Customer reviews from Garmin
Garmin - Instinct 2S Solar 40 mm Smartwatch Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Mist Gray - (2022)
Average customer rating
4.3
(177 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 177 reviews
5 Stars
111
4 Stars
36
3 Stars
11
2 Stars
5
1 Star
14
Customer Reviews for Garmin - Instinct 2S Solar 40 mm Smartwatch Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Mist Gray - (2022)
Customer Rating
4
Useful, but take it with a grain of salt
on January 18, 2024
Posted by: bob27cat83
I got this watch for its long battery life, and to use the basic health tracking functions (calories, heart rate, etc.). I am not using it to track any complex training metrics.
Very satisfied with battery life, it’s not a watch you need to plug in every couple days. However, the solar charging seems a bit scammy; you might gain “3 days” of charge on a really sunny day but it drops back down much quicker than 3 days. Seems like they exaggerate the number to make you feel like it’s doing something but then sneakily reduce it in the background.
I also find heart rate monitoring to be very spotty. A lot of the times when I am working out my heart rate will be elevated after a set but the watch is reading 100-110bpm, and will suddenly shoot up to the actual 150-160 once I sit down and my arm is not moving. This delay is very long sometimes, some times it doesn’t seem to track at all, and other times it appears to do great.
Sleep tracking is also spotty, I’ve had it tell me I’m sleeping while I’m driving my car down the highway plenty of times.
Overall I’m happy with it. I don’t expect 100% precision on all of these metrics from a wrist watch. It’s great to get a general feel for things, not necessarily high precision.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, January 23, 2024
Thank you for your review.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Instinct 2S Solar
on January 17, 2024
Posted by: tmorris
I have had the Instinct 2S Solar for about a month and I’m super glad with this purchase! I love to run, hike, raft, kayak and I feel like this watch fits perfect for my lifestyle. I love the rugged/sporty look of the watch. Also, I love the size of this watch. It doesn’t look too big or too small on my wrist. 10/10.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, January 23, 2024
Thank you for your review.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
easy to use, comfortable, and safe
on January 16, 2024
Posted by: Cassandra C
bought this for adventuring in the wild without geting lost, keeping track of my steps, and biking - it has worked wonderfully and helped me to keep safe and also keep track of everything. can be hard to remember the buttons so it takes some time getting used to it.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
3
Can barely read it
on January 16, 2024
Posted by: Deborah Z
I had to turn the bright up to 70% to be able to see it. The buttons can be a bit awkward when working out.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
1
Not good.
on January 14, 2024
Posted by: Terirae
I got this watch as a Xmas gift. I had a garmin 245 music. Let me tell you..this instinct 2S Solar is horrible!!!!! So hard to keep a heart rate on it. I think it only works for 2 hrs. I put it back in the box..using my 245 music
Response from GarminBy Garmin, January 23, 2024
Thank you for your review and experience with the Instinct 2s Solar. We would like to discuss this further over email. If you would please email us at product.support@garmin.com.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
1
Strap was too small
on January 8, 2024
Posted by: Mhmd
The strap was too small so I returned the the watch back, then when i wanted to get the bigger one the price went up so I couldn’t get the right watch for me.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, January 8, 2024
Thank you for your review and experience with the Instinct 2S Solar. We would like to discuss this further over email. If you would please email us at product.support@garmin.com.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
4
Poor instruction booklet
on January 1, 2024
Posted by: Low man
Too early to review but it’s cumbersome to learn. Thank goodness for UTube. Not sure solar adds anything to the charging from what I can see. Time will tell on the ruggedness.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, January 2, 2024
Thank you for your review.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
4
Great all around!
on December 29, 2023
Posted by: Puente
At the beginning it felt weird but because i never had a bulky watch before, once i got used to it i have to say its been great, love everything about it, im a very active person and have to say battery does run out quite quick and the solar does not make a difference, but apart from that great device!
Response from GarminBy Garmin, January 2, 2024
Thank you for your review.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin