Garmin Instinct 2 solar Vs 2x solar

I’m looking to upgrade my basic Garmin Forerunner, in particular I’m looking for greater battery life, additionally it would be nice to be able to upload gpx files and have a breadcrumb trail to follow for trail runs.

From what I can see on the Garmin page it looks as if both models of the Instinct 2 solar do this but what are the differences between them other than a bigger face and the 2x having a torch?

Just trying to work out if the additional £100 is worth it for me.

Thanks.

I think you’ve summed up the differences. The X is huge, way too big for my wrists. Standard is fine

As always, DCrainmaker Has you covered

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2023/04/instinct-flashlight-equipped.html

The red light on the flashlight is essential if you’re over 50 for those multiple night time toilet trips.  So I’m told.

I have the x. I don’t think it’s too big by any means. I use the torch every day.

As to whether it’s worth it. No idea.

Thanks for the replies, @P20 thanks for the link, very informative. I don’t think the x is too big, I don’t wear my Garmin as an every day watch, only whilst doing sporting activities, and with my failing eyesight the bigger the better!

The torch is so flipping usefull  – I litterally use it 2-3 times every day and no don’t think I’d buy a watch without a torch function!

As DC rainmaker says the 2x is like an instinct 2.5 if you can cope with the size I’d go for the X

How much more battery life are you actually looking for? Is budget a constraint?

I can only speak for my V1 solar, but the main benefit of any type of Instinct is the simpler display reducing juice requirements. A non-solar Instinct 2 might be ample, given the ~8 months of gloom we get in blighty.

The battery on a solar augmented Instinct lasts well, but (like with the solar backed Edges) you’re not running the device purely on photons, the vanilla versions have pretty good battery life and cost a chunk less, I wouldn’t discount them.

The Epix Gen2 is about the same price (£325) at HSamuel.  And Quidco / topcashback etc have quite generous cashback from there as well.

The torch does look useful, and the instinct / solar battery life is great.

But the Epix has actual useable maps.

The only thing that annoys me so far (other than downloading maps turned into a bit of a ball ache) is it has too many functions / features. It was actually quite useful on the instinct to press the set button and the timer function came up, great for cooking. On the epix it’s yet another menu, although you can edit the menu to take out the other stuff. For the sake of everyday practicality it’s worth sitting down and having a cull of all the metrics you won’t ever use.

Battery life is still a fortnight without the GPS, and long enough for a long weekend away logging rides.

Ohh, and the bezzle doesn’t protect the screen like on the instinct. My instinct bore the scars of several years abuse so I’m a bit more precious about the new one and will probably use the instinct for MTBing if I don’t need the mapping.

Good point. I never take my Instinct off apart from to charge it. Chainsawing, mechaniching, garden stuff etc and it looks like new. My neighbour is a landscaper and he has one too. A mate has an Epix and it’s all scratched up.

Good point. I never take my Instinct off apart from to charge it. Chainsawing, mechaniching, garden stuff etc and it looks like new. My neighbour is a landscaper and he has one too. A mate has an Epix and it’s all scratched up.

Ditto, mine (V1 solar) has become my daily/beater watch in place of a G-Shock.

Looking at various prices/options for the i2 Vs i2 solar Vs i2X solar.

I would probably go on eBay and look for a good used/refurb Instinct 2 (non-solar) to try as those can be found for under £100 and may well suit the brief for substantially less spend that a solar or ‘X’ version. 

torch on the watches is brilliant (fenix 7 saphire pro),  – Toilet duties, stumbling in pissed trying not to wake the missus, all sorts of uses..

Failing eyesight means my Instinct Solar is for sale ?as I’ve switched to an epix

I’ve had have a gen1 Instinct for a few years, and love it but my mate just bought a Epix Gen2 for £325 (I think) from H.Samuel and it’s really trick, and the amoled screen is impressive.

I’ve looked at the 2X to get a bigger screen than my gen1, so I’m in a similar boat.

2X seems steep  for what it is (IMO) but that’s from the perspective of having bought a V1 Solar after the instinct 2 had been announced and Garmin were clearing out the old stock.

If you’re paying more than £200 for any flavour of Instinct that’s over the odds (again IMO) it’s main selling point is that it is more basic, but that should mean a lower price point too. An extra hundred quid for a slightly bigger watch? Nah.

Lots of food for thought, so thanks. I’m fortunate enough to be able to get a reasonable Blue light card discount, so i’m not really entertaining used or reconditioned, as I’d like the warranty that comes with new.

Looking at the moment I can get the non solar base 2 model for £150, The 2 solar for £200 and the 2x solar for £280.

Battery life is the big one for me, I did a 50k trail run at the weekend and the battery on my basic Forerunner pretty much gave up a few minutes after crossing the line, so going any further is going to be an issue. Having a breadcrumb trail to follow will be useful so I can upload an event gpx and have it just for reference, I’d still have more detailed mapping on my phone via Komoot should I really lose my way.

Budget is an issue, I could just about stretch to the prices quoted above but not any higher.

Battery life is the big one for me, I did a 50k trail run at the weekend and the battery on my basic Forerunner pretty much gave up a few minutes after crossing the line, so going any further is going to be an issue. Having a breadcrumb trail to follow will be useful so I can upload an event gpx and have it just for reference, I’d still have more detailed mapping on my phone via Komoot should I really lose my way

The instinct has a smaller battery so still only manages ~24h of tracking even without the screen backlight on.  The Battery life feature of the instinct really only applies to everyday use where it will outlast pretty much any smartwatch.

I’ve not tested it but reportedly the Epix will last ~45hours with the GPS on but the screen off, and about 24h with the screen on.  So if you’re planning to use it for ultramarathons then it might actually be the better battery life despite the power hungry screen.

The Epix is well out of budget unfortunately, and the H Samuel offer is sold out.

Despite my new found enthusiasm for trail running I think it maybe a long time before I’m doing 24h+ events, if I can get a solid 15 hours battery life i’ll be happy.

Keep an eye out on eBay for a used one. We were looking last week to upgrade an Instinct to a 2x solar.

Dropped on a nearly new Fenix 7x solar sapphire titanium from someone who had upgraded to an 8

Put in a cheeky bid and got it for £300. Arrived 2 days later and looks as if it’s not been used.