Everything about the Garmin Instinct promotes necessity over enjoyment, from the simplified design and stripped back UI to the customisable format of the screens. The core focus of the watch is by far the navigation, and there's a steep learning curve to get to grips with it all.

Simple; customisable UI; Small and light; Good battery life; A lot of invaluable information for hikers

The Garmin Instinct Solar is the smaller sibling of the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar and it comes equipped with a range of casual and hardcore features that many people who like outdoor life and fitness will find useful.

Extra long battery life; Tough exterior; Plenty of useful outdoor features; Always-on screen (memory-in-pixel); Light

Monochrome screen; Straps are not hinged; All-plastic case doesn’t radiate quality

For the outdoor adventurer, the Garmin Instinct is indispensable: built to military standards, it offers useful course tracking and rugged construction at an affordable price point. A vivid array of colors, a 100-meter water resistance, and a vented silicone band add to its back-to-basics appeal.

Rugged Build Quality; Lightweight; Magnetic Compass

Text responses only available for Android users; Lacks HRM when swimming

Backcountry fitness junkies take note, the Garmin Instinct Solar has more data than you will ever need, and enough battery to go the distance (as long as you’ve got sun).

The Garmin Instinct Solar might not be the most attractive multi-sports watch around. but it just might be the most practical, with incredible battery life thanks to its Power Glass lens, which keeps it topped up in daylight.

Exceptional battery life; Well designed interface; Great range of activities; including triathlon

Plastic case looks a little cheap; Black and white display

Besides a few minor flaws, the Garmin Instinct is an excellent expedition companion

Rugged MIL-STD design; Superb battery life; Reasonable price;

No Garmin Connect IQ apps; Breadcrumb navigation only;

While the Instinct might lack some of the richer outdoor features you’ll find on Garmin’s Fenix watches and the bigger battery life on the Instinct Solar, it still has all of the key things you’d want from an outdoor watch that’s kind on your bank balance and delivers where it matters.

Fun, light and comfortable design; Solid sports tracking performance; Navigation support; ;

Lacks full mapping features; No payment support; No Connect IQ app support

The Garmin Instinct Solar stands out for its seemingly endless battery life with solar panels that charge while you're on the go. It has all the basic features of a GPS watch, with integration into the Garmin ecosystem.

Solar rechargeable, good feature set, all functionality is built into the watch without the need for the apps

Buttons are easy to push accidentally, can't use a screen protector, small screen, can't modularize the features like other Garmin products

For an affordable alternative to the Apple Watch, we suggest turning to another major player in the smartwatch game: Garmin. The brand makes several styles of wearables and fitness trackers that are highly rated for their value, durability, and long battery life. Several models are on sale at Amazon right now, including the Garmin Instinct outdoor GPS watch, which you can score for up to 20 percent off depending on the color you choose. The Garmin Instinct was released in October 2018 and is an ideal sidekick for outdoor adventures, constructed with materials that meet military standards for thermal, shock, and water resistance. This rugged smartwatch was specifically designed for "challenging environments" that require cutting-edge navigation tools. It features a built-in three-axis compass, barometric altimeter, and support for several global satellite systems (including GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo). For less intense escapades, you can also use the Garmin Instinct as a tra...

Besides a few minor flaws, the Garmin Instinct is an excellent expedition companion

Rugged MIL-STD design; Superb battery life; Reasonable price;

No Garmin Connect IQ apps; Breadcrumb navigation only;