Smartwatches have become so intricate — and so expensive — that we end up spending more money on armor-like cases and screen protectors than we used to spend on an entire watch. Even then you may be hesitant to take your pricey smartwatch with you if you’re an outdoor adventurer.
The Garmin Instinct 2 presents no such problems. In fact, it’s designed and built specifically to be tough enough to accompany you on your rock-climbing, mountain-biking, triathlon-running adventures. And while it’s just $200 at Amazon during their 33% off sale, it definitely falls in that “costs as much as the accessories that keep your Apple Watch looking pretty” category.
Know Where You’re Going
The Garmin Instinct 2 has more eyes in the sky than most smartwatches — in addition to GPS, it also has access to the Galileo and GLONASS multiple-satellite nav systems to keep you safe and connected even in remote challenging locations.
ABC sensors — Altimiter for elevation data, Barometer for watching the weather, and 3-axis electronic Compass — can be literal lifesavers when you’re out in the roughest conditions. And should you get out on a long trek and suddenly find you’ve lost your way, the Garmin Instinct 2 has Tracback Routing to guide you back the way you came. When you pair your Garmin Instinct 2 with your smartphone, your live location can be sent to your contacts for an added layer of safety.
Training Titan
Just like those fancier smartwatches, the Garmin Instinct 2 comes packed with 24/7 health and wellness monitoring features. The Instinct 2 keeps track of your heart rate, pulse, blood oxygen, respiration, sleep, and more. It also measures your VO2 max, a term endurance athletes are familiar with. VO2 max is the amount of oxygen your body consumes while exercising, and a higher VO2 max is an indicator of greater endurance. The Garmin Instinct 2 even takes changes in heat and altitude that can adversely affect your VO2 max score.
The Garmin Instinct 2 is much more than just a smartwatch for hardcore adrenaline junkies. It receives texts, emails, and alerts when paired with your compatible smartphone, and you can zhuzh it up with downloadable custom watch faces from the Garmin IQ Store. The downloadable sports-specific apps also cover less-death-defying pastimes like golf, yoga, Pilates, and many more.
Amazon’s $200 deal on the Garmin Instinct 2 is your chance to undercut the bigger price tags on the bougier smartwatches and strap on a device that is up to any challenge that you’re wanting to take on, while still being a high-functioning fitness wearable even if your sporting tastes are a little more modest.