Garmin - Instinct 2 Solar Series

Garmins might do better for you then. They are great at tracking and have smart features but also get a week or more on a charge. I love my instict 2 for how simple and non intrusive it is.

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

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.

I have an instinct 2 solar, I just wanted something functional, I didn't need hi-res screen etc. What I do I capture the workout, then use either the phone app or website to consume all the data. Works a treat!

I took a Garmin Instinct Solar in 2022 and loved having it. I used a small USB-C adapter-dongle to charge the watch and carried either one or two 10,000mAh power banks, along with an iPhone and InReach Mini 2, so similar power demands. While watch settings were heavily changed to optimize battery life, I was able to keep GPS and heart rate tracking active. I don't recall a single day where I ran out of battery after pausing during big breaks like lunch, and didn't find it annoying to do so. The stats were useful for managing my heart rate when things were tough, knowing roughly where I was (mileage or elevation-wise) without needing to check FarOut, and helped me understand and develop my pacing and pacing prediction accuracy (short legs). I've also found the data to be great post-trail. Sometimes, I'll look at my trail journal and have a question about the day (weather, distance, difficulty, start/stop location, detours or side-quests, etc.) - days can blur together, or specifics can become vague over a couple of thousand miles and 100+ days. The tracking provides answers if not strong hints. As a stupid but personally worthwhile example, I used this info to drive hours east to an access road north of Truckee and visit a camp spot I couldn't remember, despite speaking to multiple people in the group, even after looking at their photos and videos 😂

If you want to save yourself some money, the non-solar version is quite a bit cheaper and does everything the same, minus solar charging. For everyday use, I get little to no benefit from solar charging of my instinct 2 solar. It’s one of those things that sounds cool, but it mostly a gimmick. It *may* be useful if you’re off the grid for weeks at a time.

I use a Garmin Instinct 2 to ski up in Anchorage and I’ve never had an issue!

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

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!

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.

This! I have a Garmin instinct Solar and I can’t wear it all the time because it starts rubbing my skin off. lol

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.

I use the Instinct 2. I do a little running, but it's mostly walking and lifting. I work in a gym and do a lot of housework so I need it to be relatively sturdy, and I'm also not interested in the many and various features more complicated ones offer. In the store, ask to try one on. The Instinct 2 is fairly chunky, so you may or may not feel comfortable with it if you've a small wrist - or hey, you might feel like you're wearing a Pip Boy (there's even a free app for a Pip Boy watchface, though I do wish the little figure would slump when your training readiness is low, that'd be cool). I'd note too that it's not a touchscreen, so they make the five buttons do a lot of work, there's a bit of a learning period in futzing about with it to get the info you want displayed. Takes a couple of weeks to figure out. It requires only weekly charging, though that might come sooner if you do tracked long hikes, since the watch itself has the GPS rather than relying on the connected phone.

While I agree having come from a Garmin instinct solar with incredible battery life. The pixel watch 4 needs to be charged every ~2 days and has fast charging. So take it off, pop it on the charger, have a shower and it's back to 100%. It's seriously impressive.

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. 

If you really just want time and distance for lap swimming, I've used the previous model of this $62 watch, and it worked fine: https://a.co/d/7ChjCyh I eventually upgraded to a Garmin Instinct 2 because I wanted GPS for other activities and the ability to export more of the data. I'm very happy with my upgrade for the other features, but I don't think it's really any better for time/distance measurement.

I love my instinct 2 solar too, I don’t need another smart device.

The Instinct is amazing. I have the basic 2. Dont let the colourless display fool you: it still has all the features of a Garmin watch, including smart ones.

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 love my instinct 2. I should have gotten the solar instead lol

It has the primitivity of a Casio and the complexity of a smartwatch. It's slow navigating and interacting, but lacking function. Casio missed the smartwatch train, but is now trying to get on it. Casio is still so popular, because its users want a forget-about-it experience - years of battery life, daily functions like alarm and stopwatch. They had never made any modern 21st century technologies (now they have an AI pet), the watch was the first thing. I hope they try again as a lot of people would enjoy a simple health oriented Casio. For now, a US Garmin Instinct 2 solar might be the watch if you want simplicity and functionality for ~200€.

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

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!

Same. I still rock an original instinct solar. Love having all the basic stuff and the solar is super helpful. If I needed maps I have a forerunner 955 as well.

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.

My Garmin Instinct 2 Solar was nice to have on the PCT. Especially if you're hiking in very sunny places, the solar helped to slow down the discharge. If I turned off all the sensors, it would actually stay at ♾️ battery life.

Second this. My GF just switched from a Versa (3 maybe?) to a Vivoactive 5. She likes it so far. Although she does kinda wish it had training status/training load etc that my Instinct 2 has. That's more of an advanced feature though. It wasn't a deal breaker for her. The biggest thing was finally having an activity tracker that would record her HR while swimming.

I have a Garmin Instinct 2 Solar. When hiking with my Garmin InReach Mini, I rarely use the GPS/activity tracking features on the watch. I do use the watch to monitor my heartrate. My brother is a multi-time Ironman finisher and he taught me that the heartrate is a good indicator of fuel burn. If my heartrate is above a certain number for an extended period of time I slow down to minimize the fuel burn and the daily calorie deficit that comes with long term hikes.

Yes. Also, I no longer carry a physical compass as I can use the compass on my watch.

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 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.

