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Garmin: Instinct Solar Rugged Outdoor Watch w/ GPS with 3 Year Warranty Expired

$250
$399.99
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+88 Deal Score
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Edited November 20, 2021 at 03:27 AM by
(Starts 11/12 12AM ET)


Link to all [buydig.com]

Instinct Solar
Garmin Instinct Solar Rugged Outdoor Watch w/ GPS with 3 Year Warranty $250Garmin Instinct Solar Rugged Outdoor Watch Camo Edition with 3 Year Warranty $300Garmin Instinct Solar Rugged Outdoor Watch Surf Edition with 3 Year Warranty $300Garmin Instinct Solar Rugged Outdoor Watch Tactical Edition with 3 Year Warranty $300
  • Black [buydig.com] OOS
  • Moss [buydig.com]
    • 3 Year warranty which also covers accidental damage will be auto-added to cart along with the watches. Warranty will start 30 days after purchase. More info here [buydig.com]
Vivoactive 4 /4s
Garmin Vivoactive 4 GPS Smartwatch $190Garmin vivoactive 4S GPS Smartwatch $190Venu 2S
Garmin Venu 2S Fitness Smartwatch $350Assorted
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Works way better on Android (former Note series user). On my iPhone in order for an activity to sync automatically, the Garmin Connect app must be open. On my Notes, the activity would sync immediately then when I opened garmin connect it was already there. Also on Android, you can select which notifications you want to receive on the watch. iPhone doesn't allow this.
It's probably Apple being Apple.

But still I would take a Garmin Fenix or Instinct Solar over an Apple Watch all day. Why would I need another phone on my wrist? And that you'll have to charge every night? Then Apple will make you feel like a loser if you don't upgrade the next year
·
I think the S just means its 40mm face instead of 45mm, but I may be wrong.
·
It depends on what is your application. What features are important to you (the must vs would be nice), what are you willing to sacrifice for other features or price, etc.
Stylsh: Vivoactive or Venu
Running: Forerunner
Outdoor: Instinct
Multi-sport fancy: Fenix
Each line, in turn has versions. The higher the number, the more you pay and get.
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Joined Oct 2008
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> bubble2 7,095 Posts
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RumbleTheBison
11-14-2021 at 06:05 PM.
11-14-2021 at 06:05 PM.
Is this better than the 935? Feels like two different use cases but I can see some overlap…
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Joined Mar 2005
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need
11-15-2021 at 04:12 AM.
11-15-2021 at 04:12 AM.
Quote from RumbleTheBison :
Is this better than the 935? Feels like two different use cases but I can see some overlap…

I have the 935 and don't do triathlons.
I still want an Instinct though the overlapping features indicates that I don't need it. I like the way it looks.
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mpetrovsky
11-15-2021 at 04:56 AM.
11-15-2021 at 04:56 AM.
Quote from RumbleTheBison :
Is this better than the 935? Feels like two different use cases but I can see some overlap…
Different audience. Forerunner (regardless of model) is for runners, Instinct is mostly for hikers.
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Joined Oct 2008
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> bubble2 7,095 Posts
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RumbleTheBison
11-15-2021 at 08:26 AM.
11-15-2021 at 08:26 AM.
Quote from mpetrovsky :
Different audience. Forerunner (regardless of model) is for runners, Instinct is mostly for hikers.
Yea I may stick with the 935 as it's a gift. I may thought pick this up for myself just because I can picture a scenario where I'm barely charging my watch as I work next to a window that faces the direction of the sun...
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mpetrovsky
11-15-2021 at 09:35 AM.
11-15-2021 at 09:35 AM.
Quote from RumbleTheBison :
Yea I may stick with the 935 as it's a gift. I may thought pick this up for myself just because I can picture a scenario where I'm barely charging my watch as I work next to a window that faces the direction of the sun...
Keep in mind: if window has UV protective coating, solar charge won't work.
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> bubble2 1,166 Posts
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manku
11-15-2021 at 04:25 PM.
11-15-2021 at 04:25 PM.
I'm probably not the target audience for these watches, but here is my two cents after buying one a couple days ago.

Too complicated, too many functions. I can't figure the thing out.

Also, can't figure out why I need it. I hike in LA almost daily. I use all trails and Gaia apps, as well as apple health.

I know how far I go, I know my pace, I know my heart rate increases on inclines.

If I were training for a competitive race I might understand using it, but it just seems like a totally needless tool.

And the screen is way too tiny to be of any real use.

I do think a golf gps watch is fantastic. Maybe I'm just not hiking properly!
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luvmikey
11-15-2021 at 08:55 PM.
11-15-2021 at 08:55 PM.
Quote from mpetrovsky :
If you have Amazon CC, you get 10% cash back, making it $225. If you add 3-years warranty from Asurion, you're coming to $258.
It's $8 more than BuyDig sale price, but your tracker and warranty protection are from more reliable companies.
My BuyDig order was shipped, but I think I'll return it and will go with Amazon (providing price stays the same)

