$400.00
Twilight/Solstice only available at REI, while supplies last.

Make a bold statement with the rugged Garmin Instinct 3 Solar. It features a metal-reinforced bezel, scratch-resistant lens and built-in flashlight, plus solar charging for endless battery life.

Color: Black/Black
$450.00
$400.00
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Location Image of color Black/BlackLocation Image of color Black/BlackLocation Image of color Black/Black
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Features

  • Bolted construction, a metal-reinforced bezel and scratch-resistant lens allow the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar to endure your toughest adventures
  • Navigate confidently with a 3-axis compass, barometric altimeter and multi-band GPS with SatIQâ„¢ technology
  • GPS with SatIQ technology delivers superior positioning while also optimizing battery life
  • Engineered to MIL-STD-810 standards for thermal and shock resistance and is also 10 ATM water-rated
  • 45 MM version has a 0.9 in. display; 50 MM version has a 1.1 in. display
  • Engineered with a super-tough fiber-reinforced polymer case and metal-reinforced bezel
  • Built-in LED flashlight with variable intensities and strobe modes gives you greater visibility in the outdoors and provides convenient illumination when you need it
  • Unlimited battery life in smartwatch mode with solar charging (assumes all-day wear with 3 hrs. per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions)
  • 45 MM average battery life: up to 28 days/unlimited with solar in smartwatch mode; up to 65 days/unlimited with solar in battery saver watch mode
  • 50 MM average battery life: up to 40 days/unlimited with solar in smartwatch mode; up to 100 days/unlimited with solar in battery saver watch mode
  • 24/7 health and wellness features keep you connected to your body with wrist-based heart rate tracking, advanced sleep monitoring, Pulse Ox and more
  • This is not a medical device, and data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked; Pulse Ox not available in all countries
  • Leave your cash and cards at home—GarminPayâ„¢ contactless payments (with supported bank) let you pay for purchases on the go and breeze through select transit systems
  • Stay connected with smart notifications and ConnectIQâ„¢ Store compatibility, which allows you to download new apps and watch faces (when paired with your compatible smartphone)
  • Safety and tracking features include Incident Detection (during select activities) and Assistance
  • Both will call or send a message with your live location to emergency contacts when paired with your smartphone
  • Incident detection and Assistance require setup and your smartphone to be in an area with network coverage where data connectivity is available
  • Sync the Instinct® 3 smartwatch with the GarminConnectâ„¢ app, and get more details on your health and fitness data plus personalized insights and more

Imported.

Average battery life:

45 MM
  • Smartwatch: up to 28 days/unlimited with solar*
  • Battery saver watch mode: up to 65 days/unlimited with solar*
  • GPS only: up to 40 hrs./130 hrs. with solar**
  • All satellite systems: up to 28 hrs./50 hrs. with solar**
  • All satellite systems + multi-band: up to 24 hrs./40 hrs. with solar***
  • Max battery GPS: up to 100 hrs./unlimited with solar**
  • Expedition GPS: up to 36 days/unlimited with solar*
50 MM
  • Smartwatch: up to 40 days/unlimited with solar*
  • Battery saver watch mode: up to 100 days/unlimited with solar*
  • GPS only: up to 60 hrs./ 260 hrs. with solar**
  • All satellite systems: up to 40 hrs./80 hrs. with solar**
  • All satellite systems + multi-band: up to 34 hrs./60 hrs. with solar***
  • Max battery GPS: up to 150 hrs./unlimited with solar**
  • Expedition GPS: up to 60 days/unlimited with solar*
*Solar charging, assuming all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions
**Solar charging, assuming use in 50,000 lux conditions
***Solar charging, assuming use in 50,000 lux conditions; assuming typical use with SatIQ technology
View the Garmin Instinct Product LineView all Garmin GPS Sports Watches

Technical Specs

Best Use

Multisport

Average Battery Life

45 MM: Smartwatch: up to 28 days/unlimited with solar; battery saver watch mode: up to 65 days/unlimited with solar; GPS only: up to 40 hrs./130 hrs. with solar