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

Ah - this is why I scrolled down. I got the same watch back in the spring. I poked around at the buttons and tried to make sense of the bouldering widget. Maybe I don’t understand it well - but it seems silly to have to log each boulder problem individually. Or if I’m climbing routes, I don’t want to have to stare at my watch for 72 seconds and start a new activity after each climb. Am I doing it wrong?

I use Garmin Instinct Solar and pretty happy about it :)

A great fitness tracker for Kilimanjaro that works without cell service, tracks GPS distance, calories, and lasts 6+ days on one charge is the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar—rugged, reliable, and recharges via solar so you won't need to plug in. All the best as you Climb Kili!🗻🐘🗻

No watch has exceptionally accurate sleep sensing as you don’t have leads attached to you when sleeping with a watch. I find that the elevate 5 HR sensor is likely a bit better, but between owning Instinct 2 and Fenix 7 Pro SS, they both will track my heartrate within 1 BPM to the gym machines I use that can measure HR such as the stair stepper, treadmill, bike, etc.

I got mine about 2 months ago. I've gone from a Pixel watch, to an Instinct 2 to the X1. When I got it I was looking at the Fenix, Epix range, but just came away feeling that they were simply too bulky. Then I went back to a local streo for another look and by chance saw a couple of boxed X1s in the Garmin display cabinet, they weren't on display and the staff didn't want to open one up for me to take a look. I hung around a bit and read the DC Rainmaker review in the store and just bought it on the spur of the moment. So light! I use the LED torch much more than I though I would. The battery life is fine, I plug it in when I shower and that's it. Sure, it does't look like I've got half a kg of apocalypse-proof steel strapped to my wrist - and some might think it looks like a $50 Apple knockoff from Temu - but in my opinion, it's still one the best tech purchases I've made. I love it.

man fuck Garmin on the ass. my very first fitness watch instinct solar was a pita since the first year. worked great a few months and then charging issues and after a few weeks, randomly dying while tracking workouts. oh also it bloody changed hr depending on the workout chosen??? I asked customer support about these issues and they're like meh . this single watch haa completely put me off from fitness watches so ty Garmin:)

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.

I love my instinct 2’s MIP display while biking. So easy to glance at my stats while riding. It looks like gshock (a pro and a con).

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

Get the instinct 2, it will do everything you need at a good price and with 10ATM waterproof rating 

I picked up an Instinct 2 from a Versa 2. Miss the touch screen some but love the triple or more battery life. Garmin still has great battery life even with screen on all the time vs having to baby and always shut off the Versa screen - noting my Versa 2 is about 5 years old and was better when it was new. Much better activity tracking on the Garmin for activities that are not walking or running. Buttons and interface is good on the Instinct 2 and didn't take too long to figure out where everything was.

I'm also a convert (Apple watch to Fossil previously) and went with the Instinct 2. While it's less frills compared to other smartwatches, it more than makes up for it with: - A 24 day battery life on regular mode/use. - Much more accurate heart rate and workout tracking. - Significantly better range of workout/fitness types tracked. I was immediately pleased and doubt I'll ever go to any other brand.

It's not a very feminine look, but the Instinct 2 has blown me away after moving from a Fitbit Sense 2. Garmin is a little harder to get used to, but is so much better once you do!

Garmin Instinct 2 with the HRM Pro Plus chest strap. Laps are counted perfectly as long as you have a clear push off the wall and extend your arm to glide for a second. If you try checking your watch mid-lap it will think you are gliding after a wall and add a lap. Afterwards you can always adjust the number of laps on an activity. Autolap works for wall touches or flip turns you just need a predictable push off the wall for it to sense the lap. I also set my watch to vibrate every 4 lengths so I can keep track of lengths without reading my watch and also I notice right away if a lap was dropped or added, since the watch will vibrate when I'm swimming away from the starting wall (it buzzes about 4 strokes into your 4th lap). I use manual rest, I don't trust auto-rest. Plus when I'm done my rest I get a 321 countdown to start the next set. The chest strap - if your swimsuit goes over it you'll be set, since as a guy I just wear jammers I can't push off the wall full force otherwise the chest strap moves. The bonus of that though is my 50m pool pace is the same as my 25m pool pace since I'm not gaining anything from the wall push. I also check that the chest strap is connected to the watch before I start the swim activity and then after the swim activity it downloads heart rate data to the watch. During the activity the water gets in the way and you only get heart rate data from the watch, but after it downloads you can check which HR zone you were swimming in at certain paces. If you care about heart rate data this is the best way in my opinion, otherwise water gets between the optical sensor and your skin and throws off the readings completely.

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.

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

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.

Instinct 2 or 3 is really durable if you are fine with it not having a touchscreen

My thought is to pick up an Instinct 2 on sale right now. Very durable adventure watch they should do all the tracking you want it to do and has epic battery life. You can probably get one for $200 right now. But you also like the smartwatch features of the Apple Watch. Keep the Apple Watch too. Wear the Apple Watch day to day. Wear the Instinct for various adventures.

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.

I used an instinct 2 solar for some time. Loved the battery life but really disliked the OS. Switched back to my Pebble time steel and have a Pebble time 2 on order.

Garmin or my preference, the pebbles that are coming back. My minimum requirement for a smart watch has always been 7 days even though that is little to me. Thankfully these exceed that. Hell, my ~9 year old pebble time steel has gone from 14 days minimum to 9 days in all the time I owned it. The new ones are aiming for a month. I used a Garmin instinct 2 solar for a while and with the features I chose to have running, it lasted for about 22 days without solar. I just really disliked the OS.

