This watch is amazing!! The battery life is the best I’ve ever had in a smart watch of this capacity. It is worth every cent. It is very easy to use and does everything I want out of a smart watch.
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar | Unlimited Battery in Smartwatch Mode with Solar | The rugged GPS watch for life in the Singapore sun
For hikers, trekkers and days spent outdoors: a display you read best in full sun, weeks of battery, and solar to keep it topped up.
- Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display
- Smartwatch battery up to 28 days (45 mm) or 40 days (50 mm), unlimited with solar*
- Multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology, plus GLONASS and Galileo
- Built-in LED flashlight with variable intensities and a red light
- 10 ATM water rating
- Barometric altimeter, 3-axis compass and Storm Alert
- Garmin Pay contactless payments and smart notifications from iPhone or Android
- 52 g (45 mm) or 58 g (50 mm) with the silicone band
*Solar charging, assuming all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions.
Made for the parts of Singapore that have no shade.
READ IT AT NOON ON THE SUMMIT - The transflective MIP screen uses daylight as its light source. The brighter the day, the crisper the numbers, and a backlight covers the hours after sunset.
LIGHT ON A SWEATY WRIST - 52 g for the 45 mm and 58 g for the 50 mm, band included. About the weight of a boiled egg, on a silicone strap that rinses clean under the tap.
KNOW HOW RECOVERED YOU ARE - Sleep score, HRV status, Body Battery and Pulse Ox run through the night, so the morning report tells you whether today is a long-route day or a rest day.
PAIRS WITH THE PHONE YOU ALREADY OWN - iPhone or Android, through the free Garmin Connect app. Every feature on this page works on the free tier; Connect+ is an optional extra.
BUTTONS THAT WORK WET - Five labelled buttons run every function, so a rain-soaked or gloved hand still starts the activity, scrolls the data page and locks the watch.
RUCK, MARCH, TRAIN - A dedicated rucking profile takes your pack weight, and the sport list runs from trail running and open-water swimming to strength, HIIT and a Tactical activity profile.
WHY THE INSTINCT 3 SOLAR OVER OTHER OUTDOOR SMARTWATCHES
Rugged Case, Slim Profile
A fibre-reinforced polymer case at 14.9 mm thick on the 45 mm and 14.4 mm on the 50 mm, so it slides under a shirt cuff on Monday and takes a knock on Saturday.
Zero Subscription
Health data, training metrics, courses and watch faces all live in the free Garmin Connect app. Connect+ exists as an optional add-on, and nothing on this page depends on it.
Buttons Over Touch
Physical buttons mean a wet thumb after a river crossing, or a glove on the range, still gets you to the next screen and locks the watch when you want it still.
QuickFit Strap Swap
QuickFit bands click on and off in one press: 22 mm on the 45 mm, 26 mm on the 50 mm. Silicone for the trail in the morning, a nylon or leather band for the office by lunch.
Solar charging that turns a long day outside into battery.
Power Glass harvests light while the watch is on your wrist.
The Power Glass lens harvests light while you wear the watch. Garmin rates smartwatch mode at up to 28 days on the 45 mm and up to 40 days on the 50 mm, and unlimited with solar charging when the watch sees 3 hours a day outside in 50,000 lux conditions. Clear direct sun runs well above that figure, so a morning route march or a lunchtime walk does the work.
The gains carry into GPS. GPS Only mode runs up to 40 hours on the 45 mm and 60 hours on the 50 mm, rising to 130 and 260 hours with solar. Max Battery GPS mode goes unlimited with solar on both sizes.
A solar intensity glance on the watch face shows how much charge the last six hours brought in, so you learn which of your routes are the good earners. When the plug is needed, the included Garmin cable tops it up.
ONE WATCH, FOUR KINDS OF DAY
Hikers and Trekkers
TracBack leads you back along your own breadcrumb trail, the barometric altimeter plots the climb and Storm Alert flags a pressure drop before the sky does. Maps: none on the watch, so the trail map stays on your phone.
Uniformed and Duty
Dual grid coordinates show MGRS beside lat/long on one screen, the rucking profile logs pack weight and the Tactical activity profile sits in the sport list, ready for the next route march.
Everyday and Commute
Texts, calls and calendar alerts on the wrist, Garmin Pay at the checkout with participating Singapore banks, and a watch face you swap from the Connect IQ store when the mood changes.
Swimmers and Paddlers
Open-water and pool swim profiles with stroke detection, underwater wrist-based heart rate, and kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and snorkelling in the sport list. Rinse the band and go.
