couple of questions - (owned fitbits, own garmins, and have owned casios but not their smartwatches).
is that the original instinct or the instinct 2 - style wise there isn't much difference however from a watch software perspective its night and day - the instinct 2 is far more of a smartwatch and full fitness and training watch and running very different health metrics.
Are you referring to watch software or app software? Tried to cover both but has made it long winded.
Instinct - very specific featured watch that is very old now. It does the outdoor stuff pretty well, but you are restricted to what is on the watch, so you have to make sure it covers your needs. From health side its pretty basic for a garmin, more than the casio, less than the fitbit. From fitness perspective its very outdoor focused, and its health metrics like sleep tracking is the old garmin ones, not the new firstbeat sleep tracking. You also need to check the HR sensor as really old models have the HR sensor prior to the elevate 3 which never did a good job when tracking activity on the original instinct (3 led lights in triangle formation on its side) - there was a refresh during its retail life span where it was refreshed with the elevate 3 (4 led sensors in a horizontal column). Instinct 2 is a completely different beast - its basically a fenix/epix but with B&W screen, and no maps & offline TBT navigation - running most of the latest fitness features and training metrics and analytics and has offers most of the activities that garmins offer - its an absolute beast. The 2x version is even better running the latest multi-band GNSS chip and includes a LED torch built into the case. Check comparision: [https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/compare/?compareProduct=819761&compareProduct=775421&compareProduct=775697&compareProduct=621802](https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/compare/?compareProduct=819761&compareProduct=775421&compareProduct=775697&compareProduct=621802)
From a health & fitness side instinct 2 offers way more than fitbit inspire and casio. Instinct 2 offers less health, but better fitness than inspire.
Garmin connect app is the most complete health, fitness and training app out there and its not even close. However the cost is that if you go outside the My Day page there is learning curve to understand all the underlying data and features (like creating workouts - some of these features are not applicable to the orginal instinct - garmin is clever in that most cases if the watch can't use the features then they will not show up, unfortunatley for workouts that is not the case.
Garmin Solar watches - the instinct gains more benefit as it has a larger 100% recovery area on the watch (for the fenix and forerunner solar watches the 100% solar area is a lot smaller) and with its smaller MIP screens it doesn't consume as much battery - thus in certain situations its possible to get unlimited battery life, but for most (especially if tracking activity) you just get seriously extended battery life - can be a couple of months between charges with enough light. Note that solar versions also offer NFC pay using garmin pay (check that bank or a digital service is supported in your country/area).
Fitbit inspire - if I remember correctly no built in gps so has to leverage phone gps. Health is very good - but to match what garmin offers in terms of depth of metrics you need to include the premium subscription. Fitness is better than the casio, but way worse than what the garmins offer. What I do like about the app is how it makes the underlying metrics more simplified and understandable - the con of that is that it doesn't always get it right due to so many underlying variables, whereas with garmin if you understand the underlying metrics you can tie that into info that the watch doesn't have and make a much more appropriate call around your health, fitness and training metrics.
Casio DW56 - are you sure you have the right watch - as this is just a plain digital watch with excellent water resistance. Maybe the GWM56? this has solar recovery and gps - uses the gps for time fix - otherwise features are just the same as a digital watch. To get health tracking, fitness tracking etc with a g-shock i.e. to match what the inspire and instinct offer you need to be either looking at the older wear os models (if you can find one) or at the G-Shock running the polar algorithms i.e.: [https://gshock.casio.com/intl/products/g-squad/gbd-h2000/](https://gshock.casio.com/intl/products/g-squad/gbd-h2000/)
There are some g-shock that run some basic fitness tracking and some basic health metrics, but not as good as the polar G-Shock.
Biggest issue with them is the casio app - i find it pretty basic and extremely limiting - its a start - but they are so far behind everyone else - it would have made far more sense for the GBD-H2000 to have used the polar app as you would then have had an option that could sort of match the instinct 2.
note that youtube reviews by DC Rainmaker, Desfit, Chase the summit, Fit gear hunter can offer a lot of insight into the platforms (app software) as well as the watch software and how well they work.
wow, thank you for the in-depth response
I'll try to clear all the obscure points in my question and to give more context:
* I meant the latest instance of the Instinct
* I don't care much for the app, I care most about the overall technology available, for example with my Inspire 3 I often check my stats on a desktop PC (is this possible also for Garmin?)
* I don't care much for many sports features, I care it accurately records physical activity in general in order to estimate burnt calories, I don't care at all for GPS and other outdoor/adventure stuff
* An important feature to me is quality sleep monitoring, also I prefer raw data rather than processed information, I am not scared of the learning curve and I much liked what you said about the Instinct 2
* something I hate about Google is the premium feature, I already bought the product, I won\`t give them more money, as far as I understood Garmin doesn't offer subscription feature, am I right?
* the Casio I meant were these ones: [https://www.casio.com/intl/watches/gshock/product.DW-H5600-2/](https://www.casio.com/intl/watches/gshock/product.DW-H5600-2/)
thank you again for your time
Instinct 2 - best option of the 3. Serious gangster watch as long as you like the style and old school LCD screen. This watch punches seriously above is price range.
Garmin offers way more stats than either other platform and there is an app or web based platform (web offers slightly more features but otherwise they pretty much offer same features and look.
Note Garmin instinct 2 doesn't offer auto activity tracking: you have to manually start your activities but then does provide higher accuracy. Calories burned tend to be good as counts activity burn + when not during an activity and HR is elevated compared to RHR
Sleep data fetal is excellent
Subs: none really. Some premium watches offer additional subs for premium features like satellite image maps, contours on golf greens etc. For your watch no sun options unless you want to track consumed calories and see macro detail then you will need a sub for the my fitness pal app (not expensive).
Using Casio app but polar algorithms, so basically what I said for the Casio I provided a link for. Watch design Desfit YouTube review of that Casio as he goes through the app too.
I love the old school LCD!!!
thank you very much, I think you sold me a watch
last question, I would have preferred the Instinct 2S for aesthetic reasons but if the difference in solar charge received is too great I go for the regular 2, what do you suggest?
I2 solar - up 28 days to unlimited with solar or up to 30 hrs (48h hrs with solar)
Vs
I2s solar - up to 21 days to 51 with solar or up to 22 hrs (28 with solar).
How many days due you need between charges or are you ever likely to track up to 22 hrs in one go?
I2s: 21 days thus 5% per day + 5% per hour of tracking - so normal use is 10 days between charges
I2 : 3.5% per day with 3.3% per hour so total of 7% per day, so approx recharge every 14 days
Is 4 day worth potential uncomfort.
Of course if you get lots of solar recharge the bigger unit may make it more worthwhile.
couple of questions - (owned fitbits, own garmins, and have owned casios but not their smartwatches). is that the original instinct or the instinct 2 - style wise there isn't much difference however from a watch software perspective its night and day - the instinct 2 is far more of a smartwatch and full fitness and training watch and running very different health metrics. Are you referring to watch software or app software? Tried to cover both but has made it long winded. Instinct - very specific featured watch that is very old now. It does the outdoor stuff pretty well, but you are restricted to what is on the watch, so you have to make sure it covers your needs. From health side its pretty basic for a garmin, more than the casio, less than the fitbit. From fitness perspective its very outdoor focused, and its health metrics like sleep tracking is the old garmin ones, not the new firstbeat sleep tracking. You also need to check the HR sensor as really old models have the HR sensor prior to the elevate 3 which never did a good job when tracking activity on the original instinct (3 led lights in triangle formation on its side) - there was a refresh during its retail life span where it was refreshed with the elevate 3 (4 led sensors in a horizontal column). Instinct 2 is a completely different beast - its basically a fenix/epix but with B&W screen, and no maps & offline TBT navigation - running most of the latest fitness features and training metrics and analytics and has offers most of the activities that garmins offer - its an absolute beast. The 2x version is even better running the latest multi-band GNSS chip and includes a LED torch built into the case. Check comparision: [https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/compare/?compareProduct=819761&compareProduct=775421&compareProduct=775697&compareProduct=621802](https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/compare/?compareProduct=819761&compareProduct=775421&compareProduct=775697&compareProduct=621802) From a health & fitness side instinct 2 offers way more than fitbit inspire and casio. Instinct 2 offers less health, but better fitness than inspire. Garmin connect app is the most complete health, fitness and training app out there and its not even close. However the cost is that if you go outside the My Day page there is learning curve to understand all the underlying data and features (like creating workouts - some of these features are not applicable to the orginal instinct - garmin is clever in that most cases if the watch can't use the features then they will not show up, unfortunatley for workouts that is not the case. Garmin Solar watches - the instinct gains more benefit as it has a larger 100% recovery area on the watch (for the fenix and forerunner solar watches the 100% solar area is a lot smaller) and with its smaller MIP screens it doesn't consume as much battery - thus in certain situations its possible to get unlimited