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 loved my coros pace 2. It was prettier than my garmin instinct 2, which i just got because I cracked the screen of the coros watch. I thought about replacing with the pace 3, but it was the second time in 4 years that the screen got cracked.

https://preview.redd.it/qrlrr6xws7sf1.jpeg?width=2119&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2d65498df3190747bff4968229f1d396771c5270 I have the 2s solar. I'd love to get a 3, but they don't come in the smaller size.

Thank you! It is this one: https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/abf7162d-dfda-474c-bbeb-3910739c28b4

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...

Same here, I love the 2 week battery life on a single charge. That being said, it never gets that low because I give it a quick charge every time I take a shower but it's nice to know it'll last that long if it needs to for whatever reason

That sounds about the same as my work "load out" lol I'm a new construction plumber. I use the Garmin instinct 2 to track steps and flights (18k and 49 yesterday), phone to play the music but control it off the headphones and it works pretty smooth. While I'm not running at work (unless something goes very wrong) I like to keep my pockets streamlined and leave most things in my work van because too much bulk is just... too much

Exact. I have the Instinct 2 Solar and I bought it new for €200. It's spectacular.

Snorkel here. I have the Instinct 2 and it is a rock…

Exact. I have the Instinct 2 Solar and I bought it new for €200. It's spectacular.

Snorkel here. I have the Instinct 2 and it is a rock…

Garmin. I started with the original instinct solar, but now have a Fenix 7, edge bike computer, garmin scale, garmin heart rate strap... garmin has always just worked for me without a ton of work or research to figure out how it works. It's all very intuitive for me. I also love using garmin connect to have all my data from cycling, running, and working out in one place without having to import and export stuff from different apps or devices.

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.

Im using a garmin instinct 2 (£250 when I bought it) and a garmin chest strap (£35) very happy with data. Only got the strap as my HR data got a bit unreliable after about 6 months

maybe instinct series 2 or 3... with solar option if hiking multi days... lighter options like 45mm i2 solar for HR (lighter watches tend to give more precise HR results overall, especially recommended ones like i2)... good luck

maybe instinct series 2 or 3... with solar option if hiking multi days... lighter options like 45mm i2 solar for HR (lighter watches tend to give more precise HR results overall, especially recommended ones like i2)... good luck

had a similar questions and needs... took i2 solar tactical edition 45mm... super close when it comes to hrv and hr metrics, maybe because of the lightweight - just 53g in 45mm case... mainly using for cycling, walking and running and other sport activities... bingo

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 use a Garmin Instinct 2. I really love it, it seems to be an all-around sports watch instead of running focused (I don’t run, but a do a lot of hiking, biking, and paddling).

I have the Garmin Instinct 2, which has 3 climbing widgets (bouldering, climb indoor, and climb outdoor) and all the smartwatch-like features that the other Garmins have (I can read texts on it, get notifications, etc.) However, it does not have a touchscreen - instead it has a recessed LCD screen and buttons, a bit like the rugged-looking digital watches popular in the 80s. It is not very “fashion” but I don’t have to worry about damaging it by banging it into a hold. It comes with a silicone strap, which should stretch or tear rather than deglove my hand. As another poster mentioned, if you live in the US, this is not the time to start using an app to track your menstrual cycles. I do use it for that, but (1) I’m in Canada and we are not quite as far down the road to Gilead as the US is, and (2) I’m in perimenopause and my cycles are weird. I like to think I’m poisoning the aggregate data.

I use a Garmin Instinxt Tactical for EVERYTHING. This watch is a tank. Ice hockey, whitewater kayaking, golf, distance running, MTN Biking, and most recently CrossFit (I’m new to CF).

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.

If your sensor should struggle because of the tattoos you can use white epoxy stickers. Before I discovered that I wore my Suunto, Garmin instinct 2, Epix Gen 2 the other way around. But after my both very dark sleeves were finished 6 months ago the heart rate sensor didn't work. Now for the first time in years I wear the new instinct 3 amoled the 'right way', even works with the old Gen 4 sensor. :)

My first foray into Garmin is the Instinct 2. Love the watch.

Garmin Instinct 2 or higher. Doesn’t need to be the surf version, wave tracking is shit anyway. The biggest selling points for me are: * 30 days battery life * allows you to connect your credit card so you can get a post surf beer without going to the car for your wallet * has usual smartwatch features for when I’m not surfing

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.

I use the same watch as you and find it adequate and really only use it as a backup. Not sure I’d spend money to buy a fenix just to have as a back up nav.

I switched from Apple to garmin three years ago - Apple Watch 4 (iirc) to instinct 2. Basically I had an accident on my bike, smashed the edge of the Apple - didn’t notice and went swimming and scared the shit out of myself by causing a small electric spark to arc out of th swatch in front of my face! The more rugged aspect of the instinct 2 appealed as a result and I am more than happy! However I was also happy with the Apple Watch, so I’d say if you’re not unhappy with the Apple, stay with that.

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.

Can accept / decline calls for the phone on the phone Can reply to text and calls with prewritten / selectable texts (up to 10 I believe?) No LTE Yes, via Garmin IQ App (although most don't work on the instinct solar watches specifically) No smart assistant It has SOS functionality that (as far as I know) doesn't react to falls, but to a rapidly declining heart rate

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.

Yes. For an Ultra I think you'd be looking at the Enduro or Instinct Solar. You could also consider the Fenix 7 Solar or Forerunner 955. Gotta look at the battery life. Solar per se doesn't necessarily do much, it's more that these watches are lower-power or bigger-battery too.

