Garmin - Instinct 2 Solar Series

Instinct - rugged and battery lasts weeks

I have an instinct 2, I cycle (commuting), run (once a week) and swim (twice a week, in a pool). The watch is great and has a 2-3week battery.

Yep, I just use the 'cardio' option and it tracks these workouts fine.

Just to add (I have the I2 solar), in summer, I don't need to charge - the top up from the sum nets out the drain with regular use. GPS uses more than can be gained though, depends on the amount of GPS you use though. I don't use a whole lot and am set to go chargerless.

The Garmin Instinct much like any Garmin watch isn’t separate from the cloud UNLESS you don’t connect to wifi or Bluetooth, however you would then lose information provided by Garmin Connect. Any fitness watch from Polar, Coros, Garmin, Suunto and such will need to connect to their eco system for updates, long term training history, training plans, etc... Even a separate HR monitor such as the H10 plus gets updates through an app on your phone.. As soon as you connect to Bluetooth or Wifi your stuff from any of those companies will get stored in their cloud. Even if you plug in your Garmin, the information will link to your account in the cloud from Garmin Express which is the PC/Mac app for updating Garmin devices.

I can use my Garmin Fenix 7s pro technically without my phone or computer but it works better with. However if I never wanted to connect it to anything I would still be able to see my Heart rate, SpO2, listen to music MP3s that I drag and drop into a folder on the watch. IF you don’t use Garmin Express then a drive will pop up on your computer with your Garmin label so in my case the drive would be called Fenix 7. Then I can drag and drop music files or whatever files onto it. So while it is possible to be disconnected in that way.. I don’t recommend it as you wouldn’t get any software updates. You could also take your activity files out of the Garmin Instinct this way and upload to them to another platform such as Strava or Training Peaks (if you wanted to, or if Garmin Connect is offline). However I don’t believe you would get any updates for the watch this way. I’m not sure about Polar watches though but since they connect to computers via a USB plug.. I would assume something similar would pop up.

I have the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar. I like it and I think it checks your boxes depending on your price point. I got mine for $300, and since the 3 just came out you may find better deals. It has a few fancy metrics if you want to use them but its overall theme is to do the simple things right: no frills display, accurate GPS, long battery life.

I have the Instinct 2, solar version. It will last through 3 good days of hiking while using the GPS, if each day is like 7-8h of hiking, and it goes some sun exposure. The only time it goes down crazy fast if when I do laps in a pool. There’s probably a reason but I don’t know why. I charge it every 14days while working out every day, and using the gps every other day.

Instinct solar 2 if you go outside a lot. You'll end up charging it less than once a month.

I wear a Garmin Instinct 2. It has a heart rate monitor and a horseback riding tracker. You have to dig in the activities to find riding, but once you set it in your favorites it stays. It's good for tracking what you do, but don't put a lot of stock in the speed tracking. I can say for certain a horse can not accelerate to 35mph in a small ring. 

Instinct 2. No Garmin is great for weight lifting, but it’s a great running watch and gives you a nice rugged look for the gym.

Here, here. Me too. Went from an AW6 to an Instinct 2 and eventually to a used Enduro. Couldn't be happier. I get weeks on a charge, health tracking is great, and it has all of the smarts I want but is an excellent timepiece and less of a distraction. (Bonus: new Instinct 2 + used Enduro 1 cost less than a new base model Apple Watch.) I also find the Garmin/Apple Health integration to be pretty solid. Rarely have I gone from something from Apple to something from another company and been this happy with the change.

I'm no expert on these but I'm very happy with my instinct 2 where I wanted something basic with long battery life. It has all the basic tracking mechanisms with no fancy unneeded frills. Also is half the cost of the instinct 3. I only need to charge it like once every 10 days.

It absolutely will. Keep doing research for it there are plenty of blogs and reddit posts on this watch and how to save battery life. I use many of the features for hiking several times a week and still only need to charge it once every 10 days. There are a ton of settings that will eat battery if you have them on all the time

I have solar, but it’s not worth it on the 2 in my opinion. I don’t get a lot of charge very often, and sometimes the charging breaks altogether until I restart the watch. It works fine for running — no issues with the GPS where I run — but Garmin Coach workouts do not sync to the watch (only Daily Suggested Workouts), and it’s not compatible with PacePro or ClimbPro. I use the Runna app with a subscription, and those workouts do make it to the watch. Overall, I would say my use case is similar to yours (I do hikes and a little backpacking as well), and I would rate it as a bit limited but “fine.” I did consider splurging on an Instinct 3 Solar or possibly Forerunner 955, but I spent the money on a Runna subscription instead and don’t regret it. Edit: Another limitation of the Instinct 2 is that it does not support wrist-based running dynamics. You have to use a separate Running Dynamics Pod or HRM Pro chest strap to get those stats on an Instinct 2.

I am using instinct 2 almost two years by now. It works perfectly most of the time. I am a quite active runner. I can run 4 times a week. Being an active person, the battery life of instinct 2 is the best part that I got. Once it fully charged, I can use it over a week. Apart from running, I also play soccer, badminton, and bouldering. The bouldering app is amazing. It provide different type of leveling that you can choose. The activity tracker is good. The sleep monitoring also good. Some people don't like it because the look and the MIP display, but not really an issue for me.

Honestly, I have a Garmin solar instinct 2 and it feels like a downgrade after all my previous Chinese smart watches. I'm not planning to ditch Garmin though in the near future, since they just work and I like that the battery could survive long backpacking trips. But honestly, no touch screen and interfaces on the watch and in the app feels like hello from 90ths, seems like the UX department in Garmin is not even trying..

I've used an Apple Watch SE for a couple of years but eventually switched to a Garmin Instinct 2. Here are a few reasons why I, as a swimmer, love the Garmin Instinct 2 over the Apple Watch: 1. Instinct 2 has no touch interface and is entirely operated by tactile buttons. This makes it easier since I dont have to worry about turning the water lock on and off like I used to have to do on the Apple Watch. It honestly felt like a pain to have to do that. 2. There is no accidental triggering of the pause-resume-end workout actions, which was quite a common occurrence for me with the touch interface on the Apple Watch. Using the buttons to trigger these actions feels simpler and more fun. 3. I find the additional insights from Garmin quite valuable: training status, body battery tracking, training effect, and fitness age. All of this was missing on the Apple watch. 4. I like the MIP display, which wasn't even an option on the Apple Watch. 5. Not having to charge my watch every single day is a game-changer for me. I had to charge my Apple Watch every single day, but on my Instinct 2, the battery lasts quite a few days, sometimes up to a full week, depending on the number of workouts I put in. I dont miss the Apple Watch at all. But there are only a couple of things about the swim tracking which were easier on it: 1. The Apple Watch has an option to set the pool size afresh for every swim workout. In the case of Garmin, I have to go into the settings and change it. This is not a big deal, but the Apple Watch makes it a bit easier to do this if you tend to switch between pool sizes very frequently. 2. The Garmin Instinct 2 doesn't display the number of laps or calories burned during a swim workout. You can see these numbers on the watch and app after you've completed a swim workout, but I've found no way to display them while I'm actually doing the workout. This is not a big deal for me either, as I am used to tracking total distance swum (2.5 km every session), and I know how many laps that equates to. Hope this makes it easier for you to decide which smartwatch to go for. All the best!

I use the Garmin Instinct 2 and really happy with the tracking and training guidance it provides. Being able to customize the screens I see during my swim is something that I really like. Previously, I used an Apple watch for track my swims, and that was pretty accurate too, but because it was all touch interface I would end up accidentally pausing or ending my workout without intending to. Also, I realise now that Apple’s insights don’t even come close to the detailed analysis and guidance I get with Garmin.

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.

Yes, this. I have an Instinct 2 approved for use in the closed areas. The caveats I have are that you have to have GPS off (no brainer to set it to off except during activities) and Bluetooth must be disabled or disconnected from any mobile devices.

