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Garmin Instinct, Rugged Outdoor Watch with GPS, Features Glonass and Galileo, Heart Rate Monitoring and 3-Axis Compass, Graphite

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 24,084 ratings

$239.99
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Style: Instinct
Color: Graphite
Operating System Android/iOS
Special Feature Heart Rate Monitoring, Shock Resistant, Barometric Altimete, Activity Tracker, GPS, Water Resistant
Connectivity Technology Bluetooth
Wireless Communication Standard Bluetooth
Battery Cell Composition Lithium Polymer
GPS Built-in GPS
Shape Round
Screen Size 1.27 Inches
Brand Garmin
Model Name Instinct

About this item

  • Rugged GPS watch built to withstand the toughest environments.Supported Application:Phone. . Wireless comm standard:Bluetooth
  • Constructed to U.S. Military standard 810G for thermal, shock and water resistance (rated to 100 meters)
  • Built in 3 axis compass and barometric altimeter, plus multiple global navigation satellite systems (GPS, Glonass and Galileo) support helps track in more challenging environments than GPS alone
  • Monitor your estimated heart rate, activity and stress; Train with preloaded activity profiles. Strap material: Silicone
  • Stay connected with smart notifications (with a compatible smartphone) and automatic data uploads to the Garmin connect online fitness community
  • Use the trackback feature to navigate the same route back to your starting point; Use the Garmin explore website and app to plan your trips in advance
  • Battery life: Up to 14 days in smartwatch mode, up to 16 hours in GPS mode, up to 40 hours in Ultratrac battery saver mode
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Important information

Visible screen diagonal

2" / 4 cm

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Garmin Instinct, Rugged Outdoor Watch with GPS, Features Glonass and Galileo, Heart Rate Monitoring and 3-Axis Compass, Graphite
Garmin Instinct, Rugged Outdoor Watch with GPS, Features Glonass and Galileo, Heart Rate Monitoring and 3-Axis Compass, Graphite
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Price$239.99-37% $189.00
List:$299.99
-18% $163.00
List:$199.99
$449.99-5% $199.99
Typical:$209.99
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What's in the box

  • Instinct
  • charging/data cable
  • Documentation
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    Product guides and documents


    From the manufacturer

    instinct

    Garmin Instinct


    instinct
    Built to Endure Like You

    When you can rely on Instinct, the world can rely on you. This rugged, reliable outdoor GPS watch is built to the U.S. military standard 810G for thermal, shock and water resistance (rated to 100 meters). The fiber-reinforced polymer case adds strength and durability, and the chemically-strengthened, scratch-resistant display is high-contrast enough to read in bright sunlight, so you can take it with you into the extremes you face every day.

    Rugged GPS Watch Built to Withstand the Toughest Environments

    • Constructed to U.S. military standard 810G for thermal, shock and water resistance (up to 100 meters)
    • Built-in 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter plus multiple global navigation satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) support helps track in more challenging environments than GPS alone
    • Monitor your estimated heart rate, activity and stress; train with preloaded activity profiles
    • Stay connected with smart notifications (with a compatible smartphone) and automatic data uploads to the Garmin Connect™ online fitness community
    • Use the TracBack feature to navigate the same route back to your starting point; use the Garmin Explore website and app to plan your trips in advance
    • Battery life: up to 14 days in smartwatch mode, up to 16 hours in GPS mode, up to 40 hours in UltraTrac battery saver mode
    instinct

    Garmin Instinct

    instinct

    GPS You Can Count On

    You’ve never been one to follow the beaten path — that’s where Instinct comes in. GPS, GLONASS and Galileo satellite network capability tracks in more challenging environments than GPS alone. The built-in 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter help you keep your bearings. Take the guesswork out of your return journey by using the TracBack feature to navigate the same route back to start.

    instinct

    Monitor and Train

    The Instinct GPS watch estimates your heart rate, activity and stress throughout the day, so you know how much you do — and how hard you’re working to do it. When you’re ready to train, we’ve got you covered with preloaded activity profiles for running, biking, swimming and more.

    instinct

    Stay Connected

    Smart notifications let you leave your phone in your pocket. Pair your phone with Instinct and our Garmin Connect online fitness community for automatic uploads, live tracking and the GroupTrack feature. Or, pair with the Garmin Explore website and app to plan adventures before you head out.

    Product Description

    When you can rely on Instinct, the world can rely on you. This rugged, reliable outdoor GPS watch is built for the U. S. Military standard 810G for thermal, shock and water resistance (Rated to 100 meters). The fiber-reinforced polymer case adds strength and durability, and the chemically-strengthened, scratch-resistant display is high-contrast enough to read in bright sunlight, so you can take it with you into the extremes you face every day. Plus, the fully vented silicone bands include two independent, removable keeper loops to ensure a secure fit and to keep you from getting caught on things. Water rating: 10 ATM.

    Product information

    Warranty & Support

    Product Warranty: For warranty information about this product, please click here. [PDF ]

    Feedback

    Garmin Instinct, Rugged Outdoor Watch with GPS, Features Glonass and Galileo, Heart Rate Monitoring and 3-Axis Compass, Graphite


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    Customer reviews

    4.7 out of 5 stars
    24,084 global ratings

    Review this product

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    Customers say

    Customers appreciate the watch's quality, battery life, and durability. They find it looks nice and functional, with a durable design that lasts long between charges. The GPS tracking is useful for tracking runs and hikes. Customers also appreciate its functionality and value for money. However, opinions differ on ease of use and accuracy.

    AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

    933 customers mention "Watch quality"933 positive0 negative

    Customers appreciate the watch quality. They find it durable, with a functional design that looks appealing. The screen is their favorite feature, and it meets their expectations. The operating system is reliable and the Android phone application is polished and comprehensive.