50 MM: Smartwatch: Up to 40 days/unlimited with solar; battery saver watch mode: up to 100 days/unlimited with solar; GPS only: up to 60 hrs./ 260 hrs. with solar

Battery Type

Lithium Ion

Solar-Powered

Yes

Display Size

45 MM: 0.9 inches

50 MM: 1.1 inches

Illumination

Backlight

Altimeter

Pressure-based

Compass

Yes

GPS/Satellite Detectable

Yes

HRM Included/Integrated

Yes

Heart Rate Sensor Type

Wrist-based

Average Heart Rate

Yes

Pulse Oximeter

Yes

Heart Rate Target Zone(s)

Yes

VO2 Max Estimate

Yes

Recovery Advising

Yes

Tracks Steps

Yes

Pedometer Type

Digital 3-axis Accelerometer

Pace Alert

Yes

Interval Training

Yes

Tracks Calories Burned

Yes

Water-Resistant Depth

100 meters

Pool Lap Recognition

Yes

Stroke Recognition

Yes

Sleep Tracking

Yes

Alarm

Yes

Time Display

Yes

Stopwatch

Yes

Preloaded Map

None

Programmable Routes

Yes

Number of Routes

30

Number of Waypoints

1000

Customization

Watch Faces

Apps

Data Fields

Widgets

Smart Device Notifications

Yes

Data Exchange

Bluetooth

ANT+

Compatible Fitness Accessories

Power Meter

Heart Rate Monitor

Gender

Unisex

Reviews
26 reviews with an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars

Ratings Snapshot

Product Rating

12 out of 13 (92%) reviewers recommend this product

Review this Product

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Average Customer Ratings

Energy Efficiency

Short battery lifeExtended battery life

Most Helpful Favorable Review

5 reviews with an average rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars
Great upgrade from original Instinct Solar
GrizzlyWombat
3 months ago
Received free product
My first gen Instinct Solar was showing signs it was time to upgrade (battery not lasting as long, random resets, etc.) but I absolutely loved it. I had been holding out for the Instinct 3 Solar and as soon as it came out, I decided it was time to make a move. From the original, this is an upgrade in pretty much every way. There are multiple sizes for the face (despite my skinny wrists, I went with the biggest option--no regrets!), the battery life is much longer, way more activities available, and lots of new features I didn't have before. I use this to track my running, hiking, skiing (up and downhill), and more. The Instinct line is honestly exactly what I want out of a smart fitness watch. I want great tracking, a battery that lasts a ridiculously long amount of time, helpful tools, and I think a color screen is completely unnecessary. If I had one complaint, it's the colorways available (only 2 in the biggest face size). I went with the charcoal with orange accents which is such a downgrade from my orangey-red original Instinct Solar. You can swap the bands, but I wish I had more exciting options available to match my personal style.
GrizzlyWombat
Portland, OR
13 people found this review helpful

Most Helpful Critical Review

5 reviews with an average rating of 2.0 out of 5 stars
Much to like and even more to dislike
Jake
5 months ago
Received free product
I have been wearing my new Garmin Instinct 3 Solar now for about three weeks. The display is great and very easy to read, especially in direct sunlight. Long battery life with solar recharging. Pulse function seems to be fairly accurate. I find the buttons are very hard to use when the watch is strapped to your wrist. My biggest complaint, however, is the horrible user interface design when attempting to navigate to and within a particular function. It seems as if someone different designed each function and then adopted a totally different navigational strategy to purposely frustrate and confuse the user. Just a completely non-intuitive user interface in my opinion. The online manual is equally bad. This is my first Garmin watch and sadly it will also be my last.
Jake
16 people found this review helpful

Customer Images

Oleg
Rated 1.0 out of 5 stars

Error

5 months ago

does not display autonomy correctly; when the connection to the phone is turned on, it shows autonomy in days longer than when it is turned off.

