Instinct 2: Reviewing Garmin’s GPS Watch

Garmin’s newest multisport smartwatch, the Instinct 2 Series, offers variety and choice on all levels at a great price. The Garmin Instinct 2 is robust with features as well, especially when compared to the original Instinct smartwatch. Garmin added several new features for this model upgrade, making this a strong value if you are in search of a reliable sports watch that can help you train, compete, track, or workout. As with many Garmin smartwatches, the Instinct Series offers a 2 and 2S version, as well as Standard versus Solar.

But within the Instinct 2/2S Series is even more variety. Garmin created five different models, each with their own unique smart features that are quite different from one another. See the varieties below with some key smartwatch differences noted:

Standard

• 2 and 2S
• Solar: both options available
• No Garmin Pay

Camo

• 2 and 2S
• Solar: no solar option available
• No Garmin Pay

Tactical

• 2 and 2S: 45mm only
• Solar: no standard option, solar only
• Includes extra Tactical Smart features

Surf

• 2 and 2S: both options available
• Solar: both options available
• Extra water sports tracking with Tide Data, Surf Activity, Surfline®, Surfline Sessions™ App, Windsurfing Activity, and a Kiteboarding Activity

dēzl™

• 2 and 2S: 45mm only
• Solar: no solar option available
• Special Trucking/Driving Smart Features like Truck Driver Workouts, Workout Tutorials, Easy Break Planning, Truck Plaza Loyalty Programs, and compatibility with dēzl™ OTR Truck Navigators

Design

Garmin’s second Instinct series builds off the original design by continuing a trend of resiliency, ruggedness, and reliability.

Overall Design of Instinct 2 Series

The Tactical and dēzl™ versions of the Instinct 2 only come in the larger 45mm case size, while the other three editions all offer both case sizes: 40 or 45mm. Between the 5 editions and two sizes, there are 20 total color combinations you can select, though these are limited to your chosen model. The best part of this smartwatch’s design is that it is designed as a rugged sports watch suitable for all tough sports and activities.

Wear & Tear

If you’re into water sports, you might prefer the surf. If you’re into backcountry camping or hiking, you might prefer the Tactical. And if you’re looking for toughness mixed with style, the all-black Instinct® 2 – dēzl™ is a classy choice. No matter your preferred watch style, each model is made to last. The Tactical and Surf stay protected with Power Glass, and the remaining models use chemically strengthened glass.

The case size might have you think Garmin’s Instinct 2 is a heavier smartwatch. However, the bezel and case are made of reinforced polymer, making these relatively lighter sport watches. There is about a 10g increase between the 40 and the 45mm cases, so not much weight is added.

Instinct 2: New & Niche Features

Safety Features

You’ll have access to three of Garmin Connect’s enhanced smart safety features. And if you’re in the market for an Instinct 2 for your outdoor or lone adventures, these can help keep you connected with emergency contacts as long as you have a network connection and your smartphone nearby. No matter the Instinct 2 model you choose, you can stay connected on workouts with Livetrack, Garmin Incident Detection, or Assistance.

Livetrack enables your loved ones/emergency contacts to literally track you as you move via GPS. As a woman, I know I could easily appreciate this on a simple walk, a lone hike, or solo camping adventure. Run into issues while out alone? The Assistance feature allows you to send an instant automated message to those same contacts if you have any trouble on your workout, whether Livetrack is enabled or not.

Incident Detection is a more limited safety feature, in terms of the activities that you can use it with, but it can be a wonderful tool for the elderly or chronically ill. If your Instinct detects a spill, fall, or sudden reduction or stop in activities, it will notify your contact of your exact location. If you think you may be prone to setting this off by accident, you can disable Incident Detection.

Smart Features

No matter your activity, Garmin’s Smart Notifications included on the Instinct 2 help you keep track of incoming calls and texts. And if you’re on Android, you can reject incoming calls or reply to texts from your wrist. Your Instinct 2 is also able to connect you to your smartphone’s music, making it a great smartwatch for music listening or for running.

One impressive section of the Instinct’s smart capabilities are its training, planning, and analysis features. Garmin offers numerous ways to stay on track and on top of your workouts with things like a Heart Rate Broadcast to your paired device, Advanced Workout, Interval Training, Workout Suggestions, Audio Prompts, and Virtual Partner, just to name a few.

This is also one of Garmin’s few smartwatches to offer Smart Trainer Control, allowing you to pair your smartwatch with the third-party apps from your smart bike, for example, and to the bike itself.

Instinct 2 Tactical Features

Not all of Garmin’s smartwatches come with Tactical Features. In fact, only a few do. And the Instinct 2 Tactical model is the only Garmin smartwatch to offers this many. The Tactical edition has:

• Stealth Mode: Turns off the tracking, storing, and sharing of your GPS position and disables wireless connectivity.
• Night Vision Mode: Screen can be viewed easily while wearing night vision goggles.        
• Dual Grid Coordinates: Know your EXACT location, no questions.   
• Kill Switch: Careful with this one! It wipes your device clean of any data.

Standard, Camo, Surf, and dēzl™ editions all have Dual Grid Coordinates, though none of the other modes listed above.

Instinct 2 dēzl Smart Trucking Features

You might be hard-pressed to find another trucking-focused smartwatch on the market. But that is why we love Garmin: they offer historically well-made products for all walks of life, all sorts of professions, and a range of budgets. So how can Garmin help truckers, or those who drive a lot for work? The dēzl line helps by suggesting workouts that target the trucker lifestyle (frequent sitting, little leg movement, long hours), but also by helping you plan adequate breaks from the road.

This smartwatch is based on a popular and well-reviewed Garmin GPS and navigation system (the dēzl™ OTR Series) created specifically for truckers.

Battery Life

As with any Garmin solar smartwatch series, the Instinct 2 Solar options will offer far-better battery life than their Standard Editions. Like the original Garmin Solar Instinct, with the Solar Instinct 2 Series, you can expect essentially unlimited battery life.

Even if you opt for a standard smartwatch with a battery, the Instinct 2 still offers unbeatable battery life that can be measured in weeks and made to last further with Garmin Battery Saver Mode. This lifespan might only be beaten by other Garmin watches.

Should you Buy a Garmin Instinct 2?

The price is certainly right on Garmin’s new multisport GPS smartwatch. But besides helping your budget, we also think you should buy one if you’re looking for robust physical training features or niche features like surfing, trucking, or tactical modes. There seem to be endless features among all the Instinct 2 Editions, but this smartwatch isn’t just for more specific niche sports.

This may be the right GPS smartwatch if you simply enjoy the outdoors a lot, and prefer to be out biking, running, swimming, or roughing it on adventures. In addition to helping you train or track, the Instinct 2 can also help keep you safe and keep you on your path.

While the price ($350-$500 depending on the model you choose) is excellent for the number of features the Instinct offers, you may not want to invest if this is maybe your first smartwatch experience. If that’s the case, Garmin may still have a watch for you. Take a look at our rundown of other Garmin smartwatches.

Last Updated on March 23, 2022