DC Rainmaker has some pretty good reviews, including of Amazfit et al. Generally people who like smartwatches generally find Garmin just ok at being a smartwatch. I feel like they're good enough to find out I really dislike them in general without spending extra money, but my wife and daughter both wear smartwatches most of the time. As a sports watch, I think the bottom-tier Forerunner is pretty disappointing. The 200- and 500-series models give you a much broader feature set, though of course it comes at a price. I think the 255 is probably still peak value since the 265 got a nicer screen and price hike without a lot of new features and the 570 came out earlier this year and is the current model. The Instinct 2 could also be a good pick. There's a comparison tool on Garmin's website. DC Rainmaker too, I think, and he'll let you compare across brands. When I came back to running in like 2011 or so, I just wanted an interval timer. Since then I've really appreciated pace and heart rate feedback and tracking and lately training load/load focus and Daily Suggested Workouts. Also lactate threshold auto detection because that field test sucks!

I like the instinct solar, I’m on my 2nd. It’s does what you you need for the events you mentioned.

just ordered an instinct 2 yesterday after apple watch died on my 40 mile bike ride. It died at mile 20

The original garmin instinct is plenty good enough for me. You may also be able to find a used instinct 2 within your budget.

2 day of battery when hiking with instinct 2. It's not a lot

Love my instinct 2. Great price, and nothing flashy. Super durable and works really well. Has a ton of customization features.

I use a Garmin instinct 2.

One of the biggest question is what type of screen do you want? Do you want AMOLED or MIP? AMOLED would be closer to the Apple Watch for screen comparison but the MIP screen I enjoy more. Once you figure out what type of screen you want you can narrow it down since you have a $700 budget. I had the Instinct 2 Solar and absolutely loved it for the battery. I was getting over 3 weeks between charges and that’s including activities. I now upgraded to the Fenix 7 Pro Solar

I bought for family members an Instinct 2, and Instinct 2S. Small, light, long battery. You don't have to babysit like the Venu 3S. It looks rugged, but it is small. The Instinct 3 is bigger.

I do miss that 30 day battery life

Any FR (forerunner) would be an overkill. Try look for an Instinct 2. Friendly on the budget and rugged enough for all guys. Would be a bonus if your guy loves the classic Casio G-Shock.

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.

Man, Garmin got the weird bad BMW naming scheme that makes no sense. This is why I went with the instinct 2 instead. Simple name

Get a Garmin instinct 1 or 2 for like, $100-150 aftermarket (fbm, eBay refurb, etc). That is literally all you need to start running, with generous features and durability

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.

With great expectation, I bought a Polar Loop band on the release date. The offer is indeed tempting: pay once and have access to nearly all important, trackable data. However, after 2 weeks, my first conclusion is somewhat disappointing: the auto tracking of workouts works only semi-well. Sometimes workouts are not recognized (CrossFit workout over 42 minutes) or only partially tracked. Even when starting workouts directly in the app, the recordings can be sloppy or disappear. The sleep data is also relatively inaccurate – you may have been up for a while, and the device is still tracking sleep. I also have a Garmin Instinct 2, which, while it does not offer auto tracking, never caused me any problems during use. What are your experiences?

The forerunner's will be fine. It comes down to preference, do you want LED or MIP screen? Do you need maps? Something like the 165 or the 255/265 will be more than fine. 955 if you want maps. 965 if you want maps+LED screen. Instinct 2 and 3 will work too, its just more rugged basically. All of them are solid, road and trail runner friendly.

Forerunners are great even if you don't run. None of the watches are great for the gym btw. For hiking you basically want an altimeter (which all new watches have) and maybe maps (which only the most premium watches do). I think the main advantage the Instinct has over the Forerunner is that it comes with Garmin Explore integration (for offline realtime mapping with the companion app on the phone). Only the Forerunner 9xx series support this. I think an Instinct 2 or 3 will be a great choice for your use

I have a solar instinct and between May and September I never have to charge it.  November to February is once every 2 weeks though. If I lived in Denver with those sunny winters, I don't think I'd ever have to charge it.

Second that. A bit fiddly to set up but works well and you may now be able to find a good deal on it, esp if you buy used.  It does navigation too including setting it to navigate to the start of your hike 

The MIP display watches have the best battery life.

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 are using a watch that is older than 3 years its very likely (outside of apple watch, garmin, coros, polar and suunto) that it doesn't come close to matching current models accuracy levels - especially as most brands (wear os / apple / garmin / coros / polar / suunto / fitbit / huawei / amazfit) update the sensor and gps chipset every 2-3 years (if not more frequently) and there have been significant improvements all around. For example current garmins are either using the elevate 4 or elevate 5 HR sensor (from health 24/7 perspecive virtually immaterial difference in results, but from an activity perspective especially around strength and cycling their is a more marked improvement - plus the elevate 5 sensors include ECG and baseline temp monitoring) however the elevate 4 was a significant jump from the elevate 3 sensor (4 veritcal led lights) which was an even bigger jump from the sensor prior to that (3 leds in a triangular shape). Huge jumps and leaps have been made in sleep tracking too, and for most its way more accurate than it used to be - though don't get me wrong it still can be fooled (i.e. sitting/lying and being super inactive (i.e. reading / watching tv) and its possible the watch can potentially record that as sleep. Garmin Forerunner 165 - its on special on Garmin sales at just under $200. (or could look to see what deals you can find for the instinct 2 or vivoactive 5). These are all running pretty much garmin's latest version of sleep tracking which is way better at determining sleep duration (I find start time is rock solid and seldom gets fooled - if it does at the worst it records it as light sleep so doesn't really impaact recovery at all -as would be giving you that as recovery anyway and the recharge rate from light compared to resting is so simliar I haven't noticed a difference in recharge rate; and wake time is rock solid as long as using morning report - cause as soon as you access morning report it switches off sleep - so if you wake up and want to go back to sleep don't access morning report - the morning report front screen includes time so no need to access it until you want to be up and about). The sleep tracking algorithms are from firstbeat and includes the use of accelerometer, HR and HRV compared to the older garmin sleep tracking which per my understanding was accerlerometer based. You could also look at anything from amazift (stick to bip 6, active 2, t-rex3 or balance - as all running most current version of their software and alogorithms); Huawei including Fit 3 is worth a look; and could consider anything from coros, suunto (just released the run which should be around the $200 mark) and polar. And you could also look at fitbit charge 6, sense 2 or vera. There is also xiaomi but their HR isn't as good as the others... But worth noting the accuracy of optical HR is still impacted by skin tone, body comp, hair, tats, weight & size of watch, how you wear it and if doing an activity the activity type - and until you use it there is no way to know if it will be accurate for you or not. However for most people most of the sensors of the brands I have mentioned tend to do a good job re accuracy for 24/7 health metrics and steady state activities (walking, steady running etc).

