Garmin Instinct 2 Review After 100 Days
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- čas přidán 22. 07. 2022
- Today we're looking at the Garmin Instinct 2 after having used the solar edition for about 100 days.
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I love my Instinct 2 Solar. And the solar actually works. Was out for a ride the other day and the solar added 2 days of battery life. Thx for the video.
Thanks! 2 days of extra battery 🔋 life is impressive 👌 Must have been sunny. I’m really enjoying this watch Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Love it man. It’s such a great watch - but mainly love your long term reviews - they highlight so many things better than a two week video bc how we feel about different features can really change over the long term. Great work.
Some times it's really weird stuff like how do I like sleeping with a certain watch. Kind of odd to mention in a video but at the same time it's strangely important to those of us who want these things to track recovery. Hope all is well over there!
@@mlegrand yes completely - sometimes it is the nuance differences that make the difference long term.
Thank you for reviewing, greatly helped me understand what this Garmin watch is in detail.
It’s a great option. Let me k ow what you end up with and how you like it. 👍
The reason you can't get infinity is because at your current usage, 100% can only give you 28 days, and you can't charge more than 100%. If you keep all the settings the same, solar charging will only top up to 100% at most and it will still say 28 days.
To get more than 28 days or infinity, you have to turn off some features like connection to watch and heart rate. That defeats the purpose of the watch.
Go to settings on the watch or tap on your watch in Garmin Connect and go to the power manager. There you'll have battery saver which is for non-activity use, and power modes which is for activity use. You can choose what you want to turn off or leave on in each setting, create presets, schedule battery saver for sleep, etc. If you select the most extreme and get a lot of sunlight, it will get to infinity. Good for post apocalyptic times. :)
Post apocalypse times!!! 😂 Good plan! Thanks Theta
Had an apple watch for awhile, but recently got into triathlons and realized my biggest smartwatch priorities are durability and battery life. I've had the Instinct 2 solar for about 6 months and even though it's a completely different watch than the apple watch it's been perfect. I'm training for my first 70.3 in September and your channel has been a huge help!!
Awesome! Glad I can be of help 👍 100% agree that the Instinct is a very different watch than an Apple Watch. It might even be worth switching back and forth between the two. 🤷🏻♂️
2 months in and coming from Fitbit this watch is worth every Penny. I live right off the Appalachian Trail and can’t stay out of the woods with this watch. It’s amazing for runs and hikes and I’d highly recommend it.
Thanks for the feedback Tyler! Yeah, this is an impressive device Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
I'm thinking of switching to an instinct 2 from a fitbit versa 2, how's the OS for the garmin? I really like the fitbit, just with it looked more rugged and manly like the garmin
@@russelld5838 Garmin is light years better than any Fitbit product
thanks for this Matt!! great review as always
Thank you for the kind words. And thank so much for supporting this channel over the years. I really do appreciate it. 👍
Very good review and very good information. I will probably upgrade, but no time soon. My timing was off and I bought the Instinct Solar 1 just before the 2 came out. Still, I love my Instinct solar, and with the software updates, my original solar Instinct is still relevant and I believe it will be for years to come.
Yeah, or maybe it’ll last until the next hits. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
I'm about to grab the instinct 1 non solar for dirt cheap and a HR strap for rock solid metering for activities. Once this watch gets a few years old, I'll just go buy a second hand, generation or two behind the flagship of whatever tickles my fancy. With more solar coming out, a Garmin instinct 2, 955, or Fenix 7 solar second hand in a few years might be awesome. Solar will possibly help round out older battery issues from second hand.. that being said, I'm a bit cheap.
That's a good review. I've been using the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar for four months. The main reason for choosing the Instinct 2 Solar was the longer battery life. Prior to this device, I was using the Forerunner 735XT for running, cycling and swimming. Eventually, as will happen for all rechargeable devices, the battery was not lasting as long as it had out of the box, which became a concern on longer bike rides. The last thing you want to see when there's still about an hour to go is the "Low Battery" message. I then looked at Garmin's solar devices, and the Instinct 2 Solar ticked all my boxes; it was within my budget, it is fine for running, cycling and swimming as well as any combination of those thanks to the Multi-Sport feature.
