Wahoo Elemnt Roam 3 review

This third iteration of the Elemnt Roam bike computer arrived in spring alongside a new Elemnt Bolt.

The duo are very similar, but there are some distinct differences. 

The smaller Bolt has a 2.3in screen compared to the Roam’s 2.8in, and the latter has a touchscreen, whereas the Bolt doesn’t. 

What’s new?

The touchscreen is a new addition to the Roam line, while the screen size grows by 0.1in for a minor improvement over the last iteration, which launched in 2022. 

Thankfully, the touchscreen is complemented by buttons, making the device easy to use with or without gloves on. 

Two side buttons can be used for zooming in or out, or changing the volume while on the Roam’s music screen (you can also skip or pause music here) and listening to music via your phone. 

That 2.8in screen is decent, too. It’s had a bump up from 64 colours to 16 million and is legible in most conditions, but can be hard to read from angle, such as if you’re out of your seat and leaning over the bars on a climb. 

Also new (and very handy) is the integrated speaker. This can be used as a bell by double tapping the screen (though not on map view), while you now get turn-by-turn navigation prompts read out to you, which is very useful. 

Wahoo Elemnt Roam 3 navigation

Speaking of navigation… well, it’s very good. 

The mapping on the Roam is clear and easy to follow. You can customise what detail you want on the screen, including road names or places of interest. 

Now, there are some issues. 

One of the biggest ones, from my perspective, is the lack of route builder in the Wahoo app. 

You can import GPX files into the Wahoo app, but depending on where they were built, you might not get turn-by-turn instructions or elevation data. 

If you’re already a paid subscriber to Komoot or Strava, or use RideWithGPS then this won’t be such an issue for you, as you can just sync routes with the Wahoo app (though you’ll want to cut them down if you have lots, as they can all end up syncing). 

The other nuisance is that navigation prompts can get in the way of elevation data. 

That said, you get rerouted if you go off course, which can be helpful, while a ‘climb’ page loads up for any significant inclines. 

It’s handy, too, with info on grade, feet climbed and a colour-coded graphic showing what’s to come. 

I also like the ability to navigate to any point on the map, or to a saved address. 

Another feature I like is the custom alerts, which you can set as needed with custom text, timings and a beep notification – perfect for nutrition reminders. 

You can also create custom data pages, while you can easily pair multiple sensors, too.

Wahoo quotes a battery life of ‘up to’ 25 hours, which is a little optimistic, but in my testing with lots of features switched on, I managed to get within around 75% of that. 

Wahoo Elemnt Roam 3 bottom line

At £449.99 / £399.99, there’s a $50 / £50 price jump over version two, but I’d say the new features probably warrant it. 

If you’re not fussed about touchscreen and maximum battery life (I am), and don’t mind a smaller screen, though, the Bolt does a similar job for £100 less. 

To find a navigation device suitable for running and swimming as well, head to our guide to the best triathlon watches.

Wahoo Elemnt Roam 3 spec

Price	$449.99 / £399.99
Display	2.8in screen, 320 x 480 pixels
Size	3.8in x 2.1in x 0.78in / 96mm x 53mm x 24mm
Connectivity	WiFi, Bluetooth, ANT+
Waterproofing	IPX7
Features	Colour mapping, integrated speaker, touchscreen and buttons
Satellite systems	Dual Band GPS, GLONASS, BEIDOU, Galileo, QZSS
Storage	64GB
Battery life	About 20 hours (actual)
Weight	3.8oz / 109g