Customer reviews from Garmin
Garmin - Instinct 2 Solar 45 mm Smartwatch Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Mist Gray - (2022)
Average customer rating
4.5
(481 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 481 reviews
5 Stars
334
4 Stars
83
3 Stars
35
2 Stars
9
1 Star
20
Customer Reviews for Garmin - Instinct 2 Solar 45 mm Smartwatch Fiber-reinforced Polymer - Mist Gray - (2022)
Customer Rating
5
Easy to learn
on January 17, 2023
Posted by: johnbobbill315
Really enjoying my Instinct 2 Solar so far. It has lots of features but fortunately hasn't been overwhelming to learn how to use, sometimes a problem with those watches. Everything is laid out logically and it's easy to figure out how to use the activity trackers, the GPS features, and the various watch faces. The iPhone app is a great addition. It also goes more than a week between charges, and that's without using the solar since I haven't been outside with it very much. Looking forward to some good hikes with it when the weather improves.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, January 17, 2023
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Great
on January 17, 2023
Posted by: Roger t
The best !!! I’m very happy with this watch I’m buying at least 3 more
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, January 17, 2023
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
on January 16, 2023
Posted by: Hakym B
Je suis pompier, j'ai cette montre et elle est indestructible, tant par temps froid que dans les conditions les plus chaude. J'adore cette montre!
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
So far so good!
on January 16, 2023
Posted by: JoeCuba
Wife bought me this watch over 2 months ago and i have maybe taken it off a couple times, and only once to charge it. Quite impressive.
The solar part needs a lot of sunshine to do a significant charge, but it's still winter, maybe in a sunnier season it will behave better.
The solar part needs a lot of sunshine to do a significant charge, but it's still winter, maybe in a sunnier season it will behave better.
Response from GarminBy Garrmin, Outdoor, January 17, 2023
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Superb health tracker.
on January 14, 2023
Posted by: chams
I bought it to replace my Fitbit and wanted to have some watch with greater battery life, it does the job, 12 days with heartbeat tracking and it has many handy features which I think are implemented by keeping user needs in mind, I like all of them.
This watch is minimum distraction and maximum feature, no glaring light, screen is readable in bright sunlight. So far impressed.
This watch is minimum distraction and maximum feature, no glaring light, screen is readable in bright sunlight. So far impressed.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, January 17, 2023
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Great watch
on January 13, 2023
Posted by: 3369OD
Needed to check multiple health items does all I need and more. Bit difficult to figure out how to run all the features but did get it after some time.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, January 13, 2023
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Awesome
on January 12, 2023
Posted by: Murf93
My wife got me the new solar instinct 2 for Christmas, I had the original instinct before and I have no complaints about it, but the new one is awesome it has so many more features, the watch face setup is much better, I’m not sure how well the solar charge works yet since there’s not as much sun in the winter. Well worth it
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, January 12, 2023
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
The Adventure Watch That's Near Perfect
on January 11, 2023
Posted by: Anonymous
from Boston, MA, US
What I love:
The Instinct 2 is definitely rugged and built for adventure. Battery life is amazing, I go weeks without having to charge it even when I track workouts and adventures, not something you can do with an Apple watch. Watch face is inset so it doesn't get scratched easily. I love that when I track a workout it can detect what exercises I'm doing, though it's not always accurate, it's still a really cool function. It can also track climbing grades for bouldering and for rope it can track the height you climb as well as the grade, grade input is manual. The GPS function for outdoor runs, hikes, bike riding, kayaking and other adventuring is amazing. The insights you get afterwards are very informative. For example, for a mountain bike session, it can tell you speed, smoothness of the ride, ascension and the usual stuff like heart rate and distance. It connects with your phone easily, you can get notifications, so you can see who is calling you and can also read your texts.
The Instinct 2 is definitely rugged and built for adventure. Battery life is amazing, I go weeks without having to charge it even when I track workouts and adventures, not something you can do with an Apple watch. Watch face is inset so it doesn't get scratched easily. I love that when I track a workout it can detect what exercises I'm doing, though it's not always accurate, it's still a really cool function. It can also track climbing grades for bouldering and for rope it can track the height you climb as well as the grade, grade input is manual. The GPS function for outdoor runs, hikes, bike riding, kayaking and other adventuring is amazing. The insights you get afterwards are very informative. For example, for a mountain bike session, it can tell you speed, smoothness of the ride, ascension and the usual stuff like heart rate and distance. It connects with your phone easily, you can get notifications, so you can see who is calling you and can also read your texts.
What I don't love:
You can't rely on solar charging with the solar version of the watch, even though the user manual says it could theoretically run forever without being plugged in. It takes a lot of direct harsh sunlight for an extended amount of time to charge the watch any significant amount, you would have to be tanning on the beach on a hot summer day non-stop for an unhealthy amount of time. The tracking for rock climbing is a cool feature but honestly, I'd rather not wear it when I climb. Once you get pumped you don't like having a watch on your wrist, and aside from noting your grade or distance climbed it's not very informative or insightful. You can't store music on the watch, but you can control music through it as long as you have your phone on you.
You can't rely on solar charging with the solar version of the watch, even though the user manual says it could theoretically run forever without being plugged in. It takes a lot of direct harsh sunlight for an extended amount of time to charge the watch any significant amount, you would have to be tanning on the beach on a hot summer day non-stop for an unhealthy amount of time. The tracking for rock climbing is a cool feature but honestly, I'd rather not wear it when I climb. Once you get pumped you don't like having a watch on your wrist, and aside from noting your grade or distance climbed it's not very informative or insightful. You can't store music on the watch, but you can control music through it as long as you have your phone on you.
Overall, would definitely recommend this watch to anyone who is outdoorsy. However, you can skip out on the Solar version. If you're looking for just a running watch, go for the Forerunner, especially with the music storage function. The versatility of the watch with workout and adventure tracking is what sets it apart.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin