I was really looking forward to this product and it appeared to hit all the key points i wanted. These included a being light enough and not too bulky for daily use, has a decent hr monitor and integrates with garmin connect as well as a barometer and altimeter. I found it comfortable and was really impressed with the features, but the downsides also become apparent too. Whilst the battery was good, on a couple of occasions i found in unexpectedly drained very quickly (not at all acceptable), but the main weakness was the screen. Whilst it is has a configurable layout, some of the fonts are simply too small to easily see and be usable. Secondly, whilst the top right circle is ok on the main screen, on some others it simply results in lost screen space of up to 1/4 of the screen and makes no sense. It would be better as a software feature so it could revert to a full screen when needed as the fenix can. If there is an update of this, i’d want to see the circle removed, the menus and functions simplified and the cost reduced. Instead of being a cut down fenix, focus on making it a great watch for adventure.
This must have been the hardest return of all. The best features of this watch (high-contrast display, solid battery life, robust hardware/software) are sadly let down by a cramped display area made worse by the little round window which permanently shows unnecessary info, reducing the usable surface and with no option to disable it, at least when the whole display is most needed: during navigation and viewing messages. However, i was so impressed by it (as a pebble 2 user hoping for a big upgrade) that i am already excited about the instinct’s next iteration – hopefully without the little round window in the display, please.
Bought as an xmas gift for better half. Have only given 3 stars for easy use as he isnt too great with learning new technology but if u have owned a garmin already then its a case of getting used to thw extras and where they are on the watch as the set up is similar. Great in depth fitness watch. Would say great for ultra runners and serious hikers. Meilleures Garmin Instinct, Rugged Outdoor Watch with GPS, Features GLONASS and Galileo, Heart Rate Monitoring and 3-axis Compass, Graphite Avis
Fantastic smart watch/fitness device, loved the features loved the product, but the barometer stopped working after 2 days so i have to return the product which is very disappointing. Now waiting to get my money returned before i decide what to do next. Bought this watch as a replacement for my apple watch, was cheaper to buy this than get the screen repaired in the iwatch. Very happy with this watch it’s very comfortable to wear all day hardly notice that it’s on.
Not bought from amazon, rather an impulsive buy in an airport. Battery life is impressive as well as the readability of the screen. I wanted a very sturdy watch, with great battery life and accuracy for running.
This watch is built for those like myself, who love raw data and want an insight into metrics for daily exercise, monitoring heart and sleep but with the addition of being designed for outdoor hiking / walking etc. Its essentially a casio of the modern age. I really had to think hard about whether to get a fenix 5 or this, but i don’t really need any of the smart stuff on a more expensive watch. Since its fairly new and reviews are not yet flooding in i took the gamble and purchased it (albeit from a non amazon source). First, what this watch is not. -this watch has not been designed for looks, its not a fashion item. -it is not designed to replace a smart phone, the screen is designed to give you the basics of information in an easy to read fashion. With that out the way, here is what it is. -a watch for serious hikers, hill runners or even just daily exercisers / gym’rs who want accurate metrics on everything from hr, sleep, activities, hike tracking (breadcrumb and lots of elevation / pace metrics), accurate gps etc the list goes on. -it is a very robust watch, take it out everywhere with confidence that one little knock is not going to smash the entire screen, you drop it face down – no problem, is also water proof.
I must first say that i didn’t purchase this watch from amazon, but from another online vendor, because i had a discount code. A couple of months ago i bought a garmin forerunner 645 and returned it for a refund within a few days because the battery would not keep it’s charge. I believe it may have been faulty. I then saw the new garmin instinct online, and after reading some positive reviews on the amazon. Com site, i decided to send for one. This watch suits my needs to the ground. The fitness activity side of the watch is great, and the quick access to the barometer, altimeter and compass is fantastic. The battery life, so far, has been excellent.
After 3 weeks i’m really quite impressed with this watch. I wanted to upgrade my 5 year old forerunner 10 (pictured for size comparison) but had been putting off getting the fr235 as all it added was hrm and cadence and it looked a bit ‘big/goofy’. When i first saw the instinct i was instantly sold, it looks like a g-shock (i already own one – also pictured for size comparison) but has hrm, cadence, baro-alt, temp and a compassstyle: v similar to a g-shock (see pic for size comparison). Although i bought this to record my sporting activities; i’ve ended up wearing it to work quite a bit and i don’t think it’s looked out of place. Ruggedness – has survived a 9 mile ocr type race through mud and bog water (although so did the fr10 tbf) + this is where the baro-alt has been quite good as the fr10 using digital terrain elevation data (dted) wouldn’t record closely spaced short sharp hill climbs – this watch does. It’s also got a ‘lock keys’ feature so you don’t accidentally stop recording an activity if you have to get on your hands and knees scramble about. The silicon strap is also comfortable, holding the watch in place for taking hrm readings. Battery: with daily hrm and a 30 – 60 min gps activity ~ every 2 days it only needs charging after 10 days. Gnss: gets satellite lock usually within 5 seconds (compared to 20-30s for the fr10). – not sure if due to a better receiver, more constellations, up-to-date almanac data via bluetooth or all of the above, but it worksconnectivity: bluetooth connection to my phone has so far been seamless.
[not sure why amazon is asking me to rate its touch screen it doesn’t have one, nor does it advertise that it does. ]i was looking for a good solid watch for basic sports use. Buttons are easy to find during exercise. Battery lasts a week with daily recording of activities. Build is solid and doesn’t feel fragile. In general the watch is plenty configurable and the route recording appears to be more accurate than an older gps-only garmin. Step and floor-climb counts might be a little off but then i can’t see any real need for having these counted particularly accurately anyway. The only negative (as other reviewers have pointed out) is the not terribly useful circular screen in the upper right, which is considered a separate screen with limited configuration options. In practice this watch meets about 90% of my requirements without being overly expensive.
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