Wahoo Roam 3 (Is A Lemon)

[Stefan Mikes]

I took the plunge and ordered a Wahoo Roam 3 (not ELEMNT anymore, not v* either). In the quest of the "latest & greatest" I was considering a purchase of a Wahoo ACE but eventually was reasonable and practical. If I needed to carry a brick on the handlebar that would be a smartphone I checked a possibility to install the ACE on my Vado SL. No way! I use both Redshift Shock Stop Computer Mount (Wahoo) and Accessory Mount (for the headlight). ACE would need to be installed on its own out-front aluminium mount but it would be in conflict with what I already own and have installed. Sorry, ACE! Wahoo went the wrong way there. Who would want a big and heavy computer on a performance bike?! (Well, an American dentist?)

So Wahoo Roam 3 it is. The improvements are minimal: optional touchscreen (can be locked), a bigger battery (I have never complained on the 17 h battery life of Wahoo ELEMNT Roam v2...), a bell and some other minor improvements. Well, perhaps even better screen but v2 was nothing to complain about! Wahoo has removed the vertical and horizontal LED rows from Roam 3. Not a big loss. I had the vertical bar deactivated anyway and didn't pay attention to the top row (distracting!) I wonder whether Wahoo has introduced the street names for Wahoo 3? Will it work with the SL Range Extender Battery? Will the device start faster? Will it get the GPS fix earlier than Roam 2? Will the thermometer be accurate? We will see!

I will report everything as soon as I get the device!

 

[Aushiker]

Have you still got your Garmin Edge 1050?

DesFit on the three Wahoo options:

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Have you still got your Garmin Edge 1050?

A Garmin Edge 540. Doesn't fully work with Specialized SL system.

DesFit on the three Wahoo options:

I have owned a Wahoo Bolt 2. Too small for my needs. I had a Wahoo Roam 1 and Roam 2. Wahoo Roam 1 was a little obsolete. Roam 2 is still very good.

 

[stompandgo]

So does the Roam 3 have all of the functionality of the Elemnt, maybe more? Is this going on the Vado?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

So does the Roam 3 have all of the functionality of the Elemnt, maybe more?

All and a little bit more more. (The Activity Profiles are the new major change). The name change is related to the new app simply named "Wahoo" (the older one is "ELEMNT Companion App"). In the beginning, the new App only serves ACE and the new Wahoo 3 computers. Eventually, the new app will handle all older ELEMNT devices. (Unlike Garmin, Wahoo is totally configured on a smartphone).

Wahoo has retained the proven ergonomic big buttons but added the touchscreen. As raining can always affect the touchscreen (even a droplet of sweat from the forehead can do it!), the screen can be easily locked and then unlocked (by a button); it is similar to what you can do to Garmin Edge devices.

Is this going on the Vado?

No, it is for Vado SL. Wahoo is the only brand of which GPS bike computers recognize the SL Range Extender batteries. As I also bought a Garmin Edge 540, the latter is used with the big Vado. Vado SL has no display, so it deserves the best LEV ANT+ display available The little Garmin is limited as for my needs but it is supported by the information on Vado 6.0 own display.

I regret buying the Garmin computer (it was meant for a Giant Trance E+ for a race) but I intend to keep it and use. You would be surprised but nobody wants to buy a button-only Garmin, haha At least now I can understand how Garmin Edge works, and nobody can tell me I'm uninformed

 

[stompandgo]

nobody can tell me I'm uninformed

You're doing a fine job all by yourself

 

[stompandgo]

You throw me a meatball, I'm gonna crush it out of the park.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

WAHOO ROAM 3 IS A LEMON (at least, currently)

Too many things does not work!

• E-bike batteries' levels are not shown (only two icons for Battery 1 and 2 are visible but no numbers). The batteries levels display in Sensor Info but not in a data field in Workout.
• It is impossible to set the Wheel Circumference for an e-bike sensor It is possible... Deeply hidden.
• Even if connected with Strava, Komoot and RWGPS, the computer does not synchronise with these services for Routes! They did synchronize. It took ages,
• A little banner at the bottom of the screen obscures two bottom data fields. It shall disappear after START has been pressed.
• The Workout screen data fields do not have stable positions. The layout constantly changes. Perhaps I should give up entering the Profile Setup at all.

The screen looks like a Garmin, bad! It looks terribly badly. I didn't need yet another Garmin!

I'm sure these matters will be fixed by Wahoo Sports by software updates, which will take months. I'm disappointed and infuriated!

P.S. I could resolve some matters but the computer is a way below my expectations. Not displaying the LEV Battery is a serious error.

