Skip to main content
Customer Review
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2023
I run, bike, weight train, walk, stand up paddle board, do yoga, and a variety of other activities. The Garmin gives me a readiness score to help prevent over training. I also like that it continually monitors my vitals, stress, sleep levels (quality of sleep), etc and determines whether or not I should take a break from my exercise. Proactive health and fitness are my lifestyle. I can also compare my fitness/performance levels to other Garmin users, and it provides me insight and feedback... the AW does little of that. For example, I can look up on the Garmin Connect site and see my age group and how I compare to other Garmin users for distance, pace, etc. for an activity.
I also like to save coordinates while hiking, on trips, etc. I have the Garmin Explorer option to pull up waypoints. It's convenient sharing my data with other people as to where the AW only allows me to share a screen shot of my workouts with some data. I noticed that the AW does not record stand up paddle boarding as an activity or exercise. The Garmin does, while also recording my route on a map… pretty cool.
I wore both devices and found that the Garmin is a bit more accurate running indoors on a treadmill compared to the AW Ultra and Crossover/2. I finish my distance right on point with the treadmill as to where the AW ultra at one mile is .15 to .25 miles off typically; yes, I’m familiar with the calibration process (deleting old calibration… 20 min walk/run outdoors). The Ultra and series 7 (watches used at the time of comparison to the Instinct 2 solar and Crossover Solar) also counts a bit more steps with basic wrist movements as to where the Crossover/2 do not. Once my Garmin gets to one mile, I can calibrate it to match what the treadmill says and it's good to go.
The AW is great to generally observe data regarding health, but the lack of feedback is concerning. Also, I do like to check maps out on my adventures or saved coordinates on a map. If I save coordinates on the AW, it is a bit more extensive to pull things up on a map as to where the Garmin side of things just does it. I feel stuck on the AW viewing travel data/waypoints. The Garmin Connect app on my iPhone has all my data in one location. The AW, I need three different apps. Apple has a ways to go on the health/fitness side of things. I see them getting there in the near future and I can see myself eventually getting back on board once things catch up... assuming they do.
I will miss closing rings and competing with family/friends on an Apple Watch, but the Garmin is much more on point for my daily lifestyle. I kept trying to convince myself the Ultra would be adequate, and I greatly enjoyed having cellular/music while out on runs, but I'll stick to bringing my phone at this point. I do have a AW5 that I can occasionally use for cellular when I do not want to carry a phone on me. Choosing between the two for my lifestyle, Garmin is ultimately the platform I am choosing to stick to for my active lifestyle of monitoring my health and fitness.
I forgot to mention that I like that the Crossover’s display is always on with physical hands and I can glance at it. I’m not a fan of the limited battery life of the Ultra and I’m not sold on the always on display or OLED... just a preference of mine.
One other point I’d like to leave is I like the plastic polymer casings on the Instinct/Crossover series. The titanium and stainless casing show scratches like crazy on the Apple watches (aluminum too… my children have the SE and series 5 aluminum, which we keep cases on). The polymer-fiber casings on the Instinct hardly show any where and tear… just mentioning that for those who are a little OCD such as myself. My Instinct Solar 2 has been seen a lot of wear and tear and still looks nearly new despite having scratches (these scratches are matte and hardly noticeable… one must go out of there way with angle lighting, etc. to even see a glimpse of anything)… my point is the polymer-fiber ages well and has seen its fair share of knocks and use in an active lifestyle… my Apple watches patina hard over time and look banged up. I’ve used cases on my Apple watches in the past and they seem to just add to the wear and tear. Aging gracefully and not concerning myself with aesthetics and durability is another win on the Garmin for me with daily use.
—————————
Well, my minute hand became loose on the watch. I noticed another person had this issue on a Reddit forum. Amazon made an exception past the return date and authorized a return for me, which I greatly appreciate. I’ll being opting for the Garmin 955 Solar and will definitely miss this watch. I just don’t trust the longevity of the mechanical aspect of this Watch given that I’ve come across others having this issue. Had this issue in reliability not been an issue of mine, it’d still easily be one of my most favored watches I’ve owned to date… there’s nothing like it out there…
——————13MAR23————
I decided to try another watch… same issue (reference photos of watch at the 2oclock and 7oclock position. I decided to keep it because I like the fit and practicality of the watch so much and I guess this may just be the nature of the watch unless there’s a bad batch out there. I contacted Garmin about the issue and the rep said this does not seem “normal.” I’ll test the replacement. If I have the same issue I’ll likely keep the watch although the loose minute hand is a bit of an annoyance. I tried the 955 Solar… a great option too around the same price. The screen is much easier to read indoors on the Crossover Instinct Solar compared to the 955 Solar and the battery life is much better on the Instinct Solar… the Solar option on the 955 doesn’t seem to benefit the battery life much, but on the instinct Solar there is a significant difference for my daily use scenario… especially when running/biking outdoors.
