Garmin Instinct 3

Love G-Shock vibes but need smart features? This is the adventure watch for you

The Instinct is back! Well, it never went away, but just like the flagship Garmin Fenix 8, it’s undergone some profound changes (like adding an AMOLED screen and a built-in flashlight), which makes it feel like a significant milestone.

The third iteration retains the look and feel of the Instinct series. It has a rugged, 'bolted' design and a metal-reinforced bezel. The case is reinforced polymer built to MIL-STD 810 for thermal and shock resistance and is water-rated to 100 metres. The bezel is the same fibre-reinforced polymer combined with some aluminium accents.

The strap is still fixed like it used to be, giving the Instinct 3 a G-Shock-esque feel. The benefit of a non-hinged strap is that it’s less likely to break; moving parts are always the weakest point of any watch. The buckle and the fastening loops on the band are hard-wearing rubber.