Garmin - Instinct 2X Solar - Tactical Edition

Instinct 2x tactical is your answer. You can’t beat the battery life. Truly, it’s the most impressive feature

Still sucks compared to the 22 days I’m averaging on my Solar Tactical Instinct 2x that I use daily for running

I switched to a garmin instinct 2x tactical mostly for exercise and partially for work. 44 ish day battery life (usually about half that or less if you use really precise gps tracking to long exercise). Only caveat is no 4G/LTE support and no offline music as it pulls both those from your phones. I would look at the other models tho that have better screens and UI and are actually smart watches, unsure if they make any with cellular support tho

So it does have a pretty readable screen and you can play around with your backlight for different lighting conditions (top left button turns on backlight for a couple seconds). I keep mine at 5% and it does enough for me but you can set it higher. Also the newer instincts do have amoled screens but I have no experience with them. I’ve heard pretty good things about the forerunner it just didn’t make sense for me personally. My brother also has a fenix that he swears by but is gonna be way out of that $300 price range. My personal take on wearing it to the office is to just get a black watch and strap and it’ll just go with anything, but I also wear this 24/7 unless I’m going to a wedding or formal event

Instinct 2x tactical checks all these boxes for the cheapest budget. There are other models that's do more that are significantly more expensive

The 3 is slightly better all around, but the 2 has better battery life(due to some more modern features on the 3). You can't load music on either but you can control it if you're listening from your phone(but it is NOT very intuitive). Neither has maps per se but they have "breadcrumb navigation" which essentially points you in the right direction and gives you a path to follow to a predetermined point. If money isn't an issue you should look at the tactix 7

I had a Garmin Instinct 2x Solar Tactical Coyote tan, I was in love with that watch, and I didn't need detailed maps and a color screen. But...that watch is not for longer trips with routes loaded, say over 130km with GPS on. My watch froze twice. That day the watch and the navigation were unusable. Then I bought a Garmin Tactix 7 Standard Edition, for me it is the best Garmin watch I have ever had.

I am having garmin instinct tactical 2x later moved to Ultra 2 for last 8 months . I still love to use Garmin but the ease of notifications and operating system forced me to stay with ultra 2 ..

I hope you like your Garmin, I felt like the heart rate monitor was absolutely terrible on x2 tactical, no where near any of my Apple Watch’s or whoops. I’m excited To have ecg on a whoop.

What Garmin claims and real world texts are not the same. Real world texts are showing the 3 to have worse battery than the 2x

Garmin instinct 2x solar. All the stuff from getting calls at work through pulse point, hrv, sleep, all the workout stuff, text and calls, wallet etc. But the most used function that no one talks about that I use the most? The flashlight! Don't want to turn the lights on in the bathroom at night, use the flashlight! Also use the find my phone as well. Most smart watches probably do that though. I charge once a month. Also ditch the silicone watchband, get a fabric/Velcro one.

The first and arguably best choice id recommend for anyone is the Garmin Instinct 2 (or the larger Instinct 2X), that’s about it, check it out and see what you think Yes it has smart notifications but you can fully turn off Bluetooth at the system level, and when you do, those notifications are completely gone just like many other models in the market, they’re not as intrusive as you think If you want something even simpler, check on the Suunto Core and if you want to go for something a bit more on the high end side, check on the Coros Vertix 2 which is a premium option but has an insane battery life, dual-band GPS and amazing performance over smart features. Funnily enough, I got both the Instinct 2 and the Coros Vertix which I alternate between but the Coros hits differ with the premium feel idk. You can try [9 Best Smartwatches Worth Investing in 2025: Hiking and Running](https://alaskanarrows.com/best-smartwatches-in-2025-for-hiking-and-running/) for others though Cheers, hope this helps!

My 2X Solar does a great job of recording my heart rate and other raw data. Garmin claims that the watch can automatically determine which lifts you’re doing and count reps/sets. These functions have always been inaccurate for me. I prefer using the “free” strength session mode with autodetect turned off. You just use one button at the beginning/end of each set to time sets and rest periods. After I’m done, I use the app to manually enter movements, weight and rep numbers. The odd thing is, even though the autodetect claims were a major reason for me to buy the watch, I still love the thing and find I get more out of manual logging. It forces me to think about how I did and take notes for the next session.

I use a garmin instinct 2x solar for crossfit. Because it’s tough and durable, switched to this after having a vivoactive 4s for years, couldn’t be more content. No need for a touch screen imo. And budget friendly..

Ditto. I have an instinct 2x solar and it ROCKS. The "worse" display isn't a bug, it's a feature. My battery will go 40-ish days with very little sun exposure. I'd like to see a Fenix try that.

I also use the Garmin Instinct 2x. It actually helped my game because instead of hyper focusing on one yardage to the pin, I started thinking about front and back of green. Dropped handicap into single digits.

Well u can’t compare both because their are designed to fit different categories of clients. I went for instinct 2x because I do a lot of trips which exceed one week + I like to go offline and I hate having another phone on my wrist however I bought my girlfriend Apple Watch because she likes checking stuff non stop u know how it is xD

Instinct Solar 2x is the greatest device I’ve ever owned. 40 days in between charges and it has a flashlight which is brighter than the one on your iPhone. It does everything I need for cycling and running but did I mention that it has a flashlight?

My Garmin Instinct 2X Solar is a great watch but it lacks precision in swimming situations where it's usually off by about 10%, both in pools and open water. Caveat emptor!

I use the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar. It's about 90% correct in open water and in the pool, and always errs to the low side. Whenever I swim 40 25 m laps in the pool the watch will indicate 40 laps when I've actually done 35-36 laps. In open water on a 100 m lap length and using GPS I need the watch to show about 1150 meters before I've actually done 1,000.

I love my Garmin instinct 2x solar I use the flashlight feature way more often than I thought i would

Garmin definitely I have the instinct 2x solar. Got it as a gift for my birthday. Would not trade it for anything. It has everything I needed and everything I didn't know I needed.

I use a Garmin Instinct 2x for my road and mountain biking. I have it paired to a Garmin cadence sensor. I like it better for cycling than my Apple watch. My GF does the same. She uses her Garmin for swimming and cycling. Uses her S10 when not exercising.

Interesting to see the channel you refer to list Garmin at the bottom. I was at first impressed but the solar x2 coming from an Apple Watch but after 2 years I miss the AW. I brought it up here once that they weren’t accurate and was downvoted to hell so I refrained from commenting further. Today another post on this subreddit was discussing just this. And one of the comments was in reference to PPG (sensor for HR) and watch weight. I understand a little more about PPG but asked for clarification about the watch weight. Garmin is nice and rugged (the one I have) but inaccurate which gets frustrating at times.

A lot closer than 101-110 on the X2. I don’t recall exactly the values but wasn’t much more than 5-8bpm from strap. I tested this out 6-7 months ago. I can do it again when I have some time and post the results of each to compare. Will look like a goof with two watches and the strap, but anything for science !

I use my Instinct 2x Solar on the course. It's pretty handy. You load the course on the watch, select your tee, and whether you want to keep score. I don't think any of their watches interface directly with the R10. The watch will give me rough shot distances, distance to the pin, and let's you move the pin around the green. I find it pretty useful and it seems to be right inline with traditional rangefinders, give or take a few yards. The Instinct line is a bit pricey because of all the extra functionality and I think that the golf focused watches like the approach line offer the same features.

True, front and back of green distance is super helpful. Even though you can move the pin, it definitely helps with shot selection. I'm a 20HCP and it's helping me a bunch with the short game.

