Garmin Instinct 2S Solar (Graphite)

Overall I'm happy with the Instinct 2. I really like the looks and ruggedness of the watch as well as all the info that I can constantly have displayed including up-to-the-moment heart rate. My main frustration is that it won't track walking on a treadmill. From doing a search on the internet it seems that many people have this issue with Garmin's watches. Walking on a treadmill is my main type of exercise and I really wish it would work. I've tried using the "Walk" activity but that won't count distance because it is basing it on GPS apparently. So I made an activity by duplicating the Walking activity with GPS off but this counts only about a tenth of the distance that I walk on the treadmill (the same when I test it by walking outside with GPS off, though it ... MoreOverall I'm happy with the Instinct 2. I really like the looks and ruggedness of the watch as well as all the info that I can constantly have displayed including up-to-the-moment heart rate. My main frustration is that it won't track walking on a treadmill. From doing a search on the internet it seems that many people have this issue with Garmin's watches. Walking on a treadmill is my main type of exercise and I really wish it would work. I've tried using the "Walk" activity but that won't count distance because it is basing it on GPS apparently. So I made an activity by duplicating the Walking activity with GPS off but this counts only about a tenth of the distance that I walk on the treadmill (the same when I test it by walking outside with GPS off, though it counts my steps correctly) and the other 9/10's as stopped. So I tried the 'Treadmill Running' activity but it count's 90 percent of the time that I'm walking (with hands swinging naturally at my sides of course and not holding the handholds) as "Idle" even though I'm walking at 3 miles an hour. Thankfully walking outside with the normal "Walking" activity with GPS on is very accurate but in the winter I'm not able to walk outside everyday. I've even manually entered my walking stride into the app in case that made a difference but it didn't. Again, overall it's a good watch, however, being that I mainly walk on a treadmill it's not as ideal as I'd hoped.

I transitioned from my 3 year old Vivoactive 3 to the Garmin Instinct 2 and I'm in love.I hated the touchscreen on the vivoactive because many times when I went to look at my watch it was opened to settings and I was halfway through customizing a new background without even wanting to. Instinct isn't touchscreen so that problem is gone.The battery life was one of the biggest selling points for me, I go on 6 hour bike rides sometimes and 9 hour hikes often. The Vivoactive 3 could no longer keep up but the Instinct 2 has been GREAT. I went for a 3 hour walk and still had 26 days of battery left, which would have left my Vivoactive 3 50% through the battery.The user interface is different, but I somehow picked it up quickly. There's only 5 buttons and for the one ... MoreI transitioned from my 3 year old Vivoactive 3 to the Garmin Instinct 2 and I'm in love.I hated the touchscreen on the vivoactive because many times when I went to look at my watch it was opened to settings and I was halfway through customizing a new background without even wanting to. Instinct isn't touchscreen so that problem is gone.The battery life was one of the biggest selling points for me, I go on 6 hour bike rides sometimes and 9 hour hikes often. The Vivoactive 3 could no longer keep up but the Instinct 2 has been GREAT. I went for a 3 hour walk and still had 26 days of battery left, which would have left my Vivoactive 3 50% through the battery.The user interface is different, but I somehow picked it up quickly. There's only 5 buttons and for the one of those buttons - for the most part - is solely for the backlight. I actually like the user interface a lot and haven't found it to be much of an issue. I was usually more confused on my Vivoactive 3 somehow. To each their own.The watch is just as customizable as the Vivoactive 3... but there are more features which makes it feel MORE customizable. I've been much happier with the set up I've been able to create on the Instinct 2 compared to Vivoactive 3. I will also say that I feel their preset screens for activities are better than Vivoactive 3, I haven't customized any of those. They were already displaying everything I was looking for.I'm also pleased with the heart rate monitor. It seems much more accurate than my old watch. For once my heart rate is NOT 90 while I'm lifting weights and squatting, which is very exciting It's still not perfect, of course, but it's better than the old one and noticeably so.Now there are a couple negatives.If you look at full stats screen on an activity, the circle on the screen will block your view of some stats. Mostly you can see all stats if you scroll through but this is very annoying and I really really hope they fix that...There are also only 1-2 analog display screens available and they are not good. I checked ConnectIQ and haven't found anything better on there. Perhaps I didn't look hard enough, perhaps they add it later.

I’ve had a Garmin instinct Solar first generation for quite awhile. I had been having some battery issues and had problems with sleep monitoring.Several months ago I had ordered a Garmin Instinct 2 Solar watch in mist gray from Best Buy. At that time I was thinking of alternating between the ok’d first generation watch and the new Instinct 2 Solar, using the older watch for yard work, etc., because of the very light almost white new watch. I thought it might start looking nasty. At that time I really didn’t know all the differences in the first and second generation watches. I ended up settling the new watch to factory settings and returning it to Best Buy.Recently, I saw the new Garmin Venu 3 at Best Buy. I got one because it really looked good. However, during ... MoreI’ve had a Garmin instinct Solar first generation for quite awhile. I had been having some battery issues and had problems with sleep monitoring.Several months ago I had ordered a Garmin Instinct 2 Solar watch in mist gray from Best Buy. At that time I was thinking of alternating between the ok’d first generation watch and the new Instinct 2 Solar, using the older watch for yard work, etc., because of the very light almost white new watch. I thought it might start looking nasty. At that time I really didn’t know all the differences in the first and second generation watches. I ended up settling the new watch to factory settings and returning it to Best Buy.Recently, I saw the new Garmin Venu 3 at Best Buy. I got one because it really looked good. However, during the setup process, I found out that it wasn’t for me. The Venu 3 appeared to be Garmin’s response to an Apple Watch. It did not have the traditional five buttons on the Instinct and most other series Garmin watches. It also had a lot of touchscreen actions, provisions for receiving and making telephone calls, etc. if I wanted all that stuff I would have gotten an Apple Watch. I reset to factory settings and returned the same day. I provided a review on that purchase and return.Next, I was watching YouTube videos and reviews of the Instinct 2 Solar and the Forerunner 265. I was checking on availability of both in my local area. I struck out at Best Buy so I checked at REI.I ended up getting a graphite color Instinct 2 Solar, which looks virtually the same as my old first generation Instinct Solar, which looks a lot like a Cassio GShock. Looks can be deceiving.It is what’s inside that counts. The sensors, improved solar charging, and much better analytics via Garmin Connect definitely makes this a very improved product.I’ve reset my first generation Instinct Solar and I’m going to turn it in at Best Buy for a $40 gift card.I like the sleep reports and more detailed analysis in Garmin Connect. I set up a battery percentage icon on the face. It appears to be holding the charge with solar exposure.I haven’t had enough days for HRV average.I also like the placement of the barometer/altimeter away from my wrist surface. It is very accurate so far. The first generation watch was crediting me with extremely large floor counts including adding floors virtually every time I went outside from the air conditioned car or house.