A torch on your wrist for the campsite and the car park.
BUILT-IN LED FLASHLIGHT - Variable intensities for finding a tent zip at 2 am, reading a trail marker or checking a lock in a dark stairwell, all from the watch already on your arm.
RED LIGHT FOR NIGHT EYES - The alternate red light lets you check a map or a bootlace and keep your night vision for the walk out.
SEE AND BE SEEN - Point it forward on a dark park connector and it marks you to cyclists coming the other way.
Multi-band GPS with SatIQ, for routes under trees and between blocks.
TWO FREQUENCY BANDS - Multi-band GPS reads GPS, GLONASS and Galileo across two frequencies, which tightens your position where a single band scatters: under rainforest canopy, along a gorge, between tall buildings.
SATIQ PICKS THE MODE - SatIQ technology chooses the satellite mode for the conditions, spending multi-band power only where the sky is cluttered and saving it where the sky is open.
PHONE-FREE NAVIGATION - Save a waypoint at the trailhead, take a Sight 'N Go bearing to a ridgeline, project a waypoint, or follow a course sent from Garmin Connect. The Expedition GPS activity stretches a single charge across a multi-day trek.
Designed to be worn through anything.
10 ATM WATER RATING - Rated to the pressure at 100 metres, so a lap swim, a shower, a river crossing or a sudden downpour is part of the day.
METAL-REINFORCED BEZEL - The bezel is fibre-reinforced polymer backed with aluminium, and the Power Glass lens is scratch-resistant, so the screen shrugs off rock and rucksack buckles.
SENSORS FOR THE CONDITIONS - A thermometer, gyroscope and accelerometer join the Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, feeding everything from the weather glance to the swim stroke count.
Recovery you can read before the alarm goes.
MORNING REPORT - Wake to your sleep score, HRV status, Body Battery and the day's calendar in one screen, with the smart wake alarm easing you up at the better moment in your sleep cycle.
PULSE OX AND HEALTH SNAPSHOT - Spot-check blood oxygen on an overseas trek, or log a two-minute Health Snapshot of heart rate, respiration and stress to share with your doctor.
ALL-DAY STRESS AND BREATHWORK - See whether the day has been calm or loaded, and start a breathwork activity when it tips. Health features are for wellness use and are not medical devices.
BATTERY LIFE
| MODE | 45 MM | 50 MM |
| Smartwatch | Up to 28 days / Unlimited with solar* | Up to 40 days / Unlimited with solar* |
| Battery Saver Watch Mode | Up to 65 days / Unlimited with solar* | Up to 100 days / Unlimited with solar* |
| GPS Only | Up to 40 hours / 130 hours with solar** | Up to 60 hours / 260 hours with solar** |
| All Satellite Systems | Up to 28 hours / 50 hours with solar** | Up to 40 hours / 80 hours with solar** |
| All Satellite Systems + Multi-Band | Up to 24 hours / 40 hours with solar*** | Up to 34 hours / 60 hours with solar*** |
| Max Battery GPS | Up to 100 hours / Unlimited with solar** | Up to 150 hours / Unlimited with solar** |
| Expedition GPS | Up to 36 days / Unlimited with solar* | Up to 60 days / Unlimited with solar* |
*Solar charging, assuming all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions. **Solar charging, assuming use in 50,000 lux conditions. ***Solar charging, assuming use in 50,000 lux conditions; assuming typical use with SatIQ technology.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Display type | Monochrome, sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) |
| Display size | 45 mm: custom, two-window design; 0.9” x 0.9” (23 x 23 mm) 50 mm: custom, two-window design; 1.1” x 1.1” (27 x 27 mm) |
| Display resolution | 176 x 176 pixels (both sizes) |
| Lens material | Power Glass |
| Bezel material | fiber-reinforced polymer/aluminum |
| Case material | fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Strap | silicone; QuickFit watch band compatible (45 mm: 22 mm / 50 mm: 26 mm) |
| Physical size | 45 mm: 45 x 45 x 14.9 mm 50 mm: 50 x 50 x 14.4 mm |
| Wrist fit | 45 mm: fits wrists with a circumference of 137-204 mm 50 mm: fits wrists with a circumference of 141-213 mm |
| Weight | 45 mm: 52 g 50 mm: 58 g |
| Water rating | 10 ATM |
| Sensors | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, SatIQ technology, Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate monitor, Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor, barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, thermometer |
| Memory/History | 128 MB |
| Battery type / charging | Lithium ion; Garmin proprietary plug charger; solar charging |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+ |
| Smartphone compatibility | iPhone, Android |
| View the Instinct 3 Owner's Manual (Garmin Singapore) | |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does the Instinct 3 Solar have maps?
No. There are no preloaded or downloadable maps on the watch. Navigation is breadcrumb-style: a real-time trail of where you have been, TracBack to retrace it, point-to-point navigation to saved waypoints, and course guidance for a route you build or import in the Garmin Connect app and send to the watch.
Does Garmin Pay work in Singapore?
Yes, with participating Singapore banks. You add an eligible card in the Garmin Connect app, set a passcode on the watch, and pay at contactless terminals. Garmin keeps the current list of supported banks and cards at garmin.com/en-SG/garminpay/banks.
How does a MIP display look in direct Singapore sun compared with indoors?
Transflective MIP reflects the light that falls on it, so the harder the sun, the higher the contrast, with no brightness setting to push. Indoors and after dark it relies on the backlight, which you trigger with a button or a wrist raise. It shows numbers, text and simple graphics in monochrome rather than colour photos or bright watch faces.
What's In The Box
- 1x Instinct 3 Solar smartwatch with silicone band - 45 mm or 50 mm, as selected
- 1x Charging/data cable - Garmin plug charger
- Documentation
“Delivers on incredibly strong solar performance, substantially higher than previous Instinct 2 or Instinct 2X units in my testing.”
Ray Maker, DC Rainmaker, Garmin Instinct 3 In-Depth Review, January 2025
Pick your size and let the sun do the charging.
GET YOUR INSTINCT 3 SOLAR NOWYou’re Backed by Our 60-Day Ironclad Guarantee
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Try it for 60 days. If it’s not right for you, send it back.
We stand behind our gear. If you’re not happy with your purchase, just return the full package within 60 days and we’ll issue a full refund—no fuss, no forms, no hoops to jump through.
What Happens After You Order
- You’ll get an instant order confirmation email with your receipt.
- We’ll pack your order the next working day and send you a tracking number once it’s on the way.
- From the moment you order to the moment it reaches your hands, we’re here to keep you updated and supported.
When will I receive my gear?
- Singapore: Delivered to your doorstep in 4–6 working days.
- International: Arrive within 10–14 working days.
Returns and warranty
- Every product comes with a 1 to 3-year replacement warranty (depending on the item).
- If anything isn’t working right, just let us know. We’ll make it right.
FREE Gift with Purchase: Limited Edition Ember Shard Whistle
Spend $99 or more today, and we'll automatically include a limited-edition Glow-in-the-Dark Ember Shard Whistle when packing your order.
Charge it quickly under sunlight or your flashlight, and enjoy its subtle glow throughout the night—perfect for marking gear, emergency kits, or attaching to your bag.
Limited quantities. These will be swapped (at our discretion) to other gift items if shards are unavailable.
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 45 reviews.
Very happy with this and it works great. I returned to the 45 mm and got the 50 mm and it’s more comfortable on my wrist which measures 7.5 inches.Its weight is much lighter in person than it looks. The flashlight is plenty bright and provides a nice soft flood beam for walking around at night. I’ve had it three weeks and never charged it since I got it and the battery is still about halfway with 22 days left of charge.I upgraded from an Apple Watch Series 6. I couldn’t stand having to charge it twice a day so this battery life changed how I use it because I can sleep track and wear it all day without worrying about the battery dying.I did not want a display that is hard to read in sunlight. This is super easy to see at any time of day especially outside. At night, the back light comes on without hesitation anytime I look at the watch.The smart phone apps work great, and synchronize my walks and hikes and exercise without any issues.The “track me” feature creates a breadcrumb trial that you can easily export to GPX file from the smartphone app. However, the battery drains very quickly when using the GPS tracking. It goes from 30 days of battery to about 1 and 1/2 day of battery if you have track me enabled. So for my adventure tracking I will still use my trusty Garmin eTrex 20X GPS so I don’t kill the watch battery on long trips where I want to record a travel track.
The battery life on this watch is immense, and it's the reason I bought it. I do long, slow marathon walks, and started suffering from battery range anxiety with my older Forerunner 255.With the Instinct 3 that worry has gone completely.The solar charging is what makes it. Here in Spain, where the sun is out most of the year, it tops itself up while I'm walking, so I can go a long time between charges. If you spend long days outdoors somewhere sunny, it's a no-brainer.It's tough and simple, and the screen is easy to read in bright sunlight. The built-in torch is handy too. It doesn't have full maps like the Fenix range, but for me the battery life more than makes up for that. Very happy with it.