I’m in a constant state of turmoil. I currently have an Instinct 2x and AW ultra 1. Over the past 2 years having both, I’ve primarily used the Apple Watch, but I have such a fond attachment to my Instinct (previous Instinct 1 owner as well). The Garmin is great when I’m in periods of pushing myself physically, however it can be very discouraging when life takes over and i just do the occasional jog/walks and lifting. Started using the Garmin again over the past 2 month and I’ve tried to go back to the Ultra for a day or two but then miss my Instinct. Currently i primary my Garmin, but when I go on runs, sleep when on call (doctor), mow, or do things I don’t want to carry my phone around, I’ll throw on my Ultra on the other wrist. I essentially treat it as secondary Cell phone, but I have the fitness and rings turned off. My garmin will record my runs, but I’m available by phone and listen to music with my Ultra. I do think this is my last Garmin though. I’ve had a lot of Garmin dating back to 2006 when i got my first used forerunner. I’m not a fan of the direction the company is heading (subscription, huge cost of new devices, focus on OLED, loss of battery life, lack of innovation, buggy/dated software). My instinct 2x used to track reps and such when lifting, but it seems they pulled that feature? (granted not super useful for me, the fact I lost features was unsettling) I’m on the verge of pulling the trigger on the AW Ultra 3 to have blood pressure and sleep apnea monitoring (along now with sleep score) and if I do that, I’ll probably shelve the Garmin for good. The bonus is I’ll still be able to pull in the instinct out anytime over the upcoming years so was a good investment. I can’t commit because I go through periods routinely where I can really focus on fitness, but other times it’s a second quest and life/general health take priority, so I find the watchs serve me better during different times of my life.

Are you tired of the old-school MIP (memory-in-pixel) watch faces from a decade ago? Do you want your daydreams transformed from monochrome into AMOLED color, eh...? Yes, I have had these same thoughts, which is why I purchased a Garmin EPIX 2.0 nearly two years ago. It was one my favorite timepieces since my first Apple Watch. Nevertheless, I sold it and purchased the Enduro 3 and then they announced the Instinct 3, dang it, far too many temptations online, right? Day Four with the Instinct 3 and... the watch is down to 28% battery life with 2 days left. Wed. 01/22, unboxed around 17:00, AOD enabled, SP02 at night enabled, raise to wake was enabled by default. Left wrist all day with the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar on my right wrist. Thur. 01/23, wore it all day & night Instinct 3 (right wrist) Instinct 2X (left wrist) Fri. 01/24, wore it all night & day Instinct 3 (right wrist) Instinct 2X (left wrist) Sat. 01/25, I woke up with it on my right wrist. The time is now 08:53, 28% battery, and 2 days left even with my one-hour of GPS workouts, what? Why can't Apple or Samsung build watches with battery life like the Garmins? Instinct 3 (right wrist) Instinct 2X (left wrist) Yes, the battery life is great, yes, the screen is bright. And sure, it feels more like a Casio G-Shock with a gorgeous screen or a little sister watch from the Garmin EPIX line. It is comfortable to wear all day and night. The buttons are easy to press and make less clicking noise than the Instinct 2X Solar I purchased over 18 months ago. Yet, what is new and why should you upgrade if you're like me an already have a Garmin Instinct 2X to 2X solar? Reasons to upgrade to the Garmin Instinct 3 1. AMOLED screen with AOD (always-on display) that lasts for six to 10 days 2. it tracks naps now and has the nap timer just like the EPIX 2, Fenix 8, or Enduro 3 3. Body Battery factors - wow, and about time. After a workout, nap, or even low stress, yes, on the watch or in the app, there is a breakdown of your activities with positive or negative details and your body battery is affected. I am unsure at this point if Garmin will release these features to the Instinct 2X models. 4. Louder speaker 5. Faster navigation 6. Faster solar charging...? To be announced 7. Instinct 3 is faster at saving workouts 8. Night Shift - oh yeah, the entire watch interface changes to red, green, or orange. It's such a fun feature to have on a $400.00 watch! 9. The buttons are softer to press and make less noise. 10. Steps on the data screen during workouts 11. Torchlight has a better menu for changing the light from red to white on the Instinct 3, about time, and thank you Garmin! Oh yeah, 11 new features if you buy another MIP Instinct 3 or slightly less if you purchase the AMOLED version like I did from Garmin.com. There are new color options, yet that is standard for Garmin, Apple, Samsung, Amazfit, COROS, Fitbit, Suunto, Polar, and most watch companies. They attempt to entice us every year to upgrade, upgrade, and upgrade. Okay, the Instinct 2X will be two years old soon and yet I don't think there is a need to upgrade. If you're still rocking the first edition of Garmin Instinct Solar, yes, your four-year timepiece needs an update. You'll notice many changes from four years ago, that much I already know. Thank you for reading and for clicking on by... More about this Garmin Instinct 3 (AMOLED) soon. Sincerely, Pietro & Gadgets Anonymous **Update, Sunday, 01/26/2025, 22:50** Yes, I made it to Day Five, my Instinct 3 battery life is at 11% with a 2-day estimate. A pretty radical accomplishment of battery life since those initial days of any new watch are the hardest. In fact, it blows my mind that it made it this far out of the box without a charge and even upgraded the first day. Now, I did have to disable AOD earlier today and the battery life went from 22 hours back up to 2 days. **Monday, 01/27/2025, 07:00** Just to prove a point, yes, I still have yet to plug in this Caribbean-colored Instinct 3 and did a bizarre test last night with my Garmin versus Garmin research. A. Garmin Instinct 3, right forearm, above the flaming red wearable B. Garmin Instinct 2X Solar, right wrist as directed by the manual I slept this way to see how the sleep data reacted. https://preview.redd.it/2rgr8ygm06fe1.jpg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6d8f40294dabead7fc73c82087d33773014b90f7 on https://preview.redd.it/lfe9kygm06fe1.jpg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b2301f2a3c6d02e7c6d7cd6819afc7af3f852e3f https://preview.redd.it/f1d6g0wp06fe1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9e6dbb1e7658ab05ec15b1277c11643a499ef20a https://preview.redd.it/rxbbgzvp06fe1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=84efab89a09127927da79ecec27895542fa939e9 https://preview.redd.it/ynktv2x67hfe1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=90df4c9586f905e92f6c4f5e66c40636cf05322b

Not sure how long are your runs and hikes. If you are going for long hikes, can consider the Instinct series. Can take hard knocks like G-Shock and still function. The basic models with monochrome screen suffice for your needs and the battery is way more than enough.

Instinct 2X or Instinct 3 Solar would love to be your best climb companion and they promised to be rugged and not easily scratched like the forerunner, Vivoactive or Venu. Fenix would like to concur to the above but it is worried about being a bigger hit to your wallet due to its price tag.

Picked up the Instinct 2x and it is amazing how much better the solar is compared to my OG. Battery life is by far the best part of the watch

Garmin instinct crossover, 28 days battery life, 50 without constant hr measurement. Instinct 2x and instinct 3 solar 50mm have 40 days battery life, 70 without hr. And solar charging.

You’ll miss the integration with Apple. Went there, using an Instinct 2X solar, but went back to Apple Watch within a month. Integrations sucks. What I missed most on the Garmin was the ability to determine which apps were allowed to give notifications and which not. With a Garmin it’s all or nothing. You can choose calls, apps and system notifications, that’s it. Highly annoying. If farming changes that I might consider going back to Garmin, without that functionality I won’t even think about it.

I chose for a Garmin Instinct 2X Solar, because I wanted a sturdy watch that I also feel comfy with to go swim and looks like a Casio G-Shock. Also I was quite impressed by the battery life. I was disappointed in 2 things. First was the earlier mentioned notifications. Second was battery life. Although I was on holiday in full sun it wasn't enough to keep the watch fully charged. I only used GPS-tracking twice a day for roughly 4h in total and in full sun, but still after 2 weeks I had to charge it. Not long after that holiday I bought my Apple Watch S10 and I never looked back. I take the watch off when I shower and by the time I'm out it charged enough to live another day. For the holiday and work around the house I bought me a Casio G-Shock to protect the Apple.

I recorded my 2024 SOBO hike on both my Garmin Instinct 2x and also on an Inreach. The inreach was more for family and friends but I think out of all my gear the watch was definitely the least necessary but I loved having it. Not just for the stats which were cool to look at but honestly I liked the mileage/navigation component on trail. I would use the mileage on the watch while hiking to gauge how far I was from water/camp/etc. and that saved me from having to pull up Farout alot. Once again not necessary by any means but was nice. I had to charge mine around every 3-4 days it felt like but luckily it doesn't take nearly as much juice as a phone in my experience. Best of luck!

I love my 2x too, but the heart rate sensor is not the greatest and tracking hr is very important when training. I have a garmin HRM pro plus that I use tracking my heart rate and it was showing 182 during a training session a couple days ago when my watch showed 81. Id view the watch as an element in a system and not a do it all solution. For cycling a bike computer and hrm would be better than a watch imo.

For those activities the Garmin Instinct line will work fine. It’s not the most expensive line, but honestly I prefer it more than the expensive ones. I have a Fenix 7x Pro and prefer my Instinct 2x over it. Only thing the Fenix has over the Instinct is built in map navigation, but to be honest trying to plot a course on your watch is not a good experience, I’d much prefer to plot a course on my phone and just send it to my watch for step by step navigation, and in that aspect the two watches work the same. The screen on the instinct, though less advanced than the Fenix, is easier to read and more clear than the Fenix. The battery life on the Instinct 2x is one of the best Garmin has to offer, with potential unlimited battery life if you are in a lot of sun, on my Fenix I got about 3 weeks with solar helping it along the way. Lastly I like the band/case material and how the watch feels on the wrist more with my Instinct than Fenix 7x pro. I’ve damaged walls, scratch my car, etc with the metal bezel on the Fenix, but that does not happen with the Instinct. The instinct also has a raised bezel so it protects the screen more, and you won’t get the metal on metal grinding feeling when working out. I will be selling my Fenix since I got the Instinct. That is how much more I like it.

I have the Garmin Instinct 2X Solar and have managed four or five days of backpacking without the slightest issue. I turn the GPS off at nights, but I get around 80 hours of GPS on time which would last me at least a week.

I was hoping for a AWU3 with revolutionary batterylife. We did not get that so I bit the bullet and ordered a Garmin Instinct2x. I chose a „dumber“ watch on purpose so I could disconnect more from my phone. If I am going to keep my AW SE I will see, when I’ve had the garmin for some time. I have the feeling that all the notifications and all the connections don’t make me use my phone less as I hoped when I got the AppleWatch.

I love my instinc and am not looking back to the apple watch at all.

I gave my pixel watch 3 to my gran and got an Instinct 2X. I had the vivoactive 4 before that and liked it and THOUGHT I wanted more smartwatch features so got the pixel. The VA4 basically just had notifications and onboard music as "smart" features. But at the time I got the pixel thinking it's the logical upgrade i was feeling less enthused by all the tech stuff and was more and more switching off notifications and bluetooth and when I got for runs I typically have my phone anyways becuse in case there is an emergency of some sort, I want to be able to contact someone reliably, call and uber navigate with a full map etc... so also that covers having music. So the more I though about it the more I realised I literally just want it to record the exercises I do. I'm not gonna watch youtube on it, make calls or whatever "smart" features are supposed to be because all those things can be done better on my phone (which I carry anyways). I really liked the look of an instinct. reminds me of the G-shock and the oncee a month charging of the battery means it'll last years because it's going through abot 12 battery cycles in a whole year. In the end it's really up to you, look at what integration apple offers to the ecosystem, maye you like resuming playing music from your watch even if you're listening on your Mac or something but it's dependent on you. The stats I get are deeper than what I need so for me I still feel I can get more out of it. And maybe I'm just old school but the AW looks ugly to me, I'm gonna have it on my hand all day, may as well get something that looks good to me.

Garmin Instinct 2X is my current fave as it’s got almost all of the sensors of the top models, but has a better battery life and if I smash it to pieces (happens more regularly than I want to admit to) then cheap enough to replace and not fuss about.

The garmin instinct 2x has a 40 day battery life, and it has a built in flashlight which sounds pointless until you actually have it and suddenly have a flashlight literally all the time. It’s a rudimentary smart watch compared to some, but it has fitness tracking, gps breadcrumbs, and other useful features for the trail. During gps tracking the battery life is something like 32 hours, which for me is like 2-3 days of hiking and real world trail use. But you can turn off gps tracking when not needed and stretch the battery life, and it also has solar charging which can help supplement charging when away from power.

Hard disagree here. I have had the Instinct 2X and now have the latest Rangeman (GPR-H1000) The styling is exceptional and is far in front of the Instinct. Also likely to last a lot longer given the meaty protection.

I switched from an Apple Watch to an instinct 2x, and I’m never looking back.

There are actual activities that automatically track and assume the workout/strength specific exercise you’re doing. And if it got the wrong name, you can edit the name and how many reps you did as well as the weight used. It’s an extremely nice setup. And if you’re a bit of a larger size person, get the 2 X solar. The extra battery is very nice and it has a better solar panel. With my current settings, I get 40 days of battery life. Also, having a flashlight/red light is the most handy thing ever. I never expected to use it as much as I do but the amount of times you’re there “man I wish I had a flashlight for a moment right now” is often frequent, and the red light for waking up in the middle of the night and being able to see while going to the bathroom without turning on a bright light that disrupts your sleep is amazing.

That’s fair. For me, it was all about battery life when I got the 2X and the upgraded solar. I thought about upgrading to the 3 but there isn’t a white color scheme yet and the upgrade aren’t big enough between the 2X and the 3 to be worth it. Either way, the instinct is a great line and a great choice! I would just avoid the 2S as it is small and light weight, but the battery is smaller.

For what it’s worth, I have used both, now, and am keeping neither. I’ve already sold both of them actually and decided I’m going to keep my Instinct 2X Solar, which I love, and buy a second hand FR965 that has everything, more or less, that the F8 has (minus the torch) and use the two alternatively. Even on the I3 AMOLED 50mm I found the screen too small.

Garmin Instinct 2x - I also switched from AW to Garmin a few months ago. No regrets so far, charging once a month and as a little bonus c2 rower will show your heart rate on its display

My instinct 2x gets like 40 days with pulseox turned off if I don’t log my runs. But I have the GPS accuracy turned up and I turn the light on to the brightest setting for cars to see me better at night. Even with that eating all my battery life I still get like 2-3 weeks of battery life off of a single charge.

I have a Garmin but it’s the Instinct 2x and it’s my favorite watch I’ve ever had. I do a fair bit of camping and the light has come in handy a crazy number of times. The GPS drop a pin has saved me from a few off trail mishaps too. I’ve had three Apple Watches and I’d not go back.

instinct 2x solar for me

I second this! I have an Instinct 2X and wouldn't change it to anything else. It's built rather for the features and reliability than the eye candy!

My bad, on my instinct 2x i cannot find a diving mode nor Activity.

Garmin Instinct 2X is priced very nice right now and will track kayaking activities.

Ligther and faster - good, since Instinct 2x was chunky and very slow watch. Lack of maps, no touchscreen, slightly worse flaslight - bad. Regarding issue with strength training ("*the watch defaulted to the exercise list, rather than the summary rest page. I found this honestly infuriating...*."), that is how it works on Fenix 7, Epix and probably some other Garmin watches as well, since many people complained exactly about that since that "improvement" was introduced in some software update about 2 years ago. Garmin ignored users' requests/complaints so that will remain so on Instinct 3 as well for indefinite amount of time (or until Garmin finally recognizes how dumb paused view in strength training is). As you said *"3 Solar is a huge improvement in terms of contrast and brightness over the 2X,"* which is not surprising since display on Instinct 2 and 2x left a lot to be desired although many reviewers omitted to say that. Thanks for your review.

Used 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

Good 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!

I 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 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

DO 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.

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.

If you turn on the NV mode that will turn off the heart rate sensor on the Instinct 2 Tactical!

