Garmin Instinct Crossover Final Review! A Breed of It's Own.

[@danielrguerra]

I think it's great that Garmin does innovation, thank you very much for the great video. Hugs from Mexico 🇲🇽

[@fitgearhunter]

Thank you so much! It is a very cool watch. Glad you liked the review!

[@chriscarpunky]

I ended up sending it back yesterday. I actually called them out in a mistake. If you search KZbin for their Garmin Retail Training video and watch at 1:32 he says, “from the moment you wake up you will get a readiness score” and goes on to explain if you want to work hard or take it easy you will know based on your score. When I said I don’t get a readiness score they said it’s not the same thing as the 955 and Fenix. I asked, where the score is located? How do I determine a score? They had no answer. Also, this is exactly like the Instinct 2 with hands and less features. I’m sure eventually they will update it and when they do 6 months from now and work out all the bugs I may revisit. For example, you can’t put your miles ran or miles biked on the watch face like Instinct 2. It only gives you days in battery but instinct 2 gives you days or percentages. You can see your load on Instinct face or if your maintaining on the watch face but you can’t on the crossover. On the Instinct 2 you can also add your recovery to the face widget but you can’t on Crossover. The hands do get in the way of data which I don’t like either. I think for $150 you get hands and more satellites for gps but less face widgets and less battery life in gps mode. That’s my 2 cents.

[@mlegrand]

Love this shirt! I wear mine all the time. It's so comfy 👌

[@StoneRunning23]

Just got it on prime day 2024, did my first run. Love the upgrade in analytics from my vivoactive4 but I struggled while running to see the metrics, pace and time and HR. I wear Rx so the small font is not easy to see.

[@33scottyp]

I wonder if you put the battery saver on it would allow you to have just a blacked out watch face.

[@fitgearhunter]

Ha! That's not a bad idea! I had to send the device back, but maybe there is a way to turn on the battery saver and turn off the screen, but still keep all the heart rate and analytics active?

[@fitgearhunter]

Now that I think about that, that is absolutely genius if I had had a chance to test it. That's one thing I actually wanted most of the time, to just turn the screen off until I wanted to press a button and see some stats

[@33scottyp]

@@fitgearhunter That’s how I have my Instinct 2 Solar on at night time. The watchface blacks out and i can still have my HR, steps and other metrics running.

[@sergeant_dornan_]

@@33scottyp is it some custom watch face? I don't remember a setting like that for default ones.

[@33scottyp]

@@sergeant_dornan_ Yeah it’s a factory setting. It’s in controls (where you power down your watch), which will have a power saving mode option.

[@Memmaao]

This watch filled a big gap in the market. There are not too many hybrid watches. Fossil/Skagen watches have the fogging issues with 3ATM wr, which is not enough. Withings's on board display is very limitated, Tissot T touch connect solar is beautiful swiss made, but without HRM, basic functions and with maior quality issues ( temperature and pressure sensor failure, tearing off the luminescent bezel). This watch offers nearly the whole ecosystem of Garmin, in a higher level then instinct solar or instinct 2. I'm a big fan of hybrid watches! This one is a must have for me on a tactical version! I have no reading issues with my instinct solar, I wear glasses. Unfortunately it wont comes to Hungary before 2023 February.

[@fitgearhunter]

Oh gosh that stinks so badly it won't get there until 2023! It is definitely a super cool watch. If you like analog watches, there is absolutely no comparison to the technology behind the movement of the hands. It is second to none. I hope you get an opportunity to get one soon! You are completely correct about having the blend of analog, coupled with The completely comprehensive analytics of the Garmin behind it

[@airmanfirstclass3535]

​@fitgearhunter I am crazy about analogue watches. I also like to work out and record my health data. This Crossover met all my expectations and then some. Battery life, GPS, workouts. Quick respond to messages, view emails at a glance. To top it all, the rugged look. I too considered the Tissot T Touch, but shied away when I heard the quality issues.

[@allenw969]

Regarding the readability: The font size can be adjusted to a larger size on the Garmin Instinct 2. Can it be adjusted on the Crossover as well?

[@jermainesmith1052]

I’ve had the crossover for 3 weeks. I really love it. However, I’m returning it for two reasons: first one is the same issue you have, the display is small. I didn’t mind it on the Instinct 2, but in a non sport mode the hands take away from an already small display. The other reason is a just found a steal on an Enduro 2. Opposite end of the spectrum, but it was almost 70% off for a used unit. It’s really sad because I truly believe this is the best looking Instinct Garmin’s made. The watch is beautiful, but the display is too small to be my daily driver. If they made the screen larger (like the 955 in the same form factor, I’d be sold.

[@fitgearhunter]

I am so jealous of the deal you got on the enduro 2! That is awesome. Way better than the crossover. Enjoy it! Thanks for commenting

[@adimperial]

I think the point of this watch is to be a watch first while still offering analytics of forerunner Fenix lines albeit in a much more subtle way. My complaint with my instinct 2 Solar was difficulty seeing time at night. The luminescent hands hopefully fixed that. I can’t wait to get my hands on one

[@jermainesmith1052]

@@adimperial the hands are very easy to see. That’s the great part. So it can operate like an analog watch. The issue is the screen real estate is small, so looking at the data behind the watch face can be annoying. The hands do get out of the way for glances and activities. What Garmin should do is make the display closer to the size of the lens like the vivoactive.

[@fitgearhunter]

@@adimperial that's awesome! Let me know how it works for you when you get one!

[@fitgearhunter]

@@jermainesmith1052 wellllll - or make the display LED! But invisible until requested.

[@grandpremierexpress7941]

What do you think about D2 Mach 1? Especially for the price and features? Compared with Marq series?…

[@fitgearhunter]

Good question! I've looked at it but never tested. It does seem really high quality though.

