Garmin - Instinct 2 - Standard Edition (45mm)
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Last updated: Jan 13, 2026 Scoring
Garmins might do better for you then. They are great at tracking and have smart features but also get a week or more on a charge. I love my instict 2 for how simple and non intrusive it is.
r/apple • The Apple Watch SE 3 is the one to buy | Apple gave the people what they wanted, resulting in the most compelling update to the Apple Watch lineup this year. ->I use a Garmin Instinct 2 to ski up in Anchorage and I’ve never had an issue!
r/xcountryskiing • Smart Watches in Cold Weather ->The first and arguably best choice id recommend for anyone is the Garmin Instinct 2 (or the larger Instinct 2X), that’s about it, check it out and see what you think Yes it has smart notifications but you can fully turn off Bluetooth at the system level, and when you do, those notifications are completely gone just like many other models in the market, they’re not as intrusive as you think If you want something even simpler, check on the Suunto Core and if you want to go for something a bit more on the high end side, check on the Coros Vertix 2 which is a premium option but has an insane battery life, dual-band GPS and amazing performance over smart features. Funnily enough, I got both the Instinct 2 and the Coros Vertix which I alternate between but the Coros hits differ with the premium feel idk. You can try [9 Best Smartwatches Worth Investing in 2025: Hiking and Running](https://alaskanarrows.com/best-smartwatches-in-2025-for-hiking-and-running/) for others though Cheers, hope this helps!
r/backpacking • GPS watch recommendations for backcountry hiking/climbing withOUT notifications/texts/calls ->I use the Instinct 2. I do a little running, but it's mostly walking and lifting. I work in a gym and do a lot of housework so I need it to be relatively sturdy, and I'm also not interested in the many and various features more complicated ones offer. In the store, ask to try one on. The Instinct 2 is fairly chunky, so you may or may not feel comfortable with it if you've a small wrist - or hey, you might feel like you're wearing a Pip Boy (there's even a free app for a Pip Boy watchface, though I do wish the little figure would slump when your training readiness is low, that'd be cool). I'd note too that it's not a touchscreen, so they make the five buttons do a lot of work, there's a bit of a learning period in futzing about with it to get the info you want displayed. Takes a couple of weeks to figure out. It requires only weekly charging, though that might come sooner if you do tracked long hikes, since the watch itself has the GPS rather than relying on the connected phone.
r/Garmin • i dont run, i mostly walk/hike and do some gym stuff. should i get Instinct or another Garmin? ->My requirements list was almost identical to yours. I got an Instinct 2 a couple of months back (when they were on special due to imminent release of Instinct 3) I was a bit concerned about not having AMOLED. But that was lack of familiarity . I'm really happy with the MIP.
r/GarminWatches • Best Fitness/Smart Watch for me on a budget? ->If you really just want time and distance for lap swimming, I've used the previous model of this $62 watch, and it worked fine: https://a.co/d/7ChjCyh I eventually upgraded to a Garmin Instinct 2 because I wanted GPS for other activities and the ability to export more of the data. I'm very happy with my upgrade for the other features, but I don't think it's really any better for time/distance measurement.
r/Swimming • Budget Swimming smartwatches ->The Instinct is amazing. I have the basic 2. Dont let the colourless display fool you: it still has all the features of a Garmin watch, including smart ones.
r/GalaxyWatch • Think twice about Galaxy Watch if you are a runner. ->Here, here. Me too. Went from an AW6 to an Instinct 2 and eventually to a used Enduro. Couldn't be happier. I get weeks on a charge, health tracking is great, and it has all of the smarts I want but is an excellent timepiece and less of a distraction. (Bonus: new Instinct 2 + used Enduro 1 cost less than a new base model Apple Watch.) I also find the Garmin/Apple Health integration to be pretty solid. Rarely have I gone from something from Apple to something from another company and been this happy with the change.
r/Garmin • Apple Watch to Garmin Instinct 3: My experience after 6 weeks ->I love my instinct 2. I should have gotten the solar instead lol
r/hikinggear • Smart watch with GPS recommendations ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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