    "...It does all that seamlessly. The app is very good as well and customizable to show only the things that matter without all the extra clutter...." Read more

    "...Definitely a personal preference but I also really like it's appearance. I got the Graphite colored one, it's not black but kind of a charcoal grey...." Read more

    "...it for two years and been quite rough with it and it still looks pretty much brand new...." Read more

    "...Edit again: so, 3 year update. It's still a great watch and has held up amazingly; however, like most any battery powered device, the battery life..." Read more

    699 customers mention "Battery life"572 positive127 negative

    Customers appreciate the watch's battery life. They say it holds up well without needing to recharge, going as long as 2.5 weeks between charges. The watch displays date, steps, heart rate, and battery status on the home screen. It takes very little energy to power the display.

    "...Battery life has been great, using the GPS 2-3 times a week for an hour at a time pulls it down some but I still get over a week on a charge...." Read more

    "...happily say it's never died on me and I've gone as long as 2.5 weeks in between charges...." Read more

    "...It is light weight, has excellent battery life of over 2 weeks when paired to the phone, but not using the GPS, and even longer when you turn off..." Read more

    "...Other than that this is a rugged watch and holds a charge a lot longer than the Fitbit Charge 5, even with the GPSr enabled...." Read more

    560 customers mention "Durability"513 positive47 negative

    Customers appreciate the watch's durability. They find it sturdy and well-made, with a solid altimeter, barometer, and compass. The watch enhances its outdoor persona and has never died on them, even after extended use.

    "...This is mostly for outdoor activities, it's simple, rugged, and doesn't do as much because it's made to do it's set of tasks well, and it's trade..." Read more

    "...Two years into owning the Garmin Instinct I can happily say it's never died on me and I've gone as long as 2.5 weeks in between charges...." Read more

    "...Other than that this is a rugged watch and holds a charge a lot longer than the Fitbit Charge 5, even with the GPSr enabled...." Read more

    "...Edit again: so, 3 year update. It's still a great watch and has held up amazingly; however, like most any battery powered device, the battery life..." Read more

    560 customers mention "Gps tracking"431 positive129 negative

    Customers appreciate the GPS tracking feature of the watch. They find it useful for tracking runs and hikes, as well as their fitness and running times. The heart rate monitor and step tracking are accurate. The backlight, heart monitoring, phone notification view, pulse oximeter, altimeter, and waterproofing are also appreciated.

    "...watch was the right combo of features for outdoor activities and activity tracking to get my attention and be a useful tool more than an expensive..." Read more

    "...receives top marks for it's GPS, heartrate monitor, waterproofing, altimeter, etc. This watch is also super durable...." Read more

    "...The biggest selling point for me was the battery life, heart rate monitor, and smart watch phone pairing...." Read more

    "...I haven't used it yet but it's cool it allows you to track and track back when walking with the GPSr, shoot coordinates, and project waypoints...." Read more

    420 customers mention "Functionality"338 positive82 negative

    Customers like the watch's functionality. They say the phone finder, GPS, and compass work well. The heart rate monitor and notifications work properly. Overall, customers are satisfied with the watch's performance and appreciate that it has all the features they need without adding unnecessary extras.

    "...Its still functioning perfectly, but I would prefer more durability from the buttons...." Read more

    "...The compass worked pretty well. The heart rate monitor worked well for me, but I don't have anything to compare it to for accuracy...." Read more

    "...While the GPS does not show a "Google" maps type of display, it is very effective when finding your way back to where you came...." Read more

    "...The features are great. It has absolutely everything I need...." Read more

    316 customers mention "Value for money"233 positive83 negative

    Customers appreciate the smartwatch's value for money. They find it has good features at a reasonable price, and consider it a sleek and stylish option among similarly priced smartwatches.

    "...Overall, a great watch at a good price with awesome features and wonderful customer support!" Read more

    "...I will recommend it based on the included features at the price point, though there are a few things that could use improvement...." Read more

    "...All things considered it has held up extremely well. At the new price point, I still think it is an amazing watch for the price...." Read more

    "...I'm very happy with this purchase, though I do feel the price point is just a tad high...." Read more

    471 customers mention "Ease of use"300 positive171 negative

    Customers have different views on the wearable computer's ease of use. Some find the user interface straightforward and easy to learn, with features that are not overly complex. The watch is lightweight, easy to read, and simple to set up. However, others mention it takes some getting used to navigate and can be cumbersome. It can be difficult to follow in real time in certain areas especially if you have vision issues.

    "...I liked about this watch was it didn't have all the features and bloated interface to replace interacting with your phone for things a phone is best..." Read more

    "...The user interface was fairly straight forward to learn...." Read more

    "...have so many settings when I first started digging into it, and felt a bit daunting, but after a few days the watch itself ended up being a rather..." Read more

    "...The watch was simple to set up with my phone, and with the work website that gets me the discount on health care for tracking my steps/workouts...." Read more

    400 customers mention "Accuracy"231 positive169 negative

    Customers have mixed reviews about the accuracy of the wearable computer. Some find the GPS and barometric pressure accurate, while others report inaccurate heart rate, elevation readings, or issues with calibration.