 

[Aushiker]

If you are a Reddit user, the https://www.reddit.com/r/wahoofitness/ forum can be quite helpful to maybe resolve at least some of your issues or at least confirm you are not alone with the problems .

Wahoo are doing fairly frequent firmware updates as shown at https://support.wahoofitness.com/hc...194-ELEMNT-ROAM-3-2025-Firmware-Release-Notes

Oh, they call it the Elemnt Roam 3.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Thank you Andrew!

If you are a Reddit user, the https://www.reddit.com/r/wahoofitness/ forum can be quite helpful to maybe resolve at least some of your issues or at least confirm you are not alone with the problems .

I indeed looked to Reddit to find some advice. Very helpful.

Wahoo are doing fairly frequent firmware updates as shown at https://support.wahoofitness.com/hc...194-ELEMNT-ROAM-3-2025-Firmware-Release-Notes

Fortunately, the software update is automatically installed during the device setup!

I have been able to resolve some issues... See EDIT in Post #1. The LEV Battery Level still doesn't work!

Oh, they call it the Elemnt Roam 3.

They indeed do but Roam 3 only works in a very poor Wahoo App. Older ELEMNT Companion App does not recognise Roam 3!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I have filed this technical support request:

Roam 3 vs Roam 2.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Wahoo Roam 3 Has Turned Out To Be A Sour Lemon

Having owned ELEMNT Roam 1, Bolt 2 and Roam 2, I would have never expected Wahoo Fitness to completely destroy their flagship product:

• The screen is totally unreadable in the direct sunshine
• The characters on the screen are as small as only a Hawkeye can read them on the ride
• The LEV Battery % does not work with my Vado SL
• The Wahoo App is a bad joke compared to the old ELEMNT Companion App.

Returning that crap and going back to my trusty Wahoo ELEMNT Roam v2.

 

[Extreme1]

Wahoo Roam 3 Has Turned Out To Be A Sour Lemon

Having owned ELEMNT Roam 1, Bolt 2 and Roam 2, I would have never expected Wahoo Fitness to completely destroy their flagship product:

• The screen is totally unreadable in the direct sunshine
• The characters on the screen are as small as only a Hawkeye can read them on the ride
• The LEV Battery % does not work with my Vado SL
• The Wahoo App is a bad joke compared to the old ELEMNT Companion App.

Returning that crap and going back to my trusty Wahoo ELEMNT Roam v2.

Hey Stefan thanks for being the Guinea pig. I was going to upgrade from my Bolt 2, glad I didn’t.

I just bought a Tickr Fit from Wahoo, we’ll see how that works out. It’s supposed to sync with the Bolt 2.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@Extreme1 they even changed the way the route is shown... I can't believe how one could destroy a good thing to become a sub-Garmin...

I hated the Garmin 540 to find out I could somehow cooperate with the device but the new Wahoo is an abomination.

Before, you were detecting your sensors in the app. Now, you are searching them in the device.

The new Wahoo app is even more silly than Garmin Connect.

 

[Aushiker]

Wahoo Roam 3 Has Turned Out To Be A Sour Lemon

Having owned ELEMNT Roam 1, Bolt 2 and Roam 2, I would have never expected Wahoo Fitness to completely destroy their flagship product:

• The screen is totally unreadable in the direct sunshine

Looking at Reddit, there does seem to be a bit of an issue with the readability of the Wahoo AMOLED screens. Which is surprising given it is meant to be better technology.

That said for me, I think anything has to be better than my 1030

Source: DC Rainmaker

• The characters on the screen are as small as only a Hawkeye can read them on the ride

I have not looked at Roam 3 in much detail, but I believe with the Ace (same firmware), you can zoom in/out on the characters.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Looking at Reddit, there does seem to be a bit of an issue with the readability of the Wahoo AMOLED screens. Which is surprising given it is meant to be better technology.

I was negatively shocked to find out I couldn't see anything on Roam 3 screen as I was riding towards the slowly setting Sun (Auto Brightness). Either of the previous ELEMNT models had its screen perfectly visible under any conditions and now this? (Bolt 2 was too small for my old eyes and also had too little data fields on the Workout screen but the screen was visible and readable).

That said for me, I think anything has to be better than my 1030

There is probably a single thing you cannot do with a xx30: loading a new route from the phone (Garmin Connect) to the device as you are already recording the current ride and the Timer is ticking. You can do this with an xx40 or xx50 (and you could do that with any ELEMNT since the beginning). Having said that: If Garmin were the only GPS bike computer in the market then I could live with it. I use a 540 on my big Vado now!

