Garmin - Instinct 2 Solar Series

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.

Really like my instinct 2 I got during their summer sale for $170ish usd. I got it just for mountain biking

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.

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.

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

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:)

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!

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.

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

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!🗻🐘🗻

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.

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.

Yep. I wish it had some more bells and whistles in terms of health metric tracking, but I can live without that if it means I almost never have to worry about the battery. I genuinely wish I had gotten the solar one because it would become a complete non-issue, but even the regular model is bonkers compared to the competition

[9 Best Hiking Watches (2025) with GPS Worth Investing In](https://alaskanarrows.com/best-hiking-watches-with-gps-2025/) But if I’m gonna sum up my advice after all the research I’ve done on smartwatches and owning many (got the Fenix 7 and Instinct 2)…the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar is overall the best value for money watch you can get. If you want more advanced navigation and features then the Garmin Forerunner 955 and if you’re drawn to something a bit different with strong battery and maps then check out the Coros Apex 2 Pro

Forerunner 955 as my main watch. Refurbished Instinct 2 as a backup and for pool swimming (chlorine destroys everything, so I wanted something cheaper than the 955 to use as a semi-sacrificial watch).

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.

FWIW I much prefer a Garmin instinct 2 over the Apple Watch. More durable and masculine

I loved my Garmin instinct 2 solar tactical. It's literally how I think of myself. Rugged, minimal, but can't do most of the shit the other smart ones can do. I succumbed to data overload. My watch became a constant source of feedback on how tired I was, how far I went or didn't go, how hot it is, how fast my heart is beating ... I subconsciously couldn't take it anymore. I started breaking out in stress hives that I had no idea how to diagnose. Long story short, I store wearing it and everything changed. My Seiko prospex chronograph tells me the time. It times things when I need. And I couldn't be happier. Anyone with advice on an upgrade would be greatly appreciated, but I'm all in on ditching smartwatches forever.

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

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.

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.

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?

My requirements list was almost identical to yours. I got an Instinct 2 a couple of months back (when they were on special due to imminent release of Instinct 3) I was a bit concerned about not having AMOLED. But that was lack of familiarity . I'm really happy with the MIP. 

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

Man I had the solar instinct. Problems with charging in the first year itself. Year 2, watch started randomly dying while tracking activities. I assumed updates might fix it but never did. Customer service wasn't helpful at all. Asking me to pay for a refurb and other nonsense.

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.

I get about 3-4 weeks out of my instinct 2. There isn't a damn thing in the world you can do with an apple watch to make it get anywhere near that without throwing it away and buying something else.

Just buy last gen's Fenix. I bought an Epix Pro earlier this month for $549, same price as the Venu 4. There have been sales for the Fenix 7X/Pro as low as $450 this year. The Instinct 2 Solar is my daily, I forget that I'm even wearing it with the light weight and not needing to charge. It feels like a normal watch and I always know the time because of the always-on MIP screen which is more readable than a G Shock and doesn't require a gesture to wake. The Epix is for hikes due to the maps.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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

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.

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

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 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).