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Long story short, I've actually been a bit of cheerleader for the meathead's 'smar****ch' of choice for a couple of years now, I got the V1 solar in Aug 22 (cheap because Instinct 2 had not long come out) and immediately found it very useful, and it has continued to be useful and reliable ever since then. It's the watch I wear 98% of the time.
Fast forward to Friday and I go to start an evening ride with my instinct it gets a GPS lock, I go to press start and the thing crashes... Does this twice more and I grab my edge as I'm just burning light now (and if there's no GPS data then it never happened 😉 ).
Saturday I Google the issue end up resetting the watch (not a fix) and eventually finding the workaround (disabling vibration?) and it's apparently usable again... Except is it?
So now I'm on Amazon looking at instinct 2 and FR55 as options to replace a watch I've now lost faith in, I certainly don't want an Instinct 3, but it occurred to me, am I not just setting myself up for the same annoyance and disappointment?
Garmin don't want me buying the previous generation model every 2.5-3 years, they want me to spunk the full ask on the latest toys every 3-4 years, and they will be bricking watches like mine (via firmware?) consistently, every 5-6 years or so (after original release)...
So should I just hang fire, save my pennies over summer and spunk a bigger wedge on a fancier, newer model watch in the hopes of having some longevity, or repeat the exercise buy something I'm more comfortable with the cost of knowing that it's likely to be toast in about ~36 months?
I have an solar instinct 2 after my fr45 went pop (battery). I was deciding between the fr55 and the solar instinct 2. I went with the latter and have been very impressed.
In reality I think all the Garmins only last a couple years, spending more money doesn't seem to guarantee their longevity.
Ideally I'd like to move away from Garmin for this exact reason, but it's not easy to find an alternative.
My instinct 1 started crashing randomly. I moaned at garmin (well out of warranty) they said they'd send me a new refurb instinct 2 for free (tho the choice was white or blue). Certainly worth raising a ticket. Good customer service experience - less good for my wallet I then went and got a fennix 7 pro!
In reality I think all the Garmins only last a couple years, spending more money doesn't seem to guarantee their longevity.
Is that the case? I see all the posts from people wringing the last drop out of their Fenix 5 or whatever and assume double the spend means double the life. Are these just skinflints like me but with a bigger opening budget and more determination?
I've been very happy with the instinct, the battery life is still huge, probably more than I really need hence looking at the FR55 as that seems to have adequate juice reserves, I don't need mapping or a posh screen, just GPS and HR tracking with a solid battery. It's served a fair bit of time recently as just a HR monitor broadcasting to my edge when needed. But it also needs to serve for 1-2 hour "grab and go" rides and of course as a day to day watch. I don't really believe the solar bit does much, so I'm inclined not to bother for the next watch.
The thing is I can't really put up with failure on demand, crashing at exactly the moment I need it to work, and Garmin being Garmin I would fully expect an instinct 2 to start playing the same sort of games after a couple of years... I might put in a complaint, it's well past support and warranty so anything they offer is a bonus I guess.
I do wonder if a bit of confirmation bias somehow gets Garmin customers to overlook some pretty significant issues sometimes...
Do Garmins brick themselves? I’m on a gen 1 instinct (I think, had it well over five years) and it’s still going strong, battery hasn’t got much worse. I’d have another
I don't believe that Garmin are bricking (intentionally or otherwise) older devices.
I've got various devices dating back well over a decade now that I'd still be fairly confident using.
I don't believe that Garmin are bricking (intentionally or otherwise) older devices.
Yep. Complete bollocks.
Bollocks indeed. I have an Instinct that I bought in November 2018, still works fine, I wear it all day every day including in the shower. I take it off and put it on charge if I'm out on my bike because that's tracked by my Edge and there's no point in tracking something twice.
I don't believe that Garmin are bricking (intentionally or otherwise) older devices.
Yep. Complete bollocks.
Still got an Instinct 1, the vibrate function no longer works and an Instinct Solar, which is slightly more glitchy but still pretty bombproof. It did go through a short battery life phase, but a full discharge and recharge sorted it.
Dug out my old 25? Bar mount Garmin and fitted a larger battery, it still also works fine.
I think maybe the OP may have been unlucky.
