Garmin Instinct II Solar Tactical Review - Compared with Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar

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Күн бұрын

Garmin Instinct II Solar Tactical - amzn.to/3Plljd5
Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar - amzn.to/3szZuwO
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I picked up the Instinct II Solar Tactical to complement the 7X Sapphire Solar for times when I wanted a lighter and less bulky watch for hitting the trail. This review takes a look at some of the functions and features of the Instinct II, while looking at some of the differences between the upgraded Fenix 7x. Please leave any questions in the comments section below.
00:00 Intro
00:36 Tactical Features & Details
00:58 Shortfalls vs Fenix 7X
01:19 Battery / Solar Details
01:47 Menu Options
03:08 Navigation Functions
04:58 Workout Functions
06:03 Backlight Comparison
06:22 Conclusion
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#garmin #solar #gpswatch #instinct #tactical

Пікірлер: 130

@jadedoldguy5233 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent review, young man. Just pulled the trigger on coyote Instinct Solar 2. As a retired Marine and LEO, and lifelong G-Shock wearer (with some Timex Ironmans along the way), I've put off getting a "smart watch" for many years. But this one seems to check off a lot of boxes, so I'll try it. Thanks in good part to your great vid. Keep up the great work. Subscribed.

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment and appreciate your service. I’m right with you there! The G Shock was also my go-to for years, but there’s something to be said for the easy conversion of MGRS into lat long & the motivation you get from the workout tracker heading into a PT test haha.

@BlackStarMulti Жыл бұрын

So how did it Work Out for you?

@jadedoldguy5233 Жыл бұрын

@@BlackStarMulti - Tried it, did not like it. First, it feels really flimsy. For that amount of coin, it should feel more substantial than any of my G-Shocks, but even the cheap ones feel better made. Second, it was always something - not tracking this, not tracking that, getting unpaired, whatever. Third, it began to feel more and more like a prison-monitoring bracelet the longer I kept it on. It just wasn't for me. Perhaps for someone, it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. Or perhaps I'm too much of an old dog trying to learn new tricks. Whatever the case, it's back to the G-shocks (and Ironmans) for me, for a fraction of the cost, and triple the reliability, and quadruple the durability.

@ichikurataichou3119 Жыл бұрын

I like the tactical but I also have the Enduro for non-military use though the Enduro seems to last a bit longer. The tactics were just fine I don't need some of the other features while on base or working

@TexasFireMedic Жыл бұрын

@@jadedoldguy5233 you’re probably an old boomer bad at technology

@grahamarcher2729 2 жыл бұрын

Nice watch! I like the look of the Tactical version. Thanks for sharing!

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed! The overall design is great and there were a lot of great color options across the instinct line when I was checking them out. Thanks for watching!

@leonpatrick5606 2 ай бұрын

Dammit i should have watched some of these reviews before buying the Fenix 7X Pro Sapphire Solar! I could've saved me a thousand dollars. But i love the beast i have now and suits me down to a T. And what an awesome review, mate. Thanks

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 ай бұрын

Thanks! Yeah I also normally wear the 7x pro sapphire on my day to day and utilize a lot of the convenient features that come with the high price tag. I could probably get away with the features on this one as my day to day, but having the 7x would miss a lot of the upgrades. This one is still a solid go-to when I want something lighter to bang around on the trail.

@UrbanAnywhere 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, this helped me decide on buying a black Instinct 2 solar tactical. Had it for a week and been very happy with it.

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely! Glad it helped out, good choice on the purchase!

@marbendeleon3502 2 жыл бұрын

how good is the battery life with smart watch feature, pulse ox and heart rate on all day? how long does it indicate on your i2 tac-sol?

@jcrisp90 Жыл бұрын

i only went for the tactical version because i wanted black not graphite! the regular watch only came in graphite...

@Lordoftheflatbush Жыл бұрын

Just received this watch. Very pleased with it so far. Only addition: the torch is green instead of red, for no apparent reason.

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! the 7X Pro Ballistic does have the green light, which was interesting to get used to, going from red. From what I can tell lower level green light can help to preserve night vision, like red is primarily known for and could have some advantages of viewing distances with the shorter wavelength of light as compared to red.

@ThorSkin69 9 ай бұрын

Green is for nvg Red is for night time use

@DinoH8sU Ай бұрын

good stuff! I have one coming soon. I’m excited for it.

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 7 күн бұрын

Awesome great choice! Thanks for watching!

@maxmakarchuk4945 2 жыл бұрын

thanks for your thoughts, worth it

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped, thanks for taking the time to watch!

@shosho440440 2 жыл бұрын

thank you for this video with great information

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely, thanks for watching! Glad it helped!

@EnricoZDS Жыл бұрын

great video mate

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@black79montecarlo123 Жыл бұрын

I've got the non tactical version and love it. I wear it more than my fenix. I use this one for my walks, mountain biking and working out. Fenix gets wrist time only when I go hiking. When I first got the Instinct I thought it was going to be a mediocre gps watch but I was so wrong. This thing is awesome.

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

Agreed! The instinct is nice and light / low profile, which makes it an easy daily wear. My Fenix does get some extra use for running as well, especially when I comes to tracking some of the specific stats. Thanks for watching!

@johnjericholadringan2231 8 ай бұрын

sir do you have problem saving activities?? like lagging almost 20 sec for 40mins run??

@joeblack2216 Жыл бұрын

Excellent job and thanks for the clear description and test of those Garmin's

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment and for watching! Glad it helped, have a great day!

@robsilv148 2 жыл бұрын

Just bought the same one your showing. Really liking it!

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

That’s awesome! This and the Fenix are my first Garmin watches and I’ve really been getting a lot of good use out of each… it would be hard to find a reason to change up, especially as they are nearly identical in function which makes quick transitions between each easier. Thanks for watching!

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

@Najeeg7 2 жыл бұрын

Great video

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@lafargaa Жыл бұрын

I initially had an instinct tactical, first version, I loved it. But the GPS and the HR sensor was somewhat worse than the fenix 6 sapphire and ended up returning the instinct. Now, I upgraded to 7x SS (really liked the touch screen and flashlight), but feels way too heavy and big for my wrist. Sold it and got the instinct 2 tactical. Garmin definitely improved and HR sensor is way better, but not as good as the 7x still.

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

Yeah I totally agree. The size and weight of the instinct 2 are great… it would be quite an offering if the could condense the features of the 7x SS down to something like the instinct with touch color and flashlight… especially the flashlight, which I seem to use all the time when I am wearing the 7x. Thanks for checking it out!

@Primetime_dads Жыл бұрын

So how bad is the HR on the instinct 2 vs the fenix. I thought they both had the same

@lazydaze3134 Жыл бұрын

@J.Allen_Fit According to the specs on the garmin website they both have the same HR monitor. A huge upgrade from first generation of Instinct.

@creepingdeth141 4 ай бұрын

Got mine for free, can’t complain about this little dude

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 4 ай бұрын

Defiantly a solid basic watch!

@marbendeleon3502 2 жыл бұрын

how good is the battery life with smart watch feature, pulse ox and heart rate on all day? how long does it indicate on your i2 tac-sol?

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

It holds up to the battery expectation very with all smart features active in the background. I can see it is constantly recording ox / hr details. Still getting 26-27 days per charge. It takes about 30 seconds to run the pulse ox on demand but I have found the numbers in history are pretty accurate. hR can show in real time right from the widget depending on how you set up the display. The only thing that really puts a heavy drain on battery is active gps nav. Even daily workouts don’t effect the battery life too much. Hope that helps!

@ethancook3315 2 жыл бұрын

One quick question, I have a garmin 64s handheld gps and wondering if the instinct 2 will link up with it so I have the same coordinates and waypoints on the gps and the watch? Thanks for your time

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

From what I understand I don’t think they like up to work in tandem, however you should be able to load the same map files to each so they display the same coords and waypoints. Thanks for watching!

@michaelfields9356 Жыл бұрын

I'm thinking I may have went with the wrong watch after looking into this. I spent way to much on my current garmin lol. oh well. love the watch either way.

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

There are some nice features on the more expensive options, but this certainly still holds a lot for the price. Thanks for checking it out!

@michaelfields9356 Жыл бұрын

@@TheOutdoorWorkshop I treated myself and with doing a whole lot of research into other options. I bought my first garmin watch and got the tactix delta with ballistics. I loved how long the battery life lasted. However for what I ultimately use the watch for. I think the instinct with unlimited battery life, might have been the better option ultimately. But great vid and great review sir.

