Current bike computers, primarily from manufacturers like Garmin, Wahoo, HammerHead, and Coros, are designed with road cycling and triathlons in mind. While some features cater to off-road cycling (e.g. MTB/gravel), these devices often fall short for ultra-distance and multi-day bikepacking events. Issues such as short battery life, limited/non-existent satellite connectivity options, and lack of ruggedness make them less than ideal for bikepacking.
This document is not intended to argue the market potential for a bikepacking-specific computer. Instead, it outlines the key features and capabilities that could define a better bike computer specifically designed for ultra-cycling and bikepacking.