---------------21DEC23--------------
I sold the Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar in graphite that I had and opted for the Apple Watch Ultra 2 when it was released since I wanted to give Apple's new fitness features/updates a try/chance. It was great having email, texting, cellular, music, and Siri on my wrist, but ultimately it lost its appeal as my phone can do all of these things at a slight inconvenience. Also, it didn't give me the warm and fuzzy that the battery is draining at breakneck speeds giving off much more radiation compared to the once in a while syncing for bluetooth on the Garmin. Once again, I didn't care for the OLED screen on the AW Ultra 2 and the lack of fitness feedback I can only access from an iPhone and iPad... disappointing. Another disappointment was missing the ability to add notes and photos to activities with my children while out hiking, running, biking, etc. together that I can do with Garmin’s Connect plateform. If I want these previously mentioned features while out exercising, etc. I just wear a running belt or fanny pack to carry my iPhone.
So, I ordered the tactical version of Crossover Solar watch while on-sale during the holidays. I also ordered the Instinct 2x solar in graphite a week prior to this watch. I like the near limitless battery life, larger screen, updated GPS and flashlight on the Instinct 2X Solar, but for some reason I just prefer having the mechanical arms on the Crossover and the smaller footprint lol. While the profile is a bit high of the wrist for the Crossover, it keeps my long sleeves from covering the watch and has a unique look to it.
Battery life with daily sun exposure (I live in Florida (United States)) is adequate. I can get about two weeks use comfortably with daily training on the Instinct Crossover Solar Tactical ed before recharging it at around 30% battery. The Instinct 2x is easily double that. I do work outside and get about 20k to 50k lux hours (solar charging) on the Crossover and the Instinct 2x can double that considering the solar panel collects quite a bit more light (it is larger and more exposed to the sun). It is definitely a commendable watch if you don't mind the large design. My wrist is just over 6.5" around to put the images I shared into a little perspective. The Instinct 2x is definitely a better value technology and practicality wise with a way more readable (larger font, better screen layout) screen when using fitness features and browsing menus. These two watches have the same updated GPS chipsets, but the 2x offers a battery draining “all systems option that is not necessary for day to day life unless you are using the watch in challenging terrain with canyons, skyscrapers, etc. I prefer the style of the Crossover and it is more comfortable for daily wear and looks better in mine and my wife's opinion (different settings).
Something worth noting... if the arms on the dial get in the way of the data on the screen on the Crossover, you just press the bottom-right button that says "set" and the arms shift out of the way for a few moments and shift back. Seems a lot of folks are not mentioning this in their reviews or are unaware of this. While going through menus, the arms obviously resort to the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions as to not obscure the screen.
After owning the graphite version, and now tactical version of the Instinct Crossover with solar, I recommend just picking the color you want... black is a $50 up charge if you need the tactical features, which I don't. Feels pretty much like the same watch. I like how the text, etc around the bezel is a bit more subdued. There are also no tick marks around the outside edges of the numbers in case you overlooked this as well.
Anywho, I hope all this rambling had some information of value for someone. The Instinct Crossover Solar is an awesome watch that I definitely recommend to anyone that is proactive with a healthy lifestyle that wants a watch that is rugged, looks semi-formal and informal beyond that of the Instinct 2X. I uploaded photos of the Instinct 2X Solar and AW Ultra 2 next to the Crossover Tactical on my right wrist. Again, my wrist is just over 6.5” for reference.
I currently own a Garmin Instinct Solar 2 and the Crossover Solar. The Garmin Crossover Solar is my favorite smart watch to date. I use it for monitoring my daily health and fitness. I have owned the AW 1,3, 5 (stainless steel), 7 (titanium), and Ultra. As much as I enjoy using the Apple Watch series, Garmin provides me my health metrics from the watch without aftermarket apps. I don't like having to continually depend on my iPhone to see my health metrics. Garmin allows me to connect through their app on my phone, web browser, tablet, etc. Garmin also plays friendly with 3rd party providers such as Strava as to where the AW I have to manually sync my data with Strava.
I run, bike, weight train, walk, stand up paddle board, do yoga, and a variety of other activities. The Garmin gives me a readiness score to help prevent over training. I also like that it continually monitors my vitals, stress, sleep levels (quality of sleep), etc and determines whether or not I should take a break from my exercise. Proactive health and fitness are my lifestyle. I can also compare my fitness/performance levels to other Garmin users, and it provides me insight and feedback... the AW does little of that. For example, I can look up on the Garmin Connect site and see my age group and how I compare to other Garmin users for distance, pace, etc. for an activity.
I also like to save coordinates while hiking, on trips, etc. I have the Garmin Explorer option to pull up waypoints. It's convenient sharing my data with other people as to where the AW only allows me to share a screen shot of my workouts with some data. I noticed that the AW does not record stand up paddle boarding as an activity or exercise. The Garmin does, while also recording my route on a map… pretty cool.
I wore both devices and found that the Garmin is a bit more accurate running indoors on a treadmill compared to the AW Ultra and Crossover/2. I finish my distance right on point with the treadmill as to where the AW ultra at one mile is .15 to .25 miles off typically; yes, I’m familiar with the calibration process (deleting old calibration… 20 min walk/run outdoors). The Ultra and series 7 (watches used at the time of comparison to the Instinct 2 solar and Crossover Solar) also counts a bit more steps with basic wrist movements as to where the Crossover/2 do not. Once my Garmin gets to one mile, I can calibrate it to match what the treadmill says and it's good to go.
The AW is great to generally observe data regarding health, but the lack of feedback is concerning. Also, I do like to check maps out on my adventures or saved coordinates on a map. If I save coordinates on the AW, it is a bit more extensive to pull things up on a map as to where the Garmin side of things just does it. I feel stuck on the AW viewing travel data/waypoints. The Garmin Connect app on my iPhone has all my data in one location. The AW, I need three different apps. Apple has a ways to go on the health/fitness side of things. I see them getting there in the near future and I can see myself eventually getting back on board once things catch up... assuming they do.
I will miss closing rings and competing with family/friends on an Apple Watch, but the Garmin is much more on point for my daily lifestyle. I kept trying to convince myself the Ultra would be adequate, and I greatly enjoyed having cellular/music while out on runs, but I'll stick to bringing my phone at this point. I do have a AW5 that I can occasionally use for cellular when I do not want to carry a phone on me. Choosing between the two for my lifestyle, Garmin is ultimately the platform I am choosing to stick to for my active lifestyle of monitoring my health and fitness.
I forgot to mention that I like that the Crossover’s display is always on with physical hands and I can glance at it. I’m not a fan of the limited battery life of the Ultra and I’m not sold on the always on display or OLED... just a preference of mine.
One other point I’d like to leave is I like the plastic polymer casings on the Instinct/Crossover series. The titanium and stainless casing show scratches like crazy on the Apple watches (aluminum too… my children have the SE and series 5 aluminum, which we keep cases on). The polymer-fiber casings on the Instinct hardly show any where and tear… just mentioning that for those who are a little OCD such as myself. My Instinct Solar 2 has been seen a lot of wear and tear and still looks nearly new despite having scratches (these scratches are matte and hardly noticeable… one must go out of there way with angle lighting, etc. to even see a glimpse of anything)… my point is the polymer-fiber ages well and has seen its fair share of knocks and use in an active lifestyle… my Apple watches patina hard over time and look banged up. I’ve used cases on my Apple watches in the past and they seem to just add to the wear and tear. Aging gracefully and not concerning myself with aesthetics and durability is another win on the Garmin for me with daily use.
