Garmin turned its affordable outdoor watch into an army-ready beast

The Instinct 3 Tactical Edition brings serious military-grade features to Garmin’s rough-and-ready smartwatch range

Garmin Instinct 3 Tactical Edition
(Image credit: Garmin)

The Garmin Instinct 3 lineup already surprised fans by offering both AMOLED and Solar models straight out of the gate, a first for this once-basic outdoor watch family.

But with the new Instinct 3 Tactical Edition, Garmin’s taken the adventure-ready DNA of the Instinct and pumped it full of mission-critical upgrades designed for the battlefield as much as the backcountry.

Available in both 45mm and 50mm solar-powered versions, as well as a 50mm AMOLED model, the Tactical Edition keeps the same core specs as the original Instinct 3.

This includes multi-band GPS, insane battery life, and rugged MIL-STD 810 construction; however, the new model adds military-focused features, such as a metal-reinforced bezel, built-in LED flashlight, and new activity profiles like rucking.

Garmin Instinct 3 Tactical Edition

(Image credit: Garmin)

Built for those who demand more than just fitness metrics, the Instinct 3 Tactical Edition includes a Night Vision Goggle mode, Stealth Mode, and a Kill Switch that wipes all data from the watch if security becomes an issue.

The new rucking activity profile (see also: what's rucking?) lets users input pack weight to better measure effort, perfect for military training, tactical athletes, or anyone prepping for a weighted challenge.

It’s also compatible with Applied Ballistics software (unlock fee required), allowing sharpshooters to pair their watch with Garmin’s dedicated ballistic app for advanced shooting calculations.

The built-in LED flashlight is now available across the board – not just on premium Garmin watches like the Garmin Fenix 8 – and offers variable brightness, a green light for preserving night vision, and a strobe mode for signalling.

Garmin Instinct 3 Tactical Edition

(Image credit: Garmin)

As with the original Instinct 3, you’ll find Garmin Coach training plans, smart notifications, and 24/7 health tracking, including HRV status, Pulse Ox, and sleep scores.

Multi-band GPS with SatIQ tech balances precision with battery life, and TracBack routing helps guide you back to safety after an off-grid expedition.

The Instinct 3 Tactical Edition goes on sale from 30 April, with the AMOLED model priced at £499.99/ $599.99/ AU$1,199 and Solar models starting at £429.99/ $499.99/ AU$1,099.

Head over to Garmin UK, Garmin US and Garmin AU for more info.

Matt Kollat
Section Editor | Active

Matt Kollat is a journalist and content creator who works for T3.com and its magazine counterpart as an Active Editor. His areas of expertise include wearables, drones, fitness equipment, nutrition and outdoor gear. He joined T3 in 2019. His byline appears in several publications, including Techradar and Fit&Well, and more. Matt also collaborated with other content creators (e.g. Garage Gym Reviews) and judged many awards, such as the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance's ESSNawards. When he isn't working out, running or cycling, you'll find him roaming the countryside and trying out new podcasting and content creation equipment.

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