I have not looked at Roam 3 in much detail, but I believe with the Ace (same firmware), you can zoom in/out on the characters.

Any ELEMENT has had the font scaling feature; it doesn't work how you think though. Roam (any version) and ACE allow up to 11 data fields in the main Workout screen. With any older Roam, the characters on the 11-field screen were big enough (Bolt allows up to 7 data fields on its smaller screen). If you wanted to make the characters even bigger then you had to press the + button one or more times. It was reducing the number of data fields to keep the most essential ones still on the screen, make the font bigger and bigger, and hiding less essential data fields. In an extreme situation you could keep only one HUGE data field of your choice, e.g., the current Speed. (Of course if you needed more data fields displayed in a smaller font then you were pressing the minus button).

The problem is, it has never worked in the Map or Summit screens. Pressing the + was zooming in the Map or Elevation Profile but the data fields were kept at a constant font size.

I need as many as 6 data fields in the Map screen. The font for these fields is large in Roam 2 but microscopic in Roam 3! Now, why should anyone buy a brick sized ACE just to see what one could perfectly see on a Roam 2?!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I have filed this technical support request:
View attachment 196387
View attachment 196388
Roam 3 vs Roam 2.

View attachment 196389

I have got the following reply from Wahoo Fitness:
'Thank you for reaching out to us about the display on your Roam V3. While this is not bug, it is a new feature we've introduced for the version 3 computers (the pictures vs numbers).'

Thank you Wahoo. You have come back to the e-bike Stone Age (or, the Purion).

 

[Stefan Mikes]

My post on DC Rainmaker

Some typing mistakes, ofc

 

[Aushiker]

This thread has brought back memories (or nightmares) of my one and only experience with Wahoo computers, the original Wahoo Elemnt. I was an early adopter, trusted the tech and headed off on a seven-day remote bike tour. The Elemnt was, as I quickly learnt, brought to the market way too early. It seems nothing has changed. When I got back from the ride, the Element was sold, and I went back to Garmin, warts and all. This was in 2016/2017.

I have been with Garmin ever since, but may later in the year test the water again with Wahoo, and its Ace. Hopefully, most of the early issues will have been resolved by then. I also think it can not be much worse than my Garmin Edge 1030.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I also think it can not be much worse than my Garmin Edge 1030.

Yes it could

This thread has brought back memories (or nightmares) of my one and only experience with Wahoo computers, the original Wahoo Elemnt. I was an early adopter, trusted the tech and headed off on a seven-day remote bike tour. The Elemnt was, as I quickly learnt, brought to the market way too early. It seems nothing has changed. When I got back from the ride, the Element was sold, and I went back to Garmin, warts and all. This was in 2016/2017.

I bought a Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 1 in 2021 when it already was a mature, stable and highly developed product. I needed an ultimate Vado SL (LEV ANT+) display. Already in 2021, Roam 1 could display both Main and Range Extender battery level %! (It is a feat no other brand could achieve even today!) As I ride with multiple REs, I must know the precise level of each battery I'm using. What I disliked about Roam 1 was its micro-USB socket and a small RAM amount.

Bought a Bolt v2 as soon as it became available. Too small for my weak eyes! Besides, I really need 11 data fields on a single data screen (Garmin, wake up!) Bought a Roam v2 and I continue using it. 11 data fields for Workout, comprehensive GPS navigation (Garmin, wake up!), a non-reflective screen, total readability under any condition (no backlight needed even in the full sunshine), big characters, and the best buttons found in the market (I cry when I use ones on Garmin 540).

My older computers ended on bikes of my close friends, sold at a symbolic price to them.

Wahoo Fitness has killed the ELEMNT. Well, Pan Am went belly up, too
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Which reminds me of Nescafe Gold history. I was a fan of that instant coffee and was buying it for many, many years (I am a heavy coffee drinker). There was simply no better instant coffee in the market. Until some corporate idiots invented a new recipe: mixing instant coffee with finely ground coffee beans. Nescafe could have kept the original product as Nescafe Gold Classic* and promote the new Nescafe Gold: better coffee would win. Not. The clowns stopped making the original. The new product is disgusting and it leaves stains on the glassware/porcelain. Did the corporation bother? Not at all. (Which also reminds me of the revolution in Coca-Cola when the loyal fans enforced the return of the good original product...)
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*) The demand for Nescafe Gold (Classic) was as big in Germany as the product was still made there for a couple of years more until that product was killed by Nestle for good (to not create an internal competition within the EU).