@DerBlitzfreak77 Жыл бұрын

Hey ☺️ I got my Garmin today, it's the identical version in the same color. I love the optic and given features but never used it cuz it's for my birthday in 2 month. Is this watch capable to switch on only by solar energy for a couple of hours if the battery is completed empty and you get it in sun exposure? Greetz 🙋🏻

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

The watch does charge while turned off… usually more efficiently than when it is turned on, so it should be able to power from just the solar charge after a couple of hours after the battery hits 0. Garmin says there’s hours of direct sun per day should keep it running only off Solar charge. I have not personally tried to drain down to zero but if it is in fact charging while powered off as advertised it should be capable of powering back up. Thanks for watching!

@DerBlitzfreak77 Жыл бұрын

@@TheOutdoorWorkshop Hi 🙋🏻Thx for your quick reply and good to know, that this masterpiece can even revive by solar energy - that fact makes this great watch even more desirable and unbeatable to me!!! 😍👍 I'd like to use this watch for obstacle runs next year which also can mean diving in muddy water 💪😅 One last question: Can you tell me if the use of screen saver for additional protection reduce the induction of solar power? I've red, that the solar-energy is collected 1. by the outer ring around the screen and 2. by the powerglass...Thxs for further reply and keep on doing this kind of great videos! 😉👍Greetings 🙋🏻

@drjedemms4467 4 ай бұрын

This video was great and helpful as I'm looking at purchasing the Instinct 2 solar. Question for anyone, do you find this is watch works well for doing 3-15 mile runs? My old Garmin watch used primarily for running tracked what I needed (mostly distance, time, intervals) and that's what I'm looking for as well in the Instinct 2. Thanks

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 3 ай бұрын

Thanks! I would say if you’re looking for a solid basic watch that tracks a lot of your statistical data, This is a good one to go with. But if you’re looking for more advanced features and specific route tracking, this probably isn’t the ideal one. There are a lot of better options for running, but this is a great blend between ruggedness / battery life / basic sport tracking. if you’re just looking for distance time and intervals, this should definitely be good enough!

@disciiplinedminds 16 күн бұрын

The tactical watch is so sexy! Got one incoming!

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 7 күн бұрын

Nice - Great choice! Thanks for watching!

@billscully2521 2 жыл бұрын

I have the original instinct solar (and love it). Was thinking of upgrading to the instinct 2 solar or fenix 6 solar pro. Any thoughts?

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

There is not a massive difference between the instinct and instinct 2. The 2 year design is a little slimmer, slightly higher resolution, increased storage, recovery, training effect, VO2 max, and garmin pay from your watch. The Fenix 6 solar will give you these upgrades past those listed above such as detailed gps topo map, color screen and additional workout functions on the watch. I wear the 7x sapphire solar everyday and love all the additional features in the Fenix line, which are only a few more on top of the 6 (I also have a review comparing the 7x sapphire solar to the 6 solar if your interested in seeing more details on the Fenix! I really like the Fenix for the features but if you don’t mind black and white and limited gps loaded maps, the instinct works great for the cost savings.

@BrianHallmond Жыл бұрын

Does it need to be connected to your phone for the Nav Maps to work?

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

Nope, you just need to download the maps right to the watches built in memory and it will utilize that when accessing map data… great for when you don’t have your phone or service.

@AdnanTraveller 6 ай бұрын

Thank you

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@fm00092 Жыл бұрын

Does this require a subscription for the GPS?

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

Nope gps is built in, free, and ready to go out of the box. Just get to an open space outside for the calibration

@germancordova5120 2 жыл бұрын

Can I trace route with the gps if I have stealth mode activated?

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

Nope, you can still see your stats like time / elevation / location. It just doesn’t save your location data to the watch, only shows real-time data.

@leob_workouts Жыл бұрын

Cant decide which one to get.... Instinct solar or instinct solar 2. Will the extra money be worth it ?

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

The ~$100 difference will get you a few upgrades like recovery, training effect, and VO2 max stats. I have heard that the display is a little nicer both in daylight and with illumination on the 2. I don’t think you will find too much difference otherwise when it comes to size, weight, design, and functions. So it just comes down to whether or not the upgrades are worth it for the extra money. Hope you enjoy!