No. Get the instinct 2, should be available in good prices as 3 is already available. One of my best cost benefit purchases ever 

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

I haven't had any problems with my Instinct 2 in there.

Have you noticed a difference in Bluetooth range? My instinct 3 solar was terrible. Maybe 15 feet. Certainly not in another room or around a corner. My Instinct 1, Instinct 2, and especially my older Apple Watch had far better range.

garmin instinct 2 because it is durable and it has great battery life (28 days + solar charging) which is amazing for me because I am too lazy to charge.

If you want the most accurate heart rate tracker, hands down - chest strap trackers are the best. Both Polar & Garmin’s chest strap trackers are really good. Wrist watch trackers don’t even come close to their accuracy. But if you are like me who cares more about convenience, go for Garmin watches based on your budget and style preferences. Just ensure whatever model you select has the latest heart rate tracker. Edit: I use Instinct 2 Solar and I am fine with the results - better than Apple watch. Though I have observed that it under reports my heart rate in MetCons (like showing 130 bpm when my heart is easily pounding at 170+).

I use Garmin Instinct 2 Solar. It has monochrome display, find my phone, same heart rate sensor as Fenix 7S, GarminPay, long battery life and basic GPS. Garmin has a lot of options, so choose based on style and budget preference.

My problem with Apple watch is its battery life. I did Enchantments thru hike a couple of years ago (32 miles) and the watch died half way even when we started with a full charge. So I switched to Garmin Instinct 2 Solar with monochrome display (so very high battery life). It supports Find my Phone, Pay and various other smart watch features. Love the heart rate results.

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.

J'ai une Apple Watch Ultra, une Garmin Instinct 2 Solar, une Suunto Vertical et eu un Fenix 6 Pro Solar! L'Apple Watch Ultra avec son magnifique écran, son titane et son interface très aboutie n'arrive pas à la cheville des 3 autres montres question sport, incluant la Garmin Instinct 3 avec son écran LCD des années 80's c'est pour dire! Quand j'entends que l'AWU rivalise avec une Fenix 8 c'est soit de la mauvaise foi d'Apple Fan soit des personnes qui ne pratiquent pas de sport, bien sur en utilisation montre connectée l'AWU est géniale mais un peu chère pour cette utilisation non ? Question autonomie, je recharge mon AWU tous les deux jours et je ne fais rien avec, quelques notifications, le SPO2 la nuit, écran éteint, pas de musique. 2 jours pour juste surveiller mon rythme cardiaque, mon O2 la nuit et quelques notifications on ne peut pas dire qu'Apple s'est foulé question optimisation d'autonomie. Pour le sport environ entre une et deux heures par jour avec GPS j'utilise mes autres tocantes, je reçois aussi mes notifications, j'ai des métriques à gogo et je recharge tous les 10 ou 12 jours pour la Suunto et 15 jours la Garmin. Conclusion des mes comparaisons : L'AWU est superbe, un écran magnifique, une interconnectivité avec l'iPhone parfaite (bien sur), une qualité de construction irréprochable, des capteurs précis il faut le dire mais c'est vraiment tout! j'ai eu beau me forcer à l'utiliser en sport, randonnée, marche et musculation en ce qui me concerne c'est trop compliqué, il faut des applis tierces pour arriver à juste essayer de se rapprocher des applis natives Garmin ou Suunto et je reste sur ma fin à chaque fois. Il faut penser à recharger tous les jours (si sport) bref.... je suis désolé mais APPLE est à des années lumière de Garmin et même Suunto en utilisation sportive.

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.

If you just want a watch over a computer, I’d look at a garmin watch. 100% the best fitness tracking watches out there. Apple Watch is often described as a smart watch with some fitness stuff thrown in Garmin is a fitness watch with some smart watch stuff thrown in. My instinct 2 lasts 23 days without tracking activities. With regular activities it’s more like 14 days. However the best option for cycle tracking is always going to be a cycling computer and HRM strap. What brand you go for is up to you. I use a Garmin 530 as I’m already in the ecosystem with their watches.

