Garmin Instinct SOLAR SURF (45 mm), Rugged Surf Smartwatch with Tide Data, Dedicated Surfing Activity Features and Solar Charging, Cloudbreak

This is everything i wanted in a smart watch. it does enough, it doesent do swirly graphics, funky noises, call long lost aunt aggy or calculate your weight on mars.What it does do, firstly the surf version i bought in the white/marine blue looks awesome. I wanted something other than the generic black watch, got one of those. This ticks that box perfectly. Garmin has as much clout as samsung and apple in this badge snobbery universe. But i think it has a little extra here and above all, its still a watch. Not a phone extension, a genuine use on the wrist tell the time watch.Other reviewers bemoan the apps you have to download to use it. Maybe im different but it makes sense to me, connect to use the watch with your phone, connect iq (effectively garmins wearable app store) for the tide app i needed finishing with the navigation app. I dont see issues with any of them. Seems logical to me, they are nicely self contained, easy to use (basic to some i suppose) but does what it says on the tin.Actually using the watch, like i said its a watch, just has more functions. None of that silly swipe business that used to send my old huwawei into palpitations when it rained. Its all button based and a good thing too. The buttons are logical and only needs a day or 2 to be very comfortable with what does what. Anybody who has used one of the function loaded casio G shocks will be very comfortable. Its not as butch as a g shock but is still not a shy flower. Doesent catch on your cufs and the strap is really comfortable. Things like weather, position, compass, mapping, storm warning, blood gas, pulse, exercise it just never ends. How they got it all in i don't know.All the functions do take a bit of figuring out and to be honest the manual is, no other word for it crap, it is very much a quick start guide. If you buy one, set yourself down in front of the lap top with a coffee and use the online manual on the garmin website to go through everything. The vibrating alert seems a bit too much at first, especially if you get several alerts at once but when you think on it, if your diving/surfing/biking it prob needs to be a little heavy handed to get your attention and you can turn it off.The icing on the cake, the simply ridiculous battery life. Mine is a solar and it would appear if you spend a reasonable time outside without pushing the watch too hard you might charge it once or twice a MONTH. I have had mine 3 days now and obviously have been like a kid with a new toy. Worn it 24hrs a day and its just dropped off of full on the battery indicator. The others need to listen to this.The screen looks blocky compared to an apple watch but it has a no business look i feel. The screen is a black and white pixel screen. Like the kindle screens, prob why the battery lasts so long. Perfectly suits the needs of the watch.Ultimately i love it, i was not intending to use even half the functions, thinking most to be gimmicks like the huwawei. For the most part i bought it for its looks and the little boy inside loves the gadgets. Now i have it, those gadgets are actually real useable functions not remotely gimmicks and i will be using them.10/10(Just to add)After owning the watch for several months now the only negative is you need to wash the watch regularly as its white.On holiday in kos, I left the UK with 28 days charge. 5 days into the holiday I had 41 days. Love this watch.

Great watch, amazing long battery life, love the Garmin Connected software, HRM works pretty well too (although I also have the HRM strap for workouts and bike rides). Pretty good price for the functionality and not too complicated to work out how to navigate the menu!!!Only one fairly minor fault so far is that the GPS seems to stop working when I go for very cold water swims (i.e. sub 10 degrees celcius) - it still records my heart rate, stroke rate and water temp just not how far I've swum - odd?!Fantastic watch other than that!

The media could not be loaded. This watch doesn't seem to hold charge, even thought it is supposed to chargw using solar power as well as a plug. I've had to turn off most of the settings.that I bought it for (tidal info, sunrise and sunset, wrist HR) and still I have to charge it every night?! 🤷🏼‍♀️

Really pleased with this Garmin. Works really well, with battery life (while not using GPS) of up to 23 days. Bought for kayaking, hiking, exploration etc. Really pleased!

So many features, so much information but not too overwhelming. You should not regret buying one.

Best watch ever!! Tried various watches with trackers and apps and this is no doubt the best!