Instinct tactical. Got it while in the military in ~2019 and it’s still kicking

Does it have to be a watch? I love my Whoop because it's low maintenance and I forget it's on until I get the notification to charge it. I love my Garmin Instinct Tactical (I'm active duty military so it's dual purpose), but I have to take it off whenever I use wrist wraps or my grips during a WOD.

I got an instinct tactical specifically because it's kinda dumb. It just does the few things I want it to do, and it does them well enough.

I have Epix pro gen 2 47mm ss, it is great, got it for 50% off. Don't pay 800, look for discounts, also don't go for newest models, Instinct 2 solar or 2x is great, also Foreruner 955... Find some store and go try them and seek youtube for further info- chase the summit, desi fit...

pretty much everything outside of wear os will give you that - but if you want to stay within wear os then your best option is a oneplus (up to 4-5 days or you can switch over to their own operating system and get up to 16 - though no access to google services including any installed apps/watch faces). There is also amazfit, fitbit, xiaomi, garmin, coros, polar, suunto, and huawei where you will get +7 days and in most cases somewhere between 10-16 days. Of course there is also the garmin instinct 2 or 3 solar - assuming you don't mind a b&w mip screen, and get up to 3hrs of 50k lux light per day - based on your usage you may not have to charge the battery for years....

garmin instinct 2/3 solar - very very long battery, good health metrics and very good tracking capabilities. Con - looks a bit like a casio g-shock.

If you're already in the Apple ecosystem then an Apple Watch will be good choice that's pretty straightforward to use. A Garmin Instinct2 is also a good, relatively low cost option, but you'll need to use the free Garmin Connect app on your iPhone to view your exercise data. The Garmin is more complicated to set up.

PS, battery life is 1-2 days on the Apple Watch and up to 28 days on the Garmin

I would recommend a Garmin Instinct 2 or 2S (the S is just the smaller version but it's the one I prefer). It's simple but powerful. It doesn't have all the high-end features, but it has more than I ever use. But the reason I got it is because it's *not* touch-screen. I had a FitBit Charge 5 before switching to Garmin, and that watch went nuts if any water touched the screen. Whether it was run or sweat, it became almost unusable. Also, I run in sub-freezing temps in the winter, and the last thing I want to do is take my glove off so I can interact with my watch. But since I brought up the Fitbit...my first fitness tracker was a FitBit Charge 4, and that thing was pretty awesome as a beginner piece. I gave it to a trailrunner friend and she still uses it years later. I'd recommend the Charge 4 over the Charge 5 because the Charge 5 lost the altimeter in favor of being super waterproof, and I never really forgave FitBit for that, as a trail runner.

garmin forerunner (255 or 265 are good choice )or instinct series both have solar models if you want even more battery, or garmin fenix 7 or 8 but they are bit more expensive. also coros pace 3 its a great price to performance sport watch with great battery life

All true except advanced metrics. They are also present in Fenix (it has even more features for hiking) and Instinct. Forerunner is not more advanced. The rugedness is mostly about the bezel. In fenix and instinct it has a rim which gives extra protection to the screen. But that means rugged watches are more bulky what can be a problem in the gym. The real question is lightness of forerunner vs battery life of fenix /instinct

Garmin instinct is often with me, only thing I do is turn my watch the other way bc the radiant heat from my stove cooks it and heats my arm up. The max I've seen the sensor say is 113, that's when it's 200+, average is about 104, your body temp will help moderate the watch temp. In the gym saunas is usually more of 108 max on the sensor.  It goes in the hottub with me at 104 as well, garmin just makes solid products.

The garmin instinct is for forest people, the longest battery life for backpackers.

Instincts are not good for strength in my experience

Instinct will do you fine. I have one I take camping and backpacking. It’s the original instinct and it works great. My everyday watch is geared for the gym, but the only thing it really does that my instinct doesn’t is hold onboard music

I think you are in a hard spot here! When someone is serious about something, it is difficult to gift them something about that something. In the same way that you cannot gift a mouse to a software engineer unless it's the Logitech Mx 3 or superior, you cannot gift apparel to a serious runner unless it's something really good. My point is, if you want to gift him a watch, it is difficult to recommend you something that is below $300 or $400. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of watches out there that cost less and may work. For example, you can buy the Garmin Vivoactive or Instinct for around $200, or the Amazfit T-Rex Pro for $150 (this is a really good watch for the price). However, if he is really serious about trail running, you may have to consider a Garmin Fenix 6 (between $350 and $400 on Amazon) or a Garmin Forerunner 945 (I just saw it at $319 on Amazon). If he is into both road and trail running, the Forerunner may be a good choice, but if he is getting more and more into trail running, the fenix is the best option. Note: You won't get navigation in budget-friendly watches, but I haven't meet a racer that needed it. Generally, the course is marked and people carry their phones (I have offline maps just in case). Note 2: You can save a lot by purchasing the previous-generation model (that's why I recommended fenix 6 and forerunner 945).

I KNOW. It’s so hard to go back. I had a Garmin instinct before buying my first Apple Watch back in 2021 I think. The Garmin seemed awesome coming from a Fitbit Ionic before that I had forever. But now, trying to go back to even a Fenix 7 feels like I’m going back in time. The only time I’ve really been able to break away is while wearing my Garmin on vacations. For some reason I like it because it can get dirty (especially at the beach) and the charging is basically nonexistent.

I got a Garmin Instinct. It's their more rugged watch for hiking, camping. Etc. I personally like that it has buttons, instead of a touch screen, a black and white display, and looks like an old-school Casio G-shock. The solar ones have extra battery life. Take a look, see if you like the aesthetic... it can be used for all different types of activities... watch is a total beast - it has been going strong for literally years...

My seventh Fitbit died last week (from Luxe to Versa to Charge 5 and 6, this was my second in-warranty replacement), white line on the screen to no screen at all within 24 hours. So with some Target credit I decided to go with a Garmin Instinct for $200. The GPS is much, much more accurate (even when not paired with my phone), the app tracks a lot more information than the Fitbit app did and takes up a third of the space on my phone. I miss the constant step updates; the Garmin just updates every minute. That's about the only drawback.

Same Takes a beating. Receives texts and calls (can’t reply or answer) Tracks sleep , heart rate , steps etc. Best part.. I charge it once every 3 weeks

Considering they don't offer much more in terms of utility to cheaper Garmin options, the Fenix series is hardly a value proposition. Better to stick with an instinct or forerunner for the vast majority of users.

Garmin are of course great, but I wouldn't pony up for anything over the instinct. The Fenix series is pretty, but you're spending more than twice as much for features you probably won't use and a worse battery life. Less is more when it comes to GPS watches (or so I keep telling myself for not having replaced my disintegrating forerunner 235).

I was able to duplicate the strength profile on my instinct and rename it “Bodypump” so it shows up as that on Garmin connect, but otherwise it’s just me setting it to strength and forgetting about it

Yes! I switched from an ultra 2 - love my instinct - simplicity with features that you want.. winning combo!

Came to say Instinct. Solar options too which are great if you’re outdoors a lot (which OP obviously is)

If you want max battery life and don’t care about smartwatch features other than fitness tracking get the instinct series. There’s several options based off of your preferred display and it gets up to 28 days of battery with notifications turned off

Garmin Instinct is the go here. The solar charging is good, only something like 3 hours of sun a day for unlimited battery life and the built in torch is super useful.

Even without solar the 50mm one gets 40 days battery life, and that’s with an hour a day of gps tracking.

If you had the Fenix 7x an instinct isn't going to provide better data and a Samsung will be a better smart watch but not a better fitness tracker. So you do you but at this point an instinct would be useless to you and if you aren't happy with a Garmin might as well try the Samsung.