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 only wear my Garmin Instinct when actually out for a run, or working out. If I wanted something to track my stats throughout the day, I would look into a Whoop. They don't have a traditional display, so it probably wouldn't feel as much like you're wearing two watches.

I use it mostly for sports tracking, specifically indoor swimming. \- It's accurate when we talk about tracking lengths, if you're swimming "stable". Then it's counts lengths without mistakes. \- If you suddenly have to switch the style, e.g. you swim freestyle, but then you have to slow down, change to breaststroke etc, your watch will go crazy and there will be some hallucinations on the report for example extremely fast lap time gets registered... But it requires some strange situation to happen (like someone appearing on your lane, but having way slower tempo than you). Unfortunately I haven't found a way to fix this, even manually in the mobile/web app. \- HR sensor is well... unreliable? I don't know, I never compared it with some serious device like Polar HR strap. But today I was swimming 2000m with moderate pace, tempo was mostly very stable. And look what has been registered: [https://imgur.com/a/IpPNEfl](https://imgur.com/a/IpPNEfl) The only explanation for this, is that I didn't put the watch tight enough, and after some time of swimming it repositioned itself and started monitoring HR more correctly than for the first 15 mins. In general I still like it. I like the oldschool, high contrast display, it's not flashy, distracting AMOLED. Battery life is very good. It's quite comfortable because it's rather still a lightweight watch (I have 45mm version).

Check out instinct series if you concerned with durability

I only use my Instinct Solar for exercise (running, mtn biking, weight training) and activities such as hiking, skiing, and kayaking. I don't care about data for sleep or steps. My actual digital watches for daily wear/style are G-Shocks.

My IS is a black & white MIP screen, non-touch. Altimeter and barometer and compass (ABC). More butch design and more shock, cold, heat dust and dirt resistant. Feature set more for stuff INCLUDING running. More suited backpacking and hiking which I've used it for a fair bit. Great tool watch despite the side-eye from my G-Shocks... FR55 has a bright AMOLED screen, touch, designed with running features (I guess cadence, stride length, recovery etc.). ALSO, I guess more smartwatch-y. My take is that if you're primarily interested in getting to be a better runner then FR is absolutely the way to go. No sane person would call me a "runner"; hence the IS. Mothers' cover their children's eyes when I plod by...

I love my Garmin Instinct 2 Solar - I’m a hiker but also in the gym a lot

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!

Garmin Instinct. 2 solar

basically what made me buy instinct 2.

By far. None of the metrics on the GBD-200 is worth the price. Just go for a new instinct 2 on ebay for literally less than the GBD-200 and call it a day.

For running, the **Forerunners** win because they’re lighter, have better training tools (readiness, load, recovery, VO₂, etc.), and give you more run-specific metrics. The **Instinct/Fenix** are better for hiking/backpacking since they’re tougher, with longer battery and more rugged features. Animated workouts are more of a nice to have, useful if you like guided bodyweight or gym sessions, but most people don’t rely on them. Daily suggested workouts are hit or miss: they’re good for structure but not something to blindly follow. Maps are genuinely handy if you do trails or long hikes; on runs they’re mostly good for keeping you on a planned route. The 970 only records ECG if you start it manually, it doesn’t passively check like an Apple Watch. Smart features: you’ll see texts and calls, but RCS isn’t supported (just standard SMS/notifications). The mic/speaker are fine for quick replies or answering a call in a pinch, but not something you’d want to use all the time. Why Garmin? Mostly the depth of training metrics, reliability, and ecosystem, Coros and Suunto are good but Garmin still has the most polished data!!

I love my garmin instinct 2 !

I’ve always been more of a g-shock style watch girly - I think a ‘masculine’ watch looks really cute on women! Plus, for practicality purposes it really just can’t be beat… a little solar charging boost for those longer outdoor activities, smart watch features, and the garmin data for all the metrics my mind desires. I prefer a MIPS display vs OLED, and didn’t want something touchscreen, so this one really checked all the boxes for me. I’ve had a Fitbit, and a Whoop band, back in 2018-2021, and I had a harder time wearing them consistently because it just didn’t have everything I needed. If you want to add a little color to yours, you can always change your watch bands! Green, blue, purple, grey; all would look good with a black watch face. Might help it feel a little jazzier for you. If you like it, wear it, girl! https://preview.redd.it/wao8xc2p75sf1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=10abd41934e14875a61af55f4122cafdcd51da10

My guess would be Instinct 1 or any of the solar variants, and that's purely because it has the most efficient screen (MIP) of the entire lineup, and screen is the biggest power hog. Solar variant offers solar charging on top of that. Enduro is probably up there, but if you try to maximize both battery life on both, I think Instinct will come up on top. Instinct 1 is very bare bones, so keep that in mind.