—————————
Well, my minute hand became loose on the watch. I noticed another person had this issue on a Reddit forum. Amazon made an exception past the return date and authorized a return for me, which I greatly appreciate. I’ll being opting for the Garmin 955 Solar and will definitely miss this watch. I just don’t trust the longevity of the mechanical aspect of this Watch given that I’ve come across others having this issue. Had this issue in reliability not been an issue of mine, it’d still easily be one of my most favored watches I’ve owned to date… there’s nothing like it out there…
——————13MAR23————
I decided to try another watch… same issue (reference photos of watch at the 2oclock and 7oclock position. I decided to keep it because I like the fit and practicality of the watch so much and I guess this may just be the nature of the watch unless there’s a bad batch out there. I contacted Garmin about the issue and the rep said this does not seem “normal.” I’ll test the replacement. If I have the same issue I’ll likely keep the watch although the loose minute hand is a bit of an annoyance. I tried the 955 Solar… a great option too around the same price. The screen is much easier to read indoors on the Crossover Instinct Solar compared to the 955 Solar and the battery life is much better on the Instinct Solar… the Solar option on the 955 doesn’t seem to benefit the battery life much, but on the instinct Solar there is a significant difference for my daily use scenario… especially when running/biking outdoors.
---------------21DEC23--------------
I sold the Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar in graphite that I had and opted for the Apple Watch Ultra 2 when it was released since I wanted to give Apple's new fitness features/updates a try/chance. It was great having email, texting, cellular, music, and Siri on my wrist, but ultimately it lost its appeal as my phone can do all of these things at a slight inconvenience. Also, it didn't give me the warm and fuzzy that the battery is draining at breakneck speeds giving off much more radiation compared to the once in a while syncing for bluetooth on the Garmin. Once again, I didn't care for the OLED screen on the AW Ultra 2 and the lack of fitness feedback I can only access from an iPhone and iPad... disappointing. Another disappointment was missing the ability to add notes and photos to activities with my children while out hiking, running, biking, etc. together that I can do with Garmin’s Connect plateform. If I want these previously mentioned features while out exercising, etc. I just wear a running belt or fanny pack to carry my iPhone.
So, I ordered the tactical version of Crossover Solar watch while on-sale during the holidays. I also ordered the Instinct 2x solar in graphite a week prior to this watch. I like the near limitless battery life, larger screen, updated GPS and flashlight on the Instinct 2X Solar, but for some reason I just prefer having the mechanical arms on the Crossover and the smaller footprint lol. While the profile is a bit high of the wrist for the Crossover, it keeps my long sleeves from covering the watch and has a unique look to it.
Battery life with daily sun exposure (I live in Florida (United States)) is adequate. I can get about two weeks use comfortably with daily training on the Instinct Crossover Solar Tactical ed before recharging it at around 30% battery. The Instinct 2x is easily double that. I do work outside and get about 20k to 50k lux hours (solar charging) on the Crossover and the Instinct 2x can double that considering the solar panel collects quite a bit more light (it is larger and more exposed to the sun). It is definitely a commendable watch if you don't mind the large design. My wrist is just over 6.5" around to put the images I shared into a little perspective. The Instinct 2x is definitely a better value technology and practicality wise with a way more readable (larger font, better screen layout) screen when using fitness features and browsing menus. These two watches have the same updated GPS chipsets, but the 2x offers a battery draining “all systems option that is not necessary for day to day life unless you are using the watch in challenging terrain with canyons, skyscrapers, etc. I prefer the style of the Crossover and it is more comfortable for daily wear and looks better in mine and my wife's opinion (different settings).
Something worth noting... if the arms on the dial get in the way of the data on the screen on the Crossover, you just press the bottom-right button that says "set" and the arms shift out of the way for a few moments and shift back. Seems a lot of folks are not mentioning this in their reviews or are unaware of this. While going through menus, the arms obviously resort to the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions as to not obscure the screen.
After owning the graphite version, and now tactical version of the Instinct Crossover with solar, I recommend just picking the color you want... black is a $50 up charge if you need the tactical features, which I don't. Feels pretty much like the same watch. I like how the text, etc around the bezel is a bit more subdued. There are also no tick marks around the outside edges of the numbers in case you overlooked this as well.
Anywho, I hope all this rambling had some information of value for someone. The Instinct Crossover Solar is an awesome watch that I definitely recommend to anyone that is proactive with a healthy lifestyle that wants a watch that is rugged, looks semi-formal and informal beyond that of the Instinct 2X. I uploaded photos of the Instinct 2X Solar and AW Ultra 2 next to the Crossover Tactical on my right wrist. Again, my wrist is just over 6.5” for reference.
I run, bike, weight train, walk, stand up paddle board, do yoga, and a variety of other activities. The Garmin gives me a readiness score to help prevent over training. I also like that it continually monitors my vitals, stress, sleep levels (quality of sleep), etc and determines whether or not I should take a break from my exercise. Proactive health and fitness are my lifestyle. I can also compare my fitness/performance levels to other Garmin users, and it provides me insight and feedback... the AW does little of that. For example, I can look up on the Garmin Connect site and see my age group and how I compare to other Garmin users for distance, pace, etc. for an activity.
I also like to save coordinates while hiking, on trips, etc. I have the Garmin Explorer option to pull up waypoints. It's convenient sharing my data with other people as to where the AW only allows me to share a screen shot of my workouts with some data. I noticed that the AW does not record stand up paddle boarding as an activity or exercise. The Garmin does, while also recording my route on a map… pretty cool.
I wore both devices and found that the Garmin is a bit more accurate running indoors on a treadmill compared to the AW Ultra and Crossover/2. I finish my distance right on point with the treadmill as to where the AW ultra at one mile is .15 to .25 miles off typically; yes, I’m familiar with the calibration process (deleting old calibration… 20 min walk/run outdoors). The Ultra and series 7 (watches used at the time of comparison to the Instinct 2 solar and Crossover Solar) also counts a bit more steps with basic wrist movements as to where the Crossover/2 do not. Once my Garmin gets to one mile, I can calibrate it to match what the treadmill says and it's good to go.
The AW is great to generally observe data regarding health, but the lack of feedback is concerning. Also, I do like to check maps out on my adventures or saved coordinates on a map. If I save coordinates on the AW, it is a bit more extensive to pull things up on a map as to where the Garmin side of things just does it. I feel stuck on the AW viewing travel data/waypoints. The Garmin Connect app on my iPhone has all my data in one location. The AW, I need three different apps. Apple has a ways to go on the health/fitness side of things. I see them getting there in the near future and I can see myself eventually getting back on board once things catch up... assuming they do.
I will miss closing rings and competing with family/friends on an Apple Watch, but the Garmin is much more on point for my daily lifestyle. I kept trying to convince myself the Ultra would be adequate, and I greatly enjoyed having cellular/music while out on runs, but I'll stick to bringing my phone at this point. I do have a AW5 that I can occasionally use for cellular when I do not want to carry a phone on me. Choosing between the two for my lifestyle, Garmin is ultimately the platform I am choosing to stick to for my active lifestyle of monitoring my health and fitness.
I forgot to mention that I like that the Crossover’s display is always on with physical hands and I can glance at it. I’m not a fan of the limited battery life of the Ultra and I’m not sold on the always on display or OLED... just a preference of mine.
One other point I’d like to leave is I like the plastic polymer casings on the Instinct/Crossover series. The titanium and stainless casing show scratches like crazy on the Apple watches (aluminum too… my children have the SE and series 5 aluminum, which we keep cases on). The polymer-fiber casings on the Instinct hardly show any where and tear… just mentioning that for those who are a little OCD such as myself. My Instinct Solar 2 has been seen a lot of wear and tear and still looks nearly new despite having scratches (these scratches are matte and hardly noticeable… one must go out of there way with angle lighting, etc. to even see a glimpse of anything)… my point is the polymer-fiber ages well and has seen its fair share of knocks and use in an active lifestyle… my Apple watches patina hard over time and look banged up. I’ve used cases on my Apple watches in the past and they seem to just add to the wear and tear. Aging gracefully and not concerning myself with aesthetics and durability is another win on the Garmin for me with daily use.
—————————
Well, my minute hand became loose on the watch. I noticed another person had this issue on a Reddit forum. Amazon made an exception past the return date and authorized a return for me, which I greatly appreciate. I’ll being opting for the Garmin 955 Solar and will definitely miss this watch. I just don’t trust the longevity of the mechanical aspect of this Watch given that I’ve come across others having this issue. Had this issue in reliability not been an issue of mine, it’d still easily be one of my most favored watches I’ve owned to date… there’s nothing like it out there…
——————13MAR23————
I decided to try another watch… same issue (reference photos of watch at the 2oclock and 7oclock position. I decided to keep it because I like the fit and practicality of the watch so much and I guess this may just be the nature of the watch unless there’s a bad batch out there. I contacted Garmin about the issue and the rep said this does not seem “normal.” I’ll test the replacement. If I have the same issue I’ll likely keep the watch although the loose minute hand is a bit of an annoyance. I tried the 955 Solar… a great option too around the same price. The screen is much easier to read indoors on the Crossover Instinct Solar compared to the 955 Solar and the battery life is much better on the Instinct Solar… the Solar option on the 955 doesn’t seem to benefit the battery life much, but on the instinct Solar there is a significant difference for my daily use scenario… especially when running/biking outdoors.
---------------21DEC23--------------
I sold the Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar in graphite that I had and opted for the Apple Watch Ultra 2 when it was released since I wanted to give Apple's new fitness features/updates a try/chance. It was great having email, texting, cellular, music, and Siri on my wrist, but ultimately it lost its appeal as my phone can do all of these things at a slight inconvenience. Also, it didn't give me the warm and fuzzy that the battery is draining at breakneck speeds giving off much more radiation compared to the once in a while syncing for bluetooth on the Garmin. Once again, I didn't care for the OLED screen on the AW Ultra 2 and the lack of fitness feedback I can only access from an iPhone and iPad... disappointing. Another disappointment was missing the ability to add notes and photos to activities with my children while out hiking, running, biking, etc. together that I can do with Garmin’s Connect plateform. If I want these previously mentioned features while out exercising, etc. I just wear a running belt or fanny pack to carry my iPhone.
So, I ordered the tactical version of Crossover Solar watch while on-sale during the holidays. I also ordered the Instinct 2x solar in graphite a week prior to this watch. I like the near limitless battery life, larger screen, updated GPS and flashlight on the Instinct 2X Solar, but for some reason I just prefer having the mechanical arms on the Crossover and the smaller footprint lol. While the profile is a bit high of the wrist for the Crossover, it keeps my long sleeves from covering the watch and has a unique look to it.
Battery life with daily sun exposure (I live in Florida (United States)) is adequate. I can get about two weeks use comfortably with daily training on the Instinct Crossover Solar Tactical ed before recharging it at around 30% battery. The Instinct 2x is easily double that. I do work outside and get about 20k to 50k lux hours (solar charging) on the Crossover and the Instinct 2x can double that considering the solar panel collects quite a bit more light (it is larger and more exposed to the sun). It is definitely a commendable watch if you don't mind the large design. My wrist is just over 6.5" around to put the images I shared into a little perspective. The Instinct 2x is definitely a better value technology and practicality wise with a way more readable (larger font, better screen layout) screen when using fitness features and browsing menus. These two watches have the same updated GPS chipsets, but the 2x offers a battery draining “all systems option that is not necessary for day to day life unless you are using the watch in challenging terrain with canyons, skyscrapers, etc. I prefer the style of the Crossover and it is more comfortable for daily wear and looks better in mine and my wife's opinion (different settings).
Something worth noting... if the arms on the dial get in the way of the data on the screen on the Crossover, you just press the bottom-right button that says "set" and the arms shift out of the way for a few moments and shift back. Seems a lot of folks are not mentioning this in their reviews or are unaware of this. While going through menus, the arms obviously resort to the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions as to not obscure the screen.
After owning the graphite version, and now tactical version of the Instinct Crossover with solar, I recommend just picking the color you want... black is a $50 up charge if you need the tactical features, which I don't. Feels pretty much like the same watch. I like how the text, etc around the bezel is a bit more subdued. There are also no tick marks around the outside edges of the numbers in case you overlooked this as well.
Anywho, I hope all this rambling had some information of value for someone. The Instinct Crossover Solar is an awesome watch that I definitely recommend to anyone that is proactive with a healthy lifestyle that wants a watch that is rugged, looks semi-formal and informal beyond that of the Instinct 2X. I uploaded photos of the Instinct 2X Solar and AW Ultra 2 next to the Crossover Tactical on my right wrist. Again, my wrist is just over 6.5” for reference.
