Customer Ratings & Reviews

OK... I had the Garmin vivoactive HR great watch. Did thr job for a couple years. The step measurement was always a bit short, and the sleep tracker was meh.. But it was a great system, lasted 5 to 6 days. But I went swimming with it, and it suffered an "unrecoverable failure". So I started researching and came down on the Garmin (yeah I trust the name) Vivoactive 3 and the Instinct. Chose the instinct because it seems tougher. Light weight, durable have had it on my wrist for a week and it's awesome. I needed a way to respond to texts without grabbing the phone (for meetings etc) Been using for 5 days.. Only lost a bar in the battery.. (I despise a smart watch you have to recharge every night.. Because frequently I'm not near my charger for a couple days. Yes.. It is not connectable to the Garmin IQ... It doesn't store music or have the Garmin pay stuff.. It's a tough workhorse watch. That looks good. To be honest the cute colored watch faces were nice (this is monochrome) but I need a watch that works in the rough environment I work in. Easy to read quick to learn the operations... It's a time piece not a wrist toy. There are 6 faces you can have. The standard black with white digital gives you, time with seconds , date, steps, sunrise sunset. A couple of button pushes brings up an accurate compass, altimeter, alternate time, weather, events messages and heart rate... You cans set it up anyway you want. Its not touch screen so ya gotta work the buttons, but it feels and looks great. Looks like a real watch.

Great watch, lasts me 2 weeks on one charge! I use it to go mushroom picking so I didn't get lost. I really like it! Tracks so many things like heart rate, sleeping, stress, steps, stairs, miles and speed while I'm GPS mode, and on and on. Really cool and not that expensive.

I just wanted a fitness tracking watch and boy did I get it. Pros 1. (Most important) this watch is ready to go out of the box. There is an app but you don't have to sync this to a smartphone to get full use. I don't want big tech controlling my health data 2. Display is crystal clear in direct sunlight 3. Heart rate is accurate 4. Workout mode is awesome, with clear HR target zones, audible and vibrate cues for lap times and amazing workout summary 5. It looks great and seems to be very rugged and durable 6. GPS syncing is accurate and keeps time adjusted 7. Battery charge goes for days (although I think it's shortened if you sync to a phone and get pushed messages, notifications etc) 8. Barometer and altimeter at this price point are nice bonuses. Cons 1. Uses a special charge cable. Mini USB would have been great since I have them everywhere 2. GPS mapping looks good but isn't overlaid with a geographical map. I really didn't expect this anyway for the $200 price point. It does give you coordinate stamps so that's nice. I can't recommend this watch enough. I'll never own one that isn't Garmin after this.

The Garmin Instinct smart watch works as advertised. It has everything that I need to monitor my heart rate, as well as letting me know how many total steps I've taken on a day by day basis and letting me know how much sleep I've been getting each night. Very helpful tool.

I still haven't gotten all of the functions down, but I love the fact it keeps track of my steps and my sleep. It keeps track of my heart beats per minute and can tell how many calories you burn, sunrise and sunset, how many miles you walk. There is a app for the phone, but I connect with my PC and read the data it logs from there. The screen puts out quite a bit of light which can help with finding keys etc...The face has many options in dark or light color. I have set my watch to military time. Sensors and charging port on back side.

This watch is amazing!!!, GPS, HR, Altitude, sunrise and sunset, calories burned, weather, stop wach, date, multi sport tracking, text messages...they though of everything. It’s water proof, shock proof and has lap feature when training. The weight lifting feature is even intuitive enough to count your reps and knows what exercise you are doing. This is the perfect watch for the multi-sport athlete. The battery life is amazing. When using the watch for normal daily features the battery will last up to 2 weeks. With the GPS on, I can get a couple days before having to recharge. Make sure to down load the user manual after purchase to learn how to use all the features. Some of the reviews were inaccurate about the text messages and other apps that I think people just didn’t learn how to use correctly. The only negative comment I would say is the boring color with few options (which I love) and this watch does not have a touch screen. Again learn how to use all the buttons and this is not a problem. In fact, with my last Garmin watch my touch screen cracked and was unusable during my first climb when my wrist hit a rock. After a month with this watch I barely even see a scratch. I would highly recommend this watch to all outdoor sports enthusiasts.