    "...However, the function of getting the sensors and GPS antenna in a more favorable location, plus heart rate monitoring, I could see the benefits of a..." Read more

    "...watch will just stop tracking everything and there will be gaps in my daily statistics (heart rate, stress, etc)...." Read more

    "...that the Garmin Instinct also receives top marks for it's GPS, heartrate monitor, waterproofing, altimeter, etc. This watch is also super durable...." Read more

    "...altimeter is based on the barometric pressure and was reasonably precise with elevation change, but needs to be calibrated to be accurate...." Read more

    Garmin Instinct - weekend review.  Replaces my Pebble 2 and Apple Watch Series 4
    5 out of 5 stars
    Garmin Instinct - weekend review. Replaces my Pebble 2 and Apple Watch Series 4
    When I saw that this watch was being released, I read up on it and purchased it an hour later from an authorized Garmin retailer on Amazon, receiving it the next day. A little backstory...I used a GShock for years and loved it. I graduated to my first smart watch with the original Apple Watch. I had a love/hate relationship with it needing to be charged daily, the always-off screen, overall slowness, to name a few annoyances. It was just really cool all the “things” it could do.I left it for a Pebble 2 and really loved that watch for about 18 months until the buttons crumbled. I started using a backup Pebble 2 but I knew these watches had a very short lifespan. I tried a Ticwatch and an Amazfit Bip. Both were dreadfully disappointing so I went to an Apple Watch Series 3. It was more of the original Apple Watch but faster and a more mature operating system. I just recently upgraded again to the Apple Watch Series 4, which was again more of the same thing but a faster iteration. Still the always-off screen and needing daily charging made me miss my Pebble more and more.Then the Instinct just "checked all the boxes" for me. Back when my Pebble fell apart, this was the list I made in order of importance for my ideal smart watch:Always-on display:Instinct ✓ (monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel, with backlight)Several day battery life:Instinct ✓ (14 days)Physical buttons:Instinct ✓ (5, and you can program each for long-hold shortcuts)Waterproof:Instinct ✓ (100m)Notifications:Instinct ✓Music controls:Instinct ✓Text reply by voice:Instinct xCalendar:Instinct ✓Weather:Instinct ✓I realized that all the cool “things” I do on my Apple Watch are silly and can be replicated on my iPhone. I don’t need to scribble a text reply on my watch or use it as a glorified speakerphone. I miss the core functionality of a reliable watch that doesn’t need frequent charging, has an always-on screen, and physical button controls, especially when it comes to music or podcast controls without having to look or wake the screen. The fact that the Instinct has 24/7 heart rate tracking, GPS, and is built like a beast are nice bonuses. I don’t expect this watch to fall apart as easily as a Pebble, not to mention it actually has a warranty. (Constructed to U.S. military standard 810G for thermal, shock and water resistance).After a weekend with the Garmin Instinct:I use the watch primarily as a rugged smart watch. I have two kids that are always climbing over me or having me chase afer them. I rely on notifications and music controls in a device that I can just put on my wrist and forget about it for days without charging. When I look at the device, I need it to always show me the time. I can't deal with having to wake the device, so this type of display is more my style. I walk 2 miles about 2-3 times per week, and like to keep an eye on my lap time and heart rate, and control a podcast during that walk. I'll focus mostly on the differences between this watch and the Pebble 2, with some comparisions to the Apple Watch sprinkled in, as that's the watch I switched to after the buttons on my Pebble 2 crumbled.The display:It sure was nice going back to an always-on screen, being able to glance at it whenever I needed to see the time or an alert, especially from being used to an Apple Watch for months. I felt like I was getting carpel tunnel syndrome from forcibly having to turn the Apple Watch towards me to wake it. It was easy to read from basically any angle or lighting. I had no trouble whatsoever reading it while outdoors, in direct sunlight. Indoors, I didn't the Instinct's backlight unless the room was completely without lighting, such as in bed. However, the Pebble 2 is still more crisp, with a better contrast. Silly of me, but I did install a rounded 31mm screen protector just in case, which fit the 32mm screen perfectly. I found a 5-pack on Amazon for roughly $6. I like to protect the screens of all of my devices, and since this isn't a sapphire display, I'd like to keep the screen looking new. If you see an “edge” on the display in my photos, that’s the edge of the screen protector and not the watch’s actual display.The battery:Granted, I only used it for 2 days and the battery is rated for 14 days, it was already nice not having to charge the device yet, whereas the Apple Watch would have gone through two charge cycles by now. I would charge the Apple Watch while I slept, whereas I now wear the Instinct to bed where it tracks my sleep automatically. I went through all the settings, tested different options, etc. on the watch for a good two days, so after messing with it a lot more than I normally would, after 2 days the battery now reads 4 of 5 bars. Extrapolate that, and it's roughly 10 days of a lot of fiddling with the device. With average use, I could see 12-14 days easily. My Pebble 2 lasted a good 7 days before having to charge, so hopefully getting close to double that would be great.Physical buttons:Again, something nice to come back to was the ability to control the watch 100% with physical buttons. The 5 buttons are easy to press, and have a satisfying click. You know when you've pressed a button, even without looking. They're not mushy at all compared to my Pebble 2, which had some of the worst buttons on any device I've used this century. The Pebble 2's buttons were mushy, lopsided, and change the resistance over time, until which they just crumble and fall apart. The Apple Watch is a completely different device, controlled primarily with the touch screen, or the crown and side button (or voice). I don't miss these aspects of the Apple Watch at all.The menus in this watch go quite deep. There are so many features, especially with workouts. It took me some time to get used to the buttons and their function, but it's not something that should prevent you from trying the device. I just wish the app would mirror all of the menus in the watch, so I could manage the buttons more from my phone.Waterproof:I've not yet tested this feature of the device, although it is rated to 100 meters.Notifications:I was pleasantly surprised with how well this worked when paired to my iPhone 7 Plus. Notifications mirrored from my phone without any issues. The notifications timeout can be set to 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 3 minutes. During the initial notification timeout period, you can 1-click the "down" button to clear that notification (more on clearing notifications below). I was able to see a large portion of text messages and other notifications, although it is truncated