AllOutdoor Review: Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar, Tactical Edition Part 1

Garmin Ltd., founded in 1989 by Gary Burrell and Min Kao in Lenexa, Kansas, is an American multinational technology company known for its innovative GPS technology. Originally named ProNav, the company quickly became synonymous with cutting-edge navigation devices, particularly in the aviation and marine sectors. Over the years, Garmin expanded its product line to include automotive, outdoor, fitness, and wearable technologies. Renowned for their durability, precision, and user-friendly design, Garmin devices are utilized by a diverse range of users, from athletes and adventurers to pilots and drivers. Headquartered in Olathe, Kansas, and incorporated in Switzerland, Garmin continues to be a leader in the GPS market, blending advanced technology with practical applications to enhance the way people navigate the world. The Garmin Instinct line of watches has been chugging along for many years now as one of the best options for an outdoor-focused Smartwatch. I had one of the older Instinct watches issued to me when I worked at Special Operations Command Europe and was impressed with the amount of tech crammed into it back then, and that was 4 years ago. Today even the standard Instinct watch boasts an incredible battery life and more features than you can shake a stick at. While I personally love all the features that came with the Instinct, I love a watch with hands on it, this was my biggest issue with that watch. It would appear Garmin could hear my cries and designed a version of the Instinct just for minorly petty people like myself, to enter the Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar – Tactical Edition.

The Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar – Tactical Edition was provided by Garmin for this review. This will not change my current or future opinion on any Garmin products. Garmin has not been allowed to preview this review prior to its publication. I have been using this particular watch pretty much every day for the past 3 months. I have been using it to track my sleep, workouts, navigate in the woods, Air , and of course, tell the time.

Specifications – Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar

Lens Material: Power Glass™
Bezel Material: Fiber-reinforced polymer
Case Material: Fiber-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover
QuickFit™ Watch Band Compatible: Yes (22 mm)
Strap Material: Silicone
Physical Size: 45 x 45 x 16.2 mm
Display Size: Custom, 23 x 23 mm
Display Resolution: 176 x 176 pixels
Display Type: Monochrome, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)
Weight: 65 g
Battery Life: Smartwatch: up to 70 days with solar, Battery Saver Watch Mode: unlimited with solar, GPS: up to 31 hours, Max Battery GPS Mode: up to 111 hours with solar, Expedition GPS Activity: up to 553 hours with solar
Country of Origin: Designed in the United States, Built in Taiwan
MSRP: $500.00

Design and Build Quality – Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar

The Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar – Tactical Edition is pretty identifiable on the wrists. I feel like once I started wearing this watch I noticed how many of my fellow men and women in uniform were sporting a Garmin watch of some kind. The Tactical edition of the Crossover features a more subdued color scheme, which I appreciate while in uniform but still looks great on the wrist. Being built to military standards (MIL-STD-810), it features a fiber-reinforced polymer case that offers exceptional durability while keeping the watch lightweight. Honestly, this watch might feel a bit cheap when you first pick it up because it only weighs 65 grams! That crazy light for any kind of watch. The buttons are tactile and easy to press, even with gloves, catering to its tactical user base. The display is sunlight-visible and can be adjustable to your preference. The screen has transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) technology that ensures readability in various lighting conditions, complemented by a scratch-resistant mineral glass lens Garmin is calling “Power Glass™”. One standout feature is its compatibility with interchangeable 22mm bands, allowing you to customize the look and comfort. The watch itself is water-rated up to 100 meters, making it suitable for swimming and water sports, adding to its versatility in all outdoor environments.

Performance and Battery Life – Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar

One of the primary draws of the Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar – Tactical Edition lies in its solar capabilities. The Power Glass™ solar charging lens extends battery life significantly when exposed to sunlight, providing an ideal solution for extended expeditions or operations in remote areas. This also makes this a watch that could theoretically never need a charge from an outlet if you spent enough time in the sun. This is an amazing feature and it allows you to spend less time plugging in the watch for a charge. Of course, power settings and many factors can affect the battery life on these watches but I recall my old issued Instinct lasting about 3-4 days in between charges, keep in mind that was not a solar model. With the Instinct® Crossover Solar, I’m getting an average of about 2.5 to 3 weeks in between charges! The leap in battery technology and the Solar inclusion make this a great watch choice if you hate charging things at night like I do.

Garmin claims up to 70 days in smartwatch mode with solar charging and up to 54 days with sufficient sunlight. Keep in mind my numbers were coming from someone who is currently wearing a flight suit almost every day so my watch gets covered up and has very little time in the sun unless its the weekend. I also conducted a little test one day and noted that in bright sunlight this watch would gain about 10 percent of battery after 6 hours of sitting on my porch. The watch was running on medium screen brightness and with GPS off. These two are the biggest factors when it comes to battery life. With GPS and max brightness on Garmin says you can expect 31 hours of battery life given you are not outside. If you are outside and in the sun, you can expect 111 hours of battery life. In expedition mode, which does have tracking, you can get around 553 hours with solar enabled. Finally, if you put this watch in Battery saver mode and are outside, the watch will never die. All of these are pretty impressive numbers in my opinion and I can’t even imagine what the next generation of smartwatches in 10 years will have for battery life.

Click Here for Part 2 of this Review

Watch Coverage on AllOutdoor

Patrik Orcutt

Patrik Orcutt is currently a writer for AllOutdoor who has chosen not to write a short bio at this time.