Had the 2x solar for years and replaced it with the 3. Amazing watch, the clarity, the solar response is very impressive, very happy with my purchase. I love to fish so this screen setup shows the sunrise/sunset and moon phases. Picked up gps and satellites very quick.
★★★★★ **This is the watch I was looking for without knowing it**I’ve used smartwatches before, but the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar feels fundamentally different. It doesn’t feel like another screen on my wrist. It feels like a tool and a companion.My life is extremely varied and physically demanding. I work around horses in an equine hospital, walk thousands of steps every day, ride a bike, work outdoors in the Florida heat, handle tools, construction projects, dust, water, dirt and physical labor. At the same time, I’m a photographer and creative professional who loves technology and data.This watch somehow fits all of those worlds.What I appreciate most is that I can wear it **24/7**. I don’t want a health watch that spends every night on a charger — nighttime is exactly when I want it measuring me. The battery life and solar charging completely change the experience. I wear it while working, exercising, sleeping, showering and going through normal life without constantly thinking about the battery.The health and recovery data have also made me much more aware of my body. Sleep, HRV, resting heart rate, stress, Body Battery, respiration, SpO₂, activity and recovery together give me a picture that a simple step counter never could. Body Battery in particular has become one of my favorite features because I can actually see how demanding days affect me and how well I recover overnight.I also love that Garmin establishes personal baselines over time. Instead of obsessing over one isolated number, I can look at trends and understand what is normal **for me**. At 50, that has become increasingly valuable. I want to stay strong, mobile and active for decades, and having objective information encourages me to pay attention to recovery instead of simply pushing harder.And then there is the hardware.The Instinct 3 Solar feels like equipment, not jewelry. I can wear it around horses, tools, concrete, sweat, rain, dirt and outdoor work without feeling like I have to protect the watch from my life. The buttons are excellent when my hands are dirty or wet, the display is incredibly practical outdoors, and I genuinely prefer having a purpose-built watch rather than another miniature touchscreen.It isn't perfect. Sleep detection can occasionally misinterpret unusual periods of inactivity, so I treat wearable sleep stages and scores as estimates rather than medical measurements. But that hasn't changed my opinion of the watch because the overall combination of durability, battery life, continuous monitoring, navigation, activity tracking and Garmin's physiological metrics is exceptional.The biggest compliment I can give it is simple:**I forget about the watch, but the watch keeps paying attention to me.**That is exactly what I wanted.For someone who lives an active, outdoor, demanding life and wants technology that works quietly in the background instead of demanding constant attention, the Instinct 3 Solar is an outstanding piece of equipment.I absolutely love mine.
Functionality: awesome come with led torch Durability: rugges Battery Life: solar charged Water Resistance: can swim with it Design: easy to read dial
Bought this for hunting purposes looks good and fits good connects no problem seems to be very accurate and battery life is spot on charged it once in a months time only complaint would be get another band it slips and slides to much overall I’d recommend to any hunter or hiker
Extremely happy with the watch. I use it daily for cycling and I have only charged it once in the past month. I feel like it’s indestructible and fits my active lifestyle perfectly. Sort of wish I had gone for the tactical version just for the black out look but didn’t want to spend $100 more at the time. Very easy to read in direct sunlight and the functionality is intuitive.
I've been extremely happy with this watch. The battery life is by far the biggest highlight. With the standard settings, I can get around 40 days on a charge, and with regular solar charging it feels like it lasts forever, even with the pretty large watch face.The watch is packed with features and tracks just about everything I need. I came from a Garmin Tactical model, so I do miss the dedicated night vision mode, but the bright color display on the Instinct 3 is a trade-off I'm happy to make. The screen looks great and is much nicer to use day to day.Pairing it with the Garmin Connect app was quick and easy. While changing settings directly on the watch takes a little getting used to compared to a Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch, the app makes managing everything much simpler. It's easy to customize settings, review workouts, and keep the watch updated.Overall, it's an outstanding GPS smartwatch with incredible battery life, a rugged design, and more features than most people will ever need. I'd definitely recommend it.
This suits my needs. No touchscreen is a feature, not a bug. I love the MIP screen as well. A very light and sturdy watch.
