Just in time for my favorite season to ride (spring!) Garmin announces an innovative extra for cyclists to record their rides and/or have evidence of possible incidents. Meet the Garmin Varia Vue, the first headlight-camera combo that lights the way and records everything in crystal-clear 4K.
The Varia Vue shows signs of being more than just a high-powered beacon; this device captures footage of your ride (like a dashcam), saving video automatically if it detects an incident. Like others we’ve seen, the Cycliq is the most apparent.
If you’re already running Garmin’s Varia RCT715 radar taillight camera (sold separately), you can sync both to record from front and back—you never know when you’ll need a second angle.
Lights. Camera. Ride.
I use Varia lights and radars to stay visible and alert to approaching cars (I love them and never leave home without them). The Varia Vue ups the ante with a built-in 4K camera and communication from front to rear. That means you get ultra-sharp footage of every ride, with electronic image stabilization keeping things smooth.
More importantly, if the device detects an incident, it automatically locks and saves the footage from before, during, and after the event. There is no scrambling to hit record—it’s all handled.
The Varia Vue connects via Wi-Fi and can automatically upload footage to Garmin Vault for secure cloud storage (subscription required). Post-ride, you can review and edit clips straight from the Varia app. Whether capturing stunning rides or keeping records just in case, this headlight-camera combo is constantly rolling.
A Smarter, Brighter Headlight
Garmin didn’t just slap a camera on a light and call it a day—the Varia Vue is also a top-tier headlight designed for all riding conditions. Kicking out 600 lumens (at its absolute max), it offers five different light modes and automatically adjusts brightness based on your speed and surroundings when paired with a compatible Edge cycling computer.
The light piggybacks off the sensor on the computer to tell when to brighten up or dim.
The beam is more than enough to see and be seen. A clever cutoff beam design prevents this headlight from blinding oncoming traffic, making it as considerate as it is powerful.
Key Features – Garmin Varia Vue
- Solid battery life: Run the light in day flash mode for up to 7 hours with the camera recording or 9 hours with the light off. Need more juice? You can even charge while using the camera.
- Remote adjustments: You can control the headlight and camera settings from a Garmin Edge computer or the Varia app on your phone.
- Clear audio capture: The built-in, discreet microphone records clean, natural audio during your ride.
- Effortless(ish) setup: It is Compatible with Edge out-front bike mounts for quick and easy integration into your existing setup.
- Weight:
- Note: The Garmin Varia Vue unit does not arrive with an SD card, so you’ll have to buy one separately.
Availability and Pricing
The Varia Vue has an MSRP of $549.99. To see it in person, visit the Garmin booth (#R121) at the Sea Otter Classic.
First Impressions – Garmin Varia Vue
The Garmin Varia Vue is a heavy-duty camera light combo. When I received it and opened the box to review, the first thing I noted was how robust the design was. Everything is overbuilt, with replaceable wear items (mounts and plastic breakable bits). The camera itself isn’t that heavy when you consider what it holds, and the design gives it a nonintrusive feel on the front end.
Setup and Install
If you’ve set up any Bluetooth kit or light, you’ll be good to set up the Varia Vue. We had a beta version of the final app, and it wasn’t without some bugs, but in the end (like most Garmin pieces), it was refined and worked well after some updates. I paired the Varia Vue to both my phone (using the Varia app) and the Garmin Edge 1050 computer.
The Varia Vue opens a lovely “editing suite” on the Edge 1050, allowing the rider to access different light and camera features while riding. It works well with the Varia rear light and tells the rider when it’s recording with a small icon under the radar icon on the screen. The screen then updates with a “saving” icon when the recording interval is over.
Action Cam or Witness?
The Garmin Varia Vue does 1080p up to complete 4K, and yes, there’s image stabilization—but only up to 2688×2160. Flip that on, and your resolution takes a hit. Still, 4K with a flashy light will get you about five hours of run time, which is pretty decent from an 1800mAh battery.
Want more? Kill the light, and you might squeeze out six hours. If that’s not enough, you should look for a different option. The Varia Vue is more of a court document and license plate/car model identification system, with the additional “saw this cool thing” on the ride ability. I wouldn’t consider it a course recon camera for off-road racing. The mount alone (a Garmin-style mount) is enough to tell you that this camera wasn’t designed for a chesty mount or helmet use.
Garmin Ecosystem
Now, when paired with a Garmin Edge head unit, it’s slick. I have our Varia Vue review unit paired with the Garmin Edge 1050. All your settings are right there: resolution, audio, overlays (GPS, date, speed), and the ability to tap a button for a 2-minute clip or fire up a long-form recording. You also get dash cam functionality. Two-minute looped recordings are the default, and if something goes sideways—like a car cutting you off or someone crossing walking into the bike lane off the sidewalk—the Varia Vue saves the moment into a protected folder. The trigger is… mysterious. Garmin doesn’t say what qualifies as an “incident,” but we’ve reached out for better clarification and will update you as we find out.
Do you prefer phones to bike computers? No problem. The Varia app works well. But if you want to transfer files, buckle up. Bluetooth won’t cut it—you’ll need to hop on Wi-Fi or go old-school and plug into a computer via USB-C. The files are easy to access (standard .mp4 and .jpg), but it takes longer than our fast-track minds are used to at the moment.
You can also pay $9.99/month for Garmin’s Vault cloud storage. Think of it as a digital glovebox for your near-misses. However, it only works over Wi-Fi or with your phone, so don’t expect GoPro-style real-time uploads.
Ride Experience
While riding, the Garmin Varia Vue becomes something you stop thinking about—which is the highest praise I can give a tech product. Throw it into 4K mode, set the light to flash, and roll. You’ll get a reliable five-ish hours of recording time, and everything… works.
If you’ve ever used a Cycliq camera, the comparisons are inevitable. Cycliq’s Fly12 gets you up to 7 hours—but only at a lower 3K resolution. Garmin gets you 4K, even if that means shaving off an hour of battery.
The real magic happens when you pair the Varia Vue with a rear-facing RCT715. Now you’ve got synced front and rear cameras, controlled via your Garmin head unit, with quick-access recording features. You get front audio, rear radar, and video coverage. Though the RCT715 battery life (light on) is less than the Varia Vue’s, it’s a very cool and safe setup.
Final Impressions
The Garmin Varia Vue isn’t perfect, but it’s incredibly useful, and so far, I’m a huge fan. As part of Garmin’s ecosystem, it shines. Pair it with a Varia rear cam and an Edge head unit, and you’ll get an integrated safety system with video receipts.
This is a compelling setup, and if you want peace of mind on the setup, Cycliq still has a place in the market, but Garmin’s integration and radar features make a strong argument. And frankly, the fact that I can hit “start” on my Edge and both lights and cameras fire up automatically is exactly the kind of low-effort tech magic I love. Just remember to charge it, as the battery life is about the same as the Edge 1050 and can sometimes surprise you as you roll out of the house.
More to come as we get more time on the Varia Vue, but as of right now – we’re into it!
