Setting Up The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar
Garmin makes the setup process for any of its watches incredibly easy, especially if you already have a Garmin watch and account. The watch comes with a partial charge right out of the box, so you can get to set up right after opening it. You will need to download the Garmin Connect app , but the watch guides you through the process step-by-step and makes it very easy to pair with your phone/app using a Bluetooth connection.
I was already a Garmin user, so the setup took only a few minutes on my Samsung Galaxy S10. But even if you are starting from scratch, it shouldnt take much longer. Of course, if you want to take the time to customize things like notifications, tones, and watch faces right out the gate, you could spend quite a while in both Garmin Connect and Garmin Connect IQ . When in Connect, youll see steps that still need to be completed for full setup by tapping on the watch at the top. However, some, such as connecting to Garmin Pay, can wait or not be done at all, depending on what you want to use.
Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Review: Should I Buy It
If money is no object or you spend lots of time outdoors, then you might decide the extra £90 is a worthy investment to improve the battery life from very good to outstanding. Its certainly no gimmick. Just be mindful that when UV levels are low, as they are for much of the year in the UK, the impact of solar charging might feel a little underwhelming.
Thats why Id recommend the regular Instinct 2 as the best model to go for. It offers the same rugged design as its predecessor but builds on it with an impressive array of new features that should appeal to anyone whos keen to keep an eye on their fitness. For £300, theres nothing else quite like it.
Global Navigation Satellite System
The Garmin Instinct 2 watches can connect to three Global Navigation Satellite Systems :
Global Positioning System , which is owned by the United States
Global Navigation Satellite System , which is owned by Russia and
Galileo, which is owned by the European Union.
Garmin allows you to choose which GNSS you want to use on your watch. The choices are:
The advantage of using more than one GNSS is improved speed and accuracy. For example, using GPS alone means the receiver only has 30 satellites to choose from. By also using GLONASS or Galileo, the number of satellites almost doubles. The receiver needs 4 satellites to determine your location, so more satellites mean it can pinpoint your location faster. This feature is especially helpful in urban canyons or mountainous areas where your view of the sky is limited.
The Garmin standard setting is GPS + GLONASS, and we recommend not changing that.
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Garmin Instinct 2 Review: Battery Life
Normally battery life is one of the later specs Id discuss, but its a clear selling point for the Instinct 2 and a reason someone might be torn between Apple Watch vs. Garmin. The Instinct 2 is indeed Garmins first smartwatch to tout unlimited battery life, which is something the Apple Watch could never match.
But only the Instinct 2 Solar can live up to Garmins claim, and even then you wont have unlimited GPS or workout-tracking just standard smartwatch mode features like notifications, step counting and heart rate readings. Heres how Garmin breaks down battery estimates for Solar and Non-Solar versions of each size Instinct 2:
| 50 hours | Unlimited |
Solar charging estimates arrange for three hours in 50,000 lux conditions per day. Max battery GPS is different from standard GPS use in that it disables all customizable power features and pings your location as infrequently as possible to still provide accurate location information.
I tested the 2S, so I couldnt unlock true unlimited power. I will say the sun provided a good boost, keeping the watch going after three days of the estimate reading LOW. Besides going on hikes using GPS, I noticed 24/7 SpO2 readings drained battery life the fastest, dropping the estimate at times from two weeks to just two days. Nothing unusual for smartwatches, but goes to show the importance of tempering Garmins unlimited power hype.
Altimeter Barometric Pressure And Compass
The Instinct 2 series has an altimeter, barometer, and compass .
The altimeter is automatically calibrated with the GPS and therefore does not need to be calibrated manually. However, if you use your watch regularly in battery-saver mode, where the GPS is turned off, you will need to calibrate the altimeter manually from time to time.
STORM ALERT
The barometer can automatically give you storm alerts. A storm alert is triggered when there are rapid barometric pressure changes over a period that you specify. Storm alerts are helpful in the mountains where you don’t have a good sky view.
COMPASS AND SIGHT ‘N GO
On my thru-hike of the Oregon Desert Trail , I used the compass extensively with the Sight ‘N Go feature. There is a lot of cross-country hiking on the ODT with no visual obstructions. I’d set my next point, and the watch would point in that direction.
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Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Review
- Design won’t be for everyone
- Sleep tracking questionable
Garmin has returned with the Instinct 2 and given its outdoor watch a brand new lease of life.
In the stable of Forerunner, Fenix and Venu sports watches, the Instinct brand has been something of a footnote.
The first Garmin Instinct was billed as an outdoor alternative to the Garmin Fenix, at a lower price point.
But the Instinct 2 has shifted. Garmins not-so-subtle tribute to Casio G-SHOCK watches is now an all-rounder GPS sports watch, with more focus put on fitness metrics, and sports like HIIT and golf added to the ensemble.
It’s in many ways a mini Fenix with some key compromises. And to choose the Instinct 2 is as much a style proposition as it is a sporting one.
We spent three weeks with the Instinct 2 here are our conclusions.
Garmin Instinct 2s Solar
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The Garmin Instinct 2S is a hardy multisport GPS smartwatch that has an amazing range of activity-specific profiles.
Although the Instinct 2 keeps its tough and rugged design for practicality, in this incarnation it’s no longer just focused on outdoorsy use. It also boasts a whole host of features that cover day to day health and wellbeing monitoring, with useful sleep tracking feedback, as well as performance training needs with power meter connectivity, and accommodating multi-day adventuring far from home thanks to the impressive battery life.
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Garmin Instinct : Price Availability And Models
The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar launched February 9, costs $450, and is available from several major retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, REI, and Garmin itself.
You’ll also find the Garmin Instinct 2S Solar, which costs the same but has a smaller case size and surprisingly downgraded battery life . It ensures people with smaller wrists can enjoy ruggedness without as bulky of a design.
The Garmin Instinct 2 without a Solar Panel costs just $350, and still gets decent battery life on par with the 2S Solar, but lacks Garmin Pay if that’s a deal-breaker.
Garmin also sells several special editions, most with both Solar and non-Solar editions that are $100 apart in cost:
- Instinct 2 Tactical : Designed for military use, it has a night vision goggles compatibility mode, a stealth mode that disables all GPS and wireless data, a kill switch that auto-deletes all stored data, and a “jumpmaster mode” for calculating high-altitude jumps.
- Instinct 2 Surf : Offers dedicated tide data and surfline conditions, while tracking number of surfed waves and maximum speed. Also has dedicated modes for windsurfing and kiteboarding.
- Instinct 2 Dezl : Designed for long-haul truck drivers, with short workouts, break planning, and weigh station notifications. No solar version.
- Instinct 2 Camo : A simple camo pattern without any feature upgrades.
Instinct 2 Dzl Edition
The Instinct 2 dzl Edition is made for long-haul truckers. At first, I thoughtwhy would truckers need a special watch edition? But after reading about the dzl, it makes sense. It has Kevin Rutherford workouts specifically designed for professional drivers. It has truck plaza loyalty programs, and prepass weigh station smart notifications. And you can pair your watch with a dzl OTR series truck navigator. Really smart and useful.
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Garmin Instinct 2 Review: Price And Availability
The Garmin Instinct 2 is available now and comes in a dozen different configurations. In addition to Solar-powered options, Garmin offers Surf, Tactical, dezl and Camo editions with special color variations and dedicated features. The Surf Edition comes loaded with a tide widget and Surfline Sessions compatibility, for example. The Garmin Instinct 2 dezl Edition, meanwhile, was created for truckers.
- Garmin Instinct 2/2S: $349
- Garmin Instinct 2/2S Solar: $449
- Garmin Instinct 2/2S Camo Edition: $399
- Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Tactical Edition: $499
- Garmin Instinct 2/2S Surf Edition: $399
- Garmin Instinct 2/2S Solar Surf Edition: $499
- Garmin Instinct 2 dezl Edition: $399
In addition to special editions, the Instinct is available in an S version, for the first time. The Instinct 2S is 40mm while the Instinct 2 is 45mm. Weve seen this branding system employed on one of the best smartwatches from Garmin before, the Garmin Venu 2.
Whichever version you’re interested in, have a look at our Garmin coupon codes to see if there are any special offers on them currently.
How Does The Instinct 2 Perform Outdoors
In the woods, the watch excelled, and I cant wait to test it out further this fall. I love that the watch has sunrise/sunset on its face, and it tracks weather including wind direction, hourly forecast, and the like. The Instinct 2 lets you punch in your areas elevation, making the watch altimeter more accurate. Testing proved it is accurate to within a few feet, even when a significant elevation change was made. Over the two-week testing period, I also found that the watchs barometer is remarkably spot-on. Having detailed forecasts, sunrise/set times, exact altitude, and barometric pressure leads to good outdoor decision-making. I also tip my hat to the digital compass, a feature I use often in the woods.
Jace Bauserman
Another great feature of the watch is it can be bought with solar charging capability, allowing you to charge via sunlight. The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar has several charging sensors, and if you expose the watch to the direct sun, the battery will charge. This means you can go on long adventures, use the GPS mode for navigation and tracking , and the watch will keep on keeping on.
Speaking of the GPS, I found it to be super accurate. Satellites are quickly grabbed for rapid position fixes. And other than in ultra-dense tree cover, I had zero issues with its performance.
