The newest Instict 2X has a pretty good solar recharging feature (even do I would still wear a backup Protrek if the expedition is too long or too cold)
True, but I don’t think the solar feature would be too useful on the extreme cold/arctic expeditions Aaron is referring to (i.e. if your watch is underneath a big OR Alti mitt). More interesting for a long through-hikes in warm/sunny conditions. I love my Garmin instinct (first gen/non solar) and IMO it’s way better than other smart watches for battery life, but it has its limitations for extended trips and cold environments.
I saw the new Instinct 2 - the solar is very interesting. My Casio ProTrek lasts 7 months in total darkness. In polar/winter environments, my watch only gets a few second glances at the sun. I enjoy using my Instinct Standard a lot, but it's not good for long trips. It's great for near-home workouts or weekenders IMO. I've been looking at the Coros watches lately: COROS VERTIX 2 Adventure GPS Watch: amzn.to/4a9l6Uy
@@ALinsdauThe Garmins have strong, but not tough solar like Casio does, which means the Garmin solar panels only supplement the charging. At least that’s how it is with my first generation Instinct. The 2s are a little better. I have an old PoTrek PRG-60. Looks archaic, but works great.
