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expired Posted by iconian | Staff • Dec 14, 2022
expired Posted by iconian | Staff • Dec 14, 2022

Garmin Instinct Solar Rugged Outdoor GPS Smartwatch (Flame Red)

+ Free Shipping

$150

$400

62% off
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Update: Flame Red color is available again

BuyDig has Garmin Instinct Solar Rugged Outdoor GPS Smartwatches (Flame Red) on sale for $149.99. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for sharing this deal.

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Editor's Notes

Written by citan359 | Staff

Original Post

Written by iconian | Staff
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Update: Flame Red color is available again

BuyDig has Garmin Instinct Solar Rugged Outdoor GPS Smartwatches (Flame Red) on sale for $149.99. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for sharing this deal.

Available Options:

Editor's Notes

Written by citan359 | Staff

Original Post

Written by iconian | Staff

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Top Comments

Ordered it (surf edition) on last sale with the same price.

Pros:
- Very happy with the battery life (I moved from GW4, which I have to charge it every 1.5 days). I work in a plant setting, but only 10% of my work involve outdoor. And I don't need to do yard work as it is winter now. So I am getting at least 7 days with sleep monitor, exercise 30 min per day, call/text/email notifications from phone and continuous HR monitoring.
- Surf edition looks very neat. This, however, can be a con as it is white, and it may be stained over the time easily.
- It is surprisingly light, and the watch strap is very comfortable (again comparing to my GW4)

Cons:
- My biggest complain is it does not support Asian language. All my text in Chinese is %$#$#&*. As far as I know, there is no way around it for Instinct. I almost returned the watch because of this, and Buydig offered me a discount and I ended up keeping it with some refund.
- As I mentioned, the Surf edition looks good (that's why I ordered it not the other two colors). But it is difficult to find a matching strap for different appealing. The color on Garmin website says it is white/lakeside blue, and I ordered a lakeside blue strap from Amazon with no luck of matching the color. In addition, it of couse does not look styling comparing to GW4 for a more formal situation...
Best watch and fitness tracker I've ever owned. I'd buy another one for backup if they had it in black. Never deals on the black ones.
Had been looking at this one. Wasn't sure for $199+. However, at $150 I think it will be a step up from my Amazfit.

80 Comments

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Dec 14, 2022
345 Posts
Joined Jul 2006
Dec 14, 2022
thlinux
Dec 14, 2022
345 Posts
Had been looking at this one. Wasn't sure for $199+. However, at $150 I think it will be a step up from my Amazfit.
2
Dec 14, 2022
263 Posts
Joined Jan 2018
Dec 14, 2022
Plectonema
Dec 14, 2022
263 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank Plectonema

Ordered it (surf edition) on last sale with the same price.

Pros:
- Very happy with the battery life (I moved from GW4, which I have to charge it every 1.5 days). I work in a plant setting, but only 10% of my work involve outdoor. And I don't need to do yard work as it is winter now. So I am getting at least 7 days with sleep monitor, exercise 30 min per day, call/text/email notifications from phone and continuous HR monitoring.
- Surf edition looks very neat. This, however, can be a con as it is white, and it may be stained over the time easily.
- It is surprisingly light, and the watch strap is very comfortable (again comparing to my GW4)

Cons:
- My biggest complain is it does not support Asian language. All my text in Chinese is %$#$#&*. As far as I know, there is no way around it for Instinct. I almost returned the watch because of this, and Buydig offered me a discount and I ended up keeping it with some refund.
- As I mentioned, the Surf edition looks good (that's why I ordered it not the other two colors). But it is difficult to find a matching strap for different appealing. The color on Garmin website says it is white/lakeside blue, and I ordered a lakeside blue strap from Amazon with no luck of matching the color. In addition, it of couse does not look styling comparing to GW4 for a more formal situation...
Last edited by Plectonema January 13, 2023 at 09:09 AM.
4
2
3
Dec 14, 2022
19 Posts
Joined May 2019
Dec 14, 2022
MikeG22
Dec 14, 2022
19 Posts
Quote from Plectonema :
Ordered it (surf edition) on last sale with the same price.

Pros:
- Very happy with the battery life (I moved to GW4, which I have to charge it every 1.5 days). I work in a plant setting, but only 10% of my work involve outdoor. And I don't need to do yard work as it is winter now. So I am getting at least 7 days with sleep monitor, exercise 30 min per day, call/text/email notifications from phone and continuous HR monitoring.
- Surf edition looks very neat. This, however, can be a con as it is white, and it may be stained over the time easily.
- It is surprisingly light, and the watch strap is very comfortable (again comparing to my GW4)

Cons:
- My biggest complain is it does not support Asian language. All my text in Chinese is %$#$#&*. As far as I know, there is no way around it for Instinct. I almost returned the watch because of this, and Buydig offered me a discount and I ended up keeping it with some refund.
- As I mentioned, the Surf edition looks good (that's why I ordered it not the other two colors). But it is difficult to find a matching strap for different appealing. The color on Garmin website says it is white/lakeside blue, and I ordered a lakeside blue strap from Amazon with no luck of matching the color. In addition, it of couse does not look styling comparing to GW4 for a more formal situation...
Thanks for the rundown. Does the surf edition always have the tides displayed on the face, or can that be changed to something else?
Dec 14, 2022
436 Posts
Joined Jul 2015
Dec 14, 2022
thetickz
Dec 14, 2022
436 Posts
Best watch and fitness tracker I've ever owned. I'd buy another one for backup if they had it in black. Never deals on the black ones.
1
Dec 14, 2022
1,207 Posts
Joined May 2013
Dec 14, 2022
TechManDad
Dec 14, 2022
1,207 Posts
Good price on a last-gen instinct solar. This a great choice if you are looking for B&W mid-resolution screen with good battery life.
1
Dec 14, 2022
58 Posts
Joined Dec 2014
Dec 14, 2022
jtanlpl
Dec 14, 2022
58 Posts
How's the sleep monitor? Is the heart rate sensor a older generation?
Dec 14, 2022
655 Posts
Joined Jul 2007
Dec 14, 2022
espy
Dec 14, 2022
655 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank espy

Quote from Plectonema :
Ordered it (surf edition) on last sale with the same price.

