Garmin Instinct 2/3 With AB - Worth It?

[LeeMaster99]

Looking at getting a Garmin Instinct 2 or 3. I'm sold on the watch, but debating on if it's worth it to spring for the tactical version. I do nothing that requires tactical features except Applied Ballistics. I'm wondering if AB on a watch is friendly enough that I might actually use that over a phone/Kestrel or if it's kind of a gimmick. Additionally, if I don't have an AB compatible rangefinding device, is the watch useless? Currently, I'm just using my phone for a ballistics solver, but if the watch is good and can do it well, it's cheaper than getting a new rangefinder.

Maybe this is all too nitty gritty and I should just get the regular version. Hopefully someone who has used AB on a watch can offer some experience.

 

[Cheston]

I’m curious too

 

[fragment]

I can't speak to the ballistics on it, but I've worn the same Instinct 1 tactical version (because I liked the OD Green one) for several years now and it still just keeps on trucking. It's a magnificent watch, the GPS is excellent, the Garmin app is solid. It gives me everything I need out of a watch without looking or acting like I glued a cell phone to my arm.

Personally, I would not spring for the AMOLED face and prefer the solar. I can go almost a month without a charge at all with the amount of time I spend outside. Plus I think it is easier to read in sun outside compared to a buddy's AMOLED. The new efficiencies in the 2 and 3 may limit the need to charge even more than that. Even when I do charge, the longest it ever spends on the charger is the 10-15 minutes I'm in the shower. A few showers and it's fully charged again.