I have on old edge 200 which I used on Saturday for navigating a long ride. Battery life is down but it still does the job. My Instinct 2 is still doing well.
The problem I find with threads like this is that in the main you only hear from people that had problems, not the usually vast number of people that didn't. Glad to see that this thread seems to be bucking the trend.
I have a gen 1 Instinct Solar (bought July 2020) and apart from the battery not lasting as long as it used to and a new strap it has been fine and performs as well as the day I bought it.
Dug out my old 25? Bar mount Garmin and fitted a larger battery, it still also works fine.
Oooh, I've still got an edge 25 that I did mull over the options for a bigger battery, might be more suitable for my Evening MTB spins this time of year. Hmmm. Interestingly I resisted doing a Firmware update on the Edge 25 as it seemed to be working fine and I'd made the config change that let it display HR as a normal data field.
Bollocks indeed. I have an Instinct that I bought in November 2018, still works fine, I wear it all day every day including in the shower. I take it off and put it on charge if I'm out on my bike because that's tracked by my Edge and there's no point in tracking something twice.
I wear mine all day, everyday too, and when I'm tracking rides on my edge 540 I use the Instinct to broadcast HR to the Edge. I had a Garmin HR strap (two in fact) but those die periodically as well, and it just seemed silly at the time, not to use the Instinct's HR broadcast function and buy yet another Strap, been doing that for the last 18 months+...
Maybe I've been unlucky it's just that my use case doesn't seem all that unusual, the battery health still seems reasonable. I've not had this issue previously and all of a sudden I need to disable vibrate to prevent the device crashing when I start a GPS activity? that just seems off, the only thing that's changed in all that time is Firmware, ergo it's not crazy to wonder if Garmin are trying to nudge people towards another watch purchase.
Interestingly, reading on other Forums, this issue has affected various Instinct users within the last couple of years, I'm not unique, the Default Garmin response has been to just replace devices or offer the old cut price new Instinct 2 deal.
I'm not sure why the idea of Garmin intentionally bricking devices has upset a few of you, they are a business (an American one) it wouldn't be an unprecedented for a company that needs a turnover of sales to stimulate those sales by helping their older products along towards obsolescence.
To be clear I would love my Instinct to last several more years, but my faith in it doing so is a bit shaken now. I think I will hold fire on buying a replacement, just to see if the implemented bodge solves the issue more permanently, or if a new Firmware is released that doesn't brick it.
I'm perfectly happy to be proven wrong, I'd rather not replace the watch, adding to E-waste and spending more money. But I'll admit they've got me hooked on having a GPS/HR enabled smart watch now.
Not sure why you're moaning about Garmin. My Forerunner 201 from 2003 is fine. Shame it doesn't have Bluetooth or USB and nothing I have has a serial port.
Garmin don't want me buying the previous generation model every 2.5-3 years, they want me to spunk the full ask on the latest toys every 3-4 years, and they will be bricking watches like mine (via firmware?) consistently, every 5-6 years or so (after original release)...
*Looks at Edge 820 and v1 Venu, strokes chin a la Jimmy Hill*
Well I've had the email back:
....Based on your description we have determined that your Instinct Solar series device has a hardware issue causing it to power off when Starting an Activity OR when conducting a Pulse Ox check.
As this is a hardware issue we would need to exchange the device for you.
We have determined that your device is no longer covered by warranty. However, I can offer you a hassle-free replacement at a fixed cost of £125.81 GBP ....
Hmmm, What they don't say is if they're offering like for like or if I'll get a bit of a trade up. £125 is cheap for a (new) instinct 2 solar, but a bit over the odds if I just get a V1 Instinct Solar back. I'm sort of conflicted as the watch is still functioning fine with Vibrate disabled, I even just did a Pulse Ox check to confirm and it's fine (not a function I use often TBH).
I get that some of you don't believe Garmin would ever goose their products deliberately, perhaps I'm wrong, but this "hardware issue" didn't manefest until the device was on F/W issue 19.10? and ~five years past it's original release.
Right now, I'm inclined to just keep the watch and put the £125 towards a differnt device later in the year, I could go and buy a used or Refurb Instinct 2 or FR55 for that £125 and then I'd at least have 2 watches (for a bit more contigency). I think I'll at least wring some use out of the instinct until it makes it's 3rd birthday, aside from this stupid fault (and it's utterly bobbins altimeter) the thing is still doing it's job quite well.
I think the thing that annoys me the most (hence my corporate conspiracy theories) is that the work around didn't come from Garmin but from some random person on Redit, their support sites and forums are a bit shite IME; problem turns up, a bit of online whinging ensues if it's a device that's hit the market within the last 18-24 months they scramble to find a fix, otherwise they'll just offer at cost replacements, just feels wasteful.
I loved my Instinct (mark i) from the moment I got it way back during black friday week in 2018 afaik but this Christmas I upgraded to the Gen 2 Epix on the HSamual PSA I saw here and haven't looked back. Battery is great, display is unbelievable and for only a bit over 300 squid I think the functionality is second to none. I flogged on the Instinct to a friend for a nominal few quid which brought the price down to new Instinct levels. That said I didn't have solar on the old one and don't miss it on the new Epix so that might sway you with the weather we're having these days.
That said I didn't have solar on the old one and don't miss it on the new Epix so that might sway you with the weather we're having these days.
I'm not convinced the solar ever did much TBH, the only time I ever managed to harvest "free energy" was by putting it in power save and leaving it on a windowsill for a couple of days (somewhat defeating the point of a watch). I'd come back after a couple of sunny days like that and it would claim a forecast battery life of 300+ days, essentially nonsense but an amusing exercise. I can wear it all day every day broadcast HR to my edge for 6~8 hours a week, maybe record an hour or two of GPS activity each week, and it won't need charging more than once every 14 days or so, that's still pretty good IMO.
Worth noting the Instinct solar was released almost 2 years after the original Instinct, and most of it's improved battery life (Vs the original) was down to having a newer and more efficient (at the time) HR sensor apparently.
New instinct 3 or 'E' doesn't float my boat TBH, Instinct 2 does but then the FR55 does as it manages most of the same functions, without touch screens for a keen price.
Not bothered by Fenix or Epix, they look great and have some lovely features, most of which I'd never use. I'm probably the worst sort of customer for Garmin and their watches, I just want something basic with GPS and HR logging capabilities and I'm more than happy with monochrome MIP displays if it drags the battery life out...
I have the Fenix 7S Solar and the Edge 840 Solar. I don't reckon the Fenix gains any charge at all, but the Edge does benefit quite a bit.
On a 1st gen solar instinct here. Bought it referb on ebay for £99 about 4 years ago. looked brand new when i got it and hasn't missed a beat since. worn every day and in the sea a lot. I used to have a vivoactive 3 but the touch screen was worse than useless with sweaty hands or in a kayak. when this instinct fails I'll just get another one - but prob not solar as like someone else said I don't think it really adds much power unless you are just using it as a watch - then you might as well have a casio!
I have a 2018 Garmin Fenix 5 and a bit newer 6S as well. Both working as well as they ever did, logging runs, rides and even snowboarding pretty effectively (rather dangerous having a top speed on a lads holiday as everyone had to be the fastest!). Rarely sync problems but had no plans to change them till...
I've had to stop wearing them as they started to irritate my skin. Initially by the buckles where the quick release straps contacted the skin but then central as well. Tried new woven material straps and that helped initially but then even cleaning , washing straps twice a week it irritated my skin. Having a break for a few months and really miss not having a watch. Next step is going titanium which may mean Suunto or god forbid an Apple Watch where I reckon I will struggle with the shocking battery life.
I have the Fenix 7S Solar and the Edge 840 Solar. I don't reckon the Fenix gains any charge at all, but the Edge does benefit quite a bit.
That smarts a bit @scotroutes - i've an Edge 840 Solar in Australia and have yet to see it get any worthwhile gains from the sun 😥
Next step is going titanium which may mean Suunto or god forbid an Apple Watch where I reckon I will struggle with the shocking battery life.
You can get ti straps for the Garmins.
I have the Fenix 7S Solar and the Edge 840 Solar. I don't reckon the Fenix gains any charge at all, but the Edge does benefit quite a bit.
I've got a 7 Solar, and I reckon I get a day or two extra in summer vs. winter. For bikepacking stuff, when I'm just using it as a smar****ch, and I'm outside all day, it pretty much lasts forever - still on 90 odd % after a week.
I got 18% charge in 6 hours, on one particularly lazy day in Corfu last year. (you can see by my step count how lazy it was 😀 )
Edit: Doesn't seem to want to upload the pic
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@reeksy - I'm currently sitting in Tomintoul (highest village in the Scottish Highlands). A 2 hour ride from home and my Edge reports 31 minutes of "gained" solar charge.
That's impressive. I guess we do our utmost best to ride in shade here so maybe that's why it never seems much? Plus, i've not done many long rides with it.
My MK1 Instinct was still going strong, it's now in by drawer as a spare. Should probably give it to someone. I got it 2nd hand when someone posted a PSA on here for some 'refurbished' watches. they weren't refurbished, they weren't even washed 😂
The replacement Epix Gen2 is going strong. The Edge 1040 is acting like it's bricked and not powering up unless you force it to reset.
Garmin support always seem reasonably helpful when I've contacted them.
My V1 instinct was routinely switching itself off. Disabling vibration helped a bit, but it does still crash occasionally.
Been thinking of changing too, but the new 3s are too expensive me for currently. I’ll try and eek another year out of the V1
My V1 still working fine after four years. Replaced strap with a 'Songsier' velcro nylon strap which I like better than the original strap. The most annoying thing is the heartrate monitoring is not reliable, it just doesn't respond to rapid changes in heart rate, but I don't use HR data seriously anyway. The main selling points for me are the non-touchscreen B&W display (clearly viewable in bright sunlight and doesn't glare at night) activity/GPS tracking, weatherproof & rugged. I don't know what else out there is like that (not that I've looked). I record all my daily commutes five days a week on it, and other leisure rides, and the occasional run so it gets a lot of use. Would not get the AMOLED version of the Instinct 3 - way out of my budget for one.
God, those V3s look awful! Really appealing to the colourblind amongst us.
I bought a refurbished MK1 solar instinct from eBay early January which had the exact issue you mentioned. I returned it and bought a different one from CeX with their 5 year warranty which has been faultless up to now.
The fault is as a result of a weak battery, where the battery can no longer support a vibration buzz plus powered up GPS and a voltage drop causes the watch to crash/switch off. You can buy a replacement battery, the instinct can be disassembled with some heat to soften the glue on the case to separate the two halves. Fit the battery then glue it back together (no promises on waterproofness post battery change).
I´ve just had an invoice from Satnav Specialist Ltd for £34.04 once I pay I´ll be gettting my Instinct sent back with a fresh battery in it...
They also sell the 200mah battery for you to replace it DIY. Personally I´m happy to pay a tenner extra for someone capable to have a go at it.
I´ll see if the fresh battery solves the issue, if it does then £35 is pretty good VFM to me (Vs the offer I got from Garmin), if it doesn´t then I didn´t waste a huge sum. And if the new cell lasts a similar amount of time (circa 2.5 years) then I´ll be more than happy.
I shall report back in a few weeks once I´ve had a chance to test it out.
Next step is going titanium which may mean Suunto or god forbid an Apple Watch where I reckon I will struggle with the shocking battery life.
I can get three days out of my Samsung 5 Pro (titanium) but obviously not using GPS constantly. More than an Apple Watch though
I have the Samsung Ultra also as well as others, but have recently switched to Garmin (H Samuel Epix 2) and much prefer it. Only wearing this atm because I've misplaced my Garmin charging cable.
Will get a Fenix 8 at some point - or wait for the Pro
Samsung 5 Pro - more detailed screens are available obvs
Well I´ve had it back on my wrist for a bit over a week now, logged some activities, Broadcast HR and soaked up some Free solar leccy and dunked it in water a few times. for £35 it´s more or less like new.
Thank Christ I didn´t spring for Garmin´s offer.
I´ve emptied all the various alternative watchs I was considering, out of my Amazon Basket too...
If you have an ageing Garmin and want a fresh battery putting in it This outfit seem to cover most models:
satnavspecialist.co.uk/ (I have no affiliation).