Instinct MTB route navigation

Former Member over 5 years ago

Hi all,

I’m almost convinced the instinct is the watch for me but I just want to double check the navigation functions. My goal is that when I go mountain biking I can open up the trails on the watch to get me to the head of them. A couple of questions:

- Firstly, would the watch be suitable for finding preloaded trails on a hill to help navigate to their heads? Or am I needing a different watch, is this even helpful?

- Can multiple tracks be open at once? Say multiple tracks at one junction, can you see the name of each track?

- How many tracks can be saved at once on the watch. The typical hubs for me may have 5-10 tracks, can these all be stored at once?

- Does anyone use Trailforks track files and use them on the watch?

Thank you!

Top Replies

Dan.Boilermaker over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member +1 suggested

One can be creative while designing a route which could include multiple trails. You can also load the 5 trails to the watch under 5 different routes that happen to begin at the same point. Again, you…

All Replies

0 Dan.Boilermaker over 5 years ago

The Instinct does not have the capability you are describing. Look at an Edge 530 or a Fenix.

0 seilogramp over 5 years ago

I agree with Dan.Boilermaker. Sounds like you really want a device with routable maps. The Edge 530 being the lower cost option.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to Dan.Boilermaker

Would you suggest it would be enough to get navigation to at least the head of the tracks? I’m trying to avoid a computer like the Edge so the watch can be used for my running etc. The Fenix in Australia is a tad out of my budget, if I can avoid it it would be great. But it seems like a may have to bend for the fenix?

0 Dan.Boilermaker over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

Yes, the Instinct is capable of getting you to a trail head. The Instinct, however, does not have any built-in maps. It will navigate a course that is created via a suitable tool like Garmin Connect and then downloaded to the watch. Take a quick read here for more info:

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=tWx3JQyjlU474jqa91EJs8

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to Dan.Boilermaker

Awesome I think thats honestly enough! The last question is, could you for example load in 5 trails under one course if they all start from the same rise? That way you could open it up and see where to head within the same area?

0 Dan.Boilermaker over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

One can be creative while designing a route which could include multiple trails. You can also load the 5 trails to the watch under 5 different routes that happen to begin at the same point. Again, you won't see a "map" on the watch face, You will see a dark line that represents the course shape related to GPS coordinates that can be navigated. I'm not trying to dissuade you from selecting an Instinct (I absolutely love mine), I just want you to know how the watch actually functions.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to Dan.Boilermaker

That is pretty much exactly what I wanted to hear! I’ll be getting an instinct then. Thank you!

0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

Hey mate,

Just wondering how you went with the instinct? I have been eyeing it off for some time as a wearable.

My goal is to have a watch so that when i am out on the trails I dont have to pull my phone out every time there is an intersection to see which way i should be going (I was riding through Glenrock recently and the amount of times i had to pull my phone out was so frustrating).

From the above it looks like it is compatible with Trail Forks and as long as the appropriate maps are pre-loaded, it should work well?

(Also, I agree, the fenix is a bit expensive in Australia - plus I like the look of the instinct)

0 Dan.Boilermaker over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

The Instinct doesn't have any pre-loaded maps like the Fenix. You can download a route to the Instinct, but it will look like a dark line on the face of the watch that will follow the shape of the route. Look closely at the marketing photos showing the dark line route. Not maps... (https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/621802/pn/010-02064-00)

0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

Hi mate,

I love it! I mapped all the Trailforks lines in the Garmin Explore App which are pretty much there in the app anyway. There is also a neat little handle bar mount you can use too if twisting your wrist is annoying. Battery life is almost at 1 week with 2 bars left with a few runs under my belt. I’m also super impressed the notifications work fairly well as I didn’t have much hope for IOS playing nicely with them. All in all I’m stoked so far.