Regarding the monochrome display - knowing that the reason for it is to reduce battery consumption - its purpose-design - bring it on! I liked the colours on the FR735XT but with longer battery life I don't miss the colour display at all. Purely a question of priorities. The Instinct 2 Solar also has the improved built-in heart rate monitor that is more accurate than the FR735XT, so using a heart rate monitor strap is now a distant memory (for swimming I just don't bother with HR data). The design of the Instinct 2 Solar casing feels a lot more rugged than previous sports watches I have used - the display glass is reset a few millimetres so it is less exposed to being scratched. Also, the five buttons do not protrude very far so there is less chance of them being accidentally pressed during an activity.
It is also amazing how many things this device monitors - from sleep to body battery to respiration and stress and... all that info is pumped into Garmin Connect so the more you wear the watch, the more biodata and performance data you can monitor on your smartphone. Floors climbed, steps... more than I can list here!
Obviously, I'm loving my Instinct 2 Solar, I'll never be stressed about the battery going flat on long rides, and now my wife is enjoying my old FR735XT.
I've been so impressed with this watch. It goes and goes and the data has been extremely accurate in my testing. Thanks for checking this one out Thomas!
@@mlegrand I have had one issue with swimming and wonder if you also have experienced or heard about it: The Instinct 2 Solar restarting itself during pool lap swimming. I started using the device on 01 June 2022 and have done 29 swims with it. On three occasions, or 10% of the swims, the device restarted itself during the activity. On the bright side, the laps recorded before it restarted were saved, and as soon as I saw the watch face (instead of the data screen for swimming) I could start a new swimming activity to record the remaining laps I had left. The watch software has been updated once or twice since I started using it, the present software is version 8.66 In every other respect the Instinct 2 Solar has been fantastic, this occasional glitch during lap swimming is the only annoyance I have encountered.
@@ThomasTimlen Has this been fixed as its been a year?
@@0Synergy Regarding the swimming issue, the present status can be described as follows;
It is now very rare for the device to restart itself during a swim - it's been so long since that happened I can't recall how long ago that was
What does happen now, but also very seldom, is that it might miss a lap. It's not a huge issue as the timer is still correct, so after the activity is saved the user can just edit the activity and add one lap - that automatically calculates the correct pace, etc. It might happen once every ten swims or less
NEW PROBLEM: Sorry to end with this, but out of nowhere the longevity of the battery nose-dived. Once a full charge could last 27 or more days, but now even without a GPS activity, it drains by about 10% per day - so in practice less than ten days - a huge decline. I did not change any settings, for example if you activate all monitors of course that's a bigger load on the battery. My suspicion is one of the system updates is the cause. I also tried factory reset, but that didn't help. It seems I might have to send it to Garmin service to resolve the issue. I still use and love the device - but this battery issue is a disappointment that came out of the blue.
I will try to remember to make a note here when I eventually find out if Garmin service diagnoses the cause.
Meanwhile there is plenty of battery for runs and swims and bicycling as long as its charged, and even with 50% or less.
@@ThomasTimlen Do you have any other problems with the watch or anything you noticed? I want to buy a smart watch and i am really considering the Instinct 2 Solar right now.
great photography/aesthetics Matt, i really enjoyed the review. Rocking a Fenix but always curious on the Instinct. Kudos!
The Fenix really has it all. And its battery life is nothing too shabby on its own. I’ll be interested to see what Garmin does next with the Instinct. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Really clear and succinct information! Would love to see how the instinct 2 would go from a durability perspective after an year of use. Thanks and good work!
So far no issues whatsoever with durability. I’d love to do an Instinct 2 review after a year. That’d be fun. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@mlegrand thanks I just subscribed. Look forward to the review.
I just bought a instinct 2x solar. Waiting delivery now! Time to upgrade from my forerunner 45.
Oh, you're going to love that 2X. It's really really good. I also have a video on this channel talking about that watch. The flashlight is super helpful. Enjoy it buddy!
I just ordered the Instinct 2s Solar and I’m super excited about it!
I think you'll really enjoy it. It's got great battery life, seems to do everything and is a tough watch. Let me know what you think once you've had it for a bit. 🙌🏻
Is the 2s more for women's wrists? I've an opportunity to purchase an unused, boxed 2s solar for £150 here in England. It's usually priced at nearly £300. I've 19cm wrists and I'm a 6ft 3" male.
Thanks Matt, great video. I had owned the older Instinct Solar variant and it had amazing battery life, even with limited sun exposure. On your foreshadowed openwater test, are you including Apple Watch in that? interested to see your results.