Depends what cycling you do. If you’re a mountain biker I’m always going to suggest the instinct 2. It will survive a crash much better than the other garmins will. Not that we plan to crash on the mtb but let’s be honest. Sometimes a tree steps out in front of you

People have to stop comparing these. These are for two different people. I would never wear an Apple Watch based on battery life alone. I specifically got the Garmin for a wrist based gps and mapping tool to track and orient myself. You buy an Apple Watch to use smart features and be connected to your phone. Garmin has never been in that market. It’s a whole company based on gps systems for outdoor activities . You buy an Apple Watch to have Apple ecosystem. you can’t use half the feature of the fenix on an iPhone bc they only want you to use their watch… Garmin are all specifically made for their audience even down the the model . Apple watches are just to keep you plugged into your phone and have no bearing on actual outdoor activities despite calling it ultra. The Millitary has been orienteering with Garmin wrist based gps systems forever. You’d never catch an Apple Watch on patrol in Afghanistan. 😂

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...

I’m using garmin instinct solar 2

I use Garmin Instinct Solar 2. Great for pool and outdoor swims. Tracks indoor laps well and GPS well also. Not as fancy as the higher end models but a solid performer.

The Garmin Instinct 2 is a decent option though not really a smart watch or for nights out. Mine tracks well on distance on my OWS routes and I can also pair it with a HRM strap that accurately tracks my heart rate (None of the wrist HRMs work very well under water). The solar version means you won't need to recharge it every day like an apple watch either. It is also all buttons rather than touch screen.. but for swimming that's not bad. It does though have most of the other functionality of a Fenix or Epix. It also connects to power meters and other bike related sensors. I don't think there is a watch out there that gives everything you want.. smart watches come up short if you want all of your sport metrics accurate and sports watches come up short on looks and smart watch functionality.

I use a garmin instinct 2. I chose it because it has high rating for temperature and I swim in very cold waters sometimes. Also the buttons are tactile and can be pressed even when you’re wearing neoprene gloves. It’s accurate for open water and for distance in the pool. It’s not great at identifying strokes. Splits are good in long sets or if I manually push the buttons to stop between each swim of an interval. Also, if I’m doing a kick set it thinks I’m just resting on the wall.

I have a Garmin Instinct 2 and it comes with outdoor climbing, indoor climbing, and bouldering activity types! It’s pretty handy, it has all the major grading systems built right in, and when you’re doing a “climbing” activity it tracks your elevation and it knows when you get back to the ground, and then it asks you if you sent it or not. It’s not as “smart” as something like an Apple Watch, but you can set it up to display texts, phone calls and other notifications. You can read the entire text message, and if you have an Android phone, you can set the watch up so that it has a small selection of pre-written replies, so you can reply to the text from the watch.

Personally don't like mine. Had it for less than a year and having issues with connecting to the GPS and overall GPS accuracy. Activities are off by anywhere from .05 miles to .50 miles...I've also tried messing around with the tracking settings to no avail. I think it's a great watch with loads of functionality, but the GPS issues caused me to move on from the product and buy something else.

I would go for Instinct 2, does everything you need, long battery life, easy to use, durability. Not very expensive either.

What about Instinct 2? Its pretty cheap, durable, long battery life, and alot of features. I have one and can recommend it.

The Garmin Instinct 2 has an operating emp of -4 to 140 degrees F. Most of the time they will work just fine in the sauna, but you are likely damaging the battery slightly each time it gets too hot, and eventually, it may not hold a charge as long. Might not matter if you are going to buy a new one every couple years.

Garmin is probably the only smart watch for you then. (Maybe also some Casios, but never used them.) Had Forerunner 955 Solar, Instinct 1, have Instinct 2 and 2X. All of them can be set up fully standalone. All of them have the _option_ to set up time using GPS (manually, no autosync like Casio) if you want, but it's not required. Touch-enabled Garmins with new enough firmware (FR955 with old fw doesn't have that) allow you to scroll graphs with a finger so that you can look in history of various metrics very similar to what the Connect app provides. Even with graph scrolling though, the history of steps and HR can be afaik viewed only for the week, do if you want long term stats, you'll have to manually write that down to a notepad or something. All Garmin watches compute everything by themselves and the Connect app just downloads, saves and displays that data. There's no in-cloud / in-app computation as long as you have only 1 device.