After a few weeks, I'm very happy with this watch!I've never had a Garmin device before but this is great. It's rock solid, very well made, fits well, lighter than I expected and even looks fine on my skinnier wrists! (45mm option)I was torn between this, the solar MIP display, and the amoled.The solar MIP was the right choice, 100%, no regrets. It feels retro but tells me everything I need to know. The screen is sharp and super bright, especially in full sun. All that, the battery is amazing and the solar does actually do it's bit in this!It has more activities and features than I will ever likely need, including some that I thought were for the tactical only like rucking, and after using it for a while the GPS accuracy is spot on!The Connect app is free and really good too, loads of detail and plans and workouts etc...I considered the solar tactical too, but for the price difference it didn't make sense. The only real difference is the full blacked out look. The functionality is basically identical unless you are an avid shooter or paratrooper! And honestly, the orangey accent of this one kind of grows on you...The best bits though, all things I didn't even buy it for but have been game changing:- No touchscreen - no accidental touches or trouble in the rain.- No wrist flick - you can just read the display at all sorts of angles and being MIP, it's just always on, like a proper old watch.- The torch - I thought it was a gimmick but I've called on it so many times already for different things!If you are considering this, especially the solar, just do it, you won't regret it. Great watch at a good price point!
Really helpful with tracking sleep and recommending how long to sleep. It comes with workouts on the Garmin Connect app. Especially useful for truck drivers, which you can also download "Garmin dēzl".
I brought the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar after my Fitbit Sense 2 kept dying randomly through the day.I liked the battery life of the Fitbit and Googled other watches that have a good battery life and I chose the Instinct 3 Solar. I have been wearing it now for 3 weeks and 3 days, my battery level is on 92% - 37 days.During the week I'm in the office so if it sees any natural light it's during the hour I have lunch. On the weekends I'm outside more so it's a little higher. The lowest I've seen the battery is 89%.I will point out that I'm disabled and I do not use every feature of the watch past the walking exercise.The watch is nice and chunky and your not likely to damage the screen by accident. It was on sale when I got it and it was not much more that a replacement Fitbit sense 2 which was £229. So yeah definitely value for money.I do expect to have to charge it at some point, especially in the winter. But if you are someone who is outdoor a lot and active there's no telling how long the battery will last.I didn't think I would every use the built-in light be it's actually really handy!The Garmin app is very good but I have also used the Health Connect setting on my phone to let it also sync with Google Health as that's what I have been used to for the last few years.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably agonizing over the sizing, just like I was. I’m a tech guy who values hard data, so I skipped the guesswork and put the calipers to work.The Fit (170mm Wrist Measurement)I’m coming from a TicWatch Pro 5, which maxed out my wrist completely. The end-to-end of the lugs sat right at the edge of my wrist, and the metal band had zero clearance left.With the Instinct 3 Solar (45mm), the manufacturers provide a "lug-to-lug" measurement that doesn't tell the whole story. Because of the way the watch band is integrated into the lugs, the band-to-band caliper distance is actually 57mm.Even though 57mm sounds larger than the flat 51mm TicWatch, it fits my 170mm wrist significantly better. The watch face is curved, which contours to the wrist naturally. Don't let the 57mm spec scare you off—it sits comfortably and looks proportional.The "Battery Anxiety" Reality CheckI used to charge my watch every day or two as a habit. The Instinct 3 has broken that habit. I’m seeing 29+ days of battery life, and in some conditions, it feels virtually infinite. When I get a notification, I look at the watch and don't feel that secondary stress of "Oh great, there goes 5% of my battery."Utility & It’s not a gimmick. It’s an essential utility I now use daily.The screen is smaller, but the text is crisp. I don’t miss the larger screen on my previous watches because the data here is actually reliable.People call it "rugged" as marketing fluff, but I’ve already bashed this watch against solid objects, and the chassis shows zero damage. It’s not just a claim; it’s a reality.If you want accurate health data and a watch that doesn't demand to be plugged in constantly, buy this. If you’re worried about the fit on a 170mm wrist—stop. Use the band-to-band measurement, not the case diameter, and you’ll see why the 45mm fits just right.Pictures show the 51mm ticwatch and how it measures against the face of the 45 mm instinct 3 solar.
The 50mm size is perfect. The menu requires a little getting used to.
Have been wearing it daily since I got it early this year. Track my hikes, runs, and other sports. Great battery life too, around 28 days on a full charge.
Good so far, Garmin I thought the only made radar detectors in the 80s
Excellent no nonsense fitness watch. Battery lasts almost a month. Display is always on so you don’t have to keep raising your arm just to see time. All the features work spot on. It is not flashy like other colour screen watches, but does its work perfectly. Also the torch is a useful little feature.
