Interested in instinct

Hello,

I use the track back function a lot. I just need it to provide me a general direction/bearing and the distance remaining. Now the ETA also works great too and has been always accurate in my different uses of the Instinct.
You can even make a short cut for Man Over Board quick position record and track back.

It is very simple and handy to use. Personally, I don't need cartography on an inch square screen, I got Garmin Explorer / Maps on my phone or tablet. A push of a button: I mark the spot. Easy to come back to it guided by the watch.

The watch is reliable and accessible whatever the weather or the conditions (rain, snow or marine).
It is fast in getting a GPS/Galileo/Glonass fix and tracking calculations. I just want/need that kind of features with no fancy menus or complicate to read maps and with the Garmin Instinct great contrasted screen.

The instinct is a light tool/smart watch you forget until you need it. It also brings the classical ABC watches and chronometers functions at the simple touch of a key. Really it is the all terrain companion I wanted from Casio and their Protrek Line.

I more or less got mine because of Mountain Biking. I was using my phone to track rides with Strava but I really didn't like riding with my phone on the handlebars in harms way. I did not wear any watch before, didn't like watches and didn't really want one.

The Instinct came out literally right as I started to look for a device to help me track my riding easier, and I wanted a HRM as well, I probably would have put off buying a device if I didn't instantly like the Instinct for everything it wasn't. If not for the HRM I probably would have been looking more into an Edge unit maybe, but the watch sort of rolled all of what I wanted into a nice package and was more versatile than just for cycling. I want to get into hiking more, I have kayaks, and I already camp a lot, so it being rugged and useful as a general GPS and sensor tool was appealing because it would be useful for whatever I got into.

Now that I have it I absolutely love the thing, wear it constantly. You've had other watches so probably not as big a jump in functionality for you, but this thing was perfect for what I wanted. I like it interacts with the phone enough to be handy, but it's not intended to do what the phone does.

You may already have them but I got the Speed/Cadence sensors for my bike to work with the watch, really works well I think and helps the accuracy a lot on those tight windy trails that is a nightmare for a GPS. Sorry I don't have more input on track back, I don't really use that feature as I'm usually just recording where I go and navigate with my phone or a trail map. I may use it more in the future.

If you fit the niche they made the Instinct for, you'll love it. People who want more doo dads for urban life and social media on their wrist won't care for it.

And as someone who nerds out over military gear, you gave me a whole rabbit hole to go down with that DAGR, that thing is cool! Looks to be built like a brick, like a Garmin 12 on steroids.

I'm coming from the whole line up of protreks and gshocks. After which I decided I need GPS functionality (also I'm a data freak :) ) so been through Suunto Ambits, Vivoactive HR and Vivoactive 3.
Sunnto Ambit was a best option for me until I realised how inacurate the sensors are and how shocking Suuntos customer service is.
Garmin Fenix line is waaay too much for what I needed.
Garmin vivomove hr and 3 where cool but I hate the touch screen on a watch. Had the Instinct for 3 weeks now and still have the bad reflex not to grab it by the face or not to touch the screen.

Instinct is still just a watch with very well implemented ABC, activity tracking, emergency navigation and one or two smart watch functions (music controls and notification). And in a rugged edition with decent battery life. For me perfect balance as a outdoorsman watch.

So basically, is this watch worth it? Does it do what it says it will? Is the lack of the IQ store a hinder to the product?

Yes. Yes. No

This watch is the watch you are looking for! I have had the Fenix 5, Forerunner 935 and Fenix 5x and finally the Instinct. I have been using it for a few months now
and I do not miss the other watches at all!
As NemoSandman said, the whole maps on a coin-sized screen idea just doesn't work for me. At first I thought it would be really usefull... but in the end I did not use it at all.
The Instinct gives a nice line to follow which is really simple and accurate. Trackback feature just works, follow the line and you will arrive. Don't know what you mean with Back to State but
all the tracking/backtracking functions just work as they should.

