Garmin - Instinct 2 Solar - Tactical Edition (45mm)
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Reddit Reviews:
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Based on 1 year's data from Jan 25, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
184
24
"I am a power lineman, so I needed a rugged watch that could get banged around, be exposed to energized high voltage, and very harsh conditions. The TREX has worked flawlessly through all that."
"it’s super durable. ... The watch clasp has gotten scratched up but the face is still fine after nearly a year of climbing inside with it. ... instinct is very durable"
"tanky ... Only thing you really lose is a touch screen but that's better for it's ruggedness and water resistance."
26
5
"tanky ... Only thing you really lose is a touch screen but that's better for it's ruggedness and water resistance."
"Kept me comfortable in heavy rain, snow, and once down to 15 deg F on a North Carolina mountain in April."
"this watch has remained on my wrist even diving hard into water from cliffs"
300
22
"the battery lasts 2 weeks, that's with 5 days worth of tracking runs and day to day use. Incredible."
"16 days battery life on my fenix. ... The other aspect I really appreciate about my fenix is the battery life. 16 days or so. With everything I have to change these days (laptops, mice, keyboards, headphones, watches, phones), I appreciate not having to worry about it too often."
"Oh, and the battery lasts days even when exercising a lot (weeks without excercise)."
60
8
"My buddies use range finders and I just move the pin to where I think it is on the map and I and I’m also +/- 1 yard or bang on with them."
"Excellent GPS and Cardio"
"The GPS navigation is really neat, I can go to a trailhead and tell Garmin to calculate a hike for X miles and it will."
5
0
"However, it does not have a touchscreen - instead it has a recessed LCD screen and buttons, a bit like the rugged-looking digital watches popular in the 80s. It is not very “fashion” but I don’t have to worry about damaging it by banging it into a hold."
"Buttons instead of touch so it can be used while sweating buckets"
"Also the buttons are tactile and can be pressed even when you’re wearing neoprene gloves."
Disliked most:
21
128
"I had the same problem and returned them."
"The Sony headphones did not fit properly ... I lost one pair"
"The fit just doesn't feel right ... its heavy after an hour of use so who cares about battery life ... may as well get some over ears for comfort."
5
42
"the muscular load, the cardio/muscular split, and the intensity didn’t match my perception at all ... and it doesn’t show history/trends per exercise or velocity ... I stopped using it completely, waiting for them to release improvements (which never came - then I cancelled my membership). ... Currently, I don't see how the whoop strength trainer would be *useful* for strength / hypertrophy."
"HRV isn’t a reliable metric of readiness for strength training, to adjust your strength training sessions on a daily basis, based on the current overall body of research ... that wouldn’t really work if the main goal was to maximize strength (and/or muscle growth). ... For my strength training, I'd basically ignore HRV (and whoop recovery / day strain recommendation)"
"wave tracking is shit anyway"
20
47
"I used to find that wrist HR sucked for rowing"
"the hr reading is incorrect. ... 20 dollars band from Samsung does a better job"
"The discrepancy is much higher for HR than running dynamics. ... I think it is straight up irresponsible to rely on wrist-based HR is you’re using HR as a part of training"
7
16
"Garmin’s notification integration with iOS is dogshit."
"many workout functions require a working internet connection via Bluetooth to the phone to operate. ... None of the complex metrics are done on the watch. Not. Even. Close. ... Garmin Connect often requires an active internet connection. It really annoyed me when I owned my Fenix. ... Garmin Connect often requires an active internet connection for many features. I discovered this when I owned one. It pissed me off."
"My biggest “want” when I decided to upgrade was that the watch needed to be able to function on its own without a phone. I.e., stream music and have the ability to make and receive calls and texts."
3
13
"the screen is too small ... it's difficult to use with gloves on ... it's just completely and pointlessly impractical to actually use for anything meaningful on the trails regarding the map ... looking at a map on your wrist is less convenient than you might think."
"Main issue is no maps."
"the problem with the maps is that there aren't any. ... The breadcrumb think can work ok in the city, especially if you have a backup device, and not for cycling. Super hard on hiking trails that tend to have forks as opposed to really distinct, right-angle intersections."