The battery life is unbelievable, I've had it for almost 20 days and still 15 days battery remaining. I can't believe I never knew about this watch, putting up with Fitbit products for years with terrible battery life. All I wanted was notifications and smart features (health tracking, weather, pause media, etc.) and this does it all. The flashlight is amazing and I use it all the time. Garmin really understands what the people want. I recommend you watch some YouTube videos to understand all the features, because there's so many hidden ones.
As a professional in the construction industry, primarily working with concrete, I can attest to its exceptional durability when subjected to impacts against rocks and steel. The battery life of this device is impressive, consistently lasting between 30 to 40 days with regular exposure to sunlight. Furthermore, I find the integrated flashlight to be highly beneficial for my evening strolls. To the bathroom 🚻
I’ve been wanting a garmin watch for awhile. I’ve been using an Apple Watch for the last few years. I’m glad I finally pulled the trigger and purchased the garmin instinct solar 3. It’s got great tracking, its functionality is fantastic, and it looks incredible. If you’re coming from an Apple Watch it might take some getting used to.
Use for a week and love the features and tracking.
I think it’s an excellent watch for my needs. I sold my Apple Watch Ultra 2 for this one. As a long-time G-Shock and Casio user, I feel like the Ultra 2 and most modern smartwatches just have too many features that a normal, active person will never actually use.I really love the look of the watch. Since I usually wear black and grey, you’d think I’d go for the all-black tactical version, but the splash of fiery red-orange accents adds just the right amount of contrast. I don’t even like orange as a color, but on this watch, it just works perfectly. Also, I personally think paying $100 extra just for an all black tactical with features I’d never use is stupid haha.This watch was perfect for me. The MIP display is bright enough to see clearly under the sun and in any weather, even at low brightness. Since I’m used to Casio and G-Shock, the simplicity feels just right. All I really need is something to track my steps, sleep, and heart rate. The battery life has been excellent. I always had battery anxiety with the Apple Watch because I had to charge it every day, but I don’t have that issue with this one at all.The 45mm size fits my wrist perfectly, and it’s comfortable enough to wear all day, including sleeping and showering. It feels very similar to the G-Shocks I’ve worn for years.That said, I think people need to adjust their expectations when it comes to the solar feature. Garmin never claimed it could run purely on solar power. It’s meant to extend battery life not fully charge the watch.A good way to think about it is like water slowly dripping into a bowl that has a hole in it. It’s not filling up quickly, but it’s helping offset the loss. Even as someone who’s used G-Shock solar watches for over 10+ years, I already knew solar charging wouldn’t work like that. Beside instinct 3 uses way more power than any Casio tough solar watches LMAO.One small criticism I have with this watch is that, unlike the Apple Watch, it doesn’t automatically sync data as seamlessly with your phone. You need to have the Garmin Connect app running in the background at all times, which feels a bit weird.That said, it hasn’t really been an issue for me so far.
Love the instinct 3 solar, it's my first Garmin and honestly I've been missing out I also appreciate that it's solar and love all the specs and it's rugged style which I need because I do s lot of landscaping and I'm around mud dusk and it's handling way better than my pixel watch and samnug watch. Highly recommend it.
Upgraded from a garmin golf watch to this, bigger, battery should last longer, especially with the solar function.
I decided to upgrade from my venerable original Instinct (Which still works fine) after about 4 years of use. Initially was to get the Instinct 2 solar but decided to get the 3 solar for not much more. I am used to the Garmin ecosystem and love how configurable and capable this device is. It is my dedicated sports and outdoors watch, very useful for mountain biking and hiking. I don't care it does not have full maps, that’s not what this is for. It has enough with the basic crumbs navigation. I care for an excellent battery life, durability and reliability, and accuracy recording the activities. This watch is great for that. Also, don't care about no touch screen, actually I find it superfluous for the practical use and purpose of this watch. The MIP screen visibility is great outdoors and indoors. The integrated flashlight is surprisingly useful. Sleep tracking also works great. Did not give it 5 stars yet as I only have had it for about 4 months, so cannot yet attest about long term durability. But if it is as good as the old one, this watch easily can last several years. Also, the solar charging is not as great as I was expecting, though it helps. don't expect to keep it charged just with solar.
My second Garmin watch, and this is nice. It’s almost like machine finished and you can tell it’s well made. Solid watch.
Clearly an immense amount of thought and design went into making what is for me the perfect active watch and I understand why there are so many obsessed owners.Been through other cheaper options with Fitbit and Amazfit and while they were ok they all failed after a couple of years as I used the watches for their intended purpose which is swimming (pool and ocean), biking, hiking, walking running etc... so after a lot of research I settled on the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar 45MM as its durability is legendary.For me I did not want another phone on my wrist so Apple watch and high battery color touch screen is not wanted. I mean I have a phone, I stare at a computer all day ... I just want a workout trainer and health tracker that lasts a long time on one charge. And boy does this watch fit the bill.For those considering here is what I learned after a few weeks:- in picture note the hack I use to get charging even during the 10 F walks I'm going on in Jan. I use a rubber band to hold the cuff of my jacket down so I get full sun on the watch during my walk.- Been going for walks with ski gloves on and it is amazing - the buttons all pressable perfectly even with heavy gloves on. Amazing design.- I considered the 50 mm version but I wanted something comfortable as I wear this thing 24 hours per day and sleep with it. The watch is extremely comfortable and the band is great too. You don't need to make it tight to get good readings - all of them heart rate / VO2 etc...- battery life is amazing even though I am going on long walks/hikes with GPS on every day. Even the solar charging I get in Feb is much better than expected. And I have the 45 mm watch. In summer it will likely never need a charge.- ArmorSuit 6 Pack for Garmin Instinct 3 45mm (AMOLED/Solar) Screen Protector MilitaryShield HD Clear Film - Made in USA - highly recommended as it seems to not impact solar charging at all and screen looks great. Garmin claims your shouldn't use any screen protection and it may not be required but there is no downside as far as I can tell. Researching the rigid glass like protectors do seem to impact charging from my research and don't stay on.- There are tons of cool faces available. I found a great Casio G-Shock look alike below. On the topic of G-Shock ... you'd have to have your head examined to get a $300 G-Shock that does maybe 10% of what this watch and looks ugly as hell too. Just MO ... and I loved GShock years ago but this watch is superior in every way.- You need to learn the 'operating system' of the watch before you can utilize the full capability. It is very well done and youtube is your friend. I will admit out of the box I had some difficulty to use some more advanced things but after a couple of days I got the hang of it. Now it is all second nature and I appreciate how the watch is set up. Very good design!- without fail folks that don't like this watch will point to lack of some 'premium' features that other watches and Garmin watches triple the price have. Guess what - I don't want them! Music on the watch ... don't want it. I actually like working out. Receive and answer calls ... don't want it! Color touch screen ... don't want it. On board maps ... don't want it. If (probably never) I am hiking the appalachian trail guess what ... I'll take my phone.- MIP B&W display ... last but not least is the black and white MIP display. It is hands down the best display I have ever had on a watch. It is crystal clear in the sun even through sunglasses and is supremely viewable under all conditions indoor / outdoor / gym ... everywhere.- Make sure you take the time to learn all the watch has to offer ... after two weeks I started using the breathing and relaxation programs in the watch and really dig those as well. Great sleep tracking and sleep coach ... great exercise tracking and exercise coaching ... pulse, VO2, body battery ... even weather glance is really well done.- The software on the watch is light years better than other brands. The sleep tracking, training readiness, flawless GPS tracking, vast array of built in widgets (glances) available can be daunting at first but take your time to learn what the watch has to offer. You will not be dissapointed.- The tactical version is the exact same watch blacked out for $50 more. I think the orange accents look great and certain need esoteric tactical ballistics stuff so save yourself the $50.to summarize ... if you want a toy or gizmo to play with keep looking. if you want an extremely useful tool the help you train and keep you on track for your fitness goals that goes weeks and maybe months maybe forever in the summer in-between charges AND is a good looking watch that doesn't look out of place business casual ... you found your watch!
Just over two weeks since I’ve received my new watch and I have to say it has met my expectations. Battery life/solar charging has meant that I can wear the watch, track my runs and receive notifications all day without charging anxiety re the watch. Bluetooth connection and constant pairing of watch to your phone may mean the phones battery life will take a hit, but you can unpair and sync when charging to get your stats in the app at your convenience. The app is intuitive and the watch was easy to pair with my phone. Worth the spend in my opinion!