when it initially appears on the display. I can go into the notification and scroll through more of the text, but there does seem to be a character limit, before I need to pick up my iPhone and see more information. For being notified of something that needs my attention, it does a great job, just as well as my Pebble 2 did. When a phone call came in, I was able to see the caller's name, and had the ability to answer or decline. An answered phone call would simply answer from my iphone as there is no speaker/microphone on the Instinct. An Apple Watch had better notification support, simply because I could act on them, but again that is not something I miss.What surprised me was that clearing a notification on my watch also cleared that notification on my iPhone, and vice versa - clearing a notification from my iPhone also cleared it from the Instinct's notification list. This is something that did not exist on my Pebble 2. In comparison, the Pebble 2 was a list of dumb notifications. If I cleared a notification on my Pebble 2, it remained in the notification center on my iPhone. Or if I cleared a notification on my iPhone, it remained in the list of notifications on my Pebble 2. The Instinct's manual describes this as "smart notifications" and I believe that to be true.However, while I can clear notifications from the Instinct, I can only clear them one at a time. I can't find a way to clear all notifications at once from the Instinct. To do that, it's quicker to just do it on the iPhone. I've reached out to Garmin to see if this is a possibility.Another aspect of the smart notifications, is the ability to notify you with tone or vibration, or both tone and vibration. You can go a bit more granular and decide how you're notified during a workout/activity compared to not during a workout activity. For example, I have "tone" notifications for when I'm not in a workout, and "tone & vibration" for when I'm in a workout. The vibration is rather strong and I would prefer if I could make it less intense, otherwise I would leave both tone & vibration on all the time.Music controls:The music/podcast controls work as well as my Pebble 2. You can pause/play, change volume, go to previous/next track, enable/disable repeat, or enable/disable shuffle. However, one downside of the music/podcast controls is that the current time does not display on the screen while at the music/podcast controls. This means I have to press two buttons to get back to the watch face to see the the time. This is something that Garmin can likely update through software updates, and something I would really appeciate.I noticed that the time of the song/podcast would sometimes display as —:— instead of the actual time progressed, but I haven’t used it enough to see why or how frequently it will really happen.Text reply:On iOS, you can't interact with notifications, with the exception of answering/declining a phone call. This is a limitiation with iOS. I believe there is more functionality if you were to use an Android phone. My Pebble 2 used to have replies, but with the shutdown of the servers, that's a thing of the past. There is some functionality with Rebble (the service that tried to resurrect Pebble's services), but again I believe that's more developed from an Android phone. For notifications that actually need a response or interaction, I just pick up my phone. I don't really miss the ability to do this from my wrist as it's still faster to just do it from my iPhone.Calendar:Surprisingly, the calendar is quite similar to Pebble's "timeline", with the exception that the Instinct's calendar only goes 1 day into the future and 0 days in the past, whereas the Pebble 2 let me go 3 days in the future and 1 day into the past. The Instinct allowed me to view the time, location, and description of the events, although they got truncated just like notifications.Weather:I'm not sure of the data source, but I have read online that they use Accuweather. It appears accurate when compared to other weather sources, and quickly shows me the current weather, high/low for the day, weather condition symbol, percentage change of precipitation today, and wind speed and direction - all on one screen. I have the weather in my widgets carousel (more on that below), which means it's always 1 button click away from my watch face.Other thoughts - heart monitor:I very briefly had a Pebble 2 HR and while it did have a heart monitor, I felt it was wildly inaccurate. The Pebble 2 HR also had a large bump on the rear of the device, which made the entire watch sit higher on my wrist. The Apple Watch did have what seemed like an accurate heart monitor, but it wasn't continuous. It would only take a reading every few minutes, sometimes not for 15 minutes or so. The heart rate monitor on the Instinct is rated as "24/7 continuous", and it definitely is. I have the heart rate monitor on my watch face and it updates every single second. It also has a small chart of the previous 4 hours.I haven't yet gone for my 2 mile walk, and I plan to update my comments when I've done so, but this is where Garmin devices typically excel and I don't expect to have any issues. You can customize the metrics that display for each workout, and it gets extremely granular for people who want to zero-in on exactly what they're looking for in a workout. This is a serious fitness device, but I really just want to keep an eye on my current pace, total distance, time elapsed, and the current time. I also want to be able to quickly pause/unpause my podcast and raise/lower the volume occasionally.Other thoughts - watch faces:There are 12 watch faces, but really only 6 since half of them are inversed colors of the other 6. Each watch face allows you to customize the complications. I use the default watch face, which allows for the time with seconds (although there's no PM/AM indicator), and 4 complications. I have: heart rate, day of week with date number, number of uncleared notifications, and battery level. Holding the MENU button brings up the watch menu, and the battery mater is displayed there, so I may wind up using that complication area for something else, especially considering how long teh battery should last.There is no Garmin Connect IQ on this watch, and I consider that to be a good thing. While it would allow you to install apps and additional watch faces, along with that comes the possibility of bugs draining your battery or introducing instability. I found that I never used many apps on my Pebble 2 or even the Apple Watch. Having my watch primarily be an actual watch is of great importance to me.Other thoughts - widgets carousel:From the watch face, you can press up/down to cycle through your widgets. Available widgets include: notifications, calendar, heart rate, music controls, weather, last sport, last run, last ride, last swim, steps, floors climbed, my day, calories, intensity minutes, stress, abc, altimeter, barometer, compass, temperature, dogtrack, virb, inreach, alternate time zones, xero, and sunrise/sunset. You can set as many or as few as you want, and can order them however you want as well. I have these enabled: notifications, calendar, heart rate, music controls, weather - so one press UP from my watch face brings me to the weather, or one press DOWN from my watch face brings me to my notifications, and they cycle through if you were to continually press UP or DOWN.Other