endimon 1.0had a similar questions and needs... took i2 solar tactical edition 45mm... super close when it comes to hrv and hr metrics, maybe because of the lightweight - just 53g in 45mm case... mainly using for cycling, walking and running and other sport activities... bingo
maybe instinct series 2 or 3... with solar option if hiking multi days... lighter options like 45mm i2 solar for HR (lighter watches tend to give more precise HR results overall, especially recommended ones like i2)... good luck
maybe instinct series 2 or 3... with solar option if hiking multi days... lighter options like 45mm i2 solar for HR (lighter watches tend to give more precise HR results overall, especially recommended ones like i2)... good luck
Ace_Fun 0.6Used to have a watch series 2. That one sucked. Then went to a apple series 5. That one fell into a lake and seeing as the ground in the middle was over 10m, i doubt it survived Switched to a Garmin instinct 2 tactical solar about 3 years ago. I love not plugging it back to charge everyday (with gps its been lasting a solid 15-20 days a charge) Great with sports especially skiing (it uses about 3 different satelite technologies so i never lose connection and it detects skiing / lifts to get back up) I can control music from the watch - bit finnicky with the buttons but eh it is what it is I got 50% ish off through work so that was a bonus I do miss being able to send custom messages from it and controlling songs on spotify.... I also miss having the touchscreen, but this watch has remained on my wrist even diving hard into water from cliffs About 18 months after switching I binned my iphone 9 and got a google pixel so yeah, i never would turn back to apple products.... Depends on what you want to be honest. Just know, that most of these watches can survive in water for a few hours to a couple days, so swimming/diving in it isn't a problem but thats just my opinion Hope I helped
billie-badger 0.6I loved my Garmin instinct 2 solar tactical. It's literally how I think of myself. Rugged, minimal, but can't do most of the shit the other smart ones can do. I succumbed to data overload. My watch became a constant source of feedback on how tired I was, how far I went or didn't go, how hot it is, how fast my heart is beating ... I subconsciously couldn't take it anymore. I started breaking out in stress hives that I had no idea how to diagnose. Long story short, I store wearing it and everything changed. My Seiko prospex chronograph tells me the time. It times things when I need. And I couldn't be happier. Anyone with advice on an upgrade would be greatly appreciated, but I'm all in on ditching smartwatches forever.
Boogaloo-Jihadist 0.6Good lord, what are you planning on doing, ODA level stuff? An Instinct (Solar) tactical is probably all you really need, Tactix is has some serious features - like windage and range finder. Good luck!
Dry-Contribution-789 0.6Ich benutze seit 3 Jahre die Garmin Instinct 2 Tacktical und bin SEHR SEHR zufrieden. Kommt drauf an für was du deine Smartwatch benutzen willst. Ich hatte Samsung, Huawei, Apple, Amazfit Uhren und zwar mehrere, und die Garmin ist für mich die beste. Die anderen waren nicht schlecht aber wie gesagt für mich Persönlich ist die Garmin die beste!
Far_Statement_1827 0.6I have a Garmin Instinct Solar Taxtical, one behind the current generation. I golf (walking with push cart) 2-3X/week, play ice hockey 3X/week, and a bunch of other activities including CrossFit, whitewater paddling, hiking, trail running, etc. I also own/run a family farm; so my watch gets beat up. It does a good job keeping up with me and all my activities. It’s rugged, and I can swim with it (I’m unintentionally underwater quite a bit due to whitewater paddling). See below: https://preview.redd.it/bnayqgnuk0nf1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d6ed1bf00a0b8f17ab94bc62372e7c6bf4a4edd9 Downside: I’m older, and I have trouble seeing the smaller fonts on the watch without readers (like everything else). I’m not talking about the main feature, but the smaller data surrounding it. However, I also need readers for restaurant menus.
I use a Garmin Instinxt Tactical for EVERYTHING. This watch is a tank. Ice hockey, whitewater kayaking, golf, distance running, MTN Biking, and most recently CrossFit (I’m new to CF).
Ryno_100 0.6I am kind of surprised by the answers here. I think your request is not so weird, and it is possible to have a Garmin watch to count steps, HR, etc and not send out any signal: this is called Stealth mode and it's available on several tactical Garmin watches. They aim at military personnel, so your job would suit this profile as well. Look up online which watches offer this mode, there is at least the Instinct 2 Tactical edition, Instinct Crossover Tactical edition, Tactix 7 AMOLED / Pro
ShirtZestyclose8061 0.6DO NOT GO APPLE. No matter what. They're overpriced for the severe lack of performance you receive( that includes the 250 buck SE, not worth it). I have the galaxy Watch ultra and a Garnin instinct 2 tactical solar. Galaxy is about 600 and the Garmin I got for about 180 on sale. Honestly get the Garmin i mentioned. It's cheap price wise, tanky, not a flashy design, and really good features when it comes to outdoor activity. Only thing you really lose is a touch screen but that's better for it's ruggedness and water resistance.
Sparkleandflex 0.6My instinct 2 has been the best watch for me since it came out...(Had the original solar tactical then too) Had never let me down ever and I'm a mechanic.
My instinct 2 has been the best watch for me since it came out...(Had the original solar tactical then too) Had never let me down ever and I'm a mechanic.
USMCActiveToReserve 0.6If you turn on the NV mode that will turn off the heart rate sensor on the Instinct 2 Tactical!
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