Garmin Instincte 2S - Solar Graphite
$399.99
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Guests are saying
The Garmin Instinct 2S Solar watch offers a blend of durability, functionality, and style, making it an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiasts and fitness lovers alike. Guests appreciate its robust battery life, solar charging capabilities, and health tracking features. While some have experienced challenges with the solar functionality and user interface, many find it reliable for tracking activities and monitoring health metrics. Its compact design is particularly favored by those with smaller wrists, enhancing comfort during daily wear.
Summary created by AI from text of reviews reflecting recent feedback provided across different star ratings (includes incentivized reviews)
4.3 out of 5 stars with 183 reviews
3 out of 5 stars
22 October, 2026
originally posted on Garmin
Disappointed in Solar feature
Bought the watch excited about solar recharging capability. Unfortunately, after nearly two years, I feel that feature has been a disappointment. I live in Arizona, so plenty of sun exposure, and I spend a lot of time outdoors. Despite what seems would be ideal conditions for solar charging, I’ve never noticed an extension in battery. After doing some research, I learned that solar power collection is dependent on size of watch face. The smaller model I purchased (for the same price as the 45mm) apparently captures significantly less solar energy. I wish that had been advertised because I would have considered purchasing the oversized version, even though I’m a petite person. More recently, I’ve also experienced issues with heart rate and HRV monitoring, specifically post software updates. For a watch that I haven’t owned for two years, having core health tracking features become unreliable is frustrating.
5 out of 5 stars
31 August, 2026
originally posted on Garmin
Great little rugged watch
It's small, light, and has lots of features. The MIP display looks retro-futuristic cool and the small circular cutout gives it character. No maps or course (though you can load routes to follow) but as a rugged watch to track your activities it's great.
5 out of 5 stars
5 May, 2026
originally posted on Garmin
Great Outside Watch
I've had this Watch for a few months now and love it more than my Venu 2 watch. Even though the Screen is not touch screen like the Venu.i feel this is better for outside use since i can see the display screen while running in the sun. The Venu watch was hard to see while outside and make it difficult to mark my activities. It easy to navigate and accurately keeps track of my steps, activities, stress, sleep ect. It always stays paired to my phone and takes only a few hours to fully charge. I think this is an awesome watch and i would recommend it to anyone wanting to use Garmin.
2 out of 5 stars
4 May, 2026
originally posted on Garmin
Battery not made to last as expected for price.
The watch was great initially, loved the many features, but now the battery life is so short that I am quite dissatisfied. I used to go for days with use of GPS tracked activity including kayaking for hours, now if I use GPS activity tracking for an hour run it won't last the next day. For this price I would expect the battery to last longer. I understand all lithium batteries eventually start failing but I feel this is way too soon to have this significant of a battery issue.
5 out of 5 stars
13 January, 2026
originally posted on Garmin
3 yrs later and my Solar Instinct is a perfect
My Solar Instinct has been invaluable to me for me reasons. I purchased it at the end of 2022 to wear during my Pacific Crest Trail hike. I am a 65 year old female, 62 when I started my through hike on the PCT. I now live on my son's goat farm and work outside in rain and sun. I milk the 100+ female goats and muck out barns. This watch has endured the harsh conditions like a champion. It has never failed me. I use it for monitoring my sleep, heart rate, steps taken, weather, date, time, reading my phone text, alarms and souch more. It holds a charge for days. I have even answered my phone calls using it. I use it to find my phone many, many times. I am a big fan. I wear 24 hours a day. I luuuuuuuvvvv this smart watch highly recommend it!!??
5 out of 5 stars
8 January, 2026
originally posted on Garmin
Nice watch and sports tracker
I’m enjoying the watch. Great battery life. I track walks and hikes with watch ( I have an edge 840 for Mtb rides, my main hobby). I like all the stats available in the connect app on phone too!
1 out of 5 stars
9 December, 2025
originally posted on Garmin
Terrible
I bought this watch because I liked the battery life and sleep tracking. Unfortunately I could not figure out how to work this watch - I was pushing all the buttons all the time trying to get a workout tracker going, I think eventually I hit the right button, but the second night I wore the watch, it didn’t track my sleep. I don’t know if I accidentally disabled it, but it was so infuriating to try to use this watch that I just wanted to throw it against the wall. Do yourself a favor and get an easier to operate watch.
5 out of 5 stars
6 October, 2025
originally posted on ExpertVoice.com
(no review title)
Absolutely love this watch. I wear it almost every day, even when I'm not doing outdoor activities. I especially appreciated Garmin making a smaller version, because some of these tracking smartwatches are just giant on smaller wrists. This one does allllmost everything the big ones do, without feeling obtrusive.
5 out of 5 stars
30 September, 2025
originally posted on ExpertVoice.com
(no review title)
I don't think I'd bother getting the solar version if they continue making that as an option, when you're actually active it seems nearly impossible to actually take advantage of that. The rest of the watch does exactly what I wanted, without too much other junk to worry about. Basically just wanted something to record basic health info and track mountain bike rides and it does both of those well.