Pros:
- Very happy with the battery life (I moved to GW4, which I have to charge it every 1.5 days). I work in a plant setting, but only 10% of my work involve outdoor. And I don't need to do yard work as it is winter now. So I am getting at least 7 days with sleep monitor, exercise 30 min per day, call/text/email notifications from phone and continuous HR monitoring.
- Surf edition looks very neat. This, however, can be a con as it is white, and it may be stained over the time easily.
- It is surprisingly light, and the watch strap is very comfortable (again comparing to my GW4)

Cons:
- My biggest complain is it does not support Asian language. All my text in Chinese is %$#$#&*. As far as I know, there is no way around it for Instinct. I almost returned the watch because of this, and Buydig offered me a discount and I ended up keeping it with some refund.
- As I mentioned, the Surf edition looks good (that's why I ordered it not the other two colors). But it is difficult to find a matching strap for different appealing. The color on Garmin website says it is white/lakeside blue, and I ordered a lakeside blue strap from Amazon with no luck of matching the color. In addition, it of couse does not look styling comparing to GW4 for a more formal situation...
Have you tried this for Asian language support? https://support.garmin.com/en-US/...aqGOFtBsz6
2

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Dec 14, 2022
263 Posts
Joined Jan 2018
Dec 14, 2022
Plectonema
Dec 14, 2022
263 Posts
Quote from MikeG22 :
Thanks for the rundown. Does the surf edition always have the tides displayed on the face, or can that be changed to something else?
You can customize your watch face as you want.
Actually the first thing I did was to remove "surf" from my favorite list (Stick Out Tongue). And it is capable of showing tides, but you can change it to whatever you like.​
Dec 14, 2022
263 Posts
Joined Jan 2018
Dec 14, 2022
Plectonema
Dec 14, 2022
263 Posts
Quote from espy :
Have you tried this for Asian language support? https://support.garmin.com/en-US/...aqGOFtBsz6 [garmin.com]
Yes I did. But I am not provided with any other language option in Garmin Express.
I read this post [garmin.com], which is worth trying. But I am not optimistic as the firmware in US version may not support Asian language display at all.
1
Dec 14, 2022
263 Posts
Joined Jan 2018
Dec 14, 2022
Plectonema
Dec 14, 2022
263 Posts
Quote from jtanlpl :
How's the sleep monitor? Is the heart rate sensor a older generation?
Not sure about the generation of HR sensor.
Sleep monitor is average. Not sure how it detects I am sleeping or not as I found my time with my phone lying on the bed is also counted as sleep.
I guess it acknowledge my sleep the second I am more still.
Another downside is it does not track mid-day napping. So your body battery is not charged if you take a nap during the day.​ But I do like the body battery index and stress monitor during the day.
Dec 14, 2022
5,750 Posts
Joined Aug 2004
Dec 14, 2022
doema
Dec 14, 2022
5,750 Posts
Why no solid black as an option??
Dec 14, 2022
494 Posts
Joined Dec 2011
Dec 14, 2022
marcg611
Dec 14, 2022
494 Posts
Quote from jtanlpl :
How's the sleep monitor? Is the heart rate sensor a older generation?
Don't know if the absolute latest but it's a newer design, that newer design with the pulse ox was roughly 1st launched on Fenix 6x. I'm currently on Fenix 5+ and have an older design HR sensor, will probably go to Instinct 2 or 3 next..
Dec 14, 2022
295 Posts
Joined Jun 2009
Dec 14, 2022
ultraconsumer
Dec 14, 2022
295 Posts
I bought and returned the esports version of this watch.

I found that it was a pain to have to remember to tell the watch which activity I was about to start, and also tell it specifically when I finished the activity -- you can edit the activity after the fact but that's also inconvenient.

It was also HUGELY inaccurate for home workout type of activities. I wore a Polar chest strap at the same time to compare, and legit there were times when I was super sweaty/panting/dead tired where the chest strap showed 170bpm while the Garmin showed 70bpm. For me at least, this thing simply doesn't work for this type of activity (and my primary type of exercise).

Check it out, these are the two graphs during the EXACT same workout/time period (and the Instinct, on the left, showed I burned ~150 calories during the same workout):

Attachment 12663802
1
Dec 14, 2022
37 Posts
Joined Aug 2015
Dec 14, 2022
greysplash
Dec 14, 2022
37 Posts
Quote from MikeG22 :
Thanks for the rundown. Does the surf edition always have the tides displayed on the face, or can that be changed to something else?
Garmin has its own marketplace with lots of free watch faces which are customizable. I have an "everyday" watch face and then a camping/backpacking one.

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Dec 14, 2022
42 Posts
Joined Oct 2019
Dec 14, 2022
SlickStraw904
Dec 14, 2022
42 Posts
How is this strictly for an activity tracker? Overkill? Or should I just get a Fitbit.

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