[@chriscarpunky]

I have it but thinking of returning. I’m waiting to get your input as well.

[@fitgearhunter]

So sorry for the delay, missed a lot of comments. What did you decide?

[@adimperial]

Gotta mention battery life as one of the main selling points compared to forerunner Fenix lines.

[@fitgearhunter]

Yes good point! I didn't find it to be as completely spectacular when you turn up the backlight, which I had to do. It cut the total battery lifetime down to 18 to 20 days, for me - which wasn't as completely dominating to the Fenix line. But - if you can go without the back light increase then it is definitely a significantly felt difference because it is almost double!

[@WariWahab]

I guess the other end of the spectrum for this watch is the Vivomove Sport. Cheaper, more classy looking, but no GPS. I like that too on occasions.

[@fitgearhunter]

Yes totally. Garmin is doing some really cool things w the analog options. Thanks!

[@brunomiranda8556]

Hi just starting watching you channel is very very good and just starting doing CrossFit can you recommend garmim fênix 6 sapphire for CrossFit need to buy one but is way to many Thank you Dr.Bruno

[@fitgearhunter]

Hello and thank you! Yes - I would skip the F6 bc of the older sensors and look at the 955. It has the most features for the money all around.

[@brunomiranda8556]

Thank you very much

[@tcwhite0104]

You can't really compare this particular watch with any non-analog smartwatch, you either love it or hate it. However, they are all getting hard to read, at 64 yeah need glasses to read most. Already wear contacts, however I am near sided....lol doesn't help for things close up. I am either going to get this one or the ForeRunner 955 solar or the Casio H2000.

[@bigrod359]

It’s a nice watch but the hands kill the display but at the same time the hands look good if it makes sense

[@fitgearhunter]

Yes completely. For me the hands didn't get in the way bc of the tech they've created. Thanks!

[@DeletedDenizen]

You got a typo in your thumbnail 😬

[@fitgearhunter]

Yikes! Hopefully not many others caught that - good job!

[@oligo2047]

nice review 😀

[@mee_9293]

Hey Fit Gear Hunter, can't wait to see your thoughts about this one! After all your experience with the new elevate 4.0 line up (especially in FR 955) do you think the older 3.0 has lower accuracy in tracking sleep, HRV and stress for the Training Radiness? Or do you make the experience that the 4.0 still perform a lot better in all this additional sleep, HRV, Stress, Body battery tracking? For Crossfit / Hit I will use a chest strap so the big gap here of the 3.0 does not matter. I Want to buy my first Garmin and right now there are big discounts on the older Fenix 6 Line Up. Again, regards from Germany and thanks for your great support! You really hit the best focus with your chanel!!

[@jacquardweave]

@Marcus, very good question, I will be waiting for the answer too. I've just found a good deal for Enduro 1 but most of the reviewers say that the UI on Enduro 1 is a little laggy due to the power efficient, slow processor.

[@jermainesmith1052]

@@jacquardweave I had an Enduro 1. The processor is slower for power. Honestly, it has the same lag as an Instinct. It’s not terrible, just noticeable. I still think it’s a good watch.

[@jacquardweave]

@@jermainesmith1052 Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope the laggy interface may have been solved via software updates, haven’t seen any complaint on Enduro forum but i’m not sure.

[@fitgearhunter]

So sorry for the delayed response! So, so sorry. And no! I have not found at the elevate 3.0 has any negative impact on body battery or health accuracy. I actually tested the body battery with two watches, one with the 3.0 and one with the four-point oh, and it came out the same. The algorithm behind both of them is the same so that's a good sign. I cannot speak to the HRV calculations but since they are taken at night I would be 99% certain that would be just as fine

[@fitgearhunter]

Now, having said that, there are all of the new metrics that are now capable of being utilized - plus any newer ones coming out over the next couple of years that will not trickle down to the F6 series or any of the other older models.

[@NickTsiotinos]

Heh - you do realise that eventually - not even a large analogue watch is going to be legible without glasses. I have a 6X with the biggest font I can find - just with the time - and I still have to squint at the thing. Glasses are now my best friend :).....

[@fitgearhunter]

I know this aging thing is total bullsh*t! Ha ha

[@fabreezethefaintinggoat5484]

Cool

[@chriscarpunky]

It’s 45 mm not 47mm

[@fitgearhunter]

Ahhh - sorry!

[@daveannandale8177]

My wife bought me it as a present, the worst Garmin I ever owned, took months for Garmin to accept it was faulty, thereby taking it outside the time for a refund, leaving a repair or replace option only.

[@RigiLiquid945]

2x is better

[@keesketsers5866]

I have it, good watch. BUT, I always want these most basic things on a watch : hours+minutes+seconds and the date. I cannot get a watchface that has all those things at the same time on this Garmin. So you have hours and minutes and a date OR hours,minutes,seconds and no date. There is also no button or setting to switch to a screen that does show you seconds or the date if the main screen doesnt show this. Ridiculous. I would not buy this again. It fails in the most basic function: timekeeping.

[@entername3840]

Its 500 dollars!!! But why? Does it go for shopping for me?does it do my house chores? Does it wash my dishes?

[@Nelo-s9i]

Guess the great thing is that you don’t need to buy it if you don’t like it :)

[@entername3840]

@@Nelo-s9i Yeah and another great thing is that I can openly express my views and dislike in comments and others doesn't have to agree with them :)

[@Nelo-s9i]

@@entername3840 very true!

[@Nelo-s9i]

Are we stating obvious things

[@kiiro712]

*Its

[@Zan-j8d]

"Gshock on steroid"

[@fitgearhunter]

Yep! Thanks!