thoughts - hotkeys/shortcuts:In addition to the widgets carousel, you can also customize hotkeys. A hotkey allows you to hold a button for 2 seconds to quickly jump to a destination. These are all the possible shortcuts which can be customized to a limited amount of destinations:Hold GPS buttonHold Back buttonHold Down buttonHold GPS + Down buttonsHold GPS + Up buttonsHold Back + Light buttonsHold Back + Up buttonsThe available Hotkey destinations are: GPS, timers, stopwatch, phone, dual grid, mob, lock/unlock keys, widgets, lap, navigation, backlight, metronome, sight ‘n go, screenshot, controls, baro. watch mode, sync time, flashlight, alarm clock, abc, set, broadcast HR, or disable the hotkey entirely.Holding the “Light” button can’t be customized as it takes you to the controls carousel.Holding the “Up” button can’t be customized as it takes you to the Menu.Right now I have the Down button as a hotkey to jump to my alarms, the back key to jump to timers, and the Back + Light combination to trigger the "flashlight", which is just the screen brightness set to 100%, but is enough to get you through a dark room.Other thoughts - alarms:The alarms have the option to make tone, vibrate, or both tone & vibrate, as well as custom repeat days of the week. They can be set from the watch directly or through the Garmin app. It woke me without any problem as I had both the tone & vibrate enabled, but just the vibrate would likely wake me up - and possibily even a deep sleeper. Considering I should only have to charge every couple of weeks, this means I can sleep with it on every night and its going to become my daily alarm.Other thoughts - stopwatch:The stopwatch is almost unusable for me, since it (1) doesn't display the current time and (2) doesn't allow you to leave the screen while the stopwatch is being run. The time screen shows me the current time and allows me to leave the screen while the timer is in process, so I don't understand why the stopwatch has this limitation.Other thoughts - bluetooth connectivity:My Apple Watch would fall back to Wifi if out of range of bluetooth, so it was nice to walk around my entire house without having to keep the phone in range, but the Garmin Instinct only has bluetooth connectivity to your phone. That connectivity was often hit or miss on my Apple Watch, as it would sometimes think it was connected by bluetooth, but if I attempted to send a message when I wasn't actually within range, it would forever get stuck and I'd have to disable/enable iMessage.I found the bluetooth range on the Garmin Instinct to be similar to that of my Pebble 2. It was interesting that if you enable "phone - alerts" on the Instinct, among other things it will notify you when your iPhone's battery is low, but also if you go out of bluetooth range - then again notify you when you return to bluetooth range and the device reconnects. If you have the "notification" complication on your watch, you will also know if you're in/out of range by seeing the number of notifications change to "--" when out of bluetooth coverage. This connect/disconnect feature was available on my Pebble 2 through certain watch faces or 3rd party apps, but it comes right out of the box with the Instinct.Final thoughts:It's only been a couple days now, but I've already put my Apple Watch Series 4 up for sale, and haven't looked back at my Pebble 2. I believe this is as close as I'll get to the core functionality of a smart watch that I miss with the Pebble 2. That being said, this watch can stand on its own and not just be a fill-in or replacement of the Pebble 2. The Garmin Instinct has a great operating system, seems very reliable in terms of notifications and alarms, not to mention it feels like I could drive over this watch with a tank and it'll keep on working. The app offers some nice insight into all of my health statistics, but I get enough interaction directly from the watch and am not sure how useful the app will be to me - although I definitely appreciate being able to customize some options directly from within the app.I got the Instinct in graphite color, which isn't entirely black but is more of a shadow/grey and is really nice looking. The bands are easy to swap, but I'm going to stick with the one that came with the watch.One other nice thing about this watch is that it can act completely independent from a phone/app. You just obviously wouldn't get any of the smart features such as notifications, calendar, weather, etc. The heart rate sensor will still work and activities will still be tracked. The time can even be set and updated directly from built-in GPS, without having to rely on a phone. This is not something that can be said of a Pebble 2 or even an Apple Watch. If you want to buy this watch as a super rugged G-shock type of watch but with great heart rate and activity monitoring, with the option of one day going completely independent of a phone or app, this is also a great choice.DAY 4 updates:Music controls update: Note that the Pebble 2 had "dedicated" button controls while at the music control screen. Push down for next track, up for previous, or middle to bring up options to change the volume up/down. Or holding up increased volume or holding down decreased volume, or holding middle paused/unpaused. However, with the Instinct, only one "action" is currently enabled. For example, the pause/play button is highlighted so that is the active function. If you want to change the volume, you have to turn the carousel to get to the specific control, then that action would be the one in control of the button. It's difficult to explain, but results in more button presses to do what you want with your music.Weather update: I realized that while at the weather widget, you can press the GPS button (or "enter" button as you'll come to realize), that this brings you into a forecast for the next 4 hours. Then press "down" and you'll see the daily forecast for the next 4 hours. During both of these forecast screens, the "now" temperature remains in the upper-right screen.Watch Face update: I realized that I was wasting a spot in the upper-right complication by showing the date there, because I could move that to the bottom of the screen where I had the battery. Then in the upper right, I can add a 4-in-1 complication that shows: battery, phone connection, alarm status, and do not disturb status.Stopwatch update: Somebody pointed out that you can hold the "CTRL" button to jump out of the stopwatch, then back out to the watch face. All the while, the stopwatch is still running. You can then go back to the stopwatch as normal, or go to your controls carousel to see the elapsed time on the stopwatch. Still, I would prefer to remain at the stopwatch screen and see the time so I don't have to jump out like this.Final thoughts update: I realized that I didn't even bother to comment on the band comfort, and I think that's because it's so comfortable that I hardly noticed it. There are many adjustment points on the band and it's an incredibly soft & matte silicone material. I find that I like keeping the watch on the 13th hole from (counting from the watch body), but I loosen it to the 14th hole before bedtime. I haven't noticed any difference in the accuracy of the heart rate monitor between wearing it on the 13th or 14th hole.
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    Top reviews from the United States

    • Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2025
      Style: InstinctColor: GraphiteVerified Purchase
      This is my second iteration of this watch. First one I had lasted about a month and the battery would not hold a charge for more than 24 hours. Called Garmin and they fixed me right up with a new watch; no questions asked.

      With that being said, the watch does exactly what I need it to without all the fancy colors of today's smartwatches. I need it to track my sleep, workouts, hikes, and general daily stats. It does all that seamlessly. The app is very good as well and customizable to show only the things that matter without all the extra clutter.

      This is the best smartwatch I've owned, and I've had apple, samsung, and fitbit watches/trackers. The battery life on all of those were more or less subpar (+/- 3 d days). This watch gives me a solid 10 days with my normal routines. If I'm using more of the GPS rich features, I get about 8 days - which anything more than a week is great IMO.

      The only nitpicky complaint I have about it are the buttons. They start of very tactile and you know that when you press it, you will get a response from the watch. After about two months, that tactile feedback diminished and makes it a little more difficult to get a response from the watch. Its still functioning perfectly, but I would prefer more durability from the buttons.

      Additionally, I've gone through two wristbands in just under two years of use. Based off the silicone material of the bands and the type of punishment I put this watch through, I wont fault the gear. Replacements can be easily found on Amazon for fairly cheap and replacing the band wasn't tough at all.

      Overall, a great watch at a good price with awesome features and wonderful customer support!
    • Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2018
      Style: InstinctColor: GraphiteVerified Purchase
      This model came out from Garmin at the same time I was starting to seriously want a device for a mixture of tracking activity, in my case most of which is outdoor oriented, like hiking and riding my mountain bike, plus I wanted to start exploring some physical data from a heart rate monitor as I get more active.

      When smartwatches first started becoming popular, I thought they were pretty stupid and redundant, and in my mind a teeny tiny 2" screen will never replace a phone screen which is small enough, especially for GPS navigation duty. However, the function of getting the sensors and GPS antenna in a more favorable location, plus heart rate monitoring, I could see the benefits of a smartwatch. I didn't like most of what was on the market until this unit.

      What I liked about this watch was it didn't have all the features and bloated interface to replace interacting with your phone for things a phone is best at. In some ways the Instinct is a throwback to older tech, but in a good way, the way anyone who has experience with GPS from the time it first became widely available for consumer use will appreciate. The interface will just make sense if you were used to the older devices.

      It does all the things you might want your phone to do, but a phone is not really suited to doing well. I disliked using my phone for tracking hikes and on my MTN bike because either the phone was safe in my pocket with a horrible view of the sky and where I couldn't see it, or I had it strapped on my handlebars where it could get knocked off. Or while hiking I had to pack it in my hands or strapped to my backpack in an awkward position. Not to mention if you use GPS on the phone and keep the screen on to see stats, it will hit the battery hard. With this, you can tuck the phone safely away but still see the info you want.

      This watch was the right combo of features for outdoor activities and activity tracking to get my attention and be a useful tool more than an expensive trinket. I did not wear any watch before buying the Instinct, and now I wear this most of the time for the last 2-3 weeks I've had it.

      While it lacks some features of more dedicated fitness devices, I got it mostly for what it did not have rather than what it did. Most criticism of this watch I read prior to purchasing clearly was because this watch has a niche and those folks didn't fit it. This is mostly for outdoor activities, it's simple, rugged, and doesn't do as much because it's made to do it's set of tasks well, and it's trade off is the things it does not do allow it to be smaller and use the battery more efficiently.

      You can read up on it's features and functions elsewhere, but a few things I will point out as exceptional. Some may harp on the old school LCD type display, but it's high contrast and the way the face catches ambient light extremely well makes it very easy to read. Actually I set the back light on 5%, it's lowest setting, because if it's so dark you need the back light, that is plenty to see it by.

      I like it's size, it's not huge feeling, and it's light. As I mentioned I did not wear a watch before this one, and I find it comfortable to wear despite a history of disliking things on my wrist. I had to get used to it yes, but it's not like having a rock strapped to your arm.

      Battery life has been great, using the GPS 2-3 times a week for an hour at a time pulls it down some but I still get over a week on a charge. I've yet to let it run down to the point it claims it needs charging, but so far I've yet to charge it in a period of less than 7 days.

      Definitely a personal preference but I also really like it's appearance. I got the Graphite colored one, it's not black but kind of a charcoal grey. It's not preppy looking or stylish, and that's what I'm going for. It does not give off that "oh look at me I'm athletic I have a fitbit" vibe, or look super snazzy and expensive, it just looks like a run of the mill boring watch if no one inspects it closely. For sure a more utility look, and for folks who would get the most out of this watch, that's probably perfect.

      Also will throw in there for my mountain bike, I later picked up Garmin's cadence and speed sensors, and they paired up effortlessly with the Instinct. GPS will cheat you distance on a bike especially and that is just the nature of the tech, I was getting some big discrepancies between the Instinct's recorded track and my wheel sensor bike computer. The trails I ride on frequently are a particular hardship for GPS anyway with heavy tree cover and tightly winding trails. With the speed sensor the difference is much smaller and I recommend it if you are going to use this on a bike.

