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Forums > Stand Up Paddle General

Garmin 'Instinct Solar' - Surf watch

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Created by Crossy8 > 9 months ago, 24 Jul 2020
Crossy8
QLD, 10 posts
24 Jul 2020 3:24PM
Thumbs Up

Is anyone using the new Garmin 'Instinct Solar' surf watch? Pretty keen on buying one but would love to hear any personal reviews before lashing out.

Cheers.

Piros
QLD, 7068 posts
24 Jul 2020 5:06PM
Thumbs Up

It looks really good but the big downside to Garmin you can't run the IOS apps like Dawn Patrol . The Garmin surf tracker app is pretty average at best but great watch with tons of features better than Apple and kills the Apple with battery life especially with the new solar charging. Garmin is so exercise based with great mapping for touring & orienteering but they've just missed mark on water sports. The other downside is online support is terrible . Good tuff quality watch though. Never had a failure with my Fenix or Garmin cameras.

DaveSandan
VIC, 1377 posts
24 Jul 2020 8:26PM
Thumbs Up

I have the Garmin 6X and am very tempted to buy a Solar one as an update which has all the same features but potentially can get 40-50 days charge. Biggest prob with my watch is the GPS drift that blows my info out on distance per stroke and speed, sometimes accurate sometimes not which is a bit annoying.
Very very tempting.

Crossy8
QLD, 10 posts
24 Jul 2020 9:52PM
Thumbs Up

Cheers fellas!

Benthal
NSW, 2 posts
30 Sep 2020 6:50AM
Thumbs Up

Yea I just got the Garmin Instinct solar surf. I have never had a smart or sports watch before so I can't compare it to anything.
The surf tracking activity is a bit **** to be honest, it says, for example, I catch 12 waves, but I know I only caught a couple of small beachys. A lot of it doesnt make sense when you look back at your session activity and info.
I originally bought it for tracking my big paddleboard sessions around the beaches, so I can monitor health and distance etc. This is all great, but my only gripe with this is that it only displays a crappy red line on the google map in the Garmin Connect app as your track. I've seen what my mates applewatch displays when it tracks you and that has a real intuitive track that changes colour as your speed changes. The Garmin track just looks like a child scribbled over it, just doesnt tell you much.

Other than that, the watch is pretty sweet. There are heaps of features. The battery last for ages. But I don't think I'd spend the $800 on it again.

Piros
QLD, 7068 posts
30 Sep 2020 9:04AM
Thumbs Up

Totally hear you Bentahll great watch but such sh!t apps compared to the apple. Such a shame and Garmin won't do a thing about it.

Daneli Returns
NSW, 160 posts
30 Sep 2020 1:25PM
Thumbs Up

I have always liked DC Rainmaker reviews for authenticity. Will come from more of a sports approaching than surfing though.

I have always had Garmins from cycling days and happy to try this one when my Forerunner dies.

www.dcrainmaker.com/2020/07/garmin-instinct-solar-review-whats-new-different.html

Crossy8
QLD, 10 posts
2 Oct 2020 6:23AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Piros said..
Totally hear you Bentahll great watch but such sh!t apps compared to the apple. Such a shame and Garmin won't do a thing about it.



Select to expand quote
Benthal said..
Yea I just got the Garmin Instinct solar surf. I have never had a smart or sports watch before so I can't compare it to anything.
The surf tracking activity is a bit **** to be honest, it says, for example, I catch 12 waves, but I know I only caught a couple of small beachys. A lot of it doesnt make sense when you look back at your session activity and info.
I originally bought it for tracking my big paddleboard sessions around the beaches, so I can monitor health and distance etc. This is all great, but my only gripe with this is that it only displays a crappy red line on the google map in the Garmin Connect app as your track. I've seen what my mates applewatch displays when it tracks you and that has a real intuitive track that changes colour as your speed changes. The Garmin track just looks like a child scribbled over it, just doesnt tell you much.

Other than that, the watch is pretty sweet. There are heaps of features. The battery last for ages. But I don't think I'd spend the $800 on it again.



Ahhh yes totally hear you mate! I bought the watch for the exact same reason. I actually thought my watch was faulty but could not get through to Garmin to fix it. I'm relieved in a weird way that I'm not alone ??. As for a fitness watch though nothing compares.

Piros
QLD, 7068 posts
2 Oct 2020 10:51AM
Thumbs Up

Just don't get it with Garmin such a great watch but no decent water sports apps plus what they do have the speed is really inaccurate. Have an issue with a Garmin good luck . Type in "Garmin Bad Customer Service " into Google , it's just pages of people blowing up. I'm a long time Garmin user and never had an issue fortunately but just so many people have and can't get help.

If only Garmin would allow IOS apps to run on their watches nothing could touch them , add to that some customer service they would dominate the smart watch world. They need to do it because once Apple increases its battery life to near that of Garmin there would be simply no reason to buy a garmin.

pumpjockey02
309 posts
22 Nov 2020 8:24PM
Thumbs Up

Ive got the VIVOactive music, the watch is fantastic. You need to set it up. Watch youtube clips. No its not on IOS get an apple watch if you have IOS. Ive had mine 4 years, no issues, still works great. Don't record waves on it. Rip curl tide is the watch for that!!!

Linkus
52 posts
31 Dec 2020 1:09AM
Thumbs Up

I received the Garmin Solar Surf for wife's present and I'm deeply and completely disappointed. The "surf function" doesn't exist on the watch. The watch doesn't show the number of waves or the longest one. Instead you can know a very useful instant speed or the gps signal... It seems If you don't set some parameters (not shown in istructions) the watch can't measure any wave and the measures are completely wrong. Don't waste your money. I'm waiting an answer by the support center but I think I'll give back this useless object. My friend with apple watch makes fun of me...

TBM
NSW, 55 posts
31 Dec 2020 6:15AM
Thumbs Up

From my experience the Apple Watch and the Dawn Patrol app is easy to use and reliable for waves. Great info on wave count, speed of each wave, length, tide etc. I have been using it for a couple of years.

DaveSandan
VIC, 1377 posts
31 Dec 2020 7:40AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Linkus said..
I received the Garmin Solar Surf for wife's present and I'm deeply and completely disappointed. The "surf function" doesn't exist on the watch. The watch doesn't show the number of waves or the longest one. Instead you can know a very useful instant speed or the gps signal... It seems If you don't set some parameters (not shown in istructions) the watch can't measure any wave and the measures are completely wrong. Don't waste your money. I'm waiting an answer by the support center but I think I'll give back this useless object. My friend with apple watch makes fun of me...


In the Garmin store you can download Surf Tracker as an app and add it to your watch which will vive you the info?

Linkus
52 posts
1 Jan 2021 12:17AM
Thumbs Up

In the Instinct you can't install any software.

KP.
NSW, 109 posts
7 Jan 2021 12:04PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Piros said..
Just don't get it with Garmin such a great watch but no decent water sports apps plus what they do have the speed is really inaccurate. Have an issue with a Garmin good luck . Type in "Garmin Bad Customer Service " into Google , it's just pages of people blowing up. I'm a long time Garmin user and never had an issue fortunately but just so many people have and can't get help.

If only Garmin would allow IOS apps to run on their watches nothing could touch them , add to that some customer service they would dominate the smart watch world. They need to do it because once Apple increases its battery life to near that of Garmin there would be simply no reason to buy a garmin.


Von piros.... This is the only reason i got a garmin Venu. Battery life 8 days sometimes 10. It does a great job, I have used it for my sup surfs and distance paddles. But i am not that really diving deep into waves counted and distance cause the watches dont do it with the crap garmin apps.If apple do come to market with a watch that has 5 to 7 days battery life or for solar.... Will be first in line for it.

DaveSandan
VIC, 1377 posts
7 Jan 2021 2:14PM
Thumbs Up

Just had a 3hr surf and got this info from the standard Garmin app not surf tracker, how much more info do you want??






DaveSandan
VIC, 1377 posts
7 Jan 2021 8:22PM
Thumbs Up

Sorry I must correct myself the data page with all the waves and speed etc is from Surf Tracker, I just checked my app to check the parameters listed and it's all from the app not Garmin app.



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"Garmin 'Instinct Solar' - Surf watch" started by Crossy8