Garmin Instinct, Rugged Outdoor Smartwatch with Solar Charging Capabilities and Tactical Features, Built-in Sports Apps and H

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars | 633 ratings

Price: 299.99

Last update: 07-17-2024


About this item

Solar charging capabilities allow you to extend battery life beyond traditional charging
Rugged GPS Watch is water-rated to 100 meters and constructed to U.S. military standard 810 for thermal, shock and water resistance
Built-in 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter plus multiple global navigation satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) track in more challenging environments than GPS alone
Dedicated tactical features include Jumpmaster mode, waypoint projection, dual-position GPS format and preloaded tactical activity
Go dark with stealth mode to disable wireless communication and data sharing
Track your activities for running, biking, swimming, strength and more
Help understand your health and wellness better with all-day health monitoring and Pulse Ox (this is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition)
View how various settings and sensors impact your Watch’s battery life, so you can make battery-extending changes on the fly

Product information


Top reviews from the United States

Abigail
5.0 out of 5 stars Best gift for your man ever!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2024
I bought this for my boyfriend and he absolutely loves it!!
He is heavy into fitness, outdoors and gyming so this watch has been a peeeerfect gift.

The features are great and has everything you need from tracking heart rate to sleep patterns.

He works outside so never needs to worry about charging it thanks to the solar charging feature. He also does manual labor so it’s proven its durability.

Comfortable enough to even keep on while sleeping.

Best value for money!
Jeo
5.0 out of 5 stars Had Wonderfully Met Expectations!
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2023
Not as fancy as something Bond would wear, but MacGyver could work wonders with the functionality! Working in park maintenance, I’m usually outdoors with chainsaws, hand tools, and small and heavy equipment. Subsequently, I wanted something rugged enough to be a work accessory, and versatile enough to integrate tech into something as fundamental as a watch; this Garmin does all of that.

The biggest features I use are the weather and sunset time widgets, as my work on the job site and at home on my farm are dependent on these conditions, and being able to glance on the fly helps me adapt my schedule in real time. Having this information on my wrist means I can access it easily without having to dig out my phone while sitting in a Bobcat or Excavator, or fishing underneath my chainsaw chaps. The most handy feature by far, however, is the Area Calculator, which uses GPS to measure job sites and determine how much fertilizer and seed I need to order, and it really helps me stay on top of planning and budgeting.

The Alarm also keeps me on schedule, as the vibration and sound combo wakes me up before dawn better than any other watch I’ve owned. Being able to set recurring alarms from the app on my phone also makes this a breeze, as I can adjust my daily wake-up time, and also go back to analyze how much sleep I’ve gotten throughout the week.

I’ve had the Garmin Instinct Tactical for a month and a half now, and only had to fully charge it twice (other than when I topped it off to 100% when it arrived). I suspect I will need to charge it less during the summer months when I’m out in direct sunlight more, given the solar charging capability. I also feel naked without it on my wrist, as It’s become so invaluable I rarely take it off. I’ve added aftermarket protection in the way of a “screen protector” over the face and a rubberized ring around the outside of the case; so far even flush cutting stumps and digging through the mud hasn’t so much as required a quick wipe down to look as good as new.

If anything changes, I’ll update this review, but for me this watch is perfect, and the price was great. I can’t recommend it enough!
Customer image
Jeo
5.0 out of 5 stars Had Wonderfully Met Expectations!
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2023
Not as fancy as something Bond would wear, but MacGyver could work wonders with the functionality! Working in park maintenance, I’m usually outdoors with chainsaws, hand tools, and small and heavy equipment. Subsequently, I wanted something rugged enough to be a work accessory, and versatile enough to integrate tech into something as fundamental as a watch; this Garmin does all of that.

The biggest features I use are the weather and sunset time widgets, as my work on the job site and at home on my farm are dependent on these conditions, and being able to glance on the fly helps me adapt my schedule in real time. Having this information on my wrist means I can access it easily without having to dig out my phone while sitting in a Bobcat or Excavator, or fishing underneath my chainsaw chaps. The most handy feature by far, however, is the Area Calculator, which uses GPS to measure job sites and determine how much fertilizer and seed I need to order, and it really helps me stay on top of planning and budgeting.

The Alarm also keeps me on schedule, as the vibration and sound combo wakes me up before dawn better than any other watch I’ve owned. Being able to set recurring alarms from the app on my phone also makes this a breeze, as I can adjust my daily wake-up time, and also go back to analyze how much sleep I’ve gotten throughout the week.