Second this. I have a garmin instinct 2 that I initially got to run with. I started cycling and mtb a few years ago and it works well for GPS but the heart rate feature during activities is suspect, especially with wrist position on handlebars. I now use a garmin edge 540 with a chest strap heart rate monitor and I got a power meter for the gravel bike and I love this setup. I still wear the watch but it doesn’t turn on for a gravel or road ride. But I do use my watch with a chest strap HRM as my primary recording device for mtb.

A Garmin is not like an Apple Watch. It's a fitness wearable first with some smart features. If your primary use of an Apple Watch is for the smart features, using a Garmin will likely disappoint you. BTW, Vivoactive 5 does not have EGG. The Venu 3 is most like an Apple Watch. It has mic/speaker to make calls and ecg. But it's currently twice as much as a vivoactive 5. You can also get a Fenix with ecg, but those are Apple Watch Ultra-territory cost. I purposely went as far from an Apple Watch as possible. I ended up with an Instinct 2 Solar. That has a black and white MIP screen, but I wanted to be more health focused and was frustrated with the "smart" features on traditional smart watches, especially the Apple Watch. I love the MIP screen, so much, that I would likely never want to go to an AMOLED screen again on a watch. I hope Garmin never drops MIP (or equivalent tech) screens ever.

My Instinct 2 Solar has been pretty reliable, but I likely only use about 20% of its capabilities.

I use garmin instinct 2. Went with this as I was concerned with the Apple Watch coping with pool chemicals. It’s very sturdy and does quite a bit for the £££

I do miss that 30 day battery life

I LOVE my Instinct 2. I use it for pool workouts almost everyday. Hiking, running, skiing. And it’s an amazing sailing watch. Rugged, waterproof, simple, great battery, good GPS, and even a MOB/COB hot button. I’ve been meaning to rave about this watch as a sailing watch. I got several people that sail/race to get the same watch. Amazing.

I have an instinct 2. Have had it for years. I wear it all the time. In the sauna 3-4x a week, works perfectly still.

Probably something like Instinct 2 or Forerunner 255. Go for the 955 if you can find it for a good price, its a great watch too and has maps while the other two don't. Instinct 2 has Garmin Explore integration though.

Yeah it covers a lot of the workout and fitness metrics. It's extremely good in terms of price/value

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.

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.

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.

I use the Garmin Instinct 2 for running and cycling. It's far better than my "cheap" Garmin head unit for tracking. I'd only go for the Edge head unit if you want mapping for routes!

It motivated me, I bought a used Instinct for around 100 dollars, to try it out and I had to be able to carry it while working without damaging it - and a year later I bought a second hand Instinct II solar Tactical for about 200 dollars because of how happy I was with with it. Now I'm waiting for the Instinct III I guess 🤷‍♂️

It motivated me, I bought a used Instinct for around 100 dollars, to try it out and I had to be able to carry it while working without damaging it - and a year later I bought a second hand Instinct II solar Tactical for about 200 dollars because of how happy I was with with it. Now I'm waiting for the Instinct III I guess 🤷‍♂️

I love my garmin instinct 2 !

I'm a Garmin junkie. I just got a sweet deal on an Enduro 2 for $600 (Instinct 2 before that). I'm hoping to do a short swim/bike/run tomorrow to test out the auto-sport switching feature. I also have an HRM Pro+, and an Edge 540.

Budget: Instinct 2. No color touch screen, no solar, but long battery life. I used mine for running & swimming for months, and an occasional hike. Works like a champ!