Yes, I tested the Apple Watch and had mixed results. One swim it was pretty far off, another ok and then one that was perfect. The new beta software is interesting also.
thank you for a very informative video!
You are very welcome Brian! Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Hi, IMO Instinct has most visible display of all sport watches. I wish next gen have bigger screen and electric lime (and more vivid colors) in solar fullsize variants.
Yeah, that monochrome display has a lot of contrast. I've been really enjoying this one. Thanks Štefan.
Thanks for the video 👍.
You’re welcome William 👍 Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👌
Hi, great review!
My trusty old Garmin Forerunner 35 bit the dust this last weekend and I'm looking for a new watch. I am primarily a cyclist (road, MTB, and commute), but also do triathlon, Spartan, kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, and gym workouts. This watch caught my attention because of the long battery life and multitude of sports it tracks.
A few questions though: is there a sleeker / more delicate-looking watch that is comparable in features to this watch? (I could get away with my Forerunner 35 with a nice band at weddings and formals).
- How does this watch do with Courses and Workouts? I don't want to buy a cycling computer because I do so many other sports, but many people say Courses on Garmin watches are pretty meh. Any experience here?
Thanks!
Have a look at the 255. I’m a huge fan of that one and it’s the same price as the Instinct 2. The Forerunner 955 has a touchscreen and maps but cost more money. I typically save routes and courses for a bigger bike computer screen but these watches do have that functionality. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Great videos Matt I’m ordering the tactical as I do competitive shooting. The tactical has ballistics mode. Thanks for the continued review of this watch.
That's awesome. I think you'll really like this watch. It's very impressive. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@mlegrand you’re very welcome and subscribed as you have a very nice channel. I’ve been using the Casio PRT-50B as it’s a hybrid / analog digital and it’s been great for trekking and hiking. It’s got ABC complications so that parts been awesome. But with my age and sleep and blood pressure and oxygen I’ve decided that the Instinct 2X tactical would be the best choice. I was thinking of the crossover tactical as I really like the analog hands but with the instinct I can get more info on the screen.
@@tcwhite0104 - Very cool. I'd love to hear how you like it while shooting as that's not something I've tested.
@@mlegrand I’ll definitely let you know it will be until spring as it’s the snow season here
Awesome in-depth reviews Matt. Will you be doing an Instinct Crossover review?
I don’t think so. It’s been really hard for me to get ahold of watches lately but I’d love to if there is ever an opportunity. I just noticed @DesFit posted his full review of that Watch recently. Be sure to go check it out! 👌
My first Garmin watch was the first Instinct (Non Solar). Now, I'm still deciding between Instinct 2 and Fenix 7x. In Singapore, Instinct 2 (Solar) will cost $600+ and Fenix 7 (Saphire Solar) will cost $1500. Both in Singapore Dollars.
Hi Muhammad 👋🏻 - If you like bigger watches, go Fenix and if you prefer the rugged look of the Instinct and the monochrome display then save money and go Instinct 2. I'm a big fan of both of these watches. Let me know if I can help and let me know what you pick and how you end up liking it. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
i own this watch and I love it ! i chose it over the epix, tactix amoled andnthe fenix 7x pro . has almost all the same features
It's such a good value for what you get. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Hey,
Very nice Review. Love this Kind of your Videos.
I also got. the Instinct a few months ago.
Do i have any concerns about swimming with it Open water ?
Or is That absolutely no Problem for this Watch.
Only ask because i am Not sure about the salts in the water
Thanks for helping
Rgds
Janni
Hi Janni,
I haven’t tested this in salt water but it shouldn’t be a huge issue. It’d be a good idea to rinse it off afterwards. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
question when i choose strength training the timer goed after 1 hour over in lines , it wont count further like my intinct 1 did
I haven't tested that feature. I might suggest reaching out to Garmin for support. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
If there is anything Garmin does right it should be GPS, they build the best compact GPS systems in the world
They've been doing GPS and mapping for a very very long time. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment J Almond! I really appreciate it. 👍
Horay, the Solar makes Matt premiere!!! (to my knowledge anyway).
It is difficult, $500 (or just short of it) is a lot of money, you're trading battery life for fancy displays. What a challenge to quantify the usefulness of never charging something. Send the watch with Evan to test this weekend, see if we can get UNLIMITED power to pop up!!
How are you healing? I hope you're well my friend!
Yeah, I should have sent that with Evan. Now I’m in Michigan and I’m bummed that I didn’t get to see you at the big wedding. You’re going to have to really take easy on those guys in the mountains. They are going to struggle 😬
@@mlegrand I sure hope they struggle, I have been doing "fittin'ess pizza in my mouth" type training. I can't have them show up and beat up on me!
What's in Michigan? I do love that state come summer time, all the lakes and trees. Very relaxing.
@@kithinders1086 - In-laws 🎉
Really debating on getting this watch. I'm cycling a few days a week with some weight lifting added in. Really want to track all my workouts & sleep to get training readiness.. I like how the Forerunner looks but feels dumb to spend $200+ more on the Forerunner265 to get the training readiness over the 165. This seems like a good option and currently on sale.
I have no insider info but it could be on sale side to an upcoming Instinct 3 🤷🏻♂️
Hi, has Garmin fixed the problem with random shutdowns of the Instinct watch? I was close to buying one of these until I saw how many complaints online there were about them not working after two years, or so. Possible it was caused by the watch overheating if vibration alerts were consistently used. Any thoughts on this? Thanks.
I haven’t seen this personally but I don’t doubt that it’s happening. I’m guessing that the Instict 3 might be coming up soon. I haven’t heard anything from Garmin but it might be worth seeing what’s coming up next. 👌
I really love the Instinct 2X solar. It's very convenient having a flashlight on my wrist. But one of the things that bothers me the most is the alarm tone volume. It's so damn low I can barely even hear it. And today, it was fine then after an update it was even lower toned. Idk why but that is SUPER annoying. I never had an issue hearing my Instinct. And I expected the Instinct 2X to be 2X better..... It's still a good watch, but maybe they can release an update to increase the volume of the the alarm tone and hourly chime tone.
Maybe check the forums over on Garmin’s site. Maybe someone has put in a feature request that you could up vote. 👍
I am quite confused between the FR245 and Instinct 2 solar. I play soccer and badminton and hence need the watch to be scratch and impact resistant. What would be your suggestion?
The Instinct 2 Solar is probably more durable that the Forerunner series of watches. But most of the Forerunner watches have a 'scratch resistant' gorilla glass type of lens. So if you prefer that style watch, it'll probably be ok. I'm loving the FR 255 but I like the triathlon features. You could also consider a lens protector. They're cheap on Amazon: amzn.to/3VfVnRX Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
garmins are surprisingly durable. I use the lifestyle focused venu 2 plus and do boxing sparring with the watch on, it's surprisingly surviving direct hits...
Can this smartwatch support for skateboarding ?
Maybe you can suggest me what type of smartwatch can do it.
Not that I know of Ekifakhruddin. I think if it were me. I would take a Garmin skate or running activity type and copy it into it's own new activity type called Skateboard. Seems like Garmin should jump on this and add it. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Hi Matt. Thx for the review. Im curious, Is it easy to read during night time? Auto light during dark? Thank u
Yes, absolutely. There is a backlight button on the top left.
hey matt nice video i liked your channel. here is a tip people want to see the product more than a person explaining it. so I'd advise more shots of the product. best of luck!
Thanks for the tip!
Thanks for video, really helpful.
Keep it going 💪
Will do. Thank you Ivan!
I’m finding that when mountain biking, the heart rate monitor is very inaccurate. When I’m climbing and I feel my heart is beating out of my chest, it registers only at about 105 bpm when it’s gotta actually be over 150. Any suggestions on how I can make this more accurate besides going to a chest strap?
If you think about how optical heart rate monitors work, you can imagine why mountain biking would be extremely difficult. Any wrist motion that the algorithm can’t parse out is tricky to deal with. So road biking is more accurate than mountain biking. There are ways to move the optical heart rate sensor away from the wrist but it’s probably easier to use a chest strap.
Try the chest monitor
How durable is the screen? I work construction and I wear a watch every day. Would I have to get a protector for this?
It's marketed as a rugged watch but this glass can get scratched. I would probably consider a screen protector. Sorry bud.
Thank you!
Hey, hope you see this as I am lost. I don’t know if
I should get the normal or the s version . Can I ask you what your wrist circumference is ? It will really help me choose a size . I’m worried the big one will look huge on my small wrist
6.5 inch or 165mm. I prefer the bigger size with the bigger screen personally but it might depend on what you're used to. What do you wear now? Keep me posted on what you get and what you think of it after having worn it for a bit. Thanks KTappleguy!
