Why We Like The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Watch
With unmatched grit, the Instinct 2 Solar challenges us to go further and harder. From daily steps to backcountry ventures, the customizable features give us a full view of our fitness and pursuits, while the bomber housing doesn't think twice about hucking drops. Harnessing power from the sun and letting us make battery-extending changes on the fly, this watch is all ride and no die as we test our mental fortitude and physical limits.
Details
- Burly fitness and outdoor watch to track all your feats
- Solar charging capability for near limitless battery life
- Water-resistant up to 100m for exploring the open water
- Chemically strengthened case endures your most rugged adventures
- Multi-GNSS support to track your movement deep in the backcountry
- Smart notifications keep you in touch when you want to
- Large face and high-contrast display for easy on-the-move viewing
- Please see size chart for complete list of technical features
- Item #GRMF034
- Housing Material
- fiber-reinforced polymer
- Strap Material
- silicone
- Face Material
- Corning Gorilla Glass
- Movement
- digital
- Pedometer
- yes
- Odometer
- yes, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, TracBack, UltraTrac
- Altimeter
- yes
- Barometer
- yes
- Heart Rate Monitor
- wrist-based
- Technical Features
- see size chart
- Wireless
- Bluetooth, ANT+
- Operating System
- Garmin Connect
- Dual Times
- no
- Date Indicator
- yes
- Weekday Indicator
- yes
- Alarms
- alarm clock, high/low HR alert, inactivity alert, custom alerts, goal reached alert
- Backlight
- yes
- Battery Type
- rechargeable
- Battery Life
- [smartwatch] 28 days, unlimited with solar (3hr/day in 50,000 lux conditions), [battery saver watch mode] 65 days, unlimited with solar (3hr/day in 50,000 lux conditions), [GPS] 30hr, 48hr with solar (when used in 50,000 lux conditions), [max battery GPS] 70hr, 370hr with solar (when used in 50,000 lux conditions), [expedition GPS] 32 days, unlimited with solar (3hr/day in 50,000 lux conditions)
- Low Battery Indicator
- yes
- Includes
- Instinct 2 Solar, charging / data cable, documentation
- Claimed Weight
- 1.9oz
- Submersible
- yes, 10ATM (100m)
- Face Size
- 45mm
- Manufacturer Warranty
- 1 year
- Activity
- running, hiking, backpacking, climbing, training, MTB, cycling, skiing, snowboarding, nordic skiing, SUP, rowing, paddling, fishing, hunting, tactical, golfing, yoga, casual
Reviews
Q&A
Overall Rating
4.5 based on 220 ratings
Review Summary
What do you think about this product?
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Selecting an option will reload the available reviews on the pageJuly 23, 2024
Nice watch
So far has been a great watch. Love the way that I can customize the screens. Along with what data is collected and shown.
Originally reviewed on Garmin
July 23, 2024
connectivity
i am so sick of the Garmin losing connectivity. i have to delete my garmin from the app and go through the restart phase 2-3 times a week to keep it synced. getting old real fast
Originally reviewed on Garmin
July 15, 2024
Amazing Product
I bought this to start prepping for my next marathon. I love the battery life!!!!!! I enjoy the ability to read things in different metrics. I have had this product going on for about a month now and I am more than satisfied with it! I am still learning all the bells and whistles but excited to see the progress of my training and overall day to day!
Originally reviewed on Garmin
July 12, 2024
Like it enough to buy a share of stock
Really like the ability to track activities and automatically load to Strava. The Garmin activity app works well as well and I'd use it if I wasn't already deep in the Strava world. Might switch when my subscription is up. I've never used a "smart" watch before, heck hardly even a watch, but am really liking this one and wear it everyday. Going on 10 months so far. There is a sleep score given if you wear it over night I sort of like.. it has prompted to drink even less then I did, a couple beers ruins your sleep score. Yes I'd get another one, and yes I recommend it or any of the other ones. I will also add one of the other things this watch told me is that I need glasses.
Originally reviewed on Garmin
July 12, 2024
Buttons suck
No consistency on when what button does what I spent five minutes trying to set a dam alarm nothing like Apple man intuitive
Originally reviewed on Garmin
July 11, 2024
Top Tier
Recieved mine as a father's day gift....truly amazing, dynamic, loaded with features, and flexibility. The solar charging is definitely a plus. I work outdoors, hadn't had to plug it up and still at 92%!
Originally reviewed on Garmin
July 10, 2024
Functional
I bought this watch about 3 weeks ago and use it continuously. I purchased this watch for a variety of reasons and so far it was met my expectations. I am still getting used to it and I am wanting to learn more of the functions. Looking forward to continued use and learning how it can continue to track my active life.
Originally reviewed on Garmin
July 9, 2024
Decent watch
Watch is good and functions as advertised. The screen seems a little weak as I have already scratched it slightly (I am usually really rough on my things). The solar charging isn’t spectacular as I have only seen it do any real charging once since I’ve owned it (roughly 3-5 months) and it only increased by one day of battery life.
Originally reviewed on Garmin
July 8, 2024
Overall great product
I've had my Garmin Instinct 2 Solar for a couple weeks, now. I had once utilized a Casio G-Shock Solar, until a part of the watch face attachment broke off and I couldn't re-attach the metal band anymore. I went to a Fitbit smartwatch for a period of time, but really missed the durability of a comfortable metal band with a larger round watchface. Wanting smartwatch capabilities and a better battery life that doesn't require re-charging in less than a week, this watch has met that. I do believe the solar capabilities could be improved upon and the batter life also improved on much more, as technology grows. But, still much better when one has set up (through the Garmin app) to limit what the smartwatch receives notifications of. The altitute/elevation does get a little out of whack when under water, from swimming as an example. Though that can be improved upon, it's not of great importance to me. I'd also purchased a metal band (through Amazon) that fits this watch. Love it. Garmin should make a metal band as a standard option for all of these watches.
Originally reviewed on Garmin
July 5, 2024
No touch screen
The watch is great, however way to complicated to use for simple tasks ie timer etc
Originally reviewed on Garmin
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