Garmin - tactix® 8 – Solar

Are you active duty? Check with management first if you will be allowed to wear a smartwatch. Pricey but the Tactix 8 Solar/MIPS version has everything that you need in your list. Personally, I would lose the smart notifications and music requirement, and get the Instinct 3 tactical version. While it doesn't have topo maps, it does have a style of navigation similar to what you see in the Foretrex series where you can see waypoints and have a breadcrumb style line showing where you went.

The display aside, both watches are practically the same for me. Same HR sensor, same GPS capability. Both have a flashlight. Both have a killswitch. Both nightvision mode. If you want the best of the best, Tactix 8 has the advantage of: Scuba Diving capabilities (it has a dive computer), a colored screen that you can view Topo maps on and it has Sapphire glass. Personally, I would go Instinct 3 tactical since its way cheaper and I can easily buy another if I break it doing cool guy shit. If battery life is important to you, make sure you get the MIP version instead of OLED. [https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1705221/pn/010-02934-50/#specs](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1705221/pn/010-02934-50/#specs)

Instinct 3 tactical or Tactix 8 solar. Tactix will hit all of your list, but the instinct 3 tactical will do most of it.

Nothing really changes you get 2 extra days with tactix 8 solar and new heart rate sensor and it’s dive proof and quicker response time with a mic and speaker

The format of the last review seem to be liked (minus the few keyboard warriors) so I’ll keep it similar for the Tactix 8. I’ve been using the Garmin Tactix 8 MIP (51mm Solar) for a few months now, and I’m ready to share my thoughts. I bought this watch primarily for its rucking activity tracker and night vision capability, and I was also drawn to its overall size. Here’s my take on how it’s been holding up. Why I Chose It I’m a big fan of rucking for fitness and training, so the dedicated rucking activity profile was a game-changer for me. The ability to input pack weight (finally!) and track my rucks accurately was my main reason for pulling the trigger. I also do some low-light outdoor activities, so the night vision goggle (NVG) compatibility was a huge selling point. Plus, I wanted a rugged watch that didn’t feel like a brick on my wrist, and the 51mm MIP version felt like the sweet spot for size. Rucking Activity Tracker The rucking profile is almost as good as I’d hoped. You input your pack weight before starting, and it logs the activity separately from hiking or walking, which is great for keeping my training data organized. I’ve been rucking with 30–50 lbs, and it feels like Garmin’s calorie estimates are more reflective of the extra effort compared to just using the hiking profile on my old watch. That said, I’ve read (and noticed) that the calorie calculations still lean heavily on heart rate rather than pack weight, so it’s not perfect. Still, it’s a step up, and I love seeing my ruck stats in Garmin Connect. I hope Garmin rolls this feature out to other watches, but for now, it’s a Tactix 8 exclusive. Night Vision Capability The NVG mode is legit. I tested it with PVS-14s during a night ruck, and the dimmed MIP display works like a charm—barely visible to the naked eye but clear enough to read through the goggles. The green LED flashlight option is also a nice touch for low-light situations without blowing your cover. Compared to AMOLED screens, the MIP display feels purpose-built for this kind of tactical use since it doesn’t emit much light unless you crank the backlight. If you’re into night ops or just want to geek out with NVGs, this feature delivers. Size and Design The 51mm MIP model fits my wrist perfectly (I’ve got ~7.5” wrists). It’s big enough to feel substantial and readable but not so bulky that it catches on gear or feels unwieldy during daily wear. The titanium bezel and sapphire lens give it a premium, tank-like vibe, and the blacked-out tactical look is sleek without being flashy. I was worried it might feel too similar to my old Tactix 7, but the slightly refined design and leakproof buttons make it feel like a proper upgrade. The MIP display is crisp in sunlight, and the solar charging is a lifesaver for long outings—I’ve gotten close to 40 days of battery life with moderate use. Other Thoughts • Battery Life: The MIP solar version is a beast. I haven’t tested the 48-day max Garmin claims, but it’s still impressive for a watch with this many features. • Tactical Features: I don’t use stuff like the Applied Ballistics solver (anymore) or Jumpmaster mode, but they’re there if you need them. Stealth mode is cool for disconnecting GPS and wireless, though I haven’t had a real-world use for it yet. • Downsides: At $1399, it’s a pricey investment. If you don’t need the tactical features or rucking profile, the Fenix 8 might be a better value. Also, I wish the 47mm version came in MIP for smaller wrists. The lack of a nylon strap with the 47mm AMOLED model is a bummer too. Again…I’m looking at the price for the masses for me it’s worth the $1400 but that doesn’t mean it is for everyone. So don’t come at me about it 🤣 • Rucking Wishlist: I’d love for Garmin to refine the rucking profile to factor in pack weight more directly for calorie burn. Right now, it’s more about logging than changing the data output. Final Verdict The Garmin Tactix 8 MIP is a stellar watch for ruckers and anyone who needs night vision compatibility or any other “tactical” needs. The rucking tracker is a huge win for me, the NVG mode works as advertised, and the 51mm size feels just right. It’s not cheap, and some of the tactical features might be overkill for casual users, but if you’re into rugged, mission-ready gear, this watch is hard to beat. I’m loving it so far and don’t regret the upgrade from my Tactix 7.