A few things. One is battery life. Some Garmin's have solar charging. But for the one's that don't you can get at least a week of charge if not more depending on the mode it is set in and how infrequently you use GPS. Two is that Garmin's are still fully functional without using the app or connecting to your phone. Sure, you won't get messages pushed to the watch or have the ability to sync metrics, but still it is more of a watch first and connected device second. You can use the Ultra without a phone, too, but this kinda defeats the purpose of the iWatch series and smart watches in general where there are meant to be connection to your phone first and then a watch second. Sleep tracking, if it matters to you, is generally better with Gamin watches. Garmin has also been doing GPS for a really long time. But probably the biggest advantage is that Garmin watches, well nearly all of them, are designed to be used while the user is wearing gloves. Meaning, you can navigate to and do everything by clicking the buttons on the sides even if the model has a touch screen. There is a slight learning curve to this, but once you figure it out it seems rather intuitive. And I dunno. Some of us want something more than a fitness tracker but also not a full-blown, app-centric, always-connected device. This might sound weird, but if you need to use timers, one right after the other, then Gramins win hands down. Some Garmin watches are actually built for the out-of-doors based on the premise that you will scrape the watch on a tree trunk, rock, side of a cliff, on sandy, rocky, bottom if surfing, etc. I have the first model of the Instinct that I still use. It was run over by a semi truck and barely got scratched on the outer casing. Still works like a charm. But probably the biggest benefit is that Garmin is pretty good so far with updating older watches every so often, even though they don't have to. There is no real need to update the watch every 2 - 3 years (I suppose you don't really need to either, with the iWatches, but you know what I mean) other than if you simply want to. If you bought a Fenix 8 today it would still be functional going into 2035 assuming the battery can still hold a decent charge.

I have a garmin - but the stats it gives aren’t that useful for bodybuilding. I’ve had fitbits but they always break after 18 months - I don’t want a smartwatch at all. It does track my heart rate on stationary bike, treadmill and treadmill. It’s relatively good at tracking how long I slept and how well I slept. It tracks steps well enough for me to be able to see when I need “to get out”. The strength app is awful, never tracks reps accurately and is horribly fiddly to use. I went for the instinct - which is a “outdoors man watch” and has other functions that are good for me - altimeter, tides, barometer, storm alerts etc. it’s also built like a tank. My wife can track my location for when I do a trail run or something - which is useful Really for bodybuilding - I am not sure if you need more that a heart rate tracker. If I did it all again I would probably just get a tracker and go back to wearing a normal watch on my left wrist.

You can’t go wrong with a Garmin. The Instinct series is very rugged and reasonably priced. The fenix series is also super rugged but is at a premium cost

Forerunner 165 would likely fit the bill. It can alert you to call, texts, etc, but you can't really respond. Also, you can modify settings to not notify you. If you are wanting rowing specific info, that might be tricky. If you just want to track heart rate training zones and workout times, it would work just fine. Basically stick to the lower end of the spectrum. Instinct could also work too, if you are OK w/ the G- Shock style.

If you don't want to charge your watch everyday, check out the Garmin Instinct series. Amazing battery life, even with activity tracking. It'll track your laps, distance, drill logging, the works.

As a long term user of Garmin devices I my suggestion biased towards garmin vivosmart 5. Have used multiple garmin devices over last 15 years and all have been great for activity tracking. Used it so far for steps, cycling, swimming, running, strength training, open water rowing, hiking (My garmin instinct has a 24 day battery life which can do gps tracking for a long 20+ day hike without 2nd charge). Garmin connect is one hub for all my Garmin devices. Tracks activities which in my case currently is gym, steps, swimming, sleep, HR monitoring, O2, body battery (recovery from workouts). Can setup challenges for myself and friends. Have goals and track progress. I don't pay for any premium subscriptions. I would say it can be a bit overwhelming sometimes if you just want a simple health and wellness device. Garmin are built to withstand abuse and for training.

Ooo Garmin talks outside of the Garmin Sub! I've had an Instinct of some variety for a while. I couldn't stand a smartwatch that required frequent charging, I'm already sacrificing so much battery life not just wearing a regular watch. The Fenix 8 recently added a microphone, adding a few key features most Garmin watches were lacking in comparison to a more traditional smartwatch, though it doesn't sound like you would be bothered by that. My Garmin is my daily companion, vibrates for important notifications, tracks my activities well, keeps me off my phone for large stretches, and helps me find stuff in the dark (exclusive to models with the flashlight). Wouldn't trade it for anything on the market as of now.

Bought Instinct in 2019 and it still feel great after 5years of rugged usage,needs charging once a week,only my coros apex 2 pro has better battery life than that but thats doesnt make me love my garmin anything less..I use apple series 8 once a month post run to look into my Ecg just to rule out any stress related changes 😅

i just got a helio earlier this month for the same reason. I still wear my Garmin Instinct from time to time, and always use it to track workouts, hikes, etc…. The band give =s me the data i was looking for - plus it’s way more comfortable to sleep with.

I wear my garmin instinct with no issues

Welder/ millwright- Garmin instinct

Agreed. I bought mine originally for hiking and tough mudder. It’s been abused, and still works flawlessly. Battery life is still great too

Love my Instinct, though I haven't gotten to try it on a long term hike yet.

Instinct has been amazing for me.

Garmin Instinct and its successors charge themselves via solar. This was the first function in ages that persuaded me to buy a new (used) watch. The thing lasts over a week with daily use in the summer. In my opinion, all wristwatches are only suitable for the endurance portion of hybrid training. You only do kettlebell snatches once.

How about looking at the ‘Instinct’ line of watches? I switched after being a long term Fenix user and find all of the Fenix feature set (minus mapping) with the added benefit of much longer battery life (solar versions). Fantastic watch that kinda, if you squint your eyes a bit, looks like a G Shock.

My garmin instinct does not do well with all breaststoke, it will literally say I went 0 yards. It does fine if I do a mix though (the tracking line will just fill in the blanks basically).

I picked up a used Garmin Instinct for $20 and it's pretty good. It's big though and not the most comfortable on my small wrists. Battery went 7 days with constant wear and 2x daily swims and kayaking when I was camping though!

Instinct works great for me in the field Edit: just to add though, you probably already know this but be sure to disable gps on either when deployed and also disable heart rate monitoring when on exercise/deployed because if someone is looking at you under nvg’s you’ll be visible from miles away

Yeah definitely think the instincts darker screen makes it more suitable. Although really a combat Casio never let me down it’s just not as cool

+1 on Instinct! Simple, knows almost everything that a high end much pricier Garmin does with incredible battery time

Garmin Instinct that I bought used off of Ebay

Plenty of other useful comments so far, so I wont echo the same sentiments. The only extra experience to add is that I have used my Garmin Instinct to compose Inreach messages when the weather is horrible and my phone’s touch screen is so wet it wont respond. In one instance I was turned around on a summit that was socked in with very limited visibility. I asked my wife for a heading back to the trail via my Inreach Messenger and received the response all through my watch. Could I have dropped my pack, dried my phone screen, pulled up GPS, and found my way alone? Sure. Did I enjoy getting her help without having to deal with all of that? Absolutely.

I use a garmin instinct, it has a SUP activity and keeps track of everything. I actually used it earlier today. Bonus, I don't have to carry my phone out when I'm paddling.

Instinct and disable notifications.

For someone who is new and cares mostly about sleep tracking and GPS activities it’s honestly all kind of the same. You can run with an Instinct and you can hike with a forerunner. Choose based off of look, price, battery life for your particular activities. A Fenix or Instinct pretty much does it all and with great battery life. Doesn’t really matter in the end unless you care about very specific advanced metrics. I personally think most of the Forerunners are ugly so I gravitate towards Instinct because I’m also not willing to overpay for a Fenix when there’s other brands that cover 90% of a Fenix for half the cost. If you want to research alternatives: If you’re looking at an Instinct, check out Coros Nomad. If you’re looking at a Fenix check out Suunto Race 2 or Vertical 2 or upcoming Coros Apex 4.

Instinct if you wanna use it for anything outdoors besides running

I charge my instinct once every 2 weeks

Garmin Instinct is tough to beat. Especially a solar one. Good value for what is offered.

I'd go with the Instinct then for sure if your still going to use your phone. I would get all your setting and favorites organized on the watch and in the apps and do a couple trial runs on some local trails or even a walk around the neighborhood to get a better feel and it's functions to better enjoy your actual hiking experience

Second the garmin instinct line. The watch is bulletproof and has tons of useful features and insane battery life. I go nearly a month between charges with daily use and regular gps usage.

Garmin Instinct, fairly simple and not too expensive. Or any of the Forerunner models.

That’s not just their cycling computers. My Instinct can make it nearly a month on a charge, though realistically more like 2 weeks with periodic activity tracking.

I love the squares but instinct is like next next level

The instinct series is, in my opinion, by far the best. I believe this mainly due to the screen, which is not the awful LCD/LED stuff that most watches have. It's clear in all conditions, and extremely durable. I think the UI is also quite well done. Any of the instincts will fit the bill, but probably instinct 2 is the best balance of features.

Agreed. I own an Apple Watch Ultra, a garmin instinct, an aura ring and a whoop. There is no perfect fitness tracker, they all have pros and cons. People who give a black and white “x is better than y” always get a raised eyebrow from me.

I have the original instinct and have worn it regularly in my 90 minute sauna sessions. Usually not quite to that temp, but i've been to 180 with no issues.

Another one for garmin instinct. Don't get the solar screen, harder to read. Its a manly watch. Slightly rugged. It's simple and basic. It's not touch screen which allow it many benefits. Responsive buttons. You can always see the screen. Get messages, can quick reply to text msg, water proof, charge last 2 to 3 weeks, count step and Heart rate. I keep my phone on silent and wear the watch at work. Keep my phone downstairs at home and get messages or calls from my watch. Simple smart men's watch.

Instinct = the ugliest watch Garmin makes.

I use Garmin Instinct mostly just azimuth’s to waypoints. Always have a handheld in the backpack.

Garmin instinct. You can customize the notifications pretty in depth and it has crazy battery life.

Instinct battery life is great, but it doesn't have maps. You can put a course on it and it will buzz when you need to turn, but the 955/965 enduro/epix/fenix lines all have built in maps where you can see roads, topolograpic lines, and other points of interest.

Not whoop anyway. That's more of an all day energy tracker based off heart rate. Garmin gives more swim options. Mine works great. It's an instinct. The battery usually lasts two weeks. There are multiple models that support swimming. They are pretty good at counting laps.

Agree, on the hardware side. Software side, no bueno for me. Steps are 1.5 to 2k off a day. Software not ready for prime time. I have to switch to my 7 yr old Garmin instinct when doing search and rescue because it has industry standard UTM coordinates, that you can not even get an app to do with Amazfit.

That’s insane 🔋 Solar + Instinct is basically infinite mode 😂

Most people coming from apple go vivo active or venue. Venue being closest to a smart watch. Personally, I'm a instinct guy. Although I'm wearing a Fenix today since I didn't charge my Instinct for 2 weeks and it died before bed. I've swam tens of thousands of meters (more like hundreds but..) in pool, open and salt water with my Garmins. Done free diving (only to about 40ft, I'm not very good) and press the buttons regularly sub surface. I've also done cliff jumping with every watch, and haven't lost a garmin to water intrusion. I would definitely select a 100m rated model for water sports. Any watch can fail but I've had 6 garmins and none have. I also had a bunch of Casio and Timex over the years and not one failure.

I never understood the phone issue either. I used to have an arm case for my phone and it worked well. Also there are headphones, usually bone conducting with built in memory for music (because they are designed for swimming). So you can even get around having a music watch and a phone. Basically a Garmin instinct would work great in this scenario

I use a Fenix and and instinct. 100% accurate in the pool unless I'm doing under/overs (15m under, 10 over, 15 under, 10 over) then it will miss some laps. Most people aren't doing the legal 15m pullout (I do it to circumvent no underwater swimming) so this isn't an issue. Other than that, as long as I'm stroking with my arms, it rarely misses a length. I've had an Fenix 2/3/5x in the pool and mostly use my Instinct in open water because I don't mess with a HRM (wrist is fine, I don't care that much for the OWS and if I do I use my HRM pro).

Fantastic watch and value. Easy to read screen (monochrome mips) and great battery life. Definitely worth it.

Personally, no. I use other devices for maps. Seems like a watch is best as a backup. Instinct is great. Last forever, is accurate, rugged and fairly cheap.

I swim with my Instinct and Fenix series and no issues. I also press the buttons in the water. I think the 100m watches are fine to press in the water. At some point the seals will probably fail but I think that's probably a decade of careful use, at which point you'll probably want a new watch anyway

Instinct Affordable, great for those activities. Incredible battery life, to the point I'm annoyed when I have to charge it every other or every 3rd day on longer (active trips, like backpacking and bikepacking) because I go a week normally. Readable (monochrome) in any light. Also has an oled screen if you prefer it.

I had one, nice watch, but a bit chunky for everyday wear for me.

do you want more of a smartwatch that can also track fitness? or do you want a fitness watch that has some smart capabilities? that's basically the math when comparing Garmin to pixel or apple watch. I have a Garmin Fenix because I do a lot of hiking and like having the maps on my wrist. But if it weren't for that, I'd probably get the Garmin Instinct

Most Garmin watches would do those things. Depending if you want the latest bells and whistles, such as an OLED screen vs a MIP screen from an older generation, a model from an older generation will be more than fine. However, I wouldn't recommend getting a second hand one, but that's just my preference. Take a look models such as the Instinct, the Vivoactive, the Venu and Forerunner 55/165. Those would suit you. I would not recommend more expensive models as the Fenix and the more expensive Forerunners. They would be way overkill and extremely expensive.

I had an instinct and had the same problem, it was just too big on my wrist and i often sleep with my hand under my pillow.

I’ve worn a Garmin Instinct at the gym for a few years doing all of the above exercises and more. My wrist doesn’t bend backwards past 90 degrees, so it doesn’t get in the way. I’ve also worn it in several races and SIMs without issue. The Instinct is pretty basic model, and I never worry about it getting damaged. Sometimes the GPS is questionable though.

I haven charged my Instinct 2x the last time early August... I still have 30 procent / 13 days left. That being said, I havent been training a whole lot and have been a lot outside with direct sunlight.  Instinct is sturdy, but for the (really) long battery you have to go to MiP display with button control only.. other watches like fr, venu etc usually go 1 to 2 weeks 

Same. I use a Garmin Instinct to track my runs, but a GymBoss for the intervals. I really appreciate that I can change my intervals on the fly without it affecting the workout. I also found out the hard way, that some of the apps used for intervals (e.g. RunKeeper) need an internet connection to work. The Garmin/Gymboss combo works great with or without internet.

I'm a big fan of the Garmin Instinct watches, but I do like and use more of the smart features like notifications and whatnot. Features I love: * completely and utterly water proof (almost everyone I know using an apple watch has killed at least one in the water) * The rubber band is different material from the fitbits, I find it a lot more comfortable and doesn't smell when I wear it while sweating a lot like some other watches I have * 30 day battery life, and they have a solar option I'd like to upgrade to which will net essentially unlimited battery life if you're outside or in bright light often enough * Music controls! I haven't used a fitbit in years now but I always missed that back then. * Timers and alarms, I find myself being a lot more organized with my timers when they're on my wrist and visible at all times * Actually good step tracking * Sleep tracking * Heart rate monitoring and resting heart rate * Exercise tracking and actually decent approx calorie burn estimates (I did the math with my CI and weight loss and found it lined up within a pretty good margin) * I use the compass a surprising amount * GPS tracking for hikes including good ascent tracking * Buttons instead of touch so it can be used while sweating buckets * A battery saving mode that boosts the already great battery life into the stratosphere * Automatic data import into the LoseIt app, which I use for calorie tracking Most of these are specifically things that I like a lot better than similar products I've used like fitbits and the google pixel watch lineup. I've never used an apple watch myself but my sister and previous partners have used them and I really don't jive with the interface, although they have all said the idea of having a streak of "closing their rings" sufficiently gamified the process such that they actually did more exercise.

