Watch review: Garmin Instinct
Vikes Rating: 9/10
In October 2020 I made the upgrade from my Apple Watch to the Garmin Instinct and what a difference it has made. The battery life is incredible, the GPS is accurate and I don’t have to worry about damaging it because it’s so durable. After doing my research, I listed all my top priorities and this watch checked all the boxes.
My biggest test so far for my Garmin Instinct was shortly after I purchased it to go on my Birthday Run involving running 33k kilometers for my 33rd birthday. This watch was comfortable, reliable and the battery had a ton more energy than my legs did after I finished that crazy race. Thanks for joining me for most of that crazy run, Ron Tiller!
Here are some of the questions I asked myself before I purchased this watch:
How is the battery life?
According to Garmin, the battery life can last up to 14 days in Smartwatch mode and up to 16 hours in GPS mode. The longest duration I ever used the Garmin Instinct in GPS mode was a little over 4 hours during my birthday run and there was plenty of battery after I finished. If you need to extend the battery life in GPS mode, you can switch to UltraTrac mode to boost the battery up to 40 hours. I personally love only needing to charge my watch once every 10 days or so even when I run as often as 4 or 5 times a week (including one long run on the weekend).
Is the GPS reliable?
The Garmin Instinct uses GPS, GLONASS and Galileo satellite network capability. It has a built-in 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter which can help you while running in a new area or hiking on a trail. With this watch you can connect to saved maps and follow waypoints right on your wrist. The map display on this watch only shows the guided route, not any other specifics you would see on a map, but that’s all you need while out on a run. The GPS is reliable, accurate and consistent in distance.
Is the watch durable?
Garmin describes this watch as having a fiber-reinforced polymer case and is built to U.S. military standard 810G for thermal, shock and water resistance (rated to 100 meters). This is by far the most durable watch out there as far as sports watches go. With the scratch resistant display, I don’t have to worry about damaging this watch while wearing it during an activity or running errands.
Can you track your activities?
One big feature I wanted in a watch was having buttons instead of a touch screen. If you sweat a lot like me, or even plan to use the watch for your swim activities, it is nearly impossible to use a touch screen when your fingers get wet. The buttons are great for tracking all my activities. The activities I use the most are walking, outdoor cycling, treadmill and running.
Here is a list of all activities that are available with this watch and can also be synced with your Strava account:
Gym & Fitness Equipment
Strength, Cardio and Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Rowing and Yoga
Running Features
Running, Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Trail Running
Outdoor Recreation
Hiking, Climbing, Mountain Biking, Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Tactical
Cycling Features
Biking, Indoor Biking, Mountain Biking
Swimming Features
Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming
What are other important specifics about the watch?
Available colors
Graphite, Tidal Blue, Orchid, Sunburst, Flame Red, Lakeside Blue, Sea Foam, Tundra
Dimensions
1.8 x 0.6 x 1.8 inches
Weight
1.76 ounces
Water resistance
Up to 100 meters
Would I recommend it?
After trying this watch out for about 4 months, I can honestly say Yes I would most definitely recommend this watch. The battery seems to last forever, the display is high contrast so you can easily see it when it’s bright outside, it syncs quickly and accurately with my Strava account and I love having real buttons to press when starting/finishing a workout.
Have you tried this watch or know someone who has? What watch are you currently using?