This is older but a quick tip for the focus distance issue with your nvg's- you can either manually focus your nvg's, or if you put scope caps with a pinhole punched in the center to the objective lenses it will increase the focal plane (while letting in less light, so YMMV) and allow you to see things closer to your face without having to mess with the focus rings. You can also do this with the bikini strap covers most NVG's come with when issued/purchased.
I have the solar instinct, one, and use it for about three years, and I absolutely love it! I will probably upgrade on the next. Series set comes out for sure. Are use this when I go hiking and camping/hiking with the Matt on it. I can always backtrack my steps and get back on the main trail or find my launch point. The navigation on this is very good, in my opinion, and granite is very limited. Got lost once while on a hiking trail easily found my way back to the starting point.
Had it for 3 years and have put it through everything from hikes to high altitude, low opening jumps to diving in the north Atlantic. Watch can take one hell of a beating.
I’ve left this on my bag when travelling in the sun and back to 100% battery through solar alone. I don’t use HR or step count…doesn’t really matter to me but the numerous timers I can use at the same time and screen legibility is amazing!
Thank you for this review. I currently have this watch and got it strictly for military use and have thought about upgrading to the Charlie or Delta. Still on the fence yet. Thanks again for reminding me of the smoke features it has.
Question about the Night mode that I haven't seen anybody answer. My buddy wore an apple watch out one time and we realized we could what was basically an IR strobe on his wrist. It was the HR monitor function. Does night mode turn this off so that I would not have a blinking wrist? Or at least a way to turn it off manually?
I have the regular solar instinct. Even at 20% brightness, it does not wash out the NVGs and won’t ruin your eyes night vision. I really don’t think the tactical version is necessary.
I use it as a quick setting to ensure the watch face won't light myself up. Never tried to use it under nods after finding out they won't focus close enough.
@@lukegabriel8106 my job doesn’t really require me to worry about being illuminated, but I need to make sure any light source doesn’t wash out my nods or affect anyone around me. It does a great job at that!
I'm going to have to get this watch. I'm not in the Military, but I am married and wars break out all the time and I am sure I will be on Many, Many Tours or maybe Touring for the rest of my life?
Thanks for the review on this watch. I've been eyeballing it and afterwards checked out the Instinct 2, but that's a fair more amount of coin. My biggest concern is the glass. I've got a Casio Pro-trek PRG-300CM solar model that I've had for years and it has been abused (like all watches I've owned) and it's got pretty good glass. My Garmin vivoactive hr (90 yrs old or so) finally died and I want one to track my rucks. Thinking of the GB challenge in Feb. Anyway, I appreciate the time you took and the BLUF approach. Also PVS-30's?? I'm still using a PVS-14 g3 but one of these days I'm going WP, but I don't know I'll ever go the binos route.
I wish I got the Tatical version, I had a Mudmaster carbon and I have a huge habit of looking at the time it's pretty excessive , I had my old gray mock neck PT shirt under a hoodie a couple days ago , I looked down and my battery light was flashing..I have a tendency with G Shock because of the Huge buttons to hit certain modes and it drained my battery..so I went with the Instinct solar 2 basically because theirs nothing here but a best buy , actually so far Plesently surprised
The phone helps, but not necessary. You can plot and map on the watch itself. It has a dedicated GPS button. If you don't have your phone on you, the watch will auto sinc your GPS data next time it connects to it.
I’m planning to join the Military and I was wondering if I could use that kind of watch when I go in like the Navy because I wanna be a Navy SEAL so would this watch be okay to wear
I believe Tide and Surf info is only available on the Instinct Surf edition. Sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset is available on this one, the Tactical edition.
Luke Gabriel @lukegabriel8106 It's been a year and you still can't see your watch? You're so knowledgeable, it's surprising you missed this easy one. Put a shutter cap over your 31 lens. At the expense of a darker image, you will see near (your watch) and mid range ~50-75 it depends.. You can make or buy one or a set. I don't want to recommend mattbutts because they're racists. You can also dump your 31 for 1531 that have 25cm mfd so a bit less than 10 inches. Researching to find the best watch to wear that is night vision compatible. At about $6000 the Breitling Chronospace Military is pretty expensive that holds some resale value! The tactix® 7 - Pro Ballistics Edition is $1600 for a plastic watch with little resale value as tech improves and no touch screen! So what's left? I'm surprised that many of the marketed cool-guy popular tactical "dive" watches and Casio are not NVG compliant. Someone should review all the NVG compliant tac watches. Something with a user changeable CR2032 battery, solar and atomic clock that can go "stealth mode" would be nice to set it and forget it. The next point many miss is, that some of the more expensive "Luxury" cool guy tactical watches require that the user send the watch back for servicing just to switch out batteries, because the watch will lose its pressure rating seal and need to be sealed properly again! Why can't these idiots make a watch where the user can change batteries, like on optics, lasers, etc., where these units don't lose their pressure seal and do not require factory service? Do you send your optics, red dots and lasers back for servicing each time you switch out batteries for new ones? Watches should meet this minimum expectation. Some of us like to switch out batteries for new ones, every time we go out! I don't care if the factory states a battery will last 500 hours to 7 years, we like to switch them out every time we go out! A "tactical mil watch" should meet this minimum requirement for my use!
