I have been exposed to Garmin Forerunner and Fenix series before, and this is the first time to contact Garmin Instinct series, and I am interested in understanding Instinct product positioning. To borrow the official introduction of Garmin, to spy on one or two. "As one of the important terminal products in the Garmin ecosystem, Instinct 2 is based on deep insight into user needs, accurately cut from the perspectives of "black technology" and "high value", and creates a high-quality smart watch with "craftsmanship" with a bold and innovative innovative spirit and professional integrated manufacturing strength, which can bring excellent life experience to players with different needs, different hobbies and different scenarios. On the sports field, it is the "hardcore coach" of the strength players, in the Z generation, it is the eye-catching highlight of fashionable men and women, in daily life, it is also a "personal doctor" who manages health closely, representing health, vitality, sports, passion of Chinese new consumerism, will become one of the important forces to reshape the new trend of Chinese consumption. ”
Refine a few keywords: appearance, fashion, sports, health
First, the product is unpacked
The watch model of this review is Garmin Instinct 2X Solar Tactical Edition, the color is dark night black, in February 2022 Garmin released Garmin Instinct 2/2S, Instinct 2X Solar is an Instinct 2 series model has been rich, larger size, larger screen.
The full series of Instinct 2, like many Garmin's watches, has relatively rich specifications and colors, which is dazzling to watch. Three gauge sizes, solar and non-solar, sport, tactical and inundulative, a diagram summary to see clearly.
Second, the change of instinct 2X
Are there any updates compared to the Instinct 2/2S, just the size has been increased? Take a look below
– Increase the watch size to a 50mm case (40mm for the previous Instinct 2S and 45mm for the Instinct 2)
– Instinct 2X is all equipped with solar energy
– Added multi-band/dual-band GPS/GNSS
– Display size increased from 0.9 inches to 1.1 inches
– 50% increase in solar panels compared to Instinct 2 Solar
– Increased battery life
– Screws added to the front housing
– Running power on the wrist (no external sensor required)
– Added flashlight/flashlight, white and red light, as well as strobe options (such as Fenix 7X or Enduro 2 series), the tactical version is white and green.
– Added training readiness indicator kit (e.g. Fenix 7 Series) – Added solar illuminance hour tracking metric (e.g. Fenix 7 Series)
– Added morning report (same as other Garmin watches)
– Add Alipay offline payment function
Third, what are the functions of Instinct 2X
I remember that a friend in the running data control group used instinct 1 generation, the running data he shared, there was no maximum oxygen uptake, we all said that instinct is not suitable for running, there is too little data.
To Instinct 2, Garmin was a lot more generous and gave most of the data to Instinct 2, just take Instinct 2X as an example to see what data is available.
From the data point of view, it is very rich, comparable to the Garmin 255 series
From a functional point of view, Instinct 2X has more functions than Garmin 255, up to more than 50 kinds, Garmin 255 only has more than 30 kinds, such as golf, indoor rock climbing, bouldering, rock climbing, tactics, fishing, horseback riding, obstacle course, tennis and so on.
LED lights
Like FENIX 7X, LED lights are configured on the top of the watch, except that the Instinct 2X's LED lights are white and green, and the white lights provide 4 levels of brightness adjustment. In addition to the constant light, a strobe mode is also available, and there are several modes to choose from when flashing time.
4. Basic data testing
The most basic data of sports watches are heart rate and trajectory, and the later test data is mainly shared from these two.
1. Heart rate
The heart rate sensor of Garmin Instinct 2X Solar is the same as Garmin 955/965, which is the 4th generation Garmin heart rate sensor.
1) Run at a steady pace
Venue: Flat playground
Benchmark: heart rate belt and Garmin Instinct 2X photoelectric heart rate
Course: Aerobic steady pace
2) Interval running
Venue: Flat playground
Equipment: Heart rate belt and Garmin Instinct 2X photoelectric heart rate
Course: E3K+400*8@345+E10m
Results: The average heart rate differed by 1 point, but the heart rate curves of the first 5 sets of intervals during the interval were a bit different, and the more consistent they were.
