The Garmin Instinct series has always been about rugged reliability, and with the Instinct 2X Solar, Garmin took things up a notch. Bigger screen, better battery, added features like a built-in flashlight, and a solar panel that actually makes a difference—on paper, it looks like an adventurer’s dream. But does it hold up in real-world use?

Adventure isn’t just about where you go—it’s about how you get there. I’ve spent years piecing together overland rigs, finding beauty in the imperfect, the beat-up, the budget-built.