Apple Watch user since 2017 here and Garmin “dabbler” for the past 3 years, Instinct, forerunner 255, forerunner 265. Avid runner, 20+ miles per week. It’s all really dependent on your needs. I like the metrics that Garmin provides although I do find it to be a bit harsh. Apple Watch is a bit more let’s say liberal with their metrics. I mainly use my Garmin for training blocks like when I have a race in mind to train for. If I’m not training I just run in my Apple Watch, I currently have a 1st gen Ultra. I keep coming back to Apple Watch simple because of the smart watch features and cellular connectivity. I like being able to reply to messages and leave the house without my phone. Personally I get more joy when I wear the Apple Watch, but I wouldn’t trust it with anything over marathon distance due to battery constraints. I do find gps and heart rate data to be close enough for me. All that to say it’s entirely subjective, I will say the Apple Watch has made a ton of overall improvements over the past 10 years with their health metrics, but the battery life is lacking in comparison to other brands. Hell even some of the newer garmins don’t have the battery life as some of the older ones. Like the 955 has about 28 days of battery vs 14 days on the new 970. I’m happy to answer any other questions.

those missing stuffs are available for the Instinct series. Altho gotta compromise with the black and white MIP display which is not everyone's favorite food.

I too have the Instinct, and it's been a workhorse under all conditions. It's rugged and does all the things.

Absolutely love my instinct - use for both and searched highly and low for it. 

So say we all. But seriously, I was jumping from android to andriod watched for a few years, until I bought my first instinct 5 years ago.  Now, I'm never going yo get anything but garmin. 

Ditto.. Garmin Instinct is perfect for me. Just techy enough to get notifications but still rugged and looks good. The solar is worth the extra $. I have to charge my watch 1 time per month on average

Get an older refurbished Garmin like the Instinct. Xiaomi is really crummy.

Started with an instinct 1 and then purchased the Apple Watch SE. I must say, I do enjoy certain features and capabilities of the apple, but my heart and soul (along with lifestyle) demands the constant everyday wear of a Garmin Instinct.

I love the buttons in my instinct EXCEPT for when I’m lifting with press movements. It always hits the lap button which ends my set

I was just going through a similar dilemma moving on from Fitbit. wound up choosing the instinct over those two. it can do everything you're asking for (if you add syncmyworkout) and I expect the other two watches can too. my only "gripe" with the notifications is that there is no granularity in what it alerts me to. with Fitbit I was able to turn off certain apps from pinging my watch. now I get everything. (or nothing)

I can go at least a week without having to charge my 5 year old Instinct.  Unless I’m using the GPS for biking, and then the battery still lasts a long time.   I buy iPhones for privacy and security reasons.  But I don’t want to have to charge a watch every night.   And while you probably don’t have to worry much about Apple abusing your data, there are plenty of 3rd party apps that will. 

Instinct all day baby. Ive had mine for YEARS. I track workouts, steps, etc. I have my alert system linked to it so I get dispatched throughout and know the address and the call before I even look at CAD. Its seen multiple fires and its still kicking. Best 300 bucks I've ever spent

My garmin instinct does a good job. Garmin also makes chest straps that sync with your phone just like their watches do

## Why is the Forerunner better for running than the Instinct or Fenix? The Forerunner series is specifically designed for runners. It offers precise running metrics, a wealth of training features, and specialized performance analytics like Running Tolerance, Running Economy, and even biomechanical values such as pace decrease on ground contact (Forerunner 970). Forerunner models often have better screens (touch, higher resolution) and detailed training suggestions for runners. The Forerunner 265, for example, has a bright AMOLED display that is easy to read while running. Instinct models typically use older sensors and are more geared toward outdoor adventure than pure running performance. The Fenix is also excellent for running but is positioned more as a hybrid multisport watch with a focus on outdoor activities and rugged design [9][10][11][12]. ## In what way is the Forerunner less suitable for hiking/backpacking? Forerunner models are less rugged and lack some of the outdoor-specific sensors and navigation aids of the Fenix or Instinct lines. Battery life is generally shorter, which is a disadvantage for long trekking tours. Features like a barometric altimeter, special navigation functions, and inReach compatibility—which are crucial for hiking—are limited to higher-end Forerunners or are better represented in Fenix and Instinct models. For hikers, map quality on Forerunner watches is also limited or only available on premium models like the 970 [10][13][14]. ## How useful are animated workouts and training suggestions? Animated workouts (yoga, strength training, etc.) are easy to follow on Garmin and motivating, especially for learning technique and form. For runners, the suggested training programs on newer Forerunners are highly useful. They provide daily personalized plans that factor in your fitness level and recovery status. Users report that these features simplify planning and improve training consistency, as the watch dynamically adapts the training [15][16][17][18]. ## Are maps on the watch actually useful for running or hiking? For anything else? Full watch-based navigation and mapping features—found particularly on the Forerunner 970 and Fenix series—include offline maps, turn-by-turn navigation, and visual guidance. For everyday runs on familiar routes, they matter less, but for trail running or hiking where orientation is crucial, they’re invaluable. Maps offer extra value for safety, route planning, and are also popular among cyclists and those exploring new routes [19][12][20][14]. ## Does the Forerunner 970 passively monitor heart rhythm to trigger an ECG? Yes, the Forerunner 970 is the first in its series with an integrated ECG feature, which uses case sensors to record an ECG for issues like atrial fibrillation in about 30 seconds. While the function is always present, the ECG is only triggered manually and does not replace a doctor’s visit. Heart rate is constantly measured, but for a full ECG you must actively launch the function [13]. ## Smartwatch features: Can you read texts or see who’s calling? Does Garmin support RCS messages? Garmin supports push notifications for calls and text messages, and (on Forerunner 570/970) you can answer calls directly from the wrist using the speaker and microphone. However, full support for Rich Communication Services (RCS, e.g. Google Messages) is not yet widespread; Garmin generally handles SMS/MMS, and you can reply with pre-set responses. RCS compatibility is under development and not guaranteed [21][22]. ## Is the speaker/microphone on the 570/970 useful for anything besides answering? How playful is it? The Forerunner 970 has improved audio hardware to make phone calls and use voice assistants (Google Assistant, Siri, Bixby) directly from your watch. The speaker is for calls and notifications but not for music playback. No particularly playful functions are supported; it's aimed at practical uses like telephony and voice commands. The 570 offers more limited audio features but still allows basic call management [23][24][25]. ## What makes a Garmin better than competitors Coros, Suunto, Amazfit? Garmin is regarded as a market leader due to its extensive ecosystem, powerful sensors, wide variety of sport profiles, and detailed analytics. Garmin watches generally provide robust navigation features with maps, access to third-party apps (Connect IQ), precise GPS/heart sensors, and strong accessory support. Coros impresses with battery life and durability, Suunto with simplicity and outdoor focus, and Amazfit mainly with budget-friendly offerings. Garmin is overall more versatile, especially for ambitious athletes and users seeking a deep combination of fitness analytics and smart features [10][23][25]. *** [9] Forerunner 265/745/965, Instinct 2 or fenix 7S https://www.reddit.com/r/GarminWatches/comments/1bl6twt/help_me_choose_forerunner_265745965_instinct_2_or/ [10] Garmin Instinct 3 vs Garmin Fenix 8: Every Difference ... https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/01/garmin-instinct3-vs-garmin-fenix8-very-detailed-review.html [11] Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Garmin Instinct https://versus.com/en/garmin-forerunner-265-vs-garmin-instinct [12] Garmin Forerunner 570 and 970: Advanced Tech for Those ... https://runlovers.it/en/2025/garmin-forerunner-570-and-970-advanced-tech-for-those-who-want-to-run-better/ [13] Garmin Forerunner 970 im Test: Die beste Sportuhr 2025 ... https://www.heise.de/bestenlisten/testbericht/garmin-forerunner-970-im-test-die-beste-sportuhr-2025-hat-jetzt-ekg/xx73c4h?wt_mc=rss.red.ho.beitrag.atom.beitrag.beitrag [14] Garmin Forerunner 570 vs. 970: An Easy Choice! All ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jLMnfnER8c [15] Support: Animated Workouts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0noz60nliY [16] How the Garmin Tracker Reignited My Love of Running https://www.wellandgood.com/fitness/garmin-watch-daily-suggested-workouts-review [17] How to Use Animated Workouts on Garmin Enduro 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p6LzkJw9Hw [18] Garmin Coach Review https://stephaniehnatiuk.com/garmin-coach-review/ [19] Garmin Watches + OS Maps: The Ultimate duo for easy ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19HBRpmPhFw [20] New to Garmin Watch Maps - Need Your Advice for Hiking ... https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comments/16eznyf/new_to_garmin_watch_maps_need_your_advice_for/ [21] Google Messages may work with Garmin for satellite ... https://9to5google.com/2023/08/28/google-messages-satellite-connectivity-garmin-evidence/ [22] Garmin fenix 8 RCS Text Messages? https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comments/1inrdo6/garmin_fenix_8_rcs_text_messages/ [23] Garmin Forerunner 970 In-Depth Review: Brillance at a ... https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/garmin-forerunner-970-in-depth-review-brillance.html [24] Garmin Forerunner 970 speaker and microphone quality? https://www.reddit.com/r/GarminWatches/comments/1ktyxq2/garmin_forerunner_970_speaker_and_microphone/ [25] Garmin forerunner 970 Review ❌ all the cr*p bits ❌ a ... https://the5krunner.com/2025/07/28/garmin-forerunner-970-review/

