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;

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;

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

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

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;

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

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

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).

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