@@mlegrand I really appreciate the reply, we have almost the exact same wrist size (16.3cm) . I don’t own a smartwatch right now , I wear a 40mm rolex submariner , always thought it fits me perfect but since we have the same
Wrist size , I can see that the 45mm doesn’t look big on your hand at all. I think I might be getting the 45 , plus I’m concerned the 40mm watch screen will be too small to read
@@mlegrand i got the instict 2 solar , had it about a week now and its amazing! size isnt too big at all
@@KTappleguy - Awesome! Hope you continue to enjoy it!
I bought this on release, but had a bug with the audio prompts. Still not solved for some users. I ended up returning it.
Did you switch it out for something else? Just curious what people like to use. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Loved the Legos featuring here 😅😁
Ha! Yeah, I love throwing them into videos plus it helps to show scale. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
What type of camara do you use for those under water shots?
GoPro Hero 10 👍
@@mlegrand nice!! Happy Saturday brother!
Hi I had the Instinct 2 solar tactical, I bought it for hiking it was useless, Altimeter was way out despite being calibrated several times on each hike, at one point it showed me at being 50m below sea level when I was at 629m above, coordinates were also always wrong. As a hiking aid id say don't bother.
Bad experiences like this are good feedback for people to be aware of. I wonder if your temperature gauge was damaged causing really bad altimeter data. That’s a common issue on some of Garmin’s devices. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Hi , I had this issue from new, and since then I’ve read lots of reviews , all seems to say the same re the altimeter, thanks for reply and for taking time to make video.
Thanks for this review, im so torn between fenix 7 and instinct 2 , Mainly hiking/exploring , roller blading biking and weight lifting ect. any input ?
I would say that it comes down to money. The display on the Fenix 7 is nicer in my opinion but it's a big jump in price. I would evaluate it based on time. If you think you'll use it for a long time, spring for the Fenix. If you're like me and enjoy trying different watches then maybe save money knowing you'll upgrade in the future to another fun option. Keep me posted on what you end up with and how you like it. I always learn so much from the people watching the videos. Thanks! 👍🏻
@@mlegrand Thanks i appreciate the feedback, just wish i could get away wearing the I2 in a formal setting . its a bit rugged for a suit or casual dress lol. is there any point going fenix 6 pro with the new tech out now to save a couple hundred?
@@mattheweastman8984 - Nothing wrong with the Fenix 6. It’s missing the latest greatest features but it’ll work for all the stuff you’re into. 👌
Does anyone have a problem with a loose back button? The rest of the buttons are stiff and one has a little loose before it click
I’ve heard of other models with this issue. I think the 255 had issues. I’d reach out to Garmin as soon as possible.
I am only getting around 2 weeks with my 2s. I turned off the O2 sensor. I don't use GPS at all. What am I doing wrong?
I'm guessing you have the screen back light delay at the default 8 seconds? Sounds like it might be worth reaching out to Garmin's customer support. Something sounds off to me. 🤔
@Matt LeGrand backlight is at 2 seconds and level is 10%
@@abrazor - Sounds very conservative. I’d reach out to Garmin and see if they have any ideas.
Is it possible to listen music on them regardless of phone?
The Instinct 2 can control music from an Android or iPhone. The music isn't coming directly from the watch like it would from some other watches. Hope that helps Daniil! 👍
@@mlegrand yes , noted with thanks
Hi! In general I love the watch, however I notice some strange behaviour and I'm curious if you(or anyone else?) recognise this : when I go to the "activities" page by pressing GPS there is a stall and delay of 3-5 seconds. The seconds stop counting, the page switches and then everything is back to normal. This happens daily (usually the first time of the day) and on other times during the day the watch switches instantly. I've wiped all activities and reset the watch, issue persists.
This would be a great question to ask Garmin but I have a theory that the watch is slowing down the clock speed of the processor to increase battery life and then as soon as you press the page button, the watch has to speed that clock speed back up. 🤷♂️
@@mlegrand exactly what I thought and asked Garmin, wouldn't be bad if it did, however they've just ignored that question. They suggested wiping because "it looked full" (95 activities registered). This did nothing. Neither did a reset. I wouldn't mind if this minor slowdown is just part of normal functionality to save battery and on the other hand i would like to prevent a 6 week turn around without watch for a review in the office (as this is what garmin suggests) to confirm that it is just normal..
I've uploaded a CZcams short to show the issue.
@@sanderscholtens391 - Interesting. It wouldn't surprise me Garmin didn't want the 'slowing clock speed' issue to be public knowledge but who knows. Thanks for bringing this up Sanders. It's good feedback.
@@mlegrand Garmin insists it is a malfunction. Now waiting for a replacement, I'll report back if that changes anything.
@@mlegrand so the new watch is in (kudos to Garmin for their excellent service and exchange btw). It's identical, I've upgraded to beta 9.12 but still the same. No problem in real life for me. Remarkable difference though is the new watch has a MUCH better strap for some reason. Feels much better, not as "sticky" silicone but a nice matte finish that doesn't wear off in 2 days (like the previous one did). Overall still very happy with the watch.
While on a run with the instinct 2..does it show current pace while running?
Yes it does. All GPS watches can have a slight delay to pace updates but this watch will show current pace. It’s a great option. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Will this watch synch with Strava when I'm cycling. I just want to record my calorie count. Also, does it monitor my sleep stages ?
Yeah, you can sync with the Garmin Connect app and set that up to sync over to Strava. And it’ll show sleep details as well.
whats the best cycling watch?
Probably the Garmin Epix with it's bright AMOLED screen, good maps and the ability to connect to all the cycling electronics you might have.
The GPS accuracy of the new Garmin watches is just related to the new GPS chip they are using. The old ones using the Sony and the new ones the Airoha chip.
Did that chip change happen around the time the 745 came out? That's when I noticed significant changes to GPS precision. The multi-band GPS chips seem to be doing well also but I think Garmin is doing something in addition to the changing chip sets. I notice a significant difference between their GPS accuracy and other brands using similar chip sets. Thanks Gerrit Gerrit!
Hello!
Just sold my apple watch and possibly looking to get this one. Do you know if this can run google maps. I live in Paris and need the watch to guide me. And if I go on a walk, will the GPS show the route I took on the map?
Thanks
You’ll get breadcrumb navigation but no mapping on this watch. You might look at something like the 955 or look around at rumor websites to see if/when Garmin might update that Forerunner series for something with a map 🤷🏻♂️
Keep me posted on what you’re thinking, what you end up with and how you like it. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
The price of Instinct 2s is just a little more than Vivoactive 4s where I live. That's a good price for what you get. Wifi support, and it would have been almost perfect.
I haven't tested the VivoActive 4S but my wife used an older model and loved it. She had it for years and she still talks about that watch being her favorite even though I make her test hundreds of other watches for me. 😂 Thanks for watching this one Ann!
@@mlegrand I love that watch, but I need the newer HR sensor. I've discovered I hate the Venu screen as much as I first thought I would, LOL. Others hate the Vivoactive screen. Can't win them all.
is it good for hiking activities as well? thanks!
It doesn’t do much for mapping but other than that it’s pretty good. 👍
thanks! compared with other forerunner watches designed mainly for running, is this providing the same accuracy for running? cheers!
@@mlegrand
@@razvanv339 - Yes, very good accuracy.
Have compass?
Yes, it has a 3-axis compass with automatic calibration but you can also manually calibrate it if needed. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Is the 2s more for women's wrists? I have a opportunity to buy the 2s solar for £150. It's unused too.
Yes, it’s the smaller size which tends to target more women’s wrists. Great price!!
@@mlegrand well I'm a 6ft 3" make with 19+cm wrists so looks like I won't be buying the bargain.
@@NazSBG - And most people prefer the larger screens on the bigger devices. I'd also look at the Instinct 2X. It's fantastic. 👍
I’m an avid sport fisherman…do you think this watch would work to mark hotspots with its gps function?
I havne't tested that but it should work. You could also set "Save Location" to your quick menu. Best of luck and keep me posted on how it goes. 👍🏻
@@mlegrand will do. As much as I fish I’ve been avoiding buying a fish finder, but would like the ability to mark the hot spots on the lake so think I’ll buy this watch and see if it’ll work for that. (So many more reasons I want it)
I just returned a Garmin 255s because the screen was so dim compared to my Garmin Instinct Solar. I wonder if the Instinct 2 keeps the great display from my version?
Did you adjust the screen brightness and play with the length of time for the backlight to display? Maybe the Instinct just has higher contrast with the monochrome display? Either way, glad you were able to return it so you can figure out the best watch for you. 👌
@@mlegrand - The 255s screen was readable with the backlight and in sunlight. But in dimmer light it was much worse than the Instinct Solar. So annoying to constantly have to push the backlight or twist my arm just right indoors. Having colors is fine, but not at the expense of poorer contrast especially since the 255 doesn't have maps so doesn't really need to have a color screen
@@yogiyoda - Maybe high contrast screens are highly underrated. Thanks for watching this one!
Color on a transflective screen like this will be less contrasted. I had the same thing with my Pebble watches.
HOW DID I MISS THIS??
As I wrote, I'm in the market for a new watch - my Instinct died. I'm looking at everything from a Casio basic AF watch to another smart watch. I'M SO INDECISIVE!!!
Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I'm so torn. Do I spent the money on the new watch?? I'm so indecisive.
Here are my choices:
Use the Instinct V1 for the cost of replacement (about $120)
Sell the instinct, use that money to buy instinct solar 2
Sell the instinct, get something else?
HALP!!!????
XOXO
Oh wait, you're looking for a new watch? Well my friend, you've come to the right channel. No joke, if you picked up a Timex for $35, I would not be disappointed in your decision. Goes forever. Tells time. Great as a stopwatch.
Otherwise, you'd love this instinct 2 solar. It's fantastic! Maybe I can get you hooked up.
If an update could fix the alarm tone volume I'd give this watch 5 stars.
Bing says its able to raise and lower it's alarm tone volume but the directions to do it don't match the watches system choices. So idk what thats all about. But one thing that's absolutely mandatory in a watch for me is an alarm and hourly chime I can actually hear.
I haven’t messed around with Alarm volume either. I don’t see an alarm volume but just a tone, vibration or both setting in here. 🤔 (although I’m looking at a different Garmin)
@@mlegrand Those are the only choices I have as well. But Bing says it's possible, so I'm not sure. I'm spending so much time on this one issue it's becoming very, very frustrating.
Thank you for your suggestion of the Garmin Forums, I'll check it out today. By the way, this is the second Instinct 2X to have done this. I bought one 2 Saturdays ago and it was fine. The alarm tone was lower than I would like but it was audible nonetheless. Then the watch had an update and after the update the alarm tone was super faint. So I exchanged the watch for another one. Then I had this one and it was fine for the first 3 days and the alarm tone was fine. Then it updated last night, and right after the update I noticed that the alarm tone volume has decreased significantly. So, idk what's going on, but I'm going to go exchange this watch yet again for a new one, and this time I'm going to ignore the update.
But it would be nice for Garmin to patch a fix to this issue in a future update. The tone volume on the OG Instinct watch is excellent. Not sure why that didn't roll over to the Instinct 2X.
Stuck between getting the instinct 2 on a nice discount or the new 2x
I *think* I'll have the 2X review out tomorrow. I don't know how much of a discount we're talking about but the 2X is a significantly better watch. It's surprisingly full featured. Keep me posted on what you go with.
I sent mine back as the HR was all over the place. e.g. Often read 85bpm for over 5 min when I was at 155bpm so I'm hoping the replacement is a bit better. Can't fault the rest of it though, especially HRV and Body Battery for someone like me who is bad at taking a rest day 😅 Before I was 50 I never needed to rest as much, darn aging 😂
I know right? This getting old thing is harsh! HR was decent during my testing so I'm guessing it's getting mixed up somehow. I would push it up a little bit higher on your wrist and away from the boney joint when you're running and wear it about 1-2 notches tighter than how you wear it for the rest of the day. Best of luck with the new one Rob!!!
Haha yeah I did all that, was a faulty sensor they think. I'm doing 10 hours at Zone 2 to 3 so having it done tight that long wasn't too comfy 😅
@@robtwizelcleary8344 that's a good amount of volume!!! 👏🏻
You know, actually, so professional 😂
Ha 😆 Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Which one should I go with instinct 2 or instinct 2 solar? Bit confuse..
I prefer the Instinct 2 Solar. How sunny is it where you live?
@@mlegrand basically from india but working in Dubai..does instinct 2 solar has the same features as instinct 2?
@@monsgrg5019 - Yep, features are pretty much the same. The Solar has a widget for measuring solar intensity.
@@mlegrand 1st I made my mind for instinct solar one but it's bit bigger than instinct 2 and it will not look good coz of my thin wrist..as you told me that features are same except solar panel and the display size?