Blue lume watches seem to do okay if they haven’t been exposed to light for a while. My Garmin Tactix 7 pro is what I’m using most of the time. It works pretty well, but have to turn the gain down sometimes. Lume is always glowing, so it’s an issue the Garmin doesn’t have. Wish Casio would do a g shock squared that was NV compatible. Also, you’re dead on recommending adjustable iris. Perfect for map reading too.
1997-2006 Marine infantryman.....Gshocks dominated my days. I was curious of active duty use. Thank's brotha. Stay safe
This is older but a quick tip for the focus distance issue with your nvg's- you can either manually focus your nvg's, or if you put scope caps with a pinhole punched in the center to the objective lenses it will increase the focal plane (while letting in less light, so YMMV) and allow you to see things closer to your face without having to mess with the focus rings. You can also do this with the bikini strap covers most NVG's come with when issued/purchased.
I have the solar instinct, one, and use it for about three years, and I absolutely love it! I will probably upgrade on the next. Series set comes out for sure. Are use this when I go hiking and camping/hiking with the Matt on it. I can always backtrack my steps and get back on the main trail or find my launch point. The navigation on this is very good, in my opinion, and granite is very limited. Got lost once while on a hiking trail easily found my way back to the starting point.
Just got mine in moss. Loving it so far
I cant believe from a military standpoint you didnt do the review on the gps and trekking
Had it for 3 years and have put it through everything from hikes to high altitude, low opening jumps to diving in the north Atlantic. Watch can take one hell of a beating.
Great review, thank you! Right on schedule, with the Instinct 2 now
I’ve left this on my bag when travelling in the sun and back to 100% battery through solar alone. I don’t use HR or step count…doesn’t really matter to me but the numerous timers I can use at the same time and screen legibility is amazing!
Thank you for this review. I currently have this watch and got it strictly for military use and have thought about upgrading to the Charlie or Delta. Still on the fence yet. Thanks again for reminding me of the smoke features it has.
Tactix 7 pro
@@Nicolaione to big and lack battery stamina
Question about the Night mode that I haven't seen anybody answer. My buddy wore an apple watch out one time and we realized we could what was basically an IR strobe on his wrist. It was the HR monitor function. Does night mode turn this off so that I would not have a blinking wrist? Or at least a way to turn it off manually?
Can read with additional iris installed
The instinct actually is allowed in SCIFs, but I'd still recommend checking with your specific SCIF
I have the regular solar instinct. Even at 20% brightness, it does not wash out the NVGs and won’t ruin your eyes night vision. I really don’t think the tactical version is necessary.
I use it as a quick setting to ensure the watch face won't light myself up. Never tried to use it under nods after finding out they won't focus close enough.
@@lukegabriel8106 my job doesn’t really require me to worry about being illuminated, but I need to make sure any light source doesn’t wash out my nods or affect anyone around me. It does a great job at that!
I'm going to have to get this watch.
I'm not in the Military, but I am married and wars break out all the time and I am sure I will be on Many, Many Tours or maybe Touring for the rest of my life?
Confused..Is it instinct or instinct 2?
Thanks for the review on this watch. I've been eyeballing it and afterwards checked out the Instinct 2, but that's a fair more amount of coin. My biggest concern is the glass. I've got a Casio Pro-trek PRG-300CM solar model that I've had for years and it has been abused (like all watches I've owned) and it's got pretty good glass. My Garmin vivoactive hr (90 yrs old or so) finally died and I want one to track my rucks. Thinking of the GB challenge in Feb. Anyway, I appreciate the time you took and the BLUF approach. Also PVS-30's?? I'm still using a PVS-14 g3 but one of these days I'm going WP, but I don't know I'll ever go the binos route.
I wish I got the Tatical version, I had a Mudmaster carbon and I have a huge habit of looking at the time it's pretty excessive , I had my old gray mock neck PT shirt under a hoodie a couple days ago , I looked down and my battery light was flashing..I have a tendency with G Shock because of the Huge buttons to hit certain modes and it drained my battery..so I went with the Instinct solar 2 basically because theirs nothing here but a best buy , actually so far Plesently surprised
Hi there! How's the instinct holding up? Still durable enough for you?
I have question?
It's working under the water?
It is water resistant to 100m so yeh it has no problem working underwater under normal swimming conditions.
I can't decide if I want this or the bravo
Hey man thinking about buy this watch. I’m just curious on how to plot 8/10 digit grid. Do you need your phone?
The phone helