Tested product: Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Tactical
Taken: SEK 4,399 at Amazon Sweden
After testing several of Garmin’s most expensive smartwatches, we became curious about the new Instinct 2 Solar Tactical, which costs half as much as the top models. If you are looking for a durable but competent watch that matches the hunting / hiking clothes, maybe this can be an affordable alternative?
Rating 4.5 out of 5
Opinion
Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Tactical is a very good smartwatch for you who live an active life, prioritize battery life and flexible format in front of a touch screen with touch function. Thanks to the sensors and the superb Garmin Connect app, the possibilities are almost endless.
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Positive
- The features
- Battery life
- Light and flexible
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Negative
- Difficult to read screen
- No topographic map
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Even when we unpack the watch and squeeze it, we notice that it is smoother than the Bravo and Delta models. Those extreme Garmin watches that give a real Navy Seals feeling. The new Instinct 2 simply sits comfortably on the wrist without feeling heavy. It weighs only 52 grams, which is really impressive considering the features.
How tactical are you?
The basic functions that all smartwatches have, such as notifications from your mobile, are of course also in this watch. We guess you have no use for either “Stealth mode” (no data stored), compatibility with night vision goggles or the “parachute jump” activity. But Tactical edition does not cost much more than a “regular” Instinct 2 and we like that it is extra durable, while some “tactical” activities and views actually work very well for both hunting and hiking.
The Garmin Instinct 2 Solar has lots of useful features. And once you learn how to use the buttons, it’s pretty easy to navigate functions and settings. The screen lacks touch function, which some more expensive options have. And it is noticeably smaller than, for example, Fenix 7, which in combination with the fact that it is monochrome means that you need sight like a hawk to be able to read what is written. Unlike the larger and more expensive Garmin watches, Instinct 2 cannot display topographic maps, but it does not feel important on the small screen.
Simple but advanced
Starting a workout is simple, the easiest way is to handle these in the Connectappen, where you can select some favorites, which you can easily reach in the watch. The settings are almost infinite. Do you want a virtual running partner on the jogging track to compare you to? What exactly do you want to follow on the watch’s screen? Maybe a metronome to help you keep pace? No problem. The easiest way is to adjust both favorites and views in the app and then just start and stop in the watch itself.
When you have finished running, go into the app, on your mobile or via the computer, and check exactly how it went. Heart rate, stride length, height difference, map. Everything is stored for you who are a nerd and want to cave down. The clock should sync automatically in the background, but we occasionally lose bluetooth contact and have to do it manually. And of course, it is required that you live with the clock on your wrist around the clock if you want to keep track of sleep, stress level and similar data.
What impresses us most about Instincy 2 is the battery life. During the first weeks we did our best to keep the watch away from the sun, then the battery ran out after 21 days. A bit left to the 28 days it says in the specification, but still far better than other smartwatches. When we then during the month of May spend a lot of time outdoors and really think about giving the watch direct sunlight, then we get a couple of days extra battery life. No direct scientific test, but we have a hard time believing that “infinite battery life” can be achieved under almost normal conditions. But of course, if you live in the Sahara, it may be possible, even if it is a tiny solar panel that charges the clock. Regardless, it is very practical to be able to pull away for several weeks, without having to worry about charging. But if you enable GPS tracking, then you will drain the battery much faster.
A smart feature for you who hunt with a dog is the support for ANT +. This allows you to connect the watch to your compatible handheld device for dog tracking and thus see directly on the watch where the hunting dog is located. We have tested this and it works really well. Very easy to avoid sitting with the dog pointer in one hand when the moose approaches and you want to keep a close eye on what the hunting dog is, without letting go of the rifle. The watch is also compatible with the popular hunting app Wehunt.
Fakta Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Tactical
Manufacturer: Garmin
Taken: SEK 4,399 at Amazon Sweden
Screen: Monochrome 176×176 pixels
Water resistance: 100 meter
Tracking data: Respiratory rate, Recovery time, Menstrual cycle, Sleep quality score, Stress level, Exercise intensity
Connection: ANT+, Bluetooth
Bandwidth: 22 mm
Measure: 45 x 45 x 14,5 mm
Weight: 52 gram
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