      So far I've been very happy with the purchase and impressed with the device, enough to write this lengthy review, which I don't bother with often. (I did lean heavily on reviews deciding to purchase, so this is to help those like me.) If you fall into the niche this watch is intended to appeal to, I recommend it.
      1,319 people found this helpful
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    • Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2023
      Style: InstinctColor: GraphiteVerified Purchase
      I've owned this watch since 2021. Back then I wanted a smartwatch but was frustrated that most smartwatches fail at two essential elements: battery life and the screen staying on. Some people don't mind charging multiple devices every night but for me, I wanted a watch that I didn't have to worry about charging it all the time. My last smartwatch (Fossil 5) was okay, but if I forgot to charge it even one night it would die on me halfway through the next day. Two years into owning the Garmin Instinct I can happily say it's never died on me and I've gone as long as 2.5 weeks in between charges. It's nice to be able to go on a week-long trip and not need to pack a charging cable for my watch. Typically I'll charge it once or twice a week while showering and getting dressed and that's enough to keep the battery life full or close to it. I also love the always-on screen. I hated having to touch a button or awkwardly rotate my wrist to check the time on my old smartwatch. I much prefer being able to look down at my watch and instantly know the time. This is especially nice when I'm in the midst of a meeting and need to make sure I'm not late to my next appointment. I don't want everyone else to notice me checking my watch but with the instinct, I can surreptitiously glance down without having to obviously move my wrist to check the time. There are not many smartwatches that combine both an always-on screen and multiple weeks of battery life.
      I know most people care about other features so let me also say that the Garmin Instinct also receives top marks for it's GPS, heartrate monitor, waterproofing, altimeter, etc. This watch is also super durable. I've owned it for two years and been quite rough with it and it still looks pretty much brand new. I've been tempted to buy the Instinct 2 Solar but this watch still works perfectly well for me so I haven't upgraded yet.
      Customer image
      5.0 out of 5 stars
      Durable, LONG BATTERY life, always on screen, decent feature list, exactly what I wanted in a watch.

      Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2023
      I've owned this watch since 2021. Back then I wanted a smartwatch but was frustrated that most smartwatches fail at two essential elements: battery life and the screen staying on. Some people don't mind charging multiple devices every night but for me, I wanted a watch that I didn't have to worry about charging it all the time. My last smartwatch (Fossil 5) was okay, but if I forgot to charge it even one night it would die on me halfway through the next day. Two years into owning the Garmin Instinct I can happily say it's never died on me and I've gone as long as 2.5 weeks in between charges. It's nice to be able to go on a week-long trip and not need to pack a charging cable for my watch. Typically I'll charge it once or twice a week while showering and getting dressed and that's enough to keep the battery life full or close to it. I also love the always-on screen. I hated having to touch a button or awkwardly rotate my wrist to check the time on my old smartwatch. I much prefer being able to look down at my watch and instantly know the time. This is especially nice when I'm in the midst of a meeting and need to make sure I'm not late to my next appointment. I don't want everyone else to notice me checking my watch but with the instinct, I can surreptitiously glance down without having to obviously move my wrist to check the time. There are not many smartwatches that combine both an always-on screen and multiple weeks of battery life.
      I know most people care about other features so let me also say that the Garmin Instinct also receives top marks for it's GPS, heartrate monitor, waterproofing, altimeter, etc. This watch is also super durable. I've owned it for two years and been quite rough with it and it still looks pretty much brand new. I've been tempted to buy the Instinct 2 Solar but this watch still works perfectly well for me so I haven't upgraded yet.
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      7 people found this helpful
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    Top reviews from other countries

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    • Liam
      5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic watch for years
      Reviewed in Canada on November 1, 2024
      Style: InstinctColor: GraphiteVerified Purchase
      The media could not be loaded.
      I've had this watch for years now and it's been effective. Hence why I'm writing this review years later.

      This watch is rugged. I mountain bike with it, I golf with it, I play soccer with it, I swim in the ocean with it and not once have I found any wear to the actual body of the watch. The strap did give out just a couple months ago, but you can find replacement straps (off brand) on Amazon that work great and for cheap.

      To be frank, I don't know how accurate the heart rate monitor is, but through watches you can never be 100%. The GPS works fantastic both during workouts and for backtracking hikes. The compass I find can be quite weird. I'll reporting North and it won't exactly read that. The battery's fantastic -typically lasts 14 days wearing everyday sleeping with it every night.

      The Garmin app is the user friendly and I love how it tracks sleep and sleep cycles and body battery. For the price, I would much rather this watch over an Apple watch despite the fact that you can't send typed messages on Garmin.

      Note that this watch does not work with the Garmin golf app.

      There are several other cool features that this watch can do. It can find your phone. You can select individual workouts for it to track your movements. You could send brief text messages. It even gives you weather including sunset and sunrise. It tracks your steps and calories burned. Overall, it is so worth the price.

      Highly, highly recommend.
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      Liam
      5.0 out of 5 stars
      Fantastic watch for years

      Reviewed in Canada on November 1, 2024
      I've had this watch for years now and it's been effective. Hence why I'm writing this review years later.

      This watch is rugged. I mountain bike with it, I golf with it, I play soccer with it, I swim in the ocean with it and not once have I found any wear to the actual body of the watch. The strap did give out just a couple months ago, but you can find replacement straps (off brand) on Amazon that work great and for cheap.

      To be frank, I don't know how accurate the heart rate monitor is, but through watches you can never be 100%. The GPS works fantastic both during workouts and for backtracking hikes. The compass I find can be quite weird. I'll reporting North and it won't exactly read that. The battery's fantastic -typically lasts 14 days wearing everyday sleeping with it every night.

      The Garmin app is the user friendly and I love how it tracks sleep and sleep cycles and body battery. For the price, I would much rather this watch over an Apple watch despite the fact that you can't send typed messages on Garmin.

      Note that this watch does not work with the Garmin golf app.

      There are several other cool features that this watch can do. It can find your phone. You can select individual workouts for it to track your movements. You could send brief text messages. It even gives you weather including sunset and sunrise. It tracks your steps and calories burned. Overall, it is so worth the price.