Garmin Instincts are damn near bulletproof. I wouldn't be worried, it'd take much more extreme temp then that

Turning off the Bluetooth will solve this; your watch will not be connected to your phone. And Garmin does not have LTE. Garmin pro plus HRM will track your metrics without the watch. Worst case - How is your supervisor going to know every Garmin model? Just get an inconspicuous one; maybe an instinct that looks like a G shock. And be like "it's just a watch"; just make sure it's on DND and/or turn off bluetooth for the day.

Garmin instinct. Battery lasts for weeks. Super rugged so can take a hammering

Fenix if you can afford otherwise any instinct imo.

Vivoactive and Venu (non X1, that thing should have had a name of its own) don't have the advanced running metrics. So it's Forerunner , then check whether the features you want are in Instinct, Fenix, Enduro or Epix if you like one of those better.

I used both yesterday. A garmin instinct and my android phone running geotracker in my buoy.

I've had my Instinct for 5 years, absolute tank of a watch. Not a scratch on it and it's taken some nasty hits.

Oh wow, the solar is that good? I have the standard Instinct I bought about 5 years ago and was going to upgrade because I heard the GPS on the newer ones is more accurate. Was going to just buy another normal Instinct but if you get that kind of battery out of the Solar I may have to get that instead.

Yeah it's probably time for an upgrade then for me. I still get about 2-3 weeks out of a charge, but if I use GPS everyday it's much shorter.

Garmin Instinct or Instinct Solar. These are made for military standards and can take an absolute beating and go in the water just fine. Had mine for 5 years now. The number of times I've slammed it off a wall or something, or just banged it up in general doing yard work, etc. there isn't a single scratch on it. It tracks my skiing runs in the winter, I take it in the pool/swim laps with it, it does everything and is built like a tank. The fitbits and Vivoactive are pretty cheaply made/mass produced. If you want durability you have to spend a bit on a higher end watch.

I wear a garmin instinct for daily wear And a garmin epic for running ect

I bought a Garmin instinct for around 200usd and it's been great. Improved my swim a lot using it.

i got the instinct.. the base one

I try to give you few options , -swim 2 : have everything for swimming but is really focus only on swimming, heart rate is really good , but if you want to do others sports than is lacking a lot. Have drills mode and don’t miss a lap normally. -Suunto run/run s , if you change the strap get an amazing hr underwater (outside of water is way worse ) 🤷🏻‍♂️, is perfect on lap counting , have integrations with Suunto aqua headphone who give you some extra metrics on head rotations ( is still a new come , so something isn’t perfect yet) , can use for any other sports , but doesn’t have any drills mode -instinct series , actually similar to swim 2 but less accurate on hr reading and sometimes miss laps , can do so many things outside water , huge battery , but as a swimmer I felt not worth for only swimming so I send it back - forerunner series , it come in 2 versions , the small 200 series (the last one is called 500) , and the 900 series , go for the smallest , is lighter have everything you need and more stuff you won’t ever use , for the fact is smaller it is more comfy to use in water and hr just little bit more accurate , never miss a lap , and got all function of swim 2 for swimming plus tons of functions for many sports - in conclusion I use many times the Suunto but because is missing the drills mode I go back to forerunner when I need it , than I still using swim 2 bought so many years ago , I use for css , but honestly just because I feel nostalgic on it , after swim with him for many years

I had the Garmin Instinct but the heart rate sensor was dog shit. It would routinely read much lower during an intense workout where I knew my heart rate was near the max. No problems like that with Apple Watch. Plus the Garmin Connect app is shit too. It looks like something thrown together by summer interns.

I have an OG Garmin Instinct & I have been feeling the need to upgrade my watch.. This Euduro3 looks very tempting to me, but I sometimes find those MIP displays very hard to read in darker environments. If they gave this thing an OLED screen I would buy it, but I think I am going to have to settle on for a Forerunner 265 whenever they go on sale again.

I have a Garmin Instinct I really like. Great for stat tracking but it's not a touch or color display. Text notifications can be seen but not replied to, if that's an issue. I'd look carefully at the features and see if it actually aligns with what you need, but it is as rugged as I imagine a smartwatch could ever be. For me, the non-smartphone like qualities it has are a benefit, not a drawback, but my main focus with it is fitness tracking and route finding. Got mine used for $150, you won't find a new one under $200 but a used one could probably be found.

the fenix/epix (mainly pros) options are go-to options as all rounders. I also had Instinct if you want a casio/military like watch with 25+ battery autonomy Currently I've been wearing fenix 7 pro and I am very happy about it

Garmin, at first I got a cheap Edge 130 and I stuck with the same brand, I also got a watch (Instinct) and later the Edge 530, so now I'm all invested already with years worth of data in Garmin app. Activities sync to Strava though, so I guess I could switch to something else, but there are things that don't sync like daily steps, calories, sleep, body battery... so I think I'll stick with it. I don't have an iphone so Apple watch is out of the question entirely, and I don't really care all that much about the smart portion of the watch to try something like Samsung. But I do have a Wahoo trainer, not a Garmin one. Still works just fine with Garmin.

My sister has to charge her Apple watch every evening, then there's me with my Instinct charging it once a month 🤣

Garmin instinct is twice the cost of GBD-200/GBX-100. Sure it is probably better but that comes at a cost.

Hard to beat the Garmin Fenix / Epix / Enduro line in terms of battery life. Note: leaving a watch on the map screen drains a lot of power regardless of watch brand. The Instinct is a good second choice if you only need a breadcrumb track to follow; no maps. Maps , on the watch, gives you more information on terrain but shouldn’t be a deal breaker. You could always refer to your phone. Look at previous versions of the watch to fit your budget.

The instinct series might interest you as well, as they are more rugged with very long lasting battery. I have owned one in the past, then jumped to Forerunner 955 for the maps, then to Epix - for the flashlight and AMOLED screen, and now to Fenix 8 for the voice commands, taking phone calls from the watch. The new instinct 3 series have the flashlight too, and the 2X might have it as well (don't quote me on that) Best of luck, they're all great watches!

Garmin Instinct. Rugged and not a glass/touchscreen. Tracks fitness and is more affordable than most smartwatches.

Garmin - They have a lot of watches at different price points. There is built-in GPS and the battery lasts for several days, unlike a smart watch that you typically need to charge every night. The Garmin app easily syncs with other fitness apps, if that's important to you. If you have a smaller wrist, go for the "S" models that will look and fit better.