Garmin Varia Vision is like Google Glass for cyclists

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Garmin's Varia range launched last year with the aim of improving rider safety and it's now adding Varia Vision, a heads-up display which can clip onto a pair of sunglasses to give you data in your line of sight.

Taking some design inspiration from Google Glass, the Varia Vision can pair wirelessly with Garmin's Edge 100 and 520 bike computers to deliver information on cycling performance or turn-by-turn directions so you don't have to look down at your handlebars.

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The built-in vibration feature will also give you a more purposeful nudge when information comes through and when paired with a compatible smartphone can also deliver notifications for calls and texts.

It's most interesting (and potentially life-saving) feature is the ability to pair it with Garmin's Varia rearview radar system, so you can see approaching traffic without looking back, which would come in handy for those busy commuter rides to and from work.

Design-wise, it has a fully adjustable arm to get the display into the best viewing position and weighs less than 30g so it should be light and comfortable to wear. It's also weatherproof and features an integrated ambient light sensor and colour display to help make data easy to read.

Essential reading: The best cycling watches and tracking wearables

The Garmin Varia Vision in-sight display is going to cost cycling lovers $399.99 and is expect to ship in early 2016. You can find out more information over on the Varia Vision homepage.

Wareable is reporting live from Las Vegas this week. Make sure you bookmark our CES 2016 homepage to stay up to date with the latest wearable tech news.

Garmin Varia Vision is like Google Glass for cyclists


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Michael Sawh

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Michael Sawh has been covering the wearable tech industry since the very first Fitbit landed back in 2011. Previously the resident wearable tech expert at Trusted Reviews, he also marshaled the features section of T3.com.

He also regularly contributed to T3 magazine when they needed someone to talk about fitness trackers, running watches, headphones, tablets, and phones.

Michael writes for GQ, Wired, Coach Mag, Metro, MSN, BBC Focus, Stuff, TechRadar and has made several appearances on the BBC Travel Show to talk all things tech. 

Michael is a lover of all things sports and fitness-tech related, clocking up over 15 marathons and has put in serious hours in the pool all in the name of testing every fitness wearable going. Expect to see him with a minimum of two wearables at any given time.


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