OMATA One

GPS porn! The high-quality OMATA One impresses the crowds with its minimalist retro look and appeals to every cyclist’s spirit of discovery – #norouting. But beautiful design is not enough when you’re forking out $ 550 – what can this piece of exotic Californian equipment do?

At first glance, the OMATA One appears to be a classic stopwatch without buttons, surpassing all previous ideas of GPS computers. No energy-sapping display, but a modern analogue dial that displays speed, distance, time and altitude. Even though the OMATA may seem a bit large at first glance, the 2-inch dial is optimally dimensioned in terms of readability while riding.

As it doesn’t have a navigation function, this could motivate you to break out of your habit of being navigated and instead be guided by your thirst for adventure.
The bezel surrounding the dial serves as a rotary dial to switch between ride, stop, and connect mode – elegantly solved!
Selecting the modes works perfectly and should please the engineer and haptic fetishist in you. With the aluminium casing and aluminium handlebar mount, the Omata One has the most solid, high-quality feel amongst the GPS devices we tested. And with a system weight of 126 g including mount, it’s only about 20 g heavier than the Garmin Edge 820 including mount.

The movement of the hands of the OMATA One have an inspiring effect. It is simply more fun to see an analogue pointer move with your effort and speed than to stare at a cold digital display. When you take a break, the OMATA switches to sleep mode after a short period of time, setting all hands to zero. Once you start moving again, all hands move back to their previous position. The recorded GPS data can be quickly and easily transferred to the OMATA app via Bluetooth. Afterwards, you can upload your ride directly to Strava or send it via e-mail as a .fit file. The modern, integrated USB-C port on the back is water-resistant, but a rubber coating to protect it against dirt would have been nice. Again, considering the steep price of $ 550, the fact that the OMATA has no backlight is disappointing, making it unusable in the dark.


GPX-transfer:
GPS accuracy:
Navigation:
Battery runtime:
Price: $ 550

Route calculation time:
Usability:
Value for money:
Design:
Weight: 123 g


More info: omata.com

The OMATA One is not a GPS device for the rationalist and is very expensive in view of its functions. But anyone with a passion for design, feel, and minimalism will be thrilled with the OMATA One. Despite the analogue appearance, the OMATA GPS computer collects all the vital data, but has done away with navigation. However, Omata is rumoured to be working on a successor with a solution for analogue navigation. We’re excited to see what they come up with, and until then, we’ll enjoy the freedom to explore new routes without being told where to go. If worst comes to worst, you’ve still got your smartphone to get you out of trouble.

This article is from GRAN FONDO issue #008

GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine is published in a digital app format in both English and German. Download the app for iOS or Android to read all articles on your tablet or smartphone. 100% free!


Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of GRAN FONDO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more.