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.

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.

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

Instinct 2 if you want to keep it cheap. Has pretty much all of the tracking features you will need and is on sale everywhere for around 200 bucks.

Garmin Instinct 2 or 3. There is a regular and solar version. Incredible battery life.

That is with full GPS use over 30-48 hours. I am sure the watch can be switched to battery saver mode when sleeping or not actively using the GPS so it can stretch out a few more days.

My Garmin instinct solar has been going 8months with no charge yet. Although prob not a smart watch?

A Garmin solar can last an infinite time I guess. I’m going 8 months now on one charge.

Garmin instinct solar. It’s like a Casio gshock. Had a nice mbip display

Garmin instinct solar. Hard to beat

I have the Instinct 2 Solar and have the tide app installed on it. Works great and was $300 with tax. Set the kayak activity and let it record. Same with runs. At the end it uploads to to the cloud and shares with Strava. Battery life is 20 ish days

The I3 circle has lots of quality and software issues. The square does not…..I have both, I know…. But hey, great battery life on the Instinct series.

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 agree. Even better is the Solar version. If you go out in the sun a lot the battery will last significantly longer.

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.

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.

Very very few people on this earth do 15hr workouts for 45 days straight. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t even bother with any of the regular garmins and would opt for something like an instinct solar. But your experience is such an edge case that 95% of sports watches wouldn’t really work lol

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 Instinct 2 is $300 right now at Walmart.com. Green is $289. Battery life on Instincts is incredible, and they tough fitness watches with just enough smart watch features to not be annoying. Used options are even cheaper.

If they are not solar, they don't. There are no MIP watches without solar who have a longer standard battery life than the 51mm Fenix8 (29days) & Epix 2(pro)(31days). Only the Instinct 2 45mm comes close with 28 days, but has less then half of the activity tracking time then the Fenix and Epix. The newer and bigger MIP watches with solar do beat the Epix2 and Fenix8. Enduro2 & 3, Instinct 2x & 3 mips 51mm have the better battery life. Also without using the solar.

Fenix 8 51mm oled Or Epix 2 (pro) 51mm. Fenix 8 has 29 days of battery time, Epix2 pro 31 days. The Fenix 8 can do 84 hours of gps tracking, the Epic 82 Besides that the MIP display Instinct 2 gives you also 28 days, but only 30 gps hours.

Yes. That's true. But with the intended use of the OP a Oled screen doesn't have to be always on. Besides that there are very little non-solar mip watches that have an equal or similar batterytime as the Fenix 8/epix2pro 51mm. Only the instinct 2 is close with 28 days but short GPS time. The non-solar FR955 only has 15 days for example. Watches known for their longer battertime The enduro 3, instinct 2X, instinct 3 all have solar as standard.

This all the way. I have the instinct solar, had it years, been on many adventures, plus it’s a normal size and looks like a g-shock what’s not to like

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.

Late to the conversation but I love my Garmin instinct solar. Battery is easily 14+ days and it tracks sleep, workouts, altitude, and a plethora of other outdoor activities. Their app with it is pretty good too 

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 use a Garmin Instinct 2. I use it for many other things, but it provides what I need for golf just fine. Super long battery life too.

Garmin Instinct 2 non-solar is the exact watch I currently have, and it does everything I need. Currently It’s on sale for $169 until they go out because they released the instinct 3. Does everything triathlete could want and has a bunch of extras like (limited) GPS navigation for hiking, weird sport profiles like kayaking and rowing, 28 days of battery life (about 14 days with my 6 workouts a week), etc. About to use it for a triathlon then starting to train for an ultramarathon with it. Wonderful watch that I will use until it breaks. https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/775421/

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

Garmin Instinct 2 is well under $300 at many stores. Works fine. You aren't paying for looks.

Instinct 2 Cheap, hardy and long lasting (4weeks) battery. And has that Casio G-Shock feel too. Fits perfectly for lumberjacks too.

I use the Garmin Instinct 2 because it is the less smartphone like watch. I don’t want to spend my time outdoor looking at a color screen that reminds me of my phone. The Instinct 2 is basic but effective.

Garmin instinct 2 solar... $250 Or Instinct 3 solar... $350

I do 2-5 day backpacking trips in the mountain west (sunny) so solar charging works well for those conditions. Agree, day to day where you're inside 80‰ of the day it doesn't matter... But if you're outside 90% of the day... It makes a difference.

Had an Apple Watch for general life and fitness tracking, loved it, especially being able to go out running with just the watch and headphones. But, having to charge it every night was tiresome, the constant ping of notifications were annoying and I couldn't swim or shower with it. So I got an Instinct 2, which I've been wearing exclusively for 2 years. Just brilliant. It's basically a G-Shock with GPS. Simple screen, waterproof, bombproof, and the battery lasts 2 weeks, that's with 5 days worth of tracking runs and day to day use. Incredible. Plus it just looks like a watch.

mine instinct 2 lasts 19 days

What is your use case? I switched from Apple Watch to Garmin because I run, hike, cycle, and train in combat sports, and I want to get away from my phone while doing these activities. Additionally, I appreciate how long the battery lasts on my Instinct 2. I treat it as a fitness tracker not a smart watch. If you go a few times a week to a gym and want to have your phone features then get an Apple Watch. It's hard to advise properly without knowing your goals.  