I ordered from Amazon and then asked BuyDig to cancel my order because it hasn't yet shipped and was offered a $26 discount. So I'm waiting for it to ship still and accepted the discount. Paid with PayPal for the 5% savings on Chase
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> bubble2 136 Posts
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andrewa125
11-16-2021 at 06:17 AM.
11-16-2021 at 06:17 AM.
Quote from flyjar :
Thanks, I went with the Instinct Solar from Amazon. It will be here tomorrow. I hate Amazon reviews though. I always read the bad reviews first and scares me, then I see 25k reviews 84% 5 star and 9% 4 star I think I should be good. Also Amazon groups the Instincts (Std and Solar) together, so you have to check the reviewers description to see what version they actually got. The Instinct and Instinct Solar are two very different watches and not just because of the solar, it's almost a Instinct 2.0 with Solar.
I have been an Amazon Prime members for years. Similar to you, I always look at the 4 and 5 stars, but combine them. The combined score should be to be upper 80s at minimum; low 90s and above gives me full confidence in the product. I am giving the Instinct Solar some thought but had yet to look at the Amazon ratings. While I need to step up my cardio through walking and hiking, this might be a hard sale for my wife given my collection of auto watches.
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mpetrovsky
11-16-2021 at 03:10 PM.
11-16-2021 at 03:10 PM.
Quote from manku :
I'm probably not the target audience for these watches, but here is my two cents after buying one a couple days ago.

Too complicated, too many functions. I can't figure the thing out.

Also, can't figure out why I need it. I hike in LA almost daily. I use all trails and Gaia apps, as well as apple health.

I know how far I go, I know my pace, I know my heart rate increases on inclines.

If I were training for a competitive race I might understand using it, but it just seems like a totally needless tool.

And the screen is way too tiny to be of any real use.

I do think a golf gps watch is fantastic. Maybe I'm just not hiking properly!
Different people have different preferences and requirements.
I do not like AirPods (uncomfortable) and Apple watch (who needs cell phone on the wrist?), but it does not make them bad devices and a lot of people love them.
Per Joe De Sena, you do not need gym membership and expensive equipment to stay fit. All you need is determination and great outdoors. Yet, people go to gyms and buy treadmills.
To each their own...
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Last edited by mpetrovsky November 16, 2021 at 03:19 PM.
Joined Oct 2008
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guest2011
11-17-2021 at 01:37 PM.
11-17-2021 at 01:37 PM.
Looks interesting. Older model? What's the battery life like in solar? GPS accuracy like phones or better? Anything like this available with color display?
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mpetrovsky
11-18-2021 at 06:14 AM.
11-18-2021 at 06:14 AM.
Quote from guest2011 :
Looks interesting. Older model? What's the battery life like in solar? GPS accuracy like phones or better? Anything like this available with color display?
It depends on what features are enabled and disabled.
In my case, for the last 24 hours battery dropped from 100% to 92% (22 days left):
-- HR monitor ON for 16-ish hours (did not wear overnight while sleeping)
-- smart notifications enabled
-- 1 hour of activity tracking (no GPS)
Per Garmin, if you spend at lest 3 hours outside in the sun, watch can run to a couple of months without recharging. And pretty much indefinitely if you put it into "power save" mode.

I think GPS is better than on phone. First of all, Garmin has been making GPS equipment (all types and grades) for years. Second, this particular watch is designed for outdoor activities with heavy GPS usage in mind.
Bot both are just my guesses. In my experience, it took about 15 seconds to acquire satellites in fairly wooded area with medium overcast.

Color display: yes, Fenix. But it is much more expensive (essentially, Instinct is a buget version of Fenix). And, because Fenix has color touchscreen, you won't get the same battery life, even with solar charging.
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deqaxwer
11-18-2021 at 09:59 AM.
11-18-2021 at 09:59 AM.
Hi. Buydig sending promo code for 20$ to the mail. I just received it and bought Venue sq for 109$) Check your mail for promotions. Maybe you got one too.
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skoal2007
11-18-2021 at 03:17 PM.
11-18-2021 at 03:17 PM.
Quote from mpetrovsky :
It depends on what features are enabled and disabled.
In my case, for the last 24 hours battery dropped from 100% to 92% (22 days left):
-- HR monitor ON for 16-ish hours (did not wear overnight while sleeping)
-- smart notifications enabled
-- 1 hour of activity tracking (no GPS)
Per Garmin, if you spend at lest 3 hours outside in the sun, watch can run to a couple of months without recharging. And pretty much indefinitely if you put it into "power save" mode.

I think GPS is better than on phone. First of all, Garmin has been making GPS equipment (all types and grades) for years. Second, this particular watch is designed for outdoor activities with heavy GPS usage in mind.
Bot both are just my guesses. In my experience, it took about 15 seconds to acquire satellites in fairly wooded area with medium overcast.

Color display: yes, Fenix. But it is much more expensive (essentially, Instinct is a buget version of Fenix). And, because Fenix has color touchscreen, you won't get the same battery life, even with solar charging.
How about "Instinct GPS $170" compare to "Instinct Solar Rugged Outdoor Watch $250"?

I am also getting the $20, and want to get the Instinct without Solar version. The difference between two is only without "Solar charging"?

Thank you
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FreedomDeals
11-18-2021 at 04:49 PM.
11-18-2021 at 04:49 PM.
Does anyone know if the Surf Edition software features are unique or do they come with the standard version?

Also if you use a Amazon credit card, it comes with 1 free year extended warranty and 5% off which I think is better than buydig since Amazon support is top notch
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Joined Feb 2004
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snakepudding
11-18-2021 at 05:05 PM.
11-18-2021 at 05:05 PM.
Battery not capacitor=no deal.
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