4 out of 5 stars
26 September, 2025
originally posted on Garmin
Poor readability.
I bought the Instinct 2S Solar several weeks ago and am still fumbling through settings on the watch! The small brochure that came with it was of little help. I had to watch some YouTube videos to set some of the less basic settings. Not intuitively designed! The other issue is the tiny script. I’m a young 60 and wear readers, but not in the pool- some tweaks to background lighting and increases font size would be helpful. While I know there is a learning curve, I am generally a quick study. This watch is a bit frustrating, hence the 4/5 stars!! Could also be some glare on the watch face. Visibility is my main issue.
3 out of 5 stars
26 September, 2025
originally posted on Garmin
Problems with good tutorials
Only average until I can learn how to use it. I totally like the watch but am overwhelmed with how to find approiate tutorials. Beware as some of the tutorials on line have unexpected charges and some appear to be scams.
From Care team
Hi there and thank you for taking the time to write this! Here is a direct link to all of our tutorial videos that we have created for that watch! http://ms.spr.ly/6421ssYEN
1 year ago
5 out of 5 stars
23 September, 2025
originally posted on ExpertVoice.com
(no review title)
Very durable, amazing battery life. Not huge into the daily metrics but nice to follow long term trends
4 out of 5 stars
21 September, 2025
originally posted on Garmin
interesting
Nice watch, lots of features, but I won't use most of them . wrist band is difficult to use, about two holes shot. I take it off when I shower, not sure I trust the fact that it is waterproof. I am looking forward to trying out the few features that appeal to me.
4 out of 5 stars
5 September, 2025
originally posted on Garmin
Overall a good buy
I primarily bought this watch for the solar charging, step count, and sunrise/sunset times (helps with my job). I do seem to have a couple quirks with it that I can't figure out yet, although there's the potential this is user error. I can't seem to get the solar charging to work, but thankfully the battery life is long so I don't have to charge every day or two, which is a major reason I've never bought a smartwatch before this. (Note: logging during hiking will go through battery much faster than logging the hike afterwards.) It seems I have to log an activity (i.e. hiking), it won't automatically log a workout like one my apps does, which is fine. I connected it to my FitOn app hoping that at least those exercises would automatically sync up, and while they're obviously connected in some way, the exercises don't show up on my Activity list, so I still have to log the workout. It's entirely possible there are easy fixes to these issues. Overall, I do like the watch and am happy with my purchase! I like that it's customizable in several ways, and I enjoy the sleep report it gives me each morning. I like that I can fit a ton of information on the screen, but it doesn't feel too bulky, even with my small wrists.
1 out of 5 stars
15 August, 2025
originally posted on Garmin
Seized up
The watch has some good features however, the watched faced seized up and would not unlock and change features. Glad I did not use this watch for a through hike or any activity I would have depended on it.
5 out of 5 stars
3 August, 2025
originally posted on Garmin
Garmin Instinct 2 Solar
My first “smart” watch, Gen Xer, and after a bit of research I’m so happy with choosing Garmin! I looked at a few other name brands and they have the watch that I was looking for. Very easy to use, hardly needs to charge with the solar capability, not pretentiously large, great app, tech that pertains to me and skips the noise - oh and military grade rugged. I upload the health metrics to ai and it helps me to stay on track. I’ve been using now for just under a month and I’m very happy with my purchase.
5 out of 5 stars
1 August, 2025
originally posted on Garmin
New watch instinct 2 s solar
Replaced a first gen Instinct. So Many new performance metrics! Also can do heart rate during a swim. Only quibble is the short wrist strap so I’m going to have to purchase a longer one
1 out of 5 stars
26 July, 2025
originally posted on Garmin
Very disappointed
Very difficult to set up. The watch kept resetting and I couldn’t get past setting up Garmin pay which I did not want to do. Also the band is too small for a male with a 7” wrist. I returned this after struggling with it for 2 hours.
5 out of 5 stars
14 July, 2025
originally posted on Garmin
Very useful
I've used both a Samsung smartwatch as well as a Fitbit. I find the Garmin Instinct the best I've used so far. I like the no frill appearance and the plethora of information on the watch face. I trust the information accumulated because it is a Garmin. If I had to give one criticism, it woyld be the lack of colorful nonsilicone replacement bands.
5 out of 5 stars
14 July, 2025
originally posted on Garmin
Motivation plus!
I could not be happier with my purchase over 3 years ago; the Garmin Instinct S2 Solar! Awesome technology, every activity at your fingertips and the ability to create a manual workout. Looking back at weight, miles I have run or walked, weight training etcetera, has motivated me to achieve every goal and more! I was hesitant to purchase since I am a petite female, 67 years young. My fitness age is down to 58.5, per Garmin watch app. Best decision ever to buy!