GPS is really fast and accurate, even more accurate than the 5X (probably metal bezel vs plastic). I usually have a stable fix in 5 seconds.
I have used a DAGR as well during military training and during this trip through the woods I actually used my Garmin (which was the Fenix 5 I believe, Instinct works as well if not better) to get a proper direction as the DAGR was all over the place... saved me and my buddies lots of extra walking ;).
The Instinct indeed is a wearable DAGR but easier to use and to carry of course.

Battery life is pretty good, about 2 weeks without using GPS and 1,5 weeks or so with some activities.
In the beginning it had some miner issues, but these are all solved and I actually can not think of a bug or anything that botters me.

The watch is worth it, it does what it says and you will not miss the IQ store. At least I don't. All the things you need are on the watch.
Don't think twice, buy it and use it. I believe you will not be disappointed. And if you are afraid you will be disappointed, well then make sure you can return it.

Good luck! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

Kind regards,
Marc

I more or less got mine because of Mountain Biking. I was using my phone to track rides with Strava but I really didn't like riding with my phone on the handlebars in harms way. I did not wear any watch before, didn't like watches and didn't really want one.

You may already have them but I got the Speed/Cadence sensors for my bike to work with the watch

People who want more doo dads for urban life and social media on their wrist won't care for it.

And as someone who nerds out over military gear, you gave me a whole rabbit hole to go down with that DAGR, that thing is cool! Looks to be built like a brick, like a Garmin 12 on steroids.

Brave man putting it on your handlebars. LOL. I usually have mine in my pocket. Speed/Cadence sensors are on my road bike, but I dont even really care about tracking that. I dont use it for anything other than gee wiz info. The watch itself does a decent enough job of tracking speed.

Only thing I really like as far as smart watch is getting the text notifications and to see who is calling so I can see if its worth pulling out my phone or not.

The DAGR is great if its programmed correct and calibrated correctly. And then the biggest issue is making sure the satellites are still connected. The worst part about the DAGR is its size, and it being a brick like you mentioned. But when companies like Garmin make a device that is 3/4 the size and way less weight than the DAGR, its irritating when we still use it vs a Garmin that I put on my wrist.

Don't know what you mean with Back to State but
all the tracking/backtracking functions just work as they should.

The watch is worth it, it does what it says and you will not miss the IQ store. At least I don't. All the things you need are on the watch.
Don't think twice, buy it and use it. I believe you will not be disappointed. And if you are afraid you will be disappointed, well then make sure you can return it.

That was supposed to be Back To Start. It sounded like instead of track back and following your path this just puts you on the most direct route back to your start point.

I dont really use the IQ Store much now other than to get an MGRS widget so I can see my current location in a 10 digit. I dont think Ill be disappointed in it. Im a pretty big fan of Garmin and I feel like they really hit the nail on the head with this watch.


Thank you EVERYBODY who commented so far on your feedback. Im pretty sure Ill be picking one of these up for my birthday (May) / Fathers Day (June). Have already talked to the wife about it.

I use to have an Vivoactive HR and i strongly suggest the instinct, lot`s of way to customize the watch face and the activities screens.

Also, it`s stronger than others watches. fits nicely and you can change the band easily and buy a different one easily too.

Hi all, I've been using watches for a long time, always has been the same thing. I like a watch I research about it, I buy it to then realize all the things it is missing.
I do use a few Casio, a Garmin Vivoactive (3 years now) and a Garmin Edge for road and mountain biking.

Two weeks ago I realized about the Instinct watch, I completely love it. It has a lot of tools but without losing the watch essentials (alarms, vibe, handy countdowns, stopwatch). It really is a game changer for me. Since I bought the vivoactive I've been happy with it but also struggling for the lack of essentials it had. I think it joins the world of smartwatches (simply ones), sport watches, outdoor and g shocks.

Honestly I was about to buy a Casio with steps tracking and bluetooth for almost the same price.. I was lucky to delay that buy.

Today is my first week using the Instintct, I love it!