The new Garmin Instinct is a new breed of smartwatch. It’s a durable GPS watch with a built-in 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter plus multiple global navigation systems (GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo) support and wrist-based heart rate.
The Instinct is designed for active outdoor users with built-in sports apps, smart connectivity, and wellness data. It’s super durable due to its military standard construction (MIL-STD-810G) for thermal, shock and water resistance (rated to 100 meters) with a fiber reinforced polymer case.
It’s built with a chemically strengthed and scratch-resistant display that’s easy-to-read, especially in direct sunlight. Plus, the fully vented silicone bands include two independent, removable keeper loops to ensure a secure fit.
The multiple GNSS satellite networks help track your location in more challenging environments than with just GPS alone.
Before venturing out, use the Garmin Explore app to plan the trip in advance and when it’s time to head back to camp, the TracBack feature on the watch can navigate the same route back to the original starting point.
With a built-in wrist-based heart rate monitor, users can monitor daily activity, stress, sleep, and other wellness data. Whether camping, on a training run or going through day-to-day activities, Instinct keeps track of heart rate, steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned and more.
Hiking, running, biking, swimming, kayaking, and skiing are just a few of the activities supported on the device. Through heart rate variability, the Instinct can track stress levels, allowing the user to be more aware of when physical or emotional sources may cause stress levels to rise.
When paired with a compatible smartphone, Instinct users can leave their phone packed away and protected while they receive smart notifications like texts, emails, and other alerts right on the wrist.
Instinct is compatible with Garmin Connect, an online fitness community where users can track workouts, sleep patterns such as how much time spent in light, deep and REM cycles, and even compete in virtual fitness challenges.
The Instinct will also be compatible with other Garmin devices including inReach Mini, VIRB action cameras and dog tracking devices. Send and receive inReach Mini satellite communication messages’ declare an SOS, control the VIRB start and stop function and get dog status updates and alerts for viewing at a glance on the watch.
Instinct features a battery life of up to 14 days in smartwatch mode, up to 16 hours in GPS mode, and up to 40 hours in UltraTrac battery saver mode. It is available in Graphite, Tundra and Flame Red for a suggested retail price of $299.99.