I mostly use my HRM Pro+ when swimming. There have been a couple of times when I forgot it both with my Instinct 2 and my Enduro 2, and they both seemed to capture similar data to the HRM. If it's really important though, I'd recommend getting an HRM. They're not too expensive, and they are FSA/HSA eligible if you're in the US.

It should be fine. It will track heart rate, steps, stairs climbed, and sleep, just like a fitbit, along with several other health stats. I do several different exercises (albeit poorly), including running, cycling and swimming and weightlifting. I charge it on Sundays and it lasts all week. Fully charged says it has 19 days, but by the end of the week it will say 5-6 days left. It depends on how much I use the GPS. I also go camping & hiking several times a year, plus I'm pretty clumsy, so ruggedness was a big seller for me. I don't have any scratches on the watch face or serious scuffs on the bezel, so it seems to hold up. Before switching to Garmin, I used fitbits. I had a vivoactive 4 for about 6 months, then upgraded to an Instinct 2 after I got more serious about working out.

My exact experience with a swim 2 and instinct 2

I have an instinct 2 and disabled it. My watch is basically like a g shock that tracks metrics. No phone notifications. Nothing! I typically don't even look at the data on my phone, usually through garmin app. Highly recommend!

I use an Instinct 2 for running and although it can do weightlifting stuff, it's very tedious. I simply use a notebook for weightlifting. I love the watch, though. It's tough and has never failed me on a run or any tracked activity. You can always manually enter your lifting activity, weight, and reps for more a guesstimate of calories expended. I charge the Instinct 2 once every 2 weeks based on activity usage.

Its an amazing watch, I have one too

Solar also has Garmin Pay, which the non-Solar does not. But those are the only differences.

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

Man, I don't know if 265 can be considered durable or not. I swim & unless the glass is made out of sapphire, it's gonna get scratched (whenever it makes contact with pool lane lines). I applied hydrogel screen protector to mitigate the damage. I would probably get Instinct 2, if I were you, because of its similarity with G-Shock in term of durability. Older models of higher end lines, such as Fenix, should also be considered as well.

Besides the 945, no other garmin watch has LTE. (And even then, it's just for emergency texts and can't do phone calls.) So no other watch has texting/calling without your phone. You can use canned replies to texts on android phones but not on iphones (it's a limitation by apple, not grmin). You still need your phone with you for this. For podcasts, you'd need to have your phone with you to stream them to the watch. Or, if you can download directly (not sure what, if any, apps allow offline listening). For great GPS, you'd want multiband. At your price point, this really kind of narrows it down to the Instinct 2 or 2X (mono crome MIP screen, insane battery life, no maps and no touch screen) or the Forerunner 165 or 265 with touch screen and AMOLED but no maps. If you can, see if you can find a refurbished Forerunner 965 to get at/under your $500 price point. The Fenix 7 (non-Pro) and Epix 2 (non-pro) are often on sale for around $500. Those watches are touch screen, AMOLED, have maps and substantially higher build quality (Titanium/steel, sapphire screens) but somewhat more 'bulky.'

If you want to get healthy and get phone notifications and *maybe* do music or something, get a Garmin. Instinct 2 (gives music controls but requires a phone for the music itself) or a used Forerunner (I believe they're done of the cheapest models that do on-board music, Spotify, etc.) or what have you. If you want to do smartphone stuff on your wrist and *maybe* get healthy, go Samsung.

Garmin instinct 2 on sale fits everything you want. I have one and love it.

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.

I have had the instinct and now instinct 2. Great watches. They work just like all the other Garmin for the most part. Good at tracking runs. Works with hrm strap. 10/10 will buy again.

Instinct 2 100%. I bought mine with a similar price point in mind for Iron Man training and it's actually perfect. Only downside IMO is that it looks a bit too tactical making it less attractive for everyday wear, but if you're only planning to wear it for training that's perfectly fine

Have a garmin instinct 2 with the chest Heart rate monitor… i find that the wrist monitor is no where near accurate when playing hockey. But I love that aetup

I’m really happy with it at least. I can see a big difference in average heart rate when we are just 7-8 people a side and we roll positions vs when we are 2-3 full lines. And the instinct is not so fancy, so has a black and white screen and thus holds power for 3 weeks with loads of activities. I’m really happy with it.

