of a numbers nerd who enjoys looking at a lot of data at once, though, this might be something to keep in mind as a pitfall of the Bolt.
The shape and size buttons on this version of the Bolt haven’t changed compared to the previous iteration, and it still comes with an out-front aero mount as well as a handlebar mount that uses cable ties to go around the handlebar. Elastic bands would be preferable here in order to make things easier and cause less waste if you want to switch between bikes while using the Bolt, however.
As always, the Bolt doesn’t feature any touchscreen features and everything is done with the buttons – this is something I appreciate the reliability of, especially in wet weather and when using gloves.
Riding experience
Once the Bolt is on and working, the higher resolution of the screen is particularly evident compared to the previous version. The colours are sharper and brighter which makes text and maps easier to read while on the move. If you’re following a route, the GPS picks up quickly and is reliable even when in wooded areas or inner cities and it’s easy to set up different profiles for gravel, road and indoor riding on the Bolt, depending on what you’re doing.
On the subject of maps and following routes, one downfall of the Bolt compared to models such as the Garmin Edge is that Wahoo doesn’t offer its own route builder, unlike the Garmin Connect web app. Third-party websites like RidewithGPS, Komoot and Strava are easily integrated with shareable routes, but most of these come with an additional subscription cost. The only way to create a route using the Elemnt app is to put an address in the app and have a route built for you, but this can’t be changed or edited once it is created.
Once you do have a route on the Bolt – however you may have got it there – the arrows on the maps are easy to follow with useful colours to indicate upcoming gradient changes, though the map is obviously smaller compared to the Roam and other head units with a larger screen. This isn’t a problem for me, but those who struggle with eyesight may want to check that the map prompts are readable on a small screen. I found the battery life to live up to Wahoo’s claims – this is much improved from version two of the Bolt.
When riding with the Bolt, it’s a relatively hands-free experience. This isn’t the type of device that will see you making changes and adjustments on the move to data screens and whether this is a good or a bad thing comes down to personal preference. I enjoy the fact that my Bolt is there to record data and give me a map to follow if I need it without distracting from what I’m actually doing, which is trying to make the most of being outside on my bike. With that being said, I’m not the rider who is using aero sensors or particularly focused on power meters – if this is you, then perhaps such a simple interface won’t be the best choice.
I’ve used Garmin and Garmin Connect in the past, and Wahoo won’t give you the same post-ride analysis that Garmin Connect does. If you’re a rider who is especially interested in your pedal stroke data, the Wahoo can’t read platform centre offset data offered by some newer power meter pedals, either.
However, these sorts of issues only impact the type of rider who is data-driven with the desire to look into a large number of metrics. If you fall into the category of people who want a simple riding companion which is reliable and easy to use – no faffing, no touchscreens and no complications, then the Bolt is a great option. Upgrades don’t always have to bring new features that the majority of riders won’t dive into anyway – the new Wahoo Bolt makes a strong case for ‘if it ain’t broke, why fix it?’
That said, the Wahoo Bolt V3 does retail for a hefty £299, which is inline with Garmin models that do have more features. If your priority is getting the most for your money in terms of the amount of data you get from a bike ride, then perhaps the Bolt isn’t for you. However, this writer appreciates that Wahoo has stayed true to its plain, easy-to-use, friendly design that doesn’t feel overwhelming. There’s a celebration here of simplicity. More doesn’t always mean better.
Overall
The Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V3 hasn't changed the game compared to the previous version. Minor upgrades to the display, battery life and GPS capabilities definitely heighten the riding experience, but the core of the products sticks to what it has always promised to be. It's a compact, race-ready head unit for those who want a product that does exactly what it says on the tin. Maybe this isn't the first choice for those who are really into their technology and numbers and the Bolt wouldn't win an award for the most features compared to other options on the market, but the features it does have are done extremely well.
