Garmin Instinct 2X Solar: Light up the night with this rugged GPS sports watch

Improvements include extended solar power, multi-band GNSS, and more

Apr 12, 2023

The Garmin Instinct line of GPS sports watches are built for people who spend time outside in conditions where other watches might give up the fight. Instinct watches are built to last with a protective case that shields the display from most bumps and bruises while the internal components are sealed up for your outdoor adventure.

Last year I enjoyed testing the Garmin Instinct 2 Solar and used it for my main device for a couple of months. I eventually moved to using a Garmin Enduro 2 as my primary wearable thanks in large part to its fantastic powerful LED flashlight and I couldn’t wait to see more companies add it to watches focused on activities performed in various environmental conditions.

Today, we see that Garmin stepped up to include the LED flashlight in the Instinct 2X Solar and I think this is the perfect platform to include this extremely useful feature. I’ve used the LED flashlight on the Enduro 2 almost daily for the last several months (no, really I use it a LOT) and mounting it on a Garmin wearable designed for rugged conditions is absolutely perfect.

Another perfect compliment to the new Garmin Instinct 2X Solar is the support for Obstacle Course Racing. I tested out an Apple Watch Ultra in a 15k Tough Mudder event last year, along with a COROS Vertix 2, and a watch like the Instinct 2X Solar is great for a competition like that with many obstacles littered around the course. It makes even more sense for courses like I used to complete when I was at the US Coast Guard Academy or courses where you run through the course multiple times.

The Garmin Instinct 2X Solar has a similar look and feel to the existing Instinct 2 Solar models, built to satisfy MIL-STD-810 standards for shock and a water resistant rating of 10 ATM. The 50mm fiber-reinforced polymer case is available in four colors; Flame Red, Graphite, Moss, and Whitestone. It is priced at $449.99.

Garmin also offers a Tactical Edition that is optimized for military tactical operations, including night vision compatibility, with two available colors. This model is priced at $499.99. Stealth mode is also provided so that GPS is not shared and wireless communication is disabled. You can see the GPS location on the watch face, but it is not saved to the device or shared from the watch.

Solar charging is provided with a scratch-resistant Power Glass lens. Garmin states it provides 50% more energy than the Instinct 2 Solar and will provide unlimited battery life in smartwatch mode.

All of the powerful and extensive Garmin functionality is provided on the Instinct 2X Solar, including advanced sleep monitoring, 24/7 health and wellness tracking, Garmin Pay, HRV, and much more.