I've been using the Garmin Instinct Rugged Outdoor Watch with GPS (Model 010-02064-00) for about a month now, and I'm really impressed with it. It's a great watch for anyone who loves the outdoors, whether you're a hiker, camper, or just someone who likes to be active. The Instinct is built to last. It's made with a durable polymer case and a scratch-resistant display, and it's water-resistant to 100 meters. It also meets U.S. Military Standard 810G for thermal, shock, and water resistance. The Instinct has a built-in GPS, so you can track your runs, hikes, and other activities. It also has a heart rate monitor, so you can track your fitness levels. And it has a variety of other features, including a compass, altimeter, barometer, and weather forecast. I've been using the Instinct for a variety of activities, and it's been great. It's accurate, easy to use, and it's very durable. I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a great outdoor watch. Here are some of the pros and cons of the Garmin Instinct Rugged Outdoor Watch with GPS (Model 010-02064-00): Pros: Rugged and durable Built-in GPS Heart rate monitor Compass, altimeter, barometer, and weather forecast Long battery life Cons: The display is not as bright as some other watches The watch can be a bit bulky for some people The watch is not as stylish as some other watches Overall, I think the Garmin Instinct Rugged Outdoor Watch with GPS (Model 010-02064-00) is a great watch for anyone who loves the outdoors. It's rugged, durable, and has a variety of features that make it perfect for tracking your activities.

PROS: GPS, on-screen options for compass, pace and mileage tracking, Activity Tracking, heart rate, Smartphone features (call and message notifications, weather, music controls), Excellent battery life in smart watch mode, durable, waterproof, great for outdoor use, trail backtrack feature, compatibility with garmin connect and map apps. CONS: Very large face, black and white display I REALLY wish this had a color display, but this was the first GPS watch I was buying, and the price was unbeatable, so I decided to go for it. Aside from that, I love this watch. The controls did take a bit of getting used, as it is not a touch screen like my previous smart watch, but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty easy to use. I love that it has the most important features to me in a smart watch (notifications/calls/music controls/weather/time), but also has awesome GPS and activity tracking features. I use this watch for horseback riding, mileage and pace tracking on trail rides and on competitive rides. I was able to purchase a band in my preferred color from the garmin website. While in smartwatch mode, the battery lasts forever! My previous smartwatch had to be charged every couple of days. I only have to charge once every 10 days or so, except when I'm using the GPS, and understandably, it does need charged much more frequently when GPS is on. If you're looking for a starter GPS watch that's a great price and has great features, and are willing to try a black and white display, I'd definitely recommend this watch!

This smart watch fully fills a particular niche for outdoor activity. Excellent GPS and heart rate functionality for all outdoor activities. Rugged, waterproof, and 2 week battery life. It still does everything smart watches are advertised to do. I think the BW screen and push button functionality are more a plus than minus. Every screen is customizable. Think of this as a 4X4 SUV as opposed to an apple watch high end luxury car. Price is hard to beat for the features you get.

Ive had an apple watch for a long time and hate that i have to constantly cherge it each night. The Garmin only has to be charged about every 2-3 weeks depending on how much Gps you use. Perfect for tracking my sleep, heart rate, and other health needs.

Bought this watch because of the different reviews I have read . This watch has not disappointed. The heart rate monitor was of great interest to me and it is working just fine when at ccx test I have a low heart rate and this watch does a great job of tracking it . The GPS function works great , has a bread crumb screen and when paired we with your phone using Garmins connect app you cant see what area you covered on a full color map . The step counter , I'm not sure how accurate it is but the watch will track flights of stairs going up and coming down , which is quite accurate . You can choose different activities to track , and with all the settings , I printed out the manual which helped alot , GREAT battery time on the watch only have to recharge it every 10 days or so , that mostly depends on how much hiking I do and what gps mode I use . I gave the watch 5 STARS as it does way more than I ever expected. I also use Garmin Express and Garmin Base Camp with all my Garmin products . I recommend it , based on the fact it works for me , I have had no problems with it.

