Yes, you can mix brands. The Garmin Varia RearVue 820 and the Wahoo TRACKR Radar both speak the same ANT+ radar standard, so either one works with a Garmin Edge or a Wahoo ELEMNT. What separates them is range, light, battery, fit, and what happens when your only screen is your phone.
We carry both, and we are not going to crown one. They are built for slightly different riders. The useful part is knowing where they actually differ, so here it is, straight from Garmin's and Wahoo's own spec sheets.
Will a Wahoo radar work with a Garmin Edge?
Yes. Wahoo says the TRACKR Radar works with any device that supports the ANT+ radar standard, and names Garmin Edge computers, Garmin Fenix and Forerunner watches, and Hammerhead Karoo computers. It goes the other way too. Wahoo lists Garmin Varia among the radars its current ELEMNT ACE, ROAM 3 and BOLT 3 support.
We have seen it firsthand. When we tested the Varia RCT715 back in 2022, it paired and worked with Garmin, Wahoo and Hammerhead head units.
Two catches worth knowing. Wahoo notes that how a third-party radar shows up on your screen depends on how that head unit handles the ANT+ radar standard, so the display will not look identical everywhere. And Garmin says the RearVue 820's vehicle size, lane change and threat level alerts need a compatible Garmin Edge or the Varia app. On a Wahoo, you get the vehicle's position and a color for its threat level, which is what Wahoo shows for any ANT+ radar.
What if you ride with just your phone?
This is the biggest practical difference, and it is easy to miss.
Garmin's Varia app gives you visual and audible radar alerts on your phone while you ride. Wahoo is clear that its app is only for TRACKR settings and firmware updates. It does not show alerts during a ride, and Wahoo says it knows of no app that does. The TRACKR needs a compatible bike computer or watch to tell you a car is coming.
No head unit? Check this first.Only the Varia gives ride alerts through a phone app.
Side by side, from the spec sheets
Detection rangeRearVue 820: up to 175 m. TRACKR: up to 150 m.
Radar beamRearVue 820: 60 degrees. TRACKR: 35 degrees.
Brightest modeRearVue 820: 100 lumens in day flash. TRACKR: 53 lumens in high flash.
BatteryRearVue 820: up to 24 hr in day flash, 30 hr radar only. TRACKR: 15 hr in high flash, up to 20 hr in low flash.
WeightRearVue 820: 90 g. TRACKR: 99 g. Both are rated IPX7.
Phone alertsRearVue 820: yes, through the Varia app. TRACKR: no, the Wahoo app is settings only.
How do the tail lights compare?
Both do more than blink. Both have a brake light that reacts when you slow down.
The RearVue 820 runs day flash, night flash, solid and peloton mode, the dimmer setting that is easier on the eyes of whoever is sitting on your wheel. You can build your own patterns in the Varia app, and Garmin rates the light as visible from up to 2 km.
The TRACKR has high and low steady and high and low flash. Its extras are switched off out of the box and turned on in the Wahoo app. There is a brake light, a quick alert light that changes the flash and gets brighter when a vehicle is detected, and a battery saver that dims the light when nothing is behind you. Once they are set, Wahoo says they work on their own, with or without a head unit connected.
Which one fits your seatpost?
The TRACKR comes with a mount, two straps and three wedges for different seatpost shapes: round/aero, D-shape and flat.
The RearVue 820 has a compact body and a new seatpost mount, and Garmin says it fits cleanly on almost any road or gravel bike. If you would rather run it off the saddle rails, it works with the Varia seat rail mount kit, sold separately.
The RearVue 820 brings phone alerts through the Varia app, vehicle size and lane change alerts on a compatible Garmin Edge, a 60 degree beam and up to 24 hours in day flash.
The TRACKR brings a battery saver that dims the light when the road behind you is empty, wedges for different seatpost shapes in the box, and a home in Wahoo's own ecosystem. It is also the lower priced of the two.
Match the radar to the screen you already ride with.
Where do they land?
- You ride a Garmin EdgeBoth work. On a compatible Edge, the RearVue 820 adds its vehicle size, lane change and threat level alerts. The TRACKR shows up as an ANT+ radar.
- You ride a Wahoo ELEMNTBoth work. Your ELEMNT shows where the vehicle is and color codes the threat level. The TRACKR keeps everything in one brand.
- You ride with just your phoneOnly the RearVue 820 gives you alerts, through the Varia app.
Want a camera in the mix? We broke down the RearVue 820 vs the camera-equipped RCT715 in a separate post.
Common questions
Does the Wahoo TRACKR Radar work with a Garmin Edge?
Yes. Wahoo says the TRACKR Radar works with devices that support the ANT+ radar standard, including Garmin Edge computers, Garmin Fenix and Forerunner watches, and Hammerhead Karoo computers.
Does the Garmin Varia radar work with a Wahoo ELEMNT?
Yes. Wahoo lists Garmin Varia among the ANT+ radars supported on the ELEMNT ACE, ROAM 3 and BOLT 3. The RearVue 820's vehicle size, lane change and threat level alerts need a compatible Garmin Edge or the Varia app.
Can I use the Wahoo TRACKR Radar with just my phone?
No. Wahoo says the Wahoo app handles TRACKR settings and firmware updates only and does not show alerts while you ride. You need a compatible bike computer or watch. Garmin's Varia app does show ride alerts for Varia radars.
Which has more range, the RearVue 820 or the TRACKR Radar?
Garmin rates the RearVue 820 to detect vehicles up to 175 meters behind you with a 60 degree beam. Wahoo rates the TRACKR Radar up to 150 meters with a 35 degree beam.
How long does the Wahoo TRACKR Radar battery last?
Wahoo rates it for 10 hours in high steady, 15 hours in low steady or high flash, and 20 hours in low flash.
Still deciding?
Tell us what is on your bars and how you ride, and we will walk you through how each one will behave on your setup. Both are in stock at the lab and we ship nationwide.
Shop lights and radarEither way, the car behind you stops being a surprise.