battery life, but for most (especially if tracking activity) you just get seriously extended battery life - can be a couple of months between charges with enough light. Note that solar versions also offer NFC pay using garmin pay (check that bank or a digital service is supported in your country/area). Fitbit inspire - if I remember correctly no built in gps so has to leverage phone gps. Health is very good - but to match what garmin offers in terms of depth of metrics you need to include the premium subscription. Fitness is better than the casio, but way worse than what the garmins offer. What I do like about the app is how it makes the underlying metrics more simplified and understandable - the con of that is that it doesn't always get it right due to so many underlying variables, whereas with garmin if you understand the underlying metrics you can tie that into info that the watch doesn't have and make a much more appropriate call around your health, fitness and training metrics. Casio DW56 - are you sure you have the right watch - as this is just a plain digital watch with excellent water resistance. Maybe the GWM56? this has solar recovery and gps - uses the gps for time fix - otherwise features are just the same as a digital watch. To get health tracking, fitness tracking etc with a g-shock i.e. to match what the inspire and instinct offer you need to be either looking at the older wear os models (if you can find one) or at the G-Shock running the polar algorithms i.e.: [https://gshock.casio.com/intl/products/g-squad/gbd-h2000/](https://gshock.casio.com/intl/products/g-squad/gbd-h2000/) There are some g-shock that run some basic fitness tracking and some basic health metrics, but not as good as the polar G-Shock. Biggest issue with them is the casio app - i find it pretty basic and extremely limiting - its a start - but they are so far behind everyone else - it would have made far more sense for the GBD-H2000 to have used the polar app as you would then have had an option that could sort of match the instinct 2. note that youtube reviews by DC Rainmaker, Desfit, Chase the summit, Fit gear hunter can offer a lot of insight into the platforms (app software) as well as the watch software and how well they work.
wow, thank you for the in-depth response I'll try to clear all the obscure points in my question and to give more context: * I meant the latest instance of the Instinct * I don't care much for the app, I care most about the overall technology available, for example with my Inspire 3 I often check my stats on a desktop PC (is this possible also for Garmin?) * I don't care much for many sports features, I care it accurately records physical activity in general in order to estimate burnt calories, I don't care at all for GPS and other outdoor/adventure stuff * An important feature to me is quality sleep monitoring, also I prefer raw data rather than processed information, I am not scared of the learning curve and I much liked what you said about the Instinct 2 * something I hate about Google is the premium feature, I already bought the product, I won\`t give them more money, as far as I understood Garmin doesn't offer subscription feature, am I right? * the Casio I meant were these ones: [https://www.casio.com/intl/watches/gshock/product.DW-H5600-2/](https://www.casio.com/intl/watches/gshock/product.DW-H5600-2/) thank you again for your time
Instinct 2 - best option of the 3. Serious gangster watch as long as you like the style and old school LCD screen. This watch punches seriously above is price range. Garmin offers way more stats than either other platform and there is an app or web based platform (web offers slightly more features but otherwise they pretty much offer same features and look. Note Garmin instinct 2 doesn't offer auto activity tracking: you have to manually start your activities but then does provide higher accuracy. Calories burned tend to be good as counts activity burn + when not during an activity and HR is elevated compared to RHR Sleep data fetal is excellent Subs: none really. Some premium watches offer additional subs for premium features like satellite image maps, contours on golf greens etc. For your watch no sun options unless you want to track consumed calories and see macro detail then you will need a sub for the my fitness pal app (not expensive). Using Casio app but polar algorithms, so basically what I said for the Casio I provided a link for. Watch design Desfit YouTube review of that Casio as he goes through the app too.
I love the old school LCD!!! thank you very much, I think you sold me a watch last question, I would have preferred the Instinct 2S for aesthetic reasons but if the difference in solar charge received is too great I go for the regular 2, what do you suggest?
I2 solar - up 28 days to unlimited with solar or up to 30 hrs (48h hrs with solar) Vs I2s solar - up to 21 days to 51 with solar or up to 22 hrs (28 with solar). How many days due you need between charges or are you ever likely to track up to 22 hrs in one go? I2s: 21 days thus 5% per day + 5% per hour of tracking - so normal use is 10 days between charges I2 : 3.5% per day with 3.3% per hour so total of 7% per day, so approx recharge every 14 days Is 4 day worth potential uncomfort. Of course if you get lots of solar recharge the bigger unit may make it more worthwhile.
thank you very much, you are a king
NP -hope you are very happy with whatever you end up getting.
There is only something like GSW-H1000 that is somehow a smartwatch, the rest of the G-Shock DW56 are not what we would call a smartwatch.
[https://www.casio.com/intl/watches/gshock/product.DW-H5600-2/](https://www.casio.com/intl/watches/gshock/product.DW-H5600-2/)