Paid the extra during Black Friday sales to get the all black of the tactical solar vs the solar with orange bezel. Worth it since it’s more low profile and less flashy. Just won’t have any use for the tactical features
My Casio Mudman 9100 finally kicked the bucket after 16 years, so I was looking for a new watch. Initially I was looking at another Casio Mudman or Rangeman but their price range was the same as the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar 500 mm (I got it on sale for $350). I'm not big on smart watches but I do use other Garmin products and was interested in having a breadcrumb GPS along with the other features it shares with the Casio Mudman or Rangeman. I've been using OnX on my phone for detailed maps so the Garmin Instinct seemed like a great pairing. I've turned most of the alerts and other 'smart' features off for everyday usage and I'm currently getting 23 days of battery life. I get even more if I'm out in the sun for a few hours a day. On short hikes I've turned more detailed tracking on and still getting 5 to 6 days of battery life. The battery saving setting even boosts it to 30+ days. Overall, I'm impressed with the watch and it style. I hope it lasts me like the Casio's did. My only real complaint so far was the stock band was just really uncomfortable on the tendons on my inner wrist. The clasps were a pressure point while typing. Also, the stock band with its catching indents was hard to get on and off. I resolved both of those issues with an inexpensive nylon/Velcro band that accents the orange bezel highlights.
Design: Was expecting a darker grey by still looks cool!
I use this daily for just about everything. Battery life lasts weeks and the solar feature seems to work well. A lot of added features that can be used in the Garmin app and lots of health insights that are very helpful. Seems more accurate than Apple Watches on steps and distance on run/walks and you can still get notifications as well. Fits great with adjustable band.
Moving into the Instinct 3 Solar from the Instinct 2 tactical edition solar. The best watch u can ask for trekking or any other extreme activities. The screen and the flashlight are a huge addition to the Instinct 3. If you a Garmin guy and dont want too much smartwatch functionality, this is the watch to go for. If you want to pick calls and respond to message, get a phone !!
I have been a dedicated long-distance runner for over a decade, with numerous full and half marathons under my belt. For years, my trusted training partner was my Apple Watch Series 8. I ran with it, trained with it, and trusted its data implicitly—until a swim session caused it to fail. After getting it repaired at a local shop (since Apple does not repair them), I decided I needed something more durable and made the switch to the Garmin.I have only had the Garmin Instinct 3 for a week, but the difference is a total game-changer. I ran my usual park route, and the results were shocking. On the same 50-minute run, the Apple Watch logged 5.2 km, while the Garmin's multi-band GPS recorded a much more accurate 7.3 km. You can see the difference in the images—the Garmin's tracking is spot on, while the Apple Watch's GPS shows me running off-track, which I wasn't. This massive discrepancy made me question how much my past training data might have been off.Ultimately, this experience has made me re-evaluate what I truly need in a running watch. While the Apple Watch is a fantastic piece of technology with features like ECG, noise level, and stock tracking, etc. for serious training, those are often just distractions. I have hardly used them in the past two years, realizing they were more for novelty than utility.Here are the key The Garmin's multi-band GPS is a massive leap forward, providing a level of precision that is essential for analyzing training data.The peace of mind that comes with a rugged, purpose-built device is a huge relief. I am no longer worried about my watch failing during a key training session.Function vs. While I miss the ability to take hands-free calls on my watch, I have realized I don't need all the "tech" features that come with a smartwatch. The Garmin focuses on the core functions I need as an athlete.For me, the Garmin Instinct 3 has proven to be the better tool for the job. Its accuracy and durability are far more valuable to my training than any smartwatch feature.
I am really impressed with the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar. I have had 2 smart watches in the last 5 years. The first was my trusty fitbit versa 3. It helped me break into fitness. My second was a Samsuck Watch 4(not a typo). The Instinct 3 Solar is the most solid smart watch I have owned. Much faster responses to heart rate changes, steps, seemingly more accurate calories burned estimate. The battery life of Instinct solar is what gobsmacked me the most. I used to charge my watch 4 on the way to work, and on the way home. I used 1% of battery life in 24 hours today on the Instinct 3. If you are coming from a samsung, or fitbit, you will not be disapointed.If you are undecided on getting an amoled display, or the solar, I'd advise you that you can see the solar screen without having to power it up. Yes, black and white might seem boring, but I am still thrilled with this watch.
I love my Garmin watch. This is my second one. The only reason why I bought another one was I bought a blue colour and it looked childish had it for six years
My Forerunner 935 died right before my triathlon, so I needed a replacement fast. I chose the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar after checking its specs, mainly because of the amazing battery life. I don't use it as a smartwatch – just a regular watch when I'm not training (although the flashlight is super handy!). The sensors only kick in during training, and I'm consistently getting 20+ days of battery. I train 1-2 hours a day, doing biking, running, swimming, yoga, and more. If you want a tough, long-lasting watch with great battery life at a reasonable price, look no further. Haven't charged it since I got it, and the battery's still going strong!
After 2.5 weeks still on 61% battery.
What a fantastic watch, the pair was buttery smooth, and works as intended. getting 10 days of battery life with all features enabled. came neatly packed in a box
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