A Watch That’s Tough as Nails
In a market where smart watches can easily fetch upwards of a grand, I’ve learned to love an old $300 standby my wife gave me as a Christmas gift in 2019 – the indomitable Garmin Instinct Tactical.
For the past five years, I’ve worn it almost daily, trained for three half-marathons in it, smashed it on a rock in a dirt bike spill, and tested out its “tactical” features under night vision. Aside from some scuffs and a broken strap, you could say it takes a licking, and keeps on etc.
While the Garmin Instinct Tactical has been replaced by the Instinct 2 Tactical, with some online searching, you can still find the Instinct 1 for sale at just under $300. If my Instinct 1 ever gives up the ghost, I’ll buy the Instinct 2, but for now, I’m sticking with old faithful.
Which is really the point of the Instinct – it is a workhorse that refuses to die. But before we get too far into why I like it, let me clearly state what the Instinct Tactical is not.
What Kind of Watch Person Are You?
If you’re the kind of person who likes to wear all the latest tech on your wrist, you will not be excited by the Instinct Tactical. If your timepiece predilections lean toward a high-res color display and built in speakers, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
However, if you need a smart watch for tracking fitness activities, wearing in rugged conditions, and telling the time, I don’t think you could find a better option than the Instinct Tactical. Yes, you could buy yourself a $50 G-Shock that would be every bit as rugged, but then you would lose out on all of the fitness tracking and GPS functionality. The Instinct Tactical is a solid compromise for the performance-minded user.
Features and Functions
While some of the Instinct Tactical’s “tactical” features are a bit unrealistic for most civilians, (do you need to track your HALO/HAHO jumps?) I have appreciated the ability to put the Instinct into stealth mode in training environments where night vision is in play. With these settings, a user can reduce screen brightness, and turn off heart rate monitoring to eliminate the green glow on the back of the watch (even the dimmest light can be a dead giveaway to an opponent wearing NODs).
For me, the Garmin Instinct 1 does almost everything I want it to, while lacking superfluous features that would drive up price point. But I did say “almost” everything, so let’s talk about the features I wish this watch had, and why if you’re starting from scratch, you might want to spring for the Instinct Tactical 2.
First thing: the Instinct 1 does not monitor several health and fitness metrics that I would find valuable, including HRV status, pulse OX, and estimated VO2 max. If you are an athlete or weekend warrior, these are nice to have. The Instinct 2 handily adds these features to its list, making the extra $100 worth the price point for many.
The Instinct 1’s built-in heart rate monitoring is fine for getting a general gauge on your resting heart rate. However, take it out for a spin around the block, and good luck trusting the data. If you’re a runner using the Instinct 1, you’ll need to strap on a compatible Garmin chest-worn heart rate monitor. This used to be the norm, but these days, Garmin watches claim to have more accurate wrist-monitored heart rate tracking. I haven’t personally tested this on the Instinct 2, so your mileage may vary.
Lastly, I mentioned that my wrist strap broke. The soft silicone material used for Garmin wrist straps is ultra-comfortable. However, it’s not nearly as rugged as the watch body itself. If your strap eventually breaks, you can shell out $40 for a genuine Garmin replacement strap, or do what I did and buy yourself a knockoff on Amazon for $12.99.
Parting Thoughts
So there you have it – my honest take on the Garmin Instinct 1 Tactical. Is it perfect? No. Is it everything a smart watch can be in this day and age? Far from it. But can it perform for years on end and give you 90% of the core functionality of a much more expensive watch? You bet.
