Loading routes isn't that much of a faff. And the battery life of the older devices is pretty good. If you're regularly doing rides > 4hr then a small GPS is the way forward.
Ah ye basically the only reason I want it is for long rides.
Samsung galaxy s5 supposedly supports 13hrs of video playback so I imagine that would last a day of just having a map showing. Also water resistant. Can get it for around 50 quid. May try that first and see how it goes.
Loading routes isn't that much of a faff. And the battery life of the older devices is pretty good. If you're regularly doing rides > 4hr then a small GPS is the way forward.