Solar isn't really worth it honestly, at least for me. I'm outdoors quite a bit but when the battery lasts 2-3 weeks already solar really isn't necessary.

I hated smartsatches, especially those AW or Samsung, because battery life was useless. Then I got an Instinct Solar, 23 days of charge and all the health and sport capabilities were as good or better than AW but I missed the colour screen so I got a Epix Pro and it have it all, 6 to 7 days of battery life with always on display, 15 days without it. Oled screen, sapphire cristal, and everything I need. Never come back to other regular brand.

I got a Garmin Instinct 2 around Black Friday 2024 for less than $200, I think $180. Works well and seems rugged and durable.

Swim 2 is good, but the Instinct 2 has so much more while still having the swim features.

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

I've been wondering the same thing before buying my first Garmin. I think I'm going instinct 2 over 255 for the ruggedness (I do a few different adventure sports) and can't see a downside in the activity tracking abilities.

Garmin Instinct Solar has good battery life and is a nice addition - not essential by any means but useful.

Hi guys. What fitness trackers/wearables do you guys use when daily wearing your Omega’s? I’m quite big into the gym and tracking my health, fitness and lifestyle and for this I currently use a Garmin Instinct smart watch. I only really use it for HR, steps and sleep tracking. It does also tell me about my recovery and training readiness which I quite like. But, in December I treated myself to a SMP300 in Seaweed Green to celebrate a really great year I’d had in 2024…Married, had my first child and landed my dream job. So to me it was worth celebrating by purchasing my first luxury watch. My issue is that I can count on 1 hand the amount of times I’ve worn it. I didn’t buy it to collect dust in a box and be an expensive ornament, I bought it to wear! So with that, I’m wanting to ditch the Garmin and daily my SMP but still be able to track my fitness and lifestyle. So what wearables are you guys using or what do you recommend? So far I can only really find Whoop that ticks the boxes for me, the biggest thing is it being screenless. I don’t want to be that guy who wears 2 watches 😅. Any recommendations and personal experience are great appreciated! Cheers guys.

I have a Garmin Instinct 2 Solar. Love it. Very rugged. I can go for a week trip with gps and still have charge. Actually does last over three weeks in my normal usage. Tracks well. Main issue is no maps. Not sure how much the solar does?

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 gave been using Garmin watches for more than 6 years now. My latest, the Solar Instinct 2, has been the best by far. My iPhone with the Quadlock mount is my head unit for mapping and radar. Works like a charm for 45,000 miles.

Solar Instinct 2 is fantastic.

I'm a bit of an outlier, but my system works quite well for me: Garmin Solar Instinct 2 for capturing ride data, including heartrate iPhone with stem cap Quad Lock mount. I use that for mapping and radar

Been using a Garmin Instinct 2 for a couple years. Never had any issues and has a good price compared to other watches while still having more features than I will ever use.

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 💪

Plastic? Okay you’ve never used a good Garmin. They’re all saphire glass with titanium lol. Apple Watches lose roughly 6-8% from tracking sleep (lol). My Garmin solar doesn’t even use 2% daily.

I use a Garmin Instinct 2 with [Gadgetbridge](https://gadgetbridge.org/).

I had a Garmin Instinct 2 Solar bought for 300$, it was a nice watch altough pairing with an iphone wasn't ideal, weather never worked, to view my run on Strava I had to open Garmin Connect everytime and wait a couple of minutes to sync with the phone. I was thinking of buying the new Instinct 3 for 550$ but instead chose the AW Ultra 2 for 700$. Coming from Garmin, Ultra 2 feels like a laptop on my wrist, it's so much faster and the UI much sharper, battery lasts 3 days wich is decent.

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

I climb with my Garmin Instinct 2, which is pretty bulletproof so it doesn’t get scratched up. The data is nice.

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.

Instinct 2 solar abt 25 days on regular basis 😂 fun fact: I switched from AWs 😂

My Instinct 2 Solar gets me a month of battery life - I don't have every feature switched on (specifically, SpO2 is switched off and auto-backlight only after sunlight) but it's just so incredibly convenient to not need to think about it. It is missing some of the features of other watches like a colour screen but I don't even care. Charging once every few weeks is amazing. I can pay with my watch, send preset replies, control my music playback, and track exercise; that's about all I need. I also just like the buttons rather than a touchscreen (coming from a Versa 3 with terrible touch input...) but that's personal preference.

I have the Instinct 2 and it's great. I think less is more in these watches.

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.

I just played 18 holes last weekend with my Garmin instinct 2 solar. When I started my battery was good for 28 days. When I ended the round and shut off GPS I still had 24 days of battery left.

I have a Garmin instinct 2 solar. You can use the golf feature on it and its awesome. The GPS drains the battery when golfing but when the GPS isnt on i regularly get 25 days of battery. If you just want a watch for golf then whatever get a dedicated golf watch. But garmins GPS is on point and so are their watches. I fucking love this thing.

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

Somewhat unrelated but would a garmin instinct 2 meet this requirement? I just got one because I can load gpx routes onto it and navigate but it does not have maps. Wondering if I will have to upgrade when it comes to races like this

Same! Love this watch.

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

My instinct 2 lasts for 27 days!