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Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Review: To Infinity And Beyond
Garmin’s latest basic watch can do a lot more than you might think, with a battery life that can last forever – literally. Here’s our full verdict.
Garmin aims to stretch the limits of battery life and make charging a thing of the past with the Instinct 2 Solar.
Typically, if a company claims its smartwatch has the potential for unlimited battery life, it would be fair to approach it with a good helping of scepticism. With Garmin so often able to pull off what other wearable companies can’t, though, it makes the Solar edition of this basic, rugged GPS watch an intriguing case.
Of course, the battery life isn’t the only thing that makes it appealing, either. Unlike the more feature-packed GPS sports watches from Garmin, this is available at a fairly reasonable price tag.
The question, then, is whether the Instinct 2 Solar can stand up to the rigours of daily tracking and stay away from charging cables.
Is this more of a gimmick than a game-changer? Here’s our verdict.
What Can You Use The Garmin Instinct 2 For
There are a whole bunch of tools for outdoor enthusiasts here. Weve mentioned that it has GPS tracking already and thats via GLONASS and Galileo satellites so expect an accurate reading of your location, altitude and co-ordinates. You can view a digital compass, upload routes onto the watch to follow a breadcrumb trail, record routes as you go and you can also use the watch for track back navigation. The Instinct 2 also has a built in heart rate monitor to help you track your fitness, performance and even stress and sleep patterns.
Over 40 different sports are catered for here, including hiking, trail running, climbing and mountain biking and then also things like treadmill and track running, yoga and road cycling. Its a very diverse list.
Im a hiker and, unsurprisingly, Ive mainly been using this for hiking. Out and about itll tell me how far Ive hiked and how far Ive got left, I can see my heart rate as I go, I can use the breadcrumb navigation and its little arrows to keep on track. I can see the route profile and the elevation ahead. I can even check the temperature and weather I can expect. The sunrise and sunset times are particularly handy for any hikes that involve a bit of wild camping.
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The Best Instinct 2 Solar Surf Widgets
The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Surf user can install dozens – if not hundreds – of official and externally designed widgets from the brand’s IQ store.
Surfline
Check the swell, wave height, wind speed and direction in real time for the five nearest surf breaks.
Weather
An option that displays the current temperature, rain probability, wind speed and direction, and weather forecast for the next 72 hours.
Moon Phase
An option that displays the moon phase – and the moonrise and moonset times – based on your GPS position.
Sunrise & Sunset
Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar Review: Battery Life
The Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar has a long battery life, which isn’t surprising considering the watch has a small display and a solar charging ring around the screen. On paper, the Instinct Crossover Solar has a 70-day battery life in smartwatch mode with solar charging and a 25-hour GPS battery .
Sadly, SatIQ isn’t available on the watch yet, although the Instinct Crossover Solar uses only one GPS band at any point, so maybe Garmin deemed it unnecessary to include this feature. There is a battery-saver mode that turns off sensors and dims the backlight in case you forget to charge the watch after three weeks of usage. Interestingly, I managed to discharge the battery almost entirely once during testing and noticed that once activated, the battery-saver mode stays on until you turn it off in the menu. Weird.
I first noticed this when I reviewed the Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar, but Garmin’s quoted battery life and actual battery life started to diverge, probably due to all the surplus features. With all the sensors going all the time, including all the calculations the watch has to do to provide you with useless stats such as how much body battery you have left, it’s no wonder the battery can’t keep up.
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Garmin Instinct 2/2s/solar In
Garmin has just revamped their Instinct series with the new Instinct 2 and smaller Instinct 2S, both offered in not just Solar, but approximately 87 other variants for things like surfing and military use. And while these units visually look near-identical from across the table, theyre entirely different inside not just the hardware, but also far more importantly the software. As with before , youll either love or hate the look of Instinct.
With the Instinct 2 series though, no longer is the watch focused entirely on the hiking/general outdoors realm, now its a full multisport/triathlon watch too! Complete with everything from power meter support to mountain bike metrics. It supports nearly every sensor type the Fenix series does, along with performance-focused metrics like training load/status, and recovery. Meanwhile, for day-to-day use, its now got Garmin Pay , pregnancy and menstrual cycle tracking, as well as full Connect IQ app support. And like most Garmin wearables, it further extends its battery profile, now officially claiming Forever power in more battery categories with the solar editions .
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Hopefully you found this review useful. At the end of the day, Im an athlete just like you looking for the most detail possible on a new purchase so my review is written from the standpoint of how I used the device. The reviews generally take a lot of hours to put together, so its a fair bit of work . As you probably noticed by looking below, I also take time to answer all the questions posted in the comments and theres quite a bit of detail in there as well.
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