Tech Tools: Garmin unveils Instinct 2 rugged smartwatch

New sizes, colours and features for military standard ‘alternative’ smartwatch

The Garmin  Instinct 2 Surf edition includes health and fitness metrics, from sleep monitoring and VO2 max to body battery, menstrual cycle tracking and stress tracking.
The Garmin Instinct 2 Surf edition includes health and fitness metrics, from sleep monitoring and VO2 max to body battery, menstrual cycle tracking and stress tracking.

Garmin Instinct 2/2S (from €350)

Garmin has unveiled the latest additions to its fitness wearable range, updating the Instinct smartwatch with new looks, features and size options. Billing itself as an alternative smartwatch for outdoor enthusiasts, the Instinct range now includes a traditional 45mm bezel and a new Instinct 2S with a smaller 40mm bezel.

This watch is tough, built to military standard 810 for thermal and shock resistance and is water-rated to 100m. It needs to be, considering the built-in activity apps range from bouldering to hiking.

The watch also includes a full line-up of health and fitness metrics, from sleep monitoring and VO2 max to body battery, menstrual cycle tracking and stress tracking.

The best thing about it? In smartwatch mode, the solar edition gives you unlimited battery life. The standard version will work for up to four weeks in smartwatch mode from a single charge. GPS modes shorten that considerably to 72 hours

READ MORE

The Instinct 2 also comes in a range of colours, including electric lime, poppy and neo-tropic, with Instinct 2 Solar, standard (non-solar), surf, tactical and camo editions for different activities. garmin.com

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien is an Irish Times business and technology journalist