I've got an instinct 2 solar and am very happy with it. Obviously it lacks topo maps but you can still preload GPS routes onto it to follow.

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

I love mine! It's rugged like me and doesn't break on my adventures! Besides I've always loved chunky and masculine watches.

Instinct 3 solar. Instinct 2 solar is cheaper and does everything as well. I charge the thing 1 a month

Well the instinct 2 seems be on sale often at Amazon for under €200 and I love mine. I use it for tracking sleep, overall health, steps, weight training and running mostly.

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.

Garmin instinct solar any version. Long batt life including solar charging, heart rate and calories. It has a digital watch face instead of a colour screen but the navigation works great when you make courses. Best watch I've ever owned.

I only own the first version, the instinct solar. For me, and it's my personal opinion. Oled screen not worth it. I think instinct watches must bee entry point no maps devices. The price is very close to other better models...

I get around 30 hours with tracking active and indefinite without

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

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

I have a Garmin instinct solar and I really like it. Before this I had a vivoactive and also liked it, but never climbed with it. I also run and do indoor bouldering. I’m not as concerned about tracking when I boulder, there is an activity for it where I’ll do one warm up route and just leave it on a break for the rest of my time climbing. The instinct is not a touch screen (which I actually really love) and it’s super durable. The watch clasp has gotten scratched up but the face is still fine after nearly a year of climbing inside with it. I’ve cooled off on my lifting with climbing, and was never that into it, but the strength activity isn’t horrible at keeping track of exercises. You can edit the activity afterwards to get the exact rep/weight/exercise, but some of the smartIQ exercise guesses are pretty accurate (ie a recent workout guessed pushups correctly, but also classified tricep dips as pushups). The solar add on is pricey and I don’t know if I’d recommend it, but the base option is pretty reasonable Cons for garmin: sleep isn’t super accurate, some data breach issues, a lot of grumbling that the Garmin+ subscription may be pushed on people in the future for things like updates and access to features Pros: easy to use, good tracking for running/hiking, instinct is very durable, lots of activities to chose from (cardio, indoor climbing/bouldering, runs, strength, swimming), fun metrics like HRV, training load, and vo2 max, decent battery life

I've got a Garmin Instinct Solar and it works well for basic xc - time distance elevation heartrate (from wrist) good enough for me - easy to wear and fits under my sleeves. It's more that I wear it everyday and it happens to be good at skiing..

I would consider getting a bike computer or just using strava for gps unless you really value heart rate monitoring. Watches aren’t very good for much outside of structuring and timing for gym workouts. I do similar activities to you and I would probably sell my watch if I didn’t run. Have an Instinct 2, battery has been really nice. I tend to passively remember to charge once a week or so and it works for me. Use GPS 7-10 hours a week and gym. Have 6” wrists with the standard, would not go any bigger.

I've a Garmin Instinct2 Solar, which is my backup to a GPSMap handheld. It's a great watch, can run forever if it gets enough solar charging, but it only has basic mapping and limited storage for bread-crumbing trails. I find it's slow to acquire satellites when looking for coordinate verification (mine is set for dual GPS/Galileo - think the new Instinct3 does tri-band), but then most of the time I'm not using it that way. It's not "Smart" smart: no touchscreen, button driven, but it's a rugged monochrome tool with ABC and GPS, heart rate, steps etc and some useful apps for mountains. Any reason why you want a watch over a handheld? Sounds like your use-case is navigation tool over smartwatch.

I have a Garmin, and yes, it will track steps on the spot.

I have a Garmin 45. It's their base level fitness watch. It will track a whole lot of other things besides steps.

There are some garmin watches in battery saver mode the battery will last basically forever with solar power, rated for 1+ year. However in normal modes it will get you 4-10 extra days maybe.

FWIW I've had three Garmin over 6+ years (Fenix 6, Instinct 2 and now Epic Gen 2 Pro Sapphire) and have never had an issue with the OS or it crashing during activities or losing any of my data. I've been in a number of Garmin subreddits and have rarely seen problems with the OS. The only ones I can think of were immediately after the Fenix 8 release, but it seems those have been resolved as I don't see any posts on that anymore.

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

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!

I have used the watches apple watch ultra 1 and 2, Garmin instinct 1 and 2, Samsung Galaxy watch 5 pro, Galaxy watch 7, Galaxy watch ultra, and Garmin Fenix 6x, and Garmin Fenix 8. They all have their pros and cons. I can answer questions if you'd like just ask. But I would say either get a Garmin or polar fitness watch or if you want something with more of a smart watch features get the watch that matches your phones OS. The standard apple watches can be prone to scratching and cracking unless you get one with a sapphire face. The curved screen is hard to put a screen protector on but they do make them.

I agree with this take. It's also less flashy. I'm basically using it for heart rate monitoring and if at high altitudes I'll check my OX. I love the sunset and sunrise tracking. I also like the moon sunrise and phase tracker. The temp is pretty good too.

I love my Garmin instinct solar. Battery life of a month

I’m not much of a runner - I cross country ski, I also commute by bike, and I like to track all the other random things I do (like kayaking, shoveling snow, walking or whatever). I’ve also started weight lifting recently (nothing major). The Instinct 2 has been pretty awesome for all that. I don’t need maps or music or anything other than data tracking, so Instinct is enough. It’s also pretty tough, so when I smack the face against a door frame walking into a room, it’s no big deal.

I had an Instinct 2 and I sold it because it was too bulky. Instead I got a Vivoactive 5 and have been quite happy with it. I wear it basically all the time.