@markgray3655 4 ай бұрын

Would this watch be able to give me good enough navigation though a ultra marathon?

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 4 ай бұрын

I would not recommend this for navigation during a marathon. I think the Fenix or forerunner would have much more capable navigation features. The Fenix has fully loaded topo maps and turn by turn navigation, which is lacking in this model.

@laurawalker1509 4 ай бұрын

It looks like it would be good for Tough Mudder. I would want a 2s.

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 3 ай бұрын

Absolutely if interested in taking any kind of smart watch in the Mudder, this would probably be the best choice!

@laurawalker1509 3 ай бұрын

@@TheOutdoorWorkshop I got a cheaper Camo solar refurbished version which lacks Vo2. If I get on with it, I might upgrade.

@damonharrington2948 11 ай бұрын

Looking for a tactical sports watch. I am over the Apple Watch. But I do prefer touch screen over buttons only. This watch is in my price range vs the Tactix 7 Pro $1300!

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 11 ай бұрын

If your goal is tactical sports watch, this one will probably be all you need rather than spending more money to get up in to the thousand dollar range with the colored touch screens. You will definitely lose some features going from Apple, specifically those related with texting and phone calls. I made the switch a few years ago and haven’t looked back. The battery life alone makes it worth it. The Fenix 7X Sapphire is great if you want a little more features for less than the Tactix. Most of the features I use day-to-day are all on the instinct as well, so I don’t think that will let you down. Thanks for watching!

@terrandysart3587 Жыл бұрын

Watching this because i own the fenix 7x saphire solar and don't really think it's worth the extra $500. Don't get me wrong, love the maps, love the touch, the led utility light, and the pretty screen. But is that worth more than twice the price? I don't think so. Unless you have the extra cash.

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

Yeah this is defiantly feature packed. When you look at the two, it really does come down to how much you use the additional luxury features. I really like the maps but can’t say I use them enough to be the thing that justifies the additional cost. I start getting much more utility when it comes to the dim red light at night and some of the workout and sleep tracking features on the 7X. The ease of use on the workout functions and tracking on the 7x pushed it to be worth it to the point of my daily wear. But if it was just the core features I was looking for the instinct would absolutely make sense. Thanks for the comment and watching!

@Kingstonsmac Жыл бұрын

I want the tactical version but like the red light on the regular 2x!! 🤔 Decisions!

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

I do like the red a lot more for using at night… doesn’t affect my night vision and at a dim level it’s perfect for not waking others while still having enough light to move around. Thanks for watching!

@Kingstonsmac Жыл бұрын

@@TheOutdoorWorkshop now I’m leaning toward getting the non tactical haha 🤦🏻‍♂️ thank you for the input and great video !!!

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@C_IJF-4106 2 жыл бұрын

Would black or coyote tan be better?

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

They both look nice. Black would be good if you are wearing it as your primary and still want it to look nice enough for more of a business casual look that you can take right to the trail. Since I have to Fenix 7x in black, this was a great color to mix it up and looks more of a natural color while outdoors. Other than that it’s just personal preference. Thanks for watching and good luck in the search!

@C_IJF-4106 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheOutdoorWorkshop I am an active duty soldier. In terms of design and color, Coyote would be nice, but it seems to have a unique taste in black. thanks for the advice 😃

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

@@C_IJF-4106 Absolutely! Good Stuff, either should go well with most uniform styles from different branches and are pretty simple in their design (so it wouldn't be too flashy in duty uniforms).

@janinaamarila7033 6 ай бұрын

The features are amazing but I am just worried if it's okay for a woman on how big they are and the length of the strap? I have a 45mm apple watch but idk if it would be close to the garmin. Bestbuy does not have a display for it.

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 6 ай бұрын

If you’re comfortable with the 45 mm I think you should be fine with the instinct II. If you can imagine the 45 mm Apple Watch being just slightly larger on the squared areas and then drawing a circle that should give you a general idea of the size. If you have a Dick’s Sporting Goods near you, you may be able to find an instinct on display as well. If you want to try to see it first before you purchase another safe bet is ordering on Amazon prime if you have that service since most of them seem to be free returns. As far as the strap goes, I don’t think you’ll have a problem with length, but it will be a little bit more bulky than the Apple Watch. I don’t think it’s too bad especially if you’re OK with more of the rugged look of the instinct good luck in your search! if you like the size, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the features. Thanks for watching!