Originally posted on Garmin
Response from Garmin
Garmin
5 months ago

Thank you for your review and experience with the Ibstibcr 3 Solar. We would like to discuss this further over email. If you would please email us at product.support@garmin.com.

Phizzie16
Sevierville, TN
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Great overall watch without the needless extras!

5 months ago

Purchased this watch after doing a lot of research and waiting for initial reviews, tests to come out. I don't quite understand the negative reviews here as Garmin Support should be contacted in case of user error, etc. But, from my experience (and I've never had a 'smart' watch) is that there is a bit of a learning curve and it will take time. But, the metrics on this watch are outstanding. It even recorded my row on the C2 machine without having to even start an activity and just connecting Garmin Connect with the C2 Log Book. The solar is keeping my watch charged and I haven't lost any days yet even with playing with it nonstop. Granted, it has been sunny here. I think it can be confusing at first if you've never had a Garmin like me, but watch videos, look online and all the information is there. Once you've done it a few times - it becomes seamless. There is so much to this watch, it might be a minute before I learn it all!

Age:45–54
Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
captainkudzu
Columbus GA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Great watch, but don’t throw away the charger

1 week ago

The Instinct 3 Solar is a great watch for outdoor sports. The watch is rugged and has a multitude of apps to track different activities. Pretty much every sport you can think of is included. The big question most people will have is how well the solar charging works. After using it for a couple of months, I can say it works well, but it won’t eliminate the need for traditional charging if you use the GPS much. It depends on how your settings are configured, but I typically use about 1 percent of battery overnight and 3 percent per day with no GPS. Using GPS boosts battery consumption to about 2-4 percent per hour (1-2 percent using Ultratrac with fewer GPS updates) depending on sunlight. What I typically find is that I drain some battery during sport activities but regain some charge when outside without GPS use. Some of my best solar charging is while driving or flying if I can keep the watch In sunlight. The angle, strength of light, and obstructions such as windows or shadows affect charging. Solar charging is measured in lux hours. Garmin says 3 hours per day in 50,000 lux conditions is necessary for unlimited battery life (this is apparently without GPS use). I seldom reach 150,000 lux hours. It seems to me that raising the battery by one percentage point takes 20-40,000 lux hours based on my observations. I use the GPS pretty often and end up charging with the plug about every three weeks. I’ve kept several weeks of data on start and ending battery levels, lux hours, and activity time. Some days I experience net battery gain, but most days I lose a few percentage points. If you don’t use the GPS but spend time outside, the battery can last indefinitely. If you use the GPS often, battery drain is slowed by solar charging but not offset. There is an expedition mode that takes only an hourly position fix to allow very long hikes without charging. As far as navigating functions, the menus aren’t intuitive but are relatively easy to learn. I recommend looking at YouTube tutorials and reading Garmin’s online manual. The flashlight is handy and a first for me on a watch. I previously had the Instinct 2 Standard and the 3 Solar screen seems easier to read. I also like the Trackback feature that makes it easy to navigate back to your starting point. There are only two problems that I’ve run into. First, a new watch needs to be updated with the Garmin Express app on a computer. This is simple (just download the app to the computer and plug in the USB watch charger) but annoying since updates usually come automatically. For some reason, the pre installed software won’t give full battery life. Second, Garmin Pay isn’t worth much. None of my banks allow it to its full capability (Amex allows for only electronic transactions). I miss being able to pay with my watch like I did with my Fitbit, which was compatible with all my banks. All in all, it’s a great watch. I’ve had lots of fun with it, and I love the extended (but not unlimited) battery life. The Instinct 3 Solar has a lot of bang for the buck. I’ll add that the watch looks better in person. The parts that look orange in pictures are more of a copper in real life.