      Highly, highly recommend.
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    • Gerza
      5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente producto.
      Reviewed in Mexico on October 20, 2022
      Style: InstinctColor: GraphiteVerified Purchase
      Es un excelente producto. Me sorprendió la precisión con la que registra el recorrido con el GPS. Lo uso para senderismo, caminar en la ciudad, correr en pista y bicicleta de montaña. En todo marca bien el recorrido. La combinación del recorrido, el registro de la frecuencia cardíaca y los algoritmos de cada actividad dan una buena referencia para conocer la intensidad de cada sesión. También lo uso en la bicicleta fija para medir la frecuencia cardíaca y funciona bien. Aunque el producto vale la pena en realidad para las actividades de exterior usando GPS. Estoy muy satisfecho y sorprendido ya que es la primera versión del Instinct, pero lo mejor fue el precio.
      Lo uso unas 4 veces en actividades con GPS y la batería dura menos de una semana. Pero la verdad me parece correcto y no me molesta ponerlo a cargar. La batería carga muy rápido. Cuando no hago deporte prefiero apagar el sensor de frecuencia cardíaca.
      Por el tamaño y por la pantalla en negativo se lee claramente en cualquier condición de luz, aún en exterior a pleno sol. También se agradece que los botones son grandes y se pueden manipular aún con guantes de ciclismo.
      En mi caso la compra fue con Fashion Outlet 15 y llegó rápido desde Canadá.
      Customer image
      Gerza
      5.0 out of 5 stars
      Excelente producto.

      Reviewed in Mexico on October 20, 2022
      Es un excelente producto. Me sorprendió la precisión con la que registra el recorrido con el GPS. Lo uso para senderismo, caminar en la ciudad, correr en pista y bicicleta de montaña. En todo marca bien el recorrido. La combinación del recorrido, el registro de la frecuencia cardíaca y los algoritmos de cada actividad dan una buena referencia para conocer la intensidad de cada sesión. También lo uso en la bicicleta fija para medir la frecuencia cardíaca y funciona bien. Aunque el producto vale la pena en realidad para las actividades de exterior usando GPS. Estoy muy satisfecho y sorprendido ya que es la primera versión del Instinct, pero lo mejor fue el precio.
      Lo uso unas 4 veces en actividades con GPS y la batería dura menos de una semana. Pero la verdad me parece correcto y no me molesta ponerlo a cargar. La batería carga muy rápido. Cuando no hago deporte prefiero apagar el sensor de frecuencia cardíaca.
      Por el tamaño y por la pantalla en negativo se lee claramente en cualquier condición de luz, aún en exterior a pleno sol. También se agradece que los botones son grandes y se pueden manipular aún con guantes de ciclismo.
      En mi caso la compra fue con Fashion Outlet 15 y llegó rápido desde Canadá.
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    • Rayan Abdullah alaswad
      5.0 out of 5 stars I love it
      Reviewed in Saudi Arabia on January 3, 2024
      Style: InstinctColor: GraphiteVerified Purchase
      Have used Fitbit for 10 years, their platform is awesome from UI to the community in the app. The product itself is easy to broke. I have change fit towards five times.

      This one is something different. this one seems will stay with me for a long time and that’s what I’m looking for.
    • Mamtaz
      1.0 out of 5 stars Dåligt kommunikation
      Reviewed in Sweden on November 22, 2023
      Style: InstinctColor: GraphiteVerified Purchase
      När jag fick klockan förstår jag att jag har valt fel modell, så jag ville returnera den klockan men säljaren svarade att jag kan inte få mina fullt pris tillbaks. Jag har skrivit att Jag har valt gammal modell instinct 1 men jag ville köpa instinct 2.
    • Mick Dunn
      5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent watch.
      Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 3, 2023
      Style: InstinctColor: GraphiteVerified Purchase
      I bought this watch in Dec 2020, so it's had 2 years and 4 months of everyday use! I've wated a good length of time to review it to hopefully give you a good idea of how robust the watch is etc. Not after a weeks use!!

      I use the watch everyday without fail and pretty much wear it 24/7 unless I'm charging it! Mainly I'll record hikes, including mountain hikes and the odd bike ride, so this is when I'll record the activity via the built in GPS, then download the activity to the Garmin app and Komoot.

      I used the watch to record hiking activities extensively last year whilst travelling in our campervan, spending 3 months in France, 3 months back in the UK, then 3 months in Spain. So what I'm saying is that the watch is used a lot.

      The battery life is fantastic, not using the GPS, I've had a couple of weeks out of it with battery power left over, I think I'd get up to 3 weeks. When the GPS is activated it will last all day, I believe up to 16 hours. I've spent all day on mountains in the UK, Spain and France and there's always been plenty of life left in the battery once the activity has ended.

      The watch is not bad to look at and is very clear and simple to use, it also sits nice on the wrist and is very light.

      The only gripe I have is the fact you can't see the steps on the face during a recorded activity, it just means you have to wait until you've finished.

      Overall I love the watch, it's been totally reliable and the best Garmin I've had by far. I would definitely buy another.
      Customer image
      Mick Dunn
      5.0 out of 5 stars
      Excellent watch.

      Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 3, 2023
      I bought this watch in Dec 2020, so it's had 2 years and 4 months of everyday use! I've wated a good length of time to review it to hopefully give you a good idea of how robust the watch is etc. Not after a weeks use!!

      I use the watch everyday without fail and pretty much wear it 24/7 unless I'm charging it! Mainly I'll record hikes, including mountain hikes and the odd bike ride, so this is when I'll record the activity via the built in GPS, then download the activity to the Garmin app and Komoot.

      I used the watch to record hiking activities extensively last year whilst travelling in our campervan, spending 3 months in France, 3 months back in the UK, then 3 months in Spain. So what I'm saying is that the watch is used a lot.

      The battery life is fantastic, not using the GPS, I've had a couple of weeks out of it with battery power left over, I think I'd get up to 3 weeks. When the GPS is activated it will last all day, I believe up to 16 hours. I've spent all day on mountains in the UK, Spain and France and there's always been plenty of life left in the battery once the activity has ended.

      The watch is not bad to look at and is very clear and simple to use, it also sits nice on the wrist and is very light.

      The only gripe I have is the fact you can't see the steps on the face during a recorded activity, it just means you have to wait until you've finished.

      Overall I love the watch, it's been totally reliable and the best Garmin I've had by far. I would definitely buy another.
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