Overall I like the watch. My biggest issue is that no charger is included...only a cord. IMO, that would be fine if they explained what you need to get for a wall charger. When I look at Best Buy, most USB wall chargers seem like they would be pushing more watts/amps/volts than a small device like this could take. When I look for low watt chargers (ex. 5 watts), the only ones I can find are cheap non-UL listed models--which Garmin says will void the warranty (non UL listed). I chatted with Garmin for help but the only advice was to get a UL listed charger--no watts/amps/volts advice or cautions and apparently they don't sell one appropriate for this watch. How does it make sense not to provide this info to the customer? Other thoughts: I like the general G-Shock like appearance but would prefer more options to change the face. It is comfortable to wear. The compass seems responsive. The light is adequate and the battery life seems good so far. I like the heart rate monitor but I have yet to learn how one could record a track record by day, week or month. That would be cool if it is available. Some of the controls are a bit hidden in menus and sub menus but I guess that comes from packing a lot into one watch with only buttons. There are several little videos on the internet showing how to do various things--that is helpful but it would be cool if one could set a lot of this stuff up through a PC with a keyboard and mouse while it was hooked up. Really hoping I can get advice for a proper wall/travel charger so I'm not stuck having to charge it only through a PC USB port from fear of burning it up.

Bought this primarily for hiking. I’ve also used it at the gym. Coming from an Apple Watch this is an amazing tool for the outdoors. The battery life is incredible. Comfy. Accurate GPS and HR monitor!

The Garmin instinct smartwatch is by no means a super smartwatch. It doesn't have as many features as other watches. What it lacks in features, it makes up in functionality. I was really not too sure what to expect from this watch. It hasn't disappointed me yet. It does have a battery that lasts for two weeks in normal mode. The display is monochrome and easy to read. The built in heat rate monitor meshes in easily with my Samsung phone. It does have an illumination button which works well in low light situations. I wish it could have the mobile pay feature and a colorful screen, but then I'd probably have to recharge it every other day. I think this is a great wristwatch for the price and ir is waterproof too. If your looking for a great buy and functionality, then this wish is for you.

I bought this watch with sole intentions of tracking my mile time during long runs. Running with my phone in my pocket became tiresome and I was worried it might fall out, so I looked into buying a watch. The Garmin Instinct is, in my opinion, the best option for someone who wants a versatile and durable watch but doesn’t want to spend over $300. I use this for everything now. I get my text notifications, alarms, weather updates, heart bpm, time, and daily steps from this watch now. Best of all, it’s waterproof so I never have to take it off other than to charge it, which thankfully I only have to do about every three days. This watch is incredibly useful for anyone who wants to accurately assess their daily fitness routines.

I ranked it a 4 star because the first one I had just decided to not hold a battery charge after 11 months of use. I did get the extended warranty and it was very easy from best buy to swap the watch out for free. I absolutely love this watch other than that one issue. The battery life last at least 5 days on heavy use. I walk or hike 4 to 6 days a week and always track my hikes. It uses GPS and gives me a map of the area I traveled, the time i started and finished, keeps me notified on my heart rate every 15 minutes, and distance I have traveled. I went from a fitbit to the Garmin and I am completely satisfied with this watch. I just hope the battery does crap out on me in 10 months again.

This watch was replacing a Casio pro track originally I replaced it with an I watch. The nightly routine of charging a watch in addition to my phone and iPad was a bit much. We started looking for other watches. I found this one and it has been great. Battery life is great. The watch can track your route on a walk, heart rate, blood pressure, overall stress level, overall Body energy level. The app complements the watch well. It tracks how while you were sleeping, hydration. Overall great product.

I had planned to use this mainly for my kayak and hiking Adventures where it works exceptionally but the ability to set alarms for my heart rate and see how my sleep habits etc are all bonuses. Having a large amount of acreage to maintain i was shocked how many steps and flights of stairs we traversed during our maintenance of our Shangri-la. If you're on the fence you should pull the trigger and get yourself one.

My first smartwatch. Goal was to find a comfortable wearable to supplement cycling head unit and use phone as emergency back up only. Primary activities are cycling and running with Strava as primary storage/social interface. This one hits the mark in all areas. Strengths: Comfortable and rugged. Not obscenely large or cute and fragile. Activities are readily available and easy to use. Button interface is intuitive. Pairs with phone to provide text and call notifications. Easy interface with on line apps (Strava) Heart rate is accurate when comparing to external strap. Rudimentary navigation & compass. Excellent battery life. Weakness: Altitude is often off. easy correction in the garmin connect and strava apps. This one meets all expectations at a great price point.

I got this to use at work more than working out or activities. As a police officer I need something durable that doesn’t end up on the charger every other day. If I turn it off over night I’m getting 2-3 weeks out of the battery. The text notifications are great. The heart rate monitor and trackers seem to be accurate as well. I got this as a hopeful comparison to my g shock and haven’t been disappointed yet