Okay, so I’ve been eyeing a new rugged watch for a while, and I finally decided to dive into the Garmin Instinct 2 series. But then came the hard part: choosing between the 2X Solar Tactical and the 2 Solar Tactical. Both seemed awesome, but I needed to figure out which one was the perfect fit for my needs.
First, I grabbed both watches. Seriously, holding them in your hands makes a huge difference. The 2X is noticeably bigger. I mean, it’s a beast! It felt solid, substantial, but maybe a little too big for my everyday wear. The regular 2 Solar felt more comfortable right off the bat, like something I could wear all day, every day, without feeling like I had a brick on my wrist.
Next, I started playing with the features. Both have all the tactical goodies – night vision compatibility, stealth mode, kill switch, Jumpmaster mode… the works. Honestly, for my actual use (mostly hiking, occasional camping, and general everyday tracking), I realized I wouldn’t be using those hardcore tactical features that often.
Then I compared the battery life, I used both of them and take some record:
- I charged both watches to 100%.
- I enabled all usual features (notifications, activity tracking, heart rate, etc.).
- I took both of them for some usual hike.
- I checked the battery level after one week:
- Instinct 2X Solar Tactical: Still had a ton of juice left! the bigger size definitely pays off here.
- Instinct 2 Solar Tactical: Battery was lower, still good, but I could tell I’d be charging it more often.
- I did the same test, but this time I disabled most of the “smart” features and just used them as basic GPS watches. The difference was less noticeable, but the 2X still had the edge.
I also tested out the flashlight. The 2X’s flashlight is way brighter. It’s actually useful in a pinch, like finding your way to the bathroom in a dark tent. The regular 2 Solar has a flashlight, but it’s more of an “emergency” flashlight – good enough to see your hand in front of your face, but not much more.
My Final Decision
After a week of wearing both, and seriously considering my real-world needs, I decided to go with the Instinct 2 Solar Tactical. Even though the 2X’s battery life and flashlight were tempting, the regular 2 Solar’s smaller size and more comfortable fit won out in the end. It just felt better on my wrist, and that’s what mattered most for a watch I’d be wearing all the time.
The 2x is great, but I think the regular 2 Solar is the best fit for me.