Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Review

While watches continue to do more and more as technology advances, we appreciate the design of the Instinct 2 Solar, which reduces the feature set to things that you actually need and will use on a day-to-day basis. The tactical design and internals provide everything you need without the extras on the most premium models. Arguably this is the best feature set of any of the watches when compounded with the solar extending battery life. If you're doing a 30+ hour night adventure, then there are probably other options you should consider, but at this price point, we are impressed with the day-to-day performance of this model. You still receive health metrics, navigation, breadcrumb mapping, music controls, and all of the GPS activities/data fields you have come to expect from Garmin. The rugged design may not be for everyone, but we think this is a great option if it fits your style or if you want a bomb-proof option without spending top premium prices.

Performance Comparison

Features

A non-color, no-touch, E-ink-looking display provides all of the features and information you need for your adventures and day-to-day life. Today's GPS watch market is always showing off the latest and greatest features and tools, but the *Instinct 2 Solar* provides a refined list. Arguably the most impressive feature is the battery-extending solar screen, which increases battery life in high-intensity solar conditions. The turn-by-turn navigation of preloaded routes and breadcrumb mapping can assist with navigation in unfamiliar terrain or low visibility. Ample smartphone-connected features like notifications and music control make this a watch you can use in your day-to-day life. Additionally, the most important health metrics are also found in this model, such as heart rate and sleep metrics. Of course, it has the basics too, such as your ABCs (altimeter, barometer, and compass), which are crucial for day-to-day life and non-GPS connected activities

We feel this is the feature set you need when spending this amount of money and should be a great example for all GPS watch feature sets at this price point. Other attributes should also largely influence your decision, but in our opinion, this feature set is what you need in a GPS watch. While additional features are nice, some can be gimmicky and rarely used.

Battery Life

With the introduction of solar charging, Garmin claims virtually endless battery life. Of course, this is determined by the amount of sun you receive during the day and your location. This feature works best with few clouds and direct sunlight, and vegetation can also impact its effectiveness. GPS mode will also burn more battery than daily use; therefore, you will need to understand the solar limits, especially if you plan on depending on the sun for all your charging needs.

With a claimed 30 hours in standard GPS mode, the Instinct 2 does not have the battery life of the high-end models that boast 100+ hours on a single charge while using GPS. Instead, the Instinct shines for those users not planning on epic GPS recording activities where conditions are variable. While batteries continue to improve with GPS watches, a potential for 30+ hours far exceeds your normal day-to-day outings and adventures. This watch should be suitable for most users, and the solar benefits are always there for a charge here and there throughout the day. The Instinct 2 is also perfect for expeditions in the high mountains, glaciers, and deserts where high solar intensity is likely. Determining your ability to access electricity should be considered when making your final decision. If charging your watch on an extended trip is one less thing you'd like to worry about, this is a great option.

Ease of Use

Garmin has done a great job with user interface and software design. We feel that it's intuitive, easy to use, and closely matches the Coros brand. We appreciate the dedicated buttons on the Instinct 2, which are tactile and provide predictable interaction even while on the move. The menu system is easy to follow, and you have the option to configure the watch both via the app and the watch itself. Adjusting the various settings is straightforward and makes sense once you learn how the menu system operates. The ability to add/remove tools and widgets allows you to tailor your watch to your specific uses and display only the important information.

On the flip side, the dedicated app feels a bit dated. When spending this amount of money, we feel the app integration should be a focus, but the Garmin Connect app feels like less of a priority for the brand. Ultimately this is not a deal-breaker for us because we often use third-party applications such as Strava to view our data and document our activities. But this isn't the best user experience, and using the app for anything more than activity syncing to upload to a third-party platform may leave you disappointed — especially if you've used the competitor's offerings.

Accuracy

We took all of our watches on a three-mile GPS test and recorded the results alongside each other. Each model was within +/- 0.01 miles of the three miles. Today's GPS watches are pretty dang accurate, and our scoring reflects that. If you often find yourself in complex terrain, a Multi GNSS model like this one is a great choice. Or even better is the dual frequency found on the Garmin Fenix 7 and Coros Vertix 2.

Heart rate data was a bit more variable, and we recommend a dedicated heart rate strap if this is important to your training. Still, all the Garmin models we tested, including this one, performed the best in this area. Since the fit is so important for a heart rate monitor to work properly, you may want to try this watch on first since it does not feature hinging watch straps like most of the competition. If you like this model Garmin does offer a quick-release 22mm strap that hinges. If you get a good fit, the Instinct 2 should only have a variance of about 1 - 3 bpm, as it did for us during testing.

Design

The Instinct 2 has the most rugged and tactical look of any of the watches we tested. If this is your primary watch, this could make or break your decision. The five tactile buttons are functional and feel nice, especially while moving. The scroll wheel on Coros watches takes a bit too much precision while on the move, so we are glad Garmin continues to implement buttons in their watches. However, unlike most of the watches we tested, the supplied wristband is not hinged. We prefer a hinged strap design because it conforms to the wrist better and reduces space between the watch case and wrist. Luckily, Garmin offers a quick-release 22mm band that hinges on the pin and is not fixed like the original.

The small circular display changes for various screens and unique data fields are designed for this small area. We wish the software had been designed for this overlay instead of weirdly blocking out the background. This isn't a huge gripe, but it seems a bit half-baked; if this display is important to the watch, we feel the software should also be updated to include this design choice and not cut off various text.

Value

While not the cheapest we tested, this watch has all the key features you'd want and expect from a GPS watch today. If you decide the solar function is unneeded, you could also buy the standard version and save quite a bit of money. We think if this design fits your style, you'll be plenty pleased with the value, and the durability will make sure your purchase will last for years to come.

Conclusion

We are big fans of the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar. This is a rugged GPS watch with all of the features you need for expeditions and adventures. While not having all the bells and whistles of the top-end models, it has everything you need and nothing you don't. If this watch fits your style, we think it's an excellent choice and comes at a reasonable price point. The baseline battery could be slightly better, but the solar option creates a potentially limitless use time. If a GPS watch is essential while you are away from electricity, this is a solid choice. And if you like the look but don't need the solar capabilities, the Instinct 2 is available in a non-solar version too.