Customer reviews from Garmin
Garmin - Instinct 2S Solar 40 mm Smartwatch Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Mist Gray - (2022)
Average customer rating
4.3
(175 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 175 reviews
5 Stars
110
4 Stars
36
3 Stars
10
2 Stars
5
1 Star
14
Customer Reviews for Garmin - Instinct 2S Solar 40 mm Smartwatch Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Mist Gray - (2022)
Customer Rating
5
Great Watch.
on November 3, 2022
Posted by: Joe G
Great fit for a smaller wrist and the watch face is not too large. I like the versatility of what data and information it gives the user. I found it great for tracking my fitness, sleep, and putting GPS points down, that I can see with my phone with the help of the Garmin Earthmate app.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
4
Feature loaded and durable at a reasonable price point
on October 7, 2022
Posted by: Anwar A
from Canmore, AB, CA
I primarily use my fitness tracker for hiking and long-distance inline skating. I upgraded from a Vivoactive 3, which served me well; however, the battery strength diminished to the point that it would no longer last beyond a few hours of activity. Admittedly, I had doubts about going from the Vivoactive's colour touch screen to black-and-white display and buttons, but it quickly became intuitive. If you're unfamiliar with Garmin devices, there may be a learning curve navigating to apps and settings.
The PROS: Being able to do back-to-back multi-hour activities without worrying about the battery dying mid route is amazing! For a stats nerd like me, I love the additional metrics like body battery, which add value at the higher price point.
A few CONS: The charts (sleep, etc.) are difficult to read due to the screen size and grayscale display. The Garmin phone app compensates for this.
The map function (on hikes, for example) is frankly useless. Since the Instinct doesn't have the capacity to store trail maps, this tool only shows the path you've taken in 0.3m intervals. That's useful if you're following the same way back on an out-and-back trail. But it won't guide you if deviated off trail at any point.
In retrospect, I wish I'd prioritized the watch size over the colour and instead selected the 45mm case size. But overall, the Instinct is a great option for those seeking a more durable Garmin with longer battery life at a lower price point than the Fenix.
SUGGESTIONS: A colour option could be an improvement for future iterations. I also really wish Garmin would develop a native inline skate app. I use the cycling one and it seems to be ok, but it's fair to question the accuracy of an app that's not sport specific. (There's a third party one out there, but it offers a few unnecessary stats that cannot be removed or customized.)
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
What's a wall charger?
on October 7, 2022
Posted by: Amber B
I cannot believe the battery/solar on this watch. I never have to make decisions between recording an activity and knowing the time, which used to be a hard trade off for me when it came to smart watches - especially on big backpacking trips. I also use this for biking, hiking, kayaking/rafting, and walks around town. I work outside (not tracking) and usually gain days of battery life when it's sunny.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
on September 24, 2022
Posted by: Amanda N
I've had my Instinct 2s for about a month now. Very happy with it, used mostly for running and hiking. Incredible battery life. Tracking features have been very helpful on hard to follow trails. Smaller size is perfect for my very tiny wrist.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
4
Great watch
on August 22, 2022
Posted by: Michelle S
Watch is great, very reliable. My only, very small complaint is that I can't find a screen protector (after market) that actually fits this model of watch. So I've scratched the screen and that is a huge bummer. I mostly use this watch for mountain biking, but I've also used it rock climbing, hiking, and skiing many times.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
4
Trying to love everything about itTh
on July 31, 2022
Posted by: hikewalkrunsuphanson
I've had many Garmin watches. There are so many great features that's been added so there is a learning curve to figure everthing out. I thought I did that but there's so many layers I'm still discovering. The reason for the 4 of 5 stars is the syncing is not smooth at all. Only way I can make it work is turn on GPS like I'm going to start an activity then after at least 4 attempts, it will finally sync to get my latest activity to the Garmin Connect.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, August 2, 2022
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
4
on July 17, 2022
Posted by: Anonymous
from Salina, KS, US
Great functionality, rugged, and solar battery expands battery life.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Just what I was looking for
on July 14, 2022
Posted by: Gina B
from McCall, ID, US
This is my second Garmin watch and I'm very pleased. It tracks all of my activities from hiking to swimming, to walking, stretching. I also love the data on my sleep, HR, respiration and stress. It has made a difference in my day to day consistency. I would consider myself a novice when it comes to using a watch to help with monitoring activities and how I'm improving. I have found this watch user friendly.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin