A 'Reliable' Garmin Smartwatch That Makes Battery Anxiety 'a Thing of the Past' Is $100 Off Right Now
Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
REI is just weeks removed from its biggest sale of the year, which saw discounts on rarely-marked-down products like Thule bike racks, tents from The North Face, and Exped's bestselling sleeping pad. And though most of the deals have gone back up in price, a ton of Garmin's GPS smartwatches and electronics are still on sale for Father's Day gifting, including one shopper favorite that's $100 off right now.
The Garmin Instinct 2 GPS Watch is on sale at REI for just $200—a 33% discount on the normal $300 price. This watch has received over 180 five-star ratings from shoppers who say it's an "exceptional companion" for runners and adventurers and has an "amazing battery life." Along with Garmin's other GPS devices, it's only on sale until June 16 (Father's Day), so make sure to get it soon before the price goes back up.
Garmin Instinct 2 GPS Watch in Graphite, $200 (was $300) at REI
The Garmin Instinct 2 is a durable and affordable no-frills GPS smartwatch with one very noticeable differentiator—it uses buttons for device navigation instead of a touchscreen. Despite that, it still pairs with Garmin's Connect IQ app to maintain your location with the brand's renowned GPS satellite systems, send smart notifications from your phone to your watch, and even connect to apps like Starbucks and Spotify. It also tracks a ton of metrics, including your steps, heart rate, and calories burned, with special details for sports like swimming, backcountry skiing, and HIIT workouts. Best of all, the battery life is extensive and can last for up to 65 days when on the lowest setting or up to 30 hours when in GPS mode.
The battery life was a major selling point for shoppers, especially those who switched from the Apple Watch. "I am glad to have switched from Apple to Garmin," one shopper said. "This is a far better fitness watch and the battery anxiety is a thing of the past…The morning report is surprisingly valuable with the workout readiness and sleep reports being my favorite."
Others say they love the Garmin Instinct 2 because it doesn't distract them as much as some other smartwatches. "I've had Apple Watches and similar, with bright and colorful screens," a shopper said. "This is a different beast—it goes a whole month between charges, the screen is always on, it has buttons instead of a touchscreen, etc. What I found is that it demands less attention from me but is always there, reliable, and nice-looking. It performs all of its duties without showing off."
Whether you're trying to level up from a basic activity tracker or you're tired of how distracting more robust smartwatches can be, the Garmin Instinct 2 is a worthy next step. It's only $100 off until Father's Day, so make sure to scoop it up soon before the discount goes away.
