Garmin Instinct 2X Solar, Rugged GPS Smartwatch, Built-in Flashlight, Solar Charging Capability, Multi-Band GNSS, Whitestone

Two months in, and I'm loving this daily wear. I have a large watch collection, but wear this tool watch every day because it reminds me to do my daily workouts, track my progress, and learn about more features every week or so. If I was a hiker, the GPS and crazy long charge, with solar recharging, would make it the life insurance policy you didn't know you needed. Even as someone who sleeps at home and doesn't want to turn on the light and disturb my partner, the built-in flashlight is fantastic. It is used daily. Home screen layouts are flexible, easy to change and the app on my phone synchronizes automatically, allowing me to easily see calendar items on my phone.

So I previously owned the $300 Garmin Vivoactive 3 HR. The first year I was in love and obsessed with fitness. They have a 1 year warranty. WELL just after the 1 year mark my band broke...on the watch head, cheap plastic. Support didn't do anything to help. So I used a soldering iron to melt it back together. Slowly the 2nd, 3rd, AND 4TH connector on the watch head broke off. I created a live social media event smashing my watch to pieces with a hammer. Also spent about 3 years wearing my broken, melted watch negatively attacking all Garmin posts and social media. I hated them with a passion. Haha anyways moving forward, I decided to give this a shot since comparable brands didn't match up. Couldn't be happier. It's actually notably durable, I've never needed to connect my cell phone (which I prefer). Looks awesome, tracks all my fitness stats and I have a historical record on the watch of it all. With all the health features enabled and no smart features turned on, battery lasts like a month. Turn off consistent smart OX recordings it lasts 40+ days. The solar feature is nice, you'd think with me getting 15k steps outdoors every day you'd never need to charge but it still slowly depletes. Coolest functional feature for a dude, it has a flashlight! I'd recommend it, but if one of the bands breaks, Garmin better keep a lookout for me because I'd probably do something that would wind me up in jail.

I love this watch the battery last for months. And the flashlight is super helpful. Just wish it had an inline skate activity mode built in. It’s been super durable and makes step counting and sleep tracking a breeze.

I wasn't sure where to start, but I have to say this is the coolest and most useful gadget I've purchased in a long time.. It’s far more than a fun toy (which is what I expected); it provides high-level utility for daily life. I'm genuinely impressed by the functionality, especially the built-in flashlight, the navigation capabilities, and the outstanding solar-powered battery life. This has become a must-have piece of gear for me. Sad I waited so long to try one out!

This is the perfect activity watch/smartwatch for me. It can’t call or text from the watch itself, but those are features I rarely used on my Apple Watch anyway. It’ll still show you if you have a text, call, or any other notification but is geared toward being more of a great activity watch than a phone on your wrist. What’s great about this is how jam-packed with features it is. They took a ton of stuff that previously was only available in the fenix and epix watches and brought it to this instinct 2x solar. It has sleep tracking, activity tracking (with customizable screens for each activity), training readiness, heart rate, vo2 max, blood oxygen level, etc. Most apps charge money for the amount of detail this watch and app give you about your day to day and activities, but there’s no subscription on this. It’s all free And it constantly checks heart rate. My old Apple Watch would check periodically but you could never glance down and see what the current hr was without tapping on the icon and waiting. With this watch it constantly is reading heart rate and keeps a graph showing the history (which you can have show on the watch face if you want). The battery is awesome, something like 40 days with how I have mine set up. And the solar charging actually works. I’ve heard that past versions it didn’t help all too much, but this one it really makes a difference. I added 2 days to my battery life from just a few hours in direct sunlight. The only places where this watch is lesser are the display and the navigation. If detailed maps and touch screen/oled screen are important to you, then go with the fenix or epix models. The navigation on this watch can be useful as it includes the trackback feature where it’ll guide you back on the path you came in on, line-of-sight tracking (keeps you on path if you have to go like down in a valley or around an obstacle where you might lose sense of direction), and you can even pre-load courses to follow later. However, it’s a pretty bare-bones navigation map. It has a pointer for your watch and a line showing the path and that’s about it. The epix and fenix watches have nicer displays, color, touchscreen, and more detailed maps which help a lot with navigation but you also sacrifice a significant amount of battery life for those features. And they’re double the price of this one. All in all, I think this is the perfect middle point for a watch. It has all the features from the top of the line ones that I need, along with crazy battery life and a decent price. If you don’t need detailed navigation but want great gps and activity tracking at half the cost of some of those other watches, this is a great option.

