Garmin Instinct 2x Solar Tactical: Real world review

I dont know what these comments are, but its a watch with a heart beat sensor. Not worth the money, gps is horrible, slow, and innacurate.

I have the Instinct 2x solar tactical in black. I do ocean swims with it, run with it, gym with it, sleep with it etc etc. What I love about it is the battery life, the weight, how rugged it is and of course the price. In the end it does come down to price. I love the Tactix, Epix, Fenix and Enduro, but it's price. In some ways I also prefer the build style of the Instinct, best. I'll explain: There are watches that you can sit flat on a table and there are watches that hold the shape of your wrist (meaning you have to lay them on their side, on a table). In that regard, the Instinct is probably a more comfortable fit. The one thing I would love about the Tactix is that red hue tone. It might only be available on the Amoled? That's the other big decision with the high end watches. Do you pick Amoled or the better battery and always on display? I lean towards the always on display and solar options.

Does anyone know if this watch can be used on inside wrist? And get the benefit of solar charging

Question - Do you have to have a paired cellphone or cellphone reception for the GPS to work or is it stand alone? Also does it require a subscription to use?

Great watch. Until you have issues. Garmin after sale service is pathetic. Never buy Garmin again

Please do explain the ballistics aspect. Thanks..

Hap Arnold approves of your profile picture.

Con todo ese dinero extra me compro un GPS multibanda, de mano, con capacidad satelital, etc, compatible con el reloj

Very succinct review and to the point. Awesome work, and subscription earned. Instinct makes more sense for the daily average user. But, for an "end of world" scenario those pre-loaded maps on the more expensive watch could make all the difference you will ever need.

I am sticking with casio. That calculator watch is badass. Not to mention the tv remote.

Primitive watch expensive out of this world

Problem is gps is not working in modern wars, or works time to time, so get regular gshocks and forget the smart

Thanks so much for your video! It’s on sale right now so I had to pick one up! Really excited to use it on my deployments! Perfect Christmas gift my myself! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

Thanks for the video, nice looking watch. Army here :), what would be nice is having a MULTI-LED (IR, Red & White), so could use it at night and for reading maps without having visible light.

Or... Just use your phone

WITH THAT GPS THEY WILL KNOW EXACTY WHERE YOU ARE

I've got big arms but that thing is like wearing a dinner plate. Sticking with the 2 Solar

Man I want it just for the flashlight

After buying an expensive solar Garmin watch and it packing up just after the warranty running out I won't ever be buying Garmin again . Crap

If you get lost while bushwacking and hit 'track back' will the GPS take you back the most efficient way or will it trace back your original path?

and today they are $350 Thinking about upgrading from the Instinct Solar (First gen)

Looks like a great watch. This model doesn't have topo maps and wondering how useful that would be for someone who is more a bushwacker. Do you think the Instince 2 nav is plenty enough?

I was considering the tactical but I don't like the screen layout plus many of the features i'd never use like nightvision, ballistics and so on. I choose the Moss Garmin Instict X2 which has a very nice layout and features i'd likely use. Other than a few extras both watches are about the same and the stealth feature is just an overhyped sales pitch to get military service members to buy. Honestly if we did go to war with China they'd have a fix on all soldiers wearing it, they manufactured most of the components.

Awesome lovet

The 2x Solar Tactical is one of the best smart watches I've ever owned. Ive gone over a month without charging it. I use the flashlight all the time and even when tracking hikes or other activities, it last longer than my Apple Watch or Suunto Traverse.

I had the instinct 2 tactical and I sold it to fund the Fenix 7X Pro Sapphire Titanium. Wasn’t impressed with Fenix screen. Sold it. Hated it. Might try out the Instinct 2 X.

Even the fenix 7x pro and the epix pro 2nd gen make that $1600 nonsense obsolete. Why would you have that?!

Be aware that to use Garmin watch devices you must agree to submit your data to them in the cloud. 99% of features are not available without using the software synch. So every move you make, everything you do and when you do it is available to them and any hackers that get through to the data like China. It is an entirely unnecessary, really bad design choice by the company.

What do you Downend you can't charge it ?

You make that watch look huge. Was hesitant to purchase but it looks like a normal size watch

Yeah, let's wait two years when it just starts randomly shutting down even with 90% battery just as the first series... I bought the first one and regret it, no more Garmin for me!

can you have the compass indicator and heart rate on the display at the same time?

Awesome info thank you keep it up very very helpful

The ONLY thing I absolutely HATE about this watch is, the God Dam alarm Tone is sooooo low, you can't hear it at all.
I've had 4 of them, and they all had an easily audible Alarm tone until they updated, and for some reason the update nerfs the Alarm tone. I'm not the only person to notice this either. And I find it extremely inconvenient because I NEED to be able to hear the tones, and alerts when they go off, but its so low I can't hear S***.


I've mentioned this to Garmin on multiple platforms, and I know it's an easy fix they could throw in there with a quick update/patch, but they REFUSE TO.
I even had a Garmin employee on their Chat test this for himself, and he said " I did notice that after the update the alarm tone is a lot lower, but it has nothing to do with the update" .......? What? Huh?



I'm literally about to RETURN this watch back to REI tomorrow because I can't stop hating the fact I can't hear the GD alarm tone.

If that was fixed, this would be the PERFECT watch. But sadly, Garmin DGAF about what people want or need. And for a $500 watch, the alarm better F****ing work and be audible. Absolutely ridiculous this is even an issue.

that's great but my g-shock can go like 18 months in a drawer with no sun and i can drop kick it off a mountain and it'll still work 😋

Does it have Day of Week, day in the month, month, year, hour minutes seconds in one screen ?

My fenix goes zero solar charging. I've sent it back 2x and its not a thing on the fenix. maybe I wear it inside. I see the solar as a waste.

Too much plastic

Touch Screen yeah.. until it starts to rain even a tiny bit LOL

Has anyone tried linking all trails to it?

I got the 2X and what I do to mitigate the map feature is: I plan out my hike and just put off track waypoints named after a landmark of intrest. Like "lake" or "tower". It's absolutely more than adequate. That along with slower processing is a tradeoff worth making at 1/3rd the price. After all this tech will probably be obsolete in 5 years time.

Version 1 I got 2-3 weeks battery with most turned off. Returned 😂
Oh just to let you know I’m outdoors 5-6 hours each day delivering Mail!

Nice comparison and great video!

Thanks man! Very helpful. Going with the instinct. Cheers! BTW (2x coyote tactical) $399 as of 11/18/23 on the link you provided.

Maps is one of the main thing I use.

Well send me one

Musical instruments are Haram proof 5590, Sahi Bukhari

Mine lasted just over a year then would not get a GPS signal, for the money that's a joke . Now using Timex watches or my ancient 205 Garmin which still work perfectly after 25 years. What is it with modern watches that they're not made properly 🤔

Hey there is another big difference lol the tactix has a ballistics computer in it too as well as topo maps which are very useful for land nav

100% the instinct 2x solar is gonna be my next watch