@averageglockenjoyer 2 ай бұрын

Im a little late to the party but if you haven't already decided they make a 40mm version

@jayanderson8616 2 ай бұрын

Does this have a vibrating Alarm?

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 ай бұрын

Yep! Wakes me up every time I’m on the trail!

@billdobberpuhl9507 Жыл бұрын

Is this watch waterproof?

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

Yep, it’s water-rated to 100 meters

@bigdogkropp 9 ай бұрын

I have a Garmin watch with a touch screen. Can't imagine I would want to go back to having a watch with buttons to push.

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 9 ай бұрын

Yeah the Fenix / Forerunner / etc series are great. This is just a more simple and inexpensive option that still offers most of the same features with less aesthetics. Thanks for watching!

@NoChannelChannel 10 ай бұрын

Should be great watch for 2-3 years then battery is no more in the bin it goes

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 10 ай бұрын

I’ve seen a few post that said that. Hopefully it is much longer, however, I certainly get plenty of use out of the watches to make even that lifespan worth it. I have a Gshock solar that has been going strong since 2014, if only modern smart watches had batteries that could keep up with the increased draw and recharging.

@reynalda5211 Жыл бұрын

If only this model and size was equipped with a flashlight.

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

Yeah totally agree that would be the number one feature I would like as well, although I’m sure it would significantly limit the battery life since it has a much smaller power draw and capacity than the Fenix 7x

@n057828 2 жыл бұрын

Dude I’m a postman on a bike 3-5 hours day you will not get more then 3-4 weeks power! That was for version 1.

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting! Thanks for the info. I’d be interested to see how long it lasts in low battery mode with solar vs normal mode. I’m never in a situation where I can’t charge it within a two week period, so I don’t really have a reason to cut features just to save battery life on the solar Garmin watches. It’s more likely the only scenario where someone would be looking for the extended life past a month would also involve them utilizing it in expedition or low power mode, limiting the GPS power draw and other functions. I’ll have to keep an eye on the longer term reviews in the low power consumption modes to compare to these stats on the garmin site. Thanks for the comment!

@noonce 5 ай бұрын

I want the features of the tactical without it saying tactical on the face. Maybe there's a tactical gray man edition 😂

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 5 ай бұрын

Haha! Great suggestion - I think it could reach a whole different market with that option

@oscrm1760 2 жыл бұрын

This model have sunset sunrise and world time.

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

No problem! Answer to all: yes. The bottom left ABC button is a quick way to get to your altimeter, barometer, and compass data screens. There are multiple ways to view the sunset and sunrise, either by adding it to your watch case in customization or making it a scroll item when you hit the up and down menu cycle (top left and center left buttons). Chronometer, timer, and alarms can be accessed by holding in the top left menu bottom.Some of the chrono functions are also built into the workouts (top left button). Hope that helps!

@oscrm1760 2 жыл бұрын

Super thanks bro 💪🏻👊🏻 my next buy

@oscrm1760 2 жыл бұрын

Last question have sensor of temperature exterior Celsius and Fahrenheit

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

@@oscrm1760 Yep, you can do either Celsius or Fahrenheit, just head over to the settings, select system, select units, then you can change anything temp (F - C) to distance (mi - km). Good choice, its a great watch!

@phxrsx 2 жыл бұрын

Fen ex? Or phoenix?

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

I always said phoenix… until I saw a review back when I was looking at the 6 and someone said Fen ex, I thought I was wrong and adopted it…. Until I realized it was actually like phoenix. Ever since then it’s a hard habit to kick haha! ē is spoken like a long vowel.. feet - Feenix. Good catch!

@wild_rover2648 2 жыл бұрын

Fen ix

@darkthrush 2 жыл бұрын

It’s pronounced phoenix

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@ramonconaway1395 Жыл бұрын

I have the coyote tan version

@TheOutdoorWorkshop Жыл бұрын

Great selection! I really like that model color by Garmin. Thanks for watching!

@phillydom0457 2 жыл бұрын

Can I shower with this?

@TheOutdoorWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

Yep, I wore this without taking it off for two weeks straight when I first picked it up to test it. No issues with water both taking it in the shower daily and a couple times to the pool.