I’ve had the Garmin Instinct Tactical for a month and a half now, and only had to fully charge it twice (other than when I topped it off to 100% when it arrived). I suspect I will need to charge it less during the summer months when I’m out in direct sunlight more, given the solar charging capability. I also feel naked without it on my wrist, as It’s become so invaluable I rarely take it off. I’ve added aftermarket protection in the way of a “screen protector” over the face and a rubberized ring around the outside of the case; so far even flush cutting stumps and digging through the mud hasn’t so much as required a quick wipe down to look as good as new.

If anything changes, I’ll update this review, but for me this watch is perfect, and the price was great. I can’t recommend it enough!
Images in this review
Customer image
Godbones
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic watch and great value.
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024
I got this watch for my daughter’s 21st bday. She just stated working a job that has her off-grid. The solar charging is a total winner. She loves it and I love that it will be such a useful watch for her. Still waiting to hear how she likes the GPS. I did a lot of research and nothing compared for the price. She didn’t mind the size as well and she’s a rather small gal. Buy it.
Dave
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Watch
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2023
all the functions are great. Battery lasts up to 3 weeks. Very durable. The solar panel on face typically charges for that days use. Great watch to have.
Bruce
4.0 out of 5 stars LOTS of functions!!
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2023
AMAZING battery life! I forget it even needs charged before it runs out...

I frankly have not gotten through all of the possible functions and use-cases this smart watch offers. Sometimes I get lost in the navigation and wind up in an entirely new functional place...

I swim a kilometer every other day in the pool, and it does a really decent job keeping track for me. But it was an effort to figure out how to get it going. Walking steps are really accurate too.

This, and the fact that it's SO involved to find the function you are looking for (just try to find the remaining battery level!!) is why I rate it less than 5 stars. Users Manual? LOOK ON LINE.

Price is high; though I got mine in a deal and with an insurance refund for part of the cost.
Customer image
Bruce
4.0 out of 5 stars LOTS of functions!!
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2023
AMAZING battery life! I forget it even needs charged before it runs out...

I frankly have not gotten through all of the possible functions and use-cases this smart watch offers. Sometimes I get lost in the navigation and wind up in an entirely new functional place...

I swim a kilometer every other day in the pool, and it does a really decent job keeping track for me. But it was an effort to figure out how to get it going. Walking steps are really accurate too.

This, and the fact that it's SO involved to find the function you are looking for (just try to find the remaining battery level!!) is why I rate it less than 5 stars. Users Manual? LOOK ON LINE.

Price is high; though I got mine in a deal and with an insurance refund for part of the cost.
Images in this review
Customer image
Paul W.
5.0 out of 5 stars Top marks, but I should have bought Instinct 2 Solar Tactical instead
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2024
I was replacing my Casio Solar Atomic watch because the case broke on my Casio. What I demand of a watch is, when I look at my wrist the time is correct, what this means is I have no tolerance for dead batteries, or not keeping accurate time. The Instinct "1" Solar should have a battery life I can live with requiring only infrequent charging, but the Instinct 2 has both better solar charging and a bigger battery. The Instinct can keep accurate time because it can use GPS to set the time. My Casio had an infinite battery with the solar charging, and set the time every night to the atomic clock in Fort Collins, CO.

Other things the Instinct 2 Solar has that the Instinct "1" does not. A better crystal, Instinct 2 has Gorilla Glass. I am hard on watches and after a few years the crystal is often badly scratched.. Instinct 2 also has VO2max, is able to use ConnectIQ. Instinct 2 also allows you to pay with your watch, I'm not sure if I would use that feature, but it isn't even an option on the Instinct "1".

I decided to go with a Garmin smart watch because several sources said their Garmin has continued to work for several years. My experience with several Fitbit fitness trackers is they have a life expectancy of 18 months before the battery life is so poor the device is unusable. I'll take a life expectancy of several years.

I use the GPS functionality one or two hours a day to track my exercise, walk, run, bile ride, etc. I will have to play with the tracking capabilities such as finding your way back to a saved way point, or to a GPS location.

My only regret is I didn't get the Instinct 2 Solar Tactical. If it were possible to upgrade for not too much cost I would, I really would like an infinite battery life with the solar charging. Instinct 2 solar has everything the Instinct "1" has, then improves on several things.
David Hale
5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE?
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2022
Taking some time to work through all the features this watch has. Not really tech savvy. Great water/shock resistant. But for health reasons. Good heart rate monitor, O2 sensor spotty, which is what I bought the watch for. Not impressed with solar charging, as it will only charge in direct sunlight, no ambient light, not running a lot of battery drainers like GPS either...

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