3) Speed up and run
Venue: Flat playground
Equipment: Heart rate belt and Garmin Instinct 2X photoelectric heart rate
Course: 10km gradual acceleration run with two stops to tie your shoes
Result: Average heart rate difference of 1 point, but high curve coincidence.
2. Trajectory
The GNSS configuration of Garmin Instinct 2X is dual-frequency multi-satellite, which is the mainstream configuration at present. Observe how trajectories behave in several different environments.
1) Outdoor open road
Venue: Yizhuang half-horse course, outdoor open road,
Comparison equipment: Garmin Instinct 2X and Suunto vertical, worn on the same left hand
GNSS settings: dual-frequency multi-satellite
Result: From the superimposed trajectory, the two coincide almost exactly, because only one color trace is seen on the plot and the other is covered.
Zoom in on one of the parts randomly, and run which motor vehicle lane on the road is very accurate. This is the advantage of dual-frequency multi-satellite.
There are slight differences in distance, Suunto vertica is 210 meters more than Garmin Instinct 2X, Garmin Instinct 2X is closer to the half-horse standard distance.
2) Roads around the complex
Venue: Ring community road, there are high-rise buildings on the side of the road, the outer circle runs counterclockwise, and the inner circle runs clockwise
Comparison equipment: Garmin Instinct 2X and Suunto vertical, worn on the same left hand
GNSS settings: dual-frequency multi-satellite
Result: Overall, there is no big deviation from the actual running road, and from the perspective of the superimposed trajectory, there is a local difference, which is obviously different from the first scene.
ZOOMING IN ON THE TRAJECTORY OF THE GAME WITH THE LARGEST GAP, THE JIAMIN INSTINCT 2X ON BOTH SIDES IS A HIGH-RISE BUILDING SECTION TRAJECTORY BIASED TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, SUUNTO VERTICAL IS RELATIVELY GOOD.
However, judging by the results, Suunto veritzcal is 20 meters more than the Instinct 2X. It can only show that there is a difference in the algorithm of the two, if the same algorithm, it should be Garmin Instinct 2X will be a little more.
3) Guanmen Mountain trail run
Venue: Guanmen Mountain Baturu Cross Country Race
Comparison devices: Garmin Instinct 2X and Goetzpartners APEX 2 Pro on the left, Suunto vertical in the right hand
GNSS settings: dual-frequency multi-satellite
Result: Overall, the three watches did not overlap very much without superimposed trajectories
Find a local trajectory in a valley in a primeval forest to zoom in
Looking at the distance again, the trajectory distance provided by the organizer is 53.9 kilometers, and there is no wrong way throughout the whole process. Garmin 2X and goetzpartners APEX 2 Pro are closer to the official distance, and the Suunto Vertical is slightly more than 1 km away.
Summary of heart rate and trajectory
The heart rate performs very well at a stable or evenly changing pace, and the performance is a little unstable during the first few intervals of interval running, of course, the reason for the fit of the watch and wrist is not excluded.
In terms of trajectory, compared with the previous Garmin 955, in a complex environment, the difference is lost, and after a few events, the performance is very good.
About track navigation
In a three-peak training, a trajectory navigation function is used, other tracks with maps are loaded, and the trajectory loading of instinctive 2X is still rotating in circles, which is too long, which should be related to the processing speed of the main chip. If it is used for trail running competitions, it will kill people, and if it is used for hiking, it is not sensitive to time, but it is acceptable.
V. Summary
Although Garmin Instinct 2X Solar is positioned fashionable and casual, it is not only cool, continuing the professionalism of Garmin watches, sports modes and sports data are a little more than Garmin 255, and equipped with LED lights that are very needed outdoors.
If you value the appearance of the watch and pursue sports professionalism, Instinct 2X is a good choice.