@@monsgrg5019 - The actual size of the watch is either 40 or 45 depending on what you pick. There is a solar option of either size. My wrists are also very thin. So have a look at this video and maybe that'll help you judge on size.
What about 2X solar?
The 2X Solar is good. It came out a few weeks after I posted this video. But here is my review of the 2X Solar: czcams.com/video/YgMb35CLNQs/video.html
been using it for 6 months & the elevation data on this watch is way off most of the time ... & the compass doesn't work unless I constantly recalibrate it ....
Good feedback for others considering this one. I was going to suggest calibrating but it sounds like you’ve already done that. 😬 I’d talk to Garmin and let them know what you’re tried and what you’re seeing. Might be something broken with the altimeter or temp sensors. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Have you set the Altimeter before hiking etc?
is it safe for everyday swimming..?
Yes, that has been my experience. I would expect some pool chemicals to be harder on the watch than others but I’ve had zero issues pool swimming and open water swimming. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
@@mlegrand thank you so much..
Best fucking watch Ive ever owned. If I tried to design a perfect watch for myself and activities, I couldnt of even came up with something close.
Plus.... a flashlight? infinite solar powered flash light?????????????????? bro come on..... Who doesnt want that?
The flashlight is so underrated!!! This watch also had a very nice software update recently that might be worth checking out. You should see the morning report and HRV data. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Nice bike
Thanks Judaz!
6:07 thanks for your fingerprint. Now everybody will be able to access any of your fingerprint encrypted devices forever! You better use a different finger for your protection. ;)
My entire security system here at my bank vault is compromised. 🤦♂️
I can't wait to get the instinct Solar 3. I hope they don't ruin it with an OLED display
Im guessing it’ll be a while before they make the Instinct 3. And I agree. I can’t see them adding OLED to this one. We’ll see. But this Instinct 2 is fantastic. Amazing battery life. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
You know?
🤷♂️
Having only had g shocks for the last 15 years the wife very kindly bought me an instinct 2 after a few weeks my thoughts are that it’s tracking Is very good but my god is it beige… the on screen info options don’t really offer the display info I’d like and is very uninteresting to look at .. which is at least in keeping with the overall appearance of the watch, which is at best dull in a none offensive no one really cares about sort of way
That seems very fair. I've been wanting to review a G Shock watch on this channel for some time. Hopefully I can make that happen in 2023. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Can I see my text and emails?
Hi Nomadic Vet, this watch does have the ability to set custom reply options to text messages. There isn't any sort of email options. The custom reply feature is only available to android devices and not iPhone. This is 100% due to Apple only allowing those features on their own Apple Watch. It's something I really wish Apple would reconsider. 🤷♂️ Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
I wanted to upgrade my forerunner 935 but im not impressed so far. Solar is a gimmick that charges really slow even in brightest summer sun, the compass is periodically broken after a day of calibrating and the general feel of the watch feels cheap. Also dont expect to get any females wearing this thing.
It does have a certain look to it doesn’t it. 😬 Most of the time I’d skip Garmin Solar but this one seems to actually gain battery life. Some mentioned they got 2 extra days after a long sunny bike ride with this watch. You’ll have to keep me posted on what you’re thinking about with the 935 upgrade. I’ll be curious what you end up with. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
I have an instinct 2 solar tactical. I out it in stealth mode and battery saver mode. Gain +3 days on that mode. Turned both off and its +2 days. I had it out in the sun for 2 hours at least
Why are you worried about it not suits women lol
Would this look ridiculous on a woman? I want a chunky rugged watch, because I always end up bashing watches 😅
Personally I think it’d look fine on a woman. I have very slim wrists and think it looks fine on me but I’m also used to it now. If you end up getting one, let me know what you think. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍
Women are not one entity. If you want a chunky watch, get it.
This review felt ramble-y. Took too long to make your points and they didn't feel researched.
I'm pretty sure I could take this comment in one of two ways but I'm going with it being genuine feedback. I'll try to work on my pacing and I think digging deeper into the research side of things is a great idea. Thanks . . . I think. 🤔
how to make talk video with almost zero useful information considering all the things this watch does.
Oh man, sorry you didn't like this one. Is there something in particular that you wish I had gone over in here? (just trying to improve these reviews).
Battery went from 25 days to 2 hours after a round of golf?
This was your experience? That sounds very very odd. I'd reach out to Garmin about it and see if you have some sort of defective device.