Age:45–54
Yes , I recommend this product

Energy Efficiency

Short battery lifeExtended battery life
Helpful?
GatorPadre
Redlands, CA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

No regrets with my new Instinct 3

5 months ago

I had some initial hiccups attempting to install a software update (Garmin Express said the device was out of storage space). After some kind, but ultimately fruitless attempts to resolve the issue with Garmin Support, I reset the watch and re-paired it to my phone and was immediately notified that the software update was ready to install. Now everything is working as it should and, well, 40 day battery life says it all. This is a nice, rugged watch, with basic smart functions.Perfect for anyone like myself that grew tired of charging their Apple Watch 1-2 ties per day and are increasingly annoyed by constant notifications. I've set the Garmin to only alert me to calls. The screen visibility/readability is much improved upon the Instinct 2 line. Fonts are large and easy to read. Perfect for my aging eyes.

Age:45–54
Yes , I recommend this product

Energy Efficiency

Short battery lifeExtended battery life
Helpful?
GrizzlyWombat
Portland, OR
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Great upgrade from original Instinct Solar

3 months ago

My first gen Instinct Solar was showing signs it was time to upgrade (battery not lasting as long, random resets, etc.) but I absolutely loved it. I had been holding out for the Instinct 3 Solar and as soon as it came out, I decided it was time to make a move. From the original, this is an upgrade in pretty much every way. There are multiple sizes for the face (despite my skinny wrists, I went with the biggest option--no regrets!), the battery life is much longer, way more activities available, and lots of new features I didn't have before. I use this to track my running, hiking, skiing (up and downhill), and more. The Instinct line is honestly exactly what I want out of a smart fitness watch. I want great tracking, a battery that lasts a ridiculously long amount of time, helpful tools, and I think a color screen is completely unnecessary. If I had one complaint, it's the colorways available (only 2 in the biggest face size). I went with the charcoal with orange accents which is such a downgrade from my orangey-red original Instinct Solar. You can swap the bands, but I wish I had more exciting options available to match my personal style.

Age:35–44
Yes , I recommend this product

Energy Efficiency

Short battery lifeExtended battery life
Helpful?
Richard
Cincinnati, OH
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Love the Instinct 3 Solar

2 months ago

Very happy with this purchase. I have been an Instinct fan since their first version. They can take a beating (over 15 spartan races without a scratch). I actually prefer the display on the instinct to the touch screen models. I was easily able to download the face I wanted and customize the data. Then add the apps I use most frequently. Happy to see they even have an OCR activity.

Age:55–64
Yes , I recommend this product

Energy Efficiency

Short battery lifeExtended battery life
Helpful?
Jake
Rated 2.0 out of 5 stars

Much to like and even more to dislike

5 months ago

I have been wearing my new Garmin Instinct 3 Solar now for about three weeks. The display is great and very easy to read, especially in direct sunlight. Long battery life with solar recharging. Pulse function seems to be fairly accurate. I find the buttons are very hard to use when the watch is strapped to your wrist. My biggest complaint, however, is the horrible user interface design when attempting to navigate to and within a particular function. It seems as if someone different designed each function and then adopted a totally different navigational strategy to purposely frustrate and confuse the user. Just a completely non-intuitive user interface in my opinion. The online manual is equally bad. This is my first Garmin watch and sadly it will also be my last.

Helpful?
BillMcd
Idaho
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Great Watch

4 months ago

Great Watch, looks fantastic, the solar on it is pretty amazing. I can easily keep it charged by spending an hour or so in the sun. Compared hr sensor to my apple watch in the same workouts and it's just as accurate. Very happy I don't have to charge every day.

Age:25–34
Yes , I recommend this product

Energy Efficiency

Short battery lifeExtended battery life
Helpful?
Alan M
Colorado
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Great watch and great battery life!

3 months ago

Records all the data I want to know. Battery life is incredible! My Apple Watch Ultra tries to do to much and the battery life is not that great.

Age:55–64
Yes , I recommend this product

Energy Efficiency

Short battery lifeExtended battery life
Helpful?
Anonymous
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Strap

1 month ago

strap after three months of wearing. How will it look in a year? Please help me with this. Thank you

Originally posted on Garmin
1 - 10 of 26 Reviews

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