My favorite smart watch to date; returned the Apple Watch Ultra
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2023
I currently own a Garmin Instinct Solar 2 and the Crossover Solar. The Garmin Crossover Solar is my favorite smart watch to date. I use it for monitoring my daily health and fitness. I have owned the AW 1,3, 5 (stainless steel), 7 (titanium), and Ultra. As much as I enjoy using the Apple Watch series, Garmin provides me my health metrics from the watch without aftermarket apps. I don't like having to continually depend on my iPhone to see my health metrics. Garmin allows me to connect through their app on my phone, web browser, tablet, etc. Garmin also plays friendly with 3rd party providers such as Strava as to where the AW I have to manually sync my data with Strava.Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2023
I run, bike, weight train, walk, stand up paddle board, do yoga, and a variety of other activities. The Garmin gives me a readiness score to help prevent over training. I also like that it continually monitors my vitals, stress, sleep levels (quality of sleep), etc and determines whether or not I should take a break from my exercise. Proactive health and fitness are my lifestyle. I can also compare my fitness/performance levels to other Garmin users, and it provides me insight and feedback... the AW does little of that. For example, I can look up on the Garmin Connect site and see my age group and how I compare to other Garmin users for distance, pace, etc. for an activity.
I also like to save coordinates while hiking, on trips, etc. I have the Garmin Explorer option to pull up waypoints. It's convenient sharing my data with other people as to where the AW only allows me to share a screen shot of my workouts with some data. I noticed that the AW does not record stand up paddle boarding as an activity or exercise. The Garmin does, while also recording my route on a map… pretty cool.
I wore both devices and found that the Garmin is a bit more accurate running indoors on a treadmill compared to the AW Ultra and Crossover/2. I finish my distance right on point with the treadmill as to where the AW ultra at one mile is .15 to .25 miles off typically; yes, I’m familiar with the calibration process (deleting old calibration… 20 min walk/run outdoors). The Ultra and series 7 (watches used at the time of comparison to the Instinct 2 solar and Crossover Solar) also counts a bit more steps with basic wrist movements as to where the Crossover/2 do not. Once my Garmin gets to one mile, I can calibrate it to match what the treadmill says and it's good to go.
The AW is great to generally observe data regarding health, but the lack of feedback is concerning. Also, I do like to check maps out on my adventures or saved coordinates on a map. If I save coordinates on the AW, it is a bit more extensive to pull things up on a map as to where the Garmin side of things just does it. I feel stuck on the AW viewing travel data/waypoints. The Garmin Connect app on my iPhone has all my data in one location. The AW, I need three different apps. Apple has a ways to go on the health/fitness side of things. I see them getting there in the near future and I can see myself eventually getting back on board once things catch up... assuming they do.
I will miss closing rings and competing with family/friends on an Apple Watch, but the Garmin is much more on point for my daily lifestyle. I kept trying to convince myself the Ultra would be adequate, and I greatly enjoyed having cellular/music while out on runs, but I'll stick to bringing my phone at this point. I do have a AW5 that I can occasionally use for cellular when I do not want to carry a phone on me. Choosing between the two for my lifestyle, Garmin is ultimately the platform I am choosing to stick to for my active lifestyle of monitoring my health and fitness.
I forgot to mention that I like that the Crossover’s display is always on with physical hands and I can glance at it. I’m not a fan of the limited battery life of the Ultra and I’m not sold on the always on display or OLED... just a preference of mine.
One other point I’d like to leave is I like the plastic polymer casings on the Instinct/Crossover series. The titanium and stainless casing show scratches like crazy on the Apple watches (aluminum too… my children have the SE and series 5 aluminum, which we keep cases on). The polymer-fiber casings on the Instinct hardly show any where and tear… just mentioning that for those who are a little OCD such as myself. My Instinct Solar 2 has been seen a lot of wear and tear and still looks nearly new despite having scratches (these scratches are matte and hardly noticeable… one must go out of there way with angle lighting, etc. to even see a glimpse of anything)… my point is the polymer-fiber ages well and has seen its fair share of knocks and use in an active lifestyle… my Apple watches patina hard over time and look banged up. I’ve used cases on my Apple watches in the past and they seem to just add to the wear and tear. Aging gracefully and not concerning myself with aesthetics and durability is another win on the Garmin for me with daily use.
—————————
Well, my minute hand became loose on the watch. I noticed another person had this issue on a Reddit forum. Amazon made an exception past the return date and authorized a return for me, which I greatly appreciate. I’ll being opting for the Garmin 955 Solar and will definitely miss this watch. I just don’t trust the longevity of the mechanical aspect of this Watch given that I’ve come across others having this issue. Had this issue in reliability not been an issue of mine, it’d still easily be one of my most favored watches I’ve owned to date… there’s nothing like it out there…
——————13MAR23————
I decided to try another watch… same issue (reference photos of watch at the 2oclock and 7oclock position. I decided to keep it because I like the fit and practicality of the watch so much and I guess this may just be the nature of the watch unless there’s a bad batch out there. I contacted Garmin about the issue and the rep said this does not seem “normal.” I’ll test the replacement. If I have the same issue I’ll likely keep the watch although the loose minute hand is a bit of an annoyance. I tried the 955 Solar… a great option too around the same price. The screen is much easier to read indoors on the Crossover Instinct Solar compared to the 955 Solar and the battery life is much better on the Instinct Solar… the Solar option on the 955 doesn’t seem to benefit the battery life much, but on the instinct Solar there is a significant difference for my daily use scenario… especially when running/biking outdoors.
---------------21DEC23--------------
I sold the Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar in graphite that I had and opted for the Apple Watch Ultra 2 when it was released since I wanted to give Apple's new fitness features/updates a try/chance. It was great having email, texting, cellular, music, and Siri on my wrist, but ultimately it lost its appeal as my phone can do all of these things at a slight inconvenience. Also, it didn't give me the warm and fuzzy that the battery is draining at breakneck speeds giving off much more radiation compared to the once in a while syncing for bluetooth on the Garmin. Once again, I didn't care for the OLED screen on the AW Ultra 2 and the lack of fitness feedback I can only access from an iPhone and iPad... disappointing. Another disappointment was missing the ability to add notes and photos to activities with my children while out hiking, running, biking, etc. together that I can do with Garmin’s Connect plateform. If I want these previously mentioned features while out exercising, etc. I just wear a running belt or fanny pack to carry my iPhone.
So, I ordered the tactical version of Crossover Solar watch while on-sale during the holidays. I also ordered the Instinct 2x solar in graphite a week prior to this watch. I like the near limitless battery life, larger screen, updated GPS and flashlight on the Instinct 2X Solar, but for some reason I just prefer having the mechanical arms on the Crossover and the smaller footprint lol. While the profile is a bit high of the wrist for the Crossover, it keeps my long sleeves from covering the watch and has a unique look to it.
Battery life with daily sun exposure (I live in Florida (United States)) is adequate. I can get about two weeks use comfortably with daily training on the Instinct Crossover Solar Tactical ed before recharging it at around 30% battery. The Instinct 2x is easily double that. I do work outside and get about 20k to 50k lux hours (solar charging) on the Crossover and the Instinct 2x can double that considering the solar panel collects quite a bit more light (it is larger and more exposed to the sun). It is definitely a commendable watch if you don't mind the large design. My wrist is just over 6.5" around to put the images I shared into a little perspective. The Instinct 2x is definitely a better value technology and practicality wise with a way more readable (larger font, better screen layout) screen when using fitness features and browsing menus. These two watches have the same updated GPS chipsets, but the 2x offers a battery draining “all systems option that is not necessary for day to day life unless you are using the watch in challenging terrain with canyons, skyscrapers, etc. I prefer the style of the Crossover and it is more comfortable for daily wear and looks better in mine and my wife's opinion (different settings).
Something worth noting... if the arms on the dial get in the way of the data on the screen on the Crossover, you just press the bottom-right button that says "set" and the arms shift out of the way for a few moments and shift back. Seems a lot of folks are not mentioning this in their reviews or are unaware of this. While going through menus, the arms obviously resort to the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions as to not obscure the screen.
After owning the graphite version, and now tactical version of the Instinct Crossover with solar, I recommend just picking the color you want... black is a $50 up charge if you need the tactical features, which I don't. Feels pretty much like the same watch. I like how the text, etc around the bezel is a bit more subdued. There are also no tick marks around the outside edges of the numbers in case you overlooked this as well.
Anywho, I hope all this rambling had some information of value for someone. The Instinct Crossover Solar is an awesome watch that I definitely recommend to anyone that is proactive with a healthy lifestyle that wants a watch that is rugged, looks semi-formal and informal beyond that of the Instinct 2X. I uploaded photos of the Instinct 2X Solar and AW Ultra 2 next to the Crossover Tactical on my right wrist. Again, my wrist is just over 6.5” for reference.
Images in this review
