Instinct® is the name of Garmin’s all-round wristwatch that they call their “Outdoors watch.” Part No 010-02064-011 It is a truly remarkable multi-facetted device that can be used in many different activities and sports. The features cover a remarkable number of activities, (see chart), all of which are infinitely customizable for individual users.

Like most new style multi-functional watches the Instinct is larger than what might be considered a normal watch, but it is only a little bit heavier and not half as big as some similarly functioning watches on the market. The actual diameter is 1 13/16” inches and the viewing face is 1 1/4” inches diameter. Weight is relatively light at 2 oz due to its fiber reinforced polymer case that looks like plastic. It is available in six colors. The wrist band (strap) is soft rubber graphite silicone that feels like rubber and is perforated every 1/4” inch that enables it to fit virtually any size wrist, including women and children. The clasp locks the watch on the wrist and is also available in six colors.

The watch has a quartz movement that is chargeable with a USB cable plugging in the back. Battery life varies according to the way the watch is used. Normal smartwatch mode is up to 14 days. GPS mode is up to 16 hours. Smartwatch mode with activity tracking and 24/7 heart rate monitoring gives to 40 hours. A solar powered version is also available, but much more expensive.

There are five buttons round the perimeter, three on the left side and two on the right. They are easy to press and do not seem to obstruct each others functions.

Seven different built in face configurations can be set, from digital read outs to standard analog faces with hands. These can then be customized with other secondary data. Before the watch can be customized with additional apps Garmin Express® must be download and installed on a computer to register the watch serial number. Garmin Express connects your device to Garmin Connect®, that allows the download of many specialist apps.

One thing to note for people who might want to use this watch on their boat. Instinct cannot be inter-connected to a chart plotter or read their data. It is however possible to download charts, but data must be entered separately and might vary a little from that on the chart plotter. Instinct does have GPS tracking and waterproof to ten atmospheres. However a note in the manual states that if the watch is used with Scuba diving it invalidates the one year warranty that makes the depth claim somewhat mute. The Garmin watch that fully interconnects with a boats NEMA 2000 instruments is the Quatix 6 series, roughly twice the price and much bigger and heavier.

The Instinct has a comprehensive 25 page instruction manual with detailed appendix, but that is not included with the watch and must be downloaded at https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/instinct/EN-US Unless you are a rocket scientist, or my eight year old granddaughter, I advise first time users to print all the sheets to be able to refer to them when not at the computer. The watch is not compatible with Windows® 95, 98, Me, Windows NT® and Mac® OS 10.3 and earlier versions.

                                                                                  FUNCTIONALITY CATEGORIES:

This chart shows functions for different categories and activities, many of which overlap. Consult the manual for detailed instructions, because I confess I don't understand what half of them are for.

NOTIFICATIONS:  Bluetooth®, ANT+®, Receives e-mails, Texts, Smart phone connectivity, Music control on smart phones
DATE: Different language settings, seven different watch faces, stopwatch, countdown timer.
CALENDAR.
WEATHER: Barometric trend indicator with storm alert.
FIND MY PHONE: Find my watch.
USB: Cable charging.
GPS” Time sync. Glonass, Galileo.
AUTOMATIC DAYLIGHT-SAVING TIME CHANGE OVER.
ALARM CLOCK. Multiple alarms can be set, each alarm to sound once or to repeat regularly.
STOPWATCH.
SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES Current temperature and weather.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES:
GPS, maps download (extra cost).
BAROMETER.
ALTOMETER.
COMPASS.
ACCELEROMETER.
THERMOMETER.
HEALTH MONITORING:
GARMIN ELEVATE™ Wrist heart rate monitor.
DAILY RESTING HEART RATE.
ABNORMAL HEART RATE ALERTS high and low
BODY BATTERY™ ENERGY MONITOR.
ALL-DAY STRESS TRACKING.
RELAXATION BREATHING TIMER.
SLEEP: Sleep data include total hours of sleep, sleep levels, and sleep movement. Do not disturb setting.
STEP COUNTER.
MOVE BAR: Displays after a period of inactivity and resets when the activity restarts.
AUTO GOAL: Learns your activity level and assigns a daily step goal.
CALORIES BURNED.
GYM & FITNESS EQUIPMENT: Strength Cardio and Elliptical Training Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Rowing and Yoga
HR ZONES HR CALORIES.
DISTANCE TRAVELED.
VIRB® REMOTE HR ALERTS.
INTENSITY MINUTE.S
TRUEUP™.
MOVE IQ™.
CARDIO WORKOUTS.
STRENGTH WORKOUTS.
AUTOMATIC REPS COUNTING.
RUNNING
% HR MAX AUTO MAX HR.
% HRR, broadcasts HR data to paired devices (using ant+tm)
GPS SPEED AND DISTANCE.
CUSTOMIZABLE DATA PAGES.
CUSTOMIZABLE ACTIVITY PROFILES.
AUTO PAUSE®
INTERVAL TRAINING.
ADVANCED WORKOUTS.
AVAILABLE RUN PROFILES Running, Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Trail Running.
GPS-BASED DISTANCE; time and pace.
CADENCE: Provides real-time number of steps per minute.
RUN WORKOUTS.
FOOT POD CAPABLE.
RECREATION PROFILES: Hiking, Climbing, Mountain Biking, Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Skiing, Stand Up Paddle boarding, Rowing, Kayaking.
POINT-TO-POINT NAVIGATION.
TRACBACK®BACK TO START: Bread crumb trail in real time.
ULTRATRAC MODE.
ELEVATION PROFILE.
DISTANCE TO DESTINATION.
TRAIL RUN AUTO CLIMB.
BAROMETRIC TREND INDICATOR: with storm alert,
VERTICAL SPEED,
FUTURE ELEVATION PLOT,
COMPATIBLE WITH BASECAMP™
AREA CALCULATION,
PROJECTED WAYPOINT,
XERO™ LOCATIONS,
CYCLING:
ALERTS: Triggers alarm when goal is reached, including time, distance, heart rate or calories.
AVAILABLE CYCLING PROFILES: Biking, Indoor Biking, Mountain Biking.
COURSES.
RACE AN ACTIVITY.
SPEED AND CADENCE SENSOR SUPPORT: ANT+® and Bluetooth® Smart sensors.
SWIMMING: Watch is intended for surface swimming only. Scuba diving may damage it and void the warranty.
AVAILABLE SWIM PROFILES: Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming.
OPEN-WATER SWIM METRICS: Distance, pace, stroke count/rate, stroke distance, swim efficiency (swolf), calories.
STROKE TYPE DETECTION: Freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, pool swim only.
DRILL LOGGING, Pool swim only.
BASIC REST TIMER FROM 0 UPWARDS, Pool swim only.
"REPEAT ON" REST TIMER, Pool swim only.
SKIING: The run screens include time, distance traveled, maximum speed, average speed, and total descent. Altimeter. Total accent/decent.
YACHT RACING: Start countdown, return to start, intuitive count down with start sound signals, Synchronization, count-down repeat and up options; re-synchronization for early or late start. Barometric trend indicator with storm alert. Boat speed in knots.
YACHT CRUISING:  GPS tracking: set waypoint, Compass, Speed in knots, Barometric trend indicator with storm alert. Sight N’ go. Not NEMA 2000 connectible.