https://preview.redd.it/qhdpnpt9ffjf1.jpeg?width=2299&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=436fd3478fc773d5e022020ce95aa98f8cba3e86 Tactix 8 is by far the best smartwatch IMO

Micro led is a rich person con it’s not better tactix all the way if those are the 2 you’re considering

I love my Tactix 8. You definitely won't regret that purchase.

The biggest difference is the HR monitor, as I am quite sure you're not going to pick the amoled version. The 8 has more waterproof buttons and a mic, longer support for the software and a newer ui. But all these things are either nice to have but unnecessary or don't justify the price difference.

I just use Garmin's own training functionality via the watch and Connect (on the tactix 8). I often upload the metrics onto CoPilot Pro and get very useful insights, which I then use to adjust as necessary. So far, it has worked just fine for me.

Main reasons I went back to Apple Watch Ultra (3) was I appreciate they’ve kept pricing the same, satellite emergency service is included, and cellular on a run is just awesome. I’ll miss my Tactix 8 (best Garmin I’ve ever owned), but I’m not a professional athlete so the AWU will work better with my daily life. I will definitely miss the daily run suggestions but I’m using the Runna app now so that fills in the gap (for a fee). Both brands have awesome products right now.. it’s a great time to be alive!

I had a friend going on about getting some smart watch might have been apple but was costing him like 800 or something... And he's bragging about it going oooh if has 48hrs of battery.... And I went hang on... I have a tactix 8.... It costs 100 more and it has a 25-30 day battery life + solar so infinite in right environment and he goes does it track your fitness ... I just had to laugh and drop the page of all the features.... Long story short he's now bought a Garmin fenx lol

Tactix 8 is nice but don't count on any help from solar i have had the fenix and tactix solar and i actually prefer my amoled for length of batt life. i have put it in batt saver mode in full lux not on me for 3 hrs and achieved 1%that went down after wearing it .my casio does way better with solar this is the only thing that is a disappointment!

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!

Ok, just hear me out for one second before you think I'm crazy. The red light on the Fenix line is AMAZING. I use it every single night multiple times as it makes walking around at night super easy and not at all straining on the eyes. Honestly, it might be my "I'm not giving up this watch for e.g. an Apple watch, ever" feature. The Tactix light is green. I have no idea how well that'll work at night. But I absolutely LOVE the red light.

I went from years of wearing a Garmin Tactix to an Apple Watch Ultra this year. The battery life was a pain to get used to, but the Ultra lasts about two days and I will charge it when I am at my computer and it isn't terrible. I am kind of used to it now. I miss some of the map features and battery life when hiking/camping in the mountains, but overall I am very happy with everything else. The cellular service is a great addition. I actually get quicker gps lock for runs and like it better than the Garmin on my runs. I use the Hevy app for lifting and have no complaints. I love the ability to add so many more apps on the Apple. Even apps like mobile pocket that lets me add bar codes for my gym, Costco, etc. are an added convenience that I enjoy. Apple Pay seems to work better than the Garmin Pay which had issues for me.

I literally did the same thing with my fenix 3/6 and tactix but being able to run without a phone and still have access to emergency services or family through the watch is far superior than battery life during my 20-25 hours/week training.

The Apple Watch is deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, and most notably in messaging, and events (events is a surprisingly broad subject). It is a superb smartwatch that happens to have a lot of fitness features. Garmins are sports watches first, that happen to have some smart watch features. Forgetting the software featres, the Fenix and Tactix are highly rugged and that's a feature for them.

Bro, it's literally a fitness tracker first, then 2 miles of data sheets from all that tracking...then all the "smart" gibberish as a barely visible dot on the horizon. At least Enduro/fenix/Tactix/Epix line are like that.

For sports, always Garmin. No one else comes close for multisport watches, and I don't need a bunch of useless "smart watch" features that just waste battery.

solar garmin. everything i need, nothing i don't. paired with a polar HRM.

Garmin ecosystem is chocked full of goodness. Since I run and cycle, it’s great for multi sport. A lot of folks who only run seem to love Coros watches and their environment. I think either of those (with Strava integration) would be an improvement over your Apple Watch.