Great watch. I use it as an everyday watch - for multisport (swimming/biking/running). It looks great it does it thing. It can handle dirt as well, its been almost a year - no complains. I bought it on sale, I don't regret it. Battery lasts 42~ days for me I don't use it for notification or phone activity at all.

Very good buy. But how to register the warranty? I try to key in the serial numbers , but unsuccessful to go through. Please advise. Thank you.

The Garmin watch that has it all, and with the solar component has the capacity to last the distance.

At first I wasnt too sure about the watch. Size, battery life, features. But let me tell ya, I wear this watch every single day now. The size is ideal, 41Day battery life at full charge (insane), GPS tracking is incredible (love how you can view it on phone or computer in full satellite view) - (It does drain your battery as expected, if you have 34days left and activate GPS tracking expected 34hrs of battery life), the simple design on the face is perfect when personalized to youd liking, also gotta take a leak in the early hours and don't want to wake the kids? THE FLASHLIGHT feature is incredible and the most used feature. Highly recommend this watch.

The Garmin 2X Tactical Solar Watch is a standout in the world of multi-functional outdoor timepieces, offering a robust blend of durability, performance, and advanced features. Designed specifically for tactical use, the watch combines Garmin’s renowned solar charging capabilities with an impressive array of tools and features that cater to both professionals and outdoor enthusiasts. Design and Build Quality: The Garmin 2X Tactical Solar Watch is built to withstand tough environments. The watch boasts a rugged, military-inspired design, with a 51mm fiber-reinforced polymer case that is both lightweight and incredibly durable. The high-resolution, sunlight-readable display is protected by scratch-resistant sapphire glass, ensuring it stays pristine even after heavy use. The silicone strap provides a secure and comfortable fit, even during extended wear in demanding conditions. Solar Charging and Battery Life: One of the most appealing features of the 2X Tactical Solar is its solar charging capabilities. With the solar charging system, the watch extends battery life significantly, allowing you to stay off the grid for longer periods. In full sunlight, it can stay powered for up to 50 days in smartwatch mode, and up to 20 days in GPS mode with solar charging. Even in less optimal lighting conditions, the battery performance is solid, making it ideal for long outdoor expeditions where charging might not be feasible. Tactical Features: True to its name, the Garmin 2X Tactical Solar Watch is equipped with specialized features for tactical situations. The night vision mode is particularly useful for low-light environments, adjusting the display’s brightness so it doesn’t interfere with night vision goggles. The dual-format GPS (Glonass and Galileo) ensures precise location tracking in remote areas, making it a reliable companion for navigation. The watch also includes jumpmaster and waypoint projection modes, making it suitable for those involved in air operations or military activities. Additionally, the stealth mode disables wireless communication to ensure your movements remain undetected. Health and Fitness Tracking: Beyond its tactical applications, the Garmin 2X Tactical Solar Watch is also a top-tier fitness tracker. It comes equipped with a heart rate monitor, pulse oximeter, and sleep tracking, allowing users to monitor their overall health during activities. The watch also tracks a variety of sports, including hiking, running, cycling, and swimming, and offers advanced metrics like VO2 max, recovery time, and performance condition. It also supports Garmin’s Body Battery feature, which helps optimize energy levels throughout the day based on your activity and stress levels. User Interface and Software: The watch runs on Garmin’s intuitive interface, with a responsive touchscreen and five-button control system that provides easy access to all features, even with gloves on. The menus are well-organized, and the watch allows customization for quick access to your most-used functions. Garmin’s Connect app further enhances the experience by allowing you to sync data, track your progress, and join the Garmin fitness community. Cons: Despite its many strengths, the Garmin 2X Tactical Solar Watch does come with a few drawbacks. For one, its size might be too large for those with smaller wrists, as the 51mm case can feel bulky and heavy. Also, while the solar charging is a great feature, it can take time to fully charge in low-light conditions, requiring optimal sunlight for the fastest recharging. Lastly, while it excels in tactical and outdoor features, some users may find the watch’s interface and complexity a bit overwhelming if they are only looking for a simple timepiece. Conclusion: Overall, the Garmin 2X Tactical Solar Watch is a top-tier timepiece designed for those who need rugged durability, solar-powered longevity, and advanced tactical features. Whether you're a professional in the field, an outdoor enthusiast, or someone who simply demands a reliable watch for extreme conditions, the Garmin 2X Tactical Solar Watch delivers. Its combination of performance, battery life, and specialized features makes it a solid investment for anyone who spends time in demanding environments.