Breadcrumb navigation isn’t awesome on it from my experience if that’s something you plan to use. The display area of the screen is just too small. If you care about that and want to get a Garmin at a similar price point, the Forerunner 255 is a good option.

I like my Instinct 2 for weightlifting. The bezel does a great job protecting the screen.

Ya. I have the same watch. Has never overheated. For sure weakens the battery, though. I normally place it on lower bench where it isn’t that hot and just check in every ten minutes or so

I have a Garmin Solar Instinct 2. It's the fourth Garmin watch that I have owned, and by far the best. The battery lasts forever and it's rugged. The solar cell allows you to capture very long rides or activities without having to worry about running out of power, and the heartrate sensor is quite accurate. It's not cheap, but I bought mine used, and there are likely to be refurbished watches available. Plenty of video reviews out there as well.

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

Garmin instinct 2 💪

Instinct 2 is great

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

I've tried Garmin Swim 2, Instinct Solar 2 and Huawei Fit 3 recently. The best results from the Garmins I found has been the Instinct, the Swim 2 did count extra laps here and there....it might have just been my swimming style. The Huawei has great data through their health app and was counting laps perfectly until I tried backstroke, it would not log those laps at all. All of these watches have not coped with identifying backstroke very well actually, it seems to be a tricky one for devices to catch properly. If backstroke not required I would say the Fit 3 wins on price as is around $100

If you don’t mind the more utilitarian style… instinct 2 is a good pick imo.

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.

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 just need GPS, use your phone. Any number of apps should be able to log distance travelled in the background. Aside from that, GPS has no practical application on fitness trackers without a screen - it's kind of a "who asked?" scenario. You could use a Garmin Instinct 2; they're pretty inexpensive now that the 3 series has come out, and you can set the screen to turn off after a short delay in the power saving settings.

Non-solar should also make it 24 hours plus on a full charge, especially if you play with some settings on heart rate monitoring. As of December, they were on sale for $200

My Garmin Instinct 2 works wonderfully for swimming, even the wrist heart rate seems bang on which is surprising in the water.

Yes! I use it for what you've described and it's perfect. It has ABC sensors too. If you can go for the solar version do, but the regular I2 has great battery life either way.

Yes! I use it for what you've described and it's perfect. It has ABC sensors too. If you can go for the solar version do, but the regular I2 has great battery life either way.

Now more than ever I am glad to have just saved my money and plucked an instinct 2 solar, my brother recommended the 8, he is a plumber and his Fenix despite being very robust looks awful after really being wrung through the works - absolutely beaten to shit. For that reason I just couldn’t trust it with the type of mountain biking I do. Definitely a top sports watch, though. Hope you get better performance OP.

I’d go for something a bit rugged. The Garmin instinct 2 or , if you have the cash, the Epix Pro Gen 2. Worth using a HR monitor as well so you can take your watch off and still record the activity. For OCR probably worth investing in a sapphire screen.

I love mine. It seems like 90% of the more expensive watches but with a less impressive display. It tracks most things well and it's probably one of the few watches where solar matters. It might not charge your watch but it does make the battery duration longer

Garmin Forerunner 55. I have the instinct 2 and love their sleep tracking.

I had the Instinct 2 for a few years and with the 165 having a price drop "upgraded" to the 165. I like the color screen and it is lighter than the Instinct. I used my Instinct for tracking my walking and steps through out the day so I did not anything fancy. https://preview.redd.it/61zti7c6s52f1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aa5df6410f5c1029e145aedfad12e5eca31aa012

I have an instinct 2 I use to count reps for kettlebell swings and times breaks you can program your own routine with breaks set to heart rate or time etc so your not over resting between sets and you can set alerts for heart rate to keep in or out of cardio ranges very useful

And it's tough as nails

For lifting I wouldn't go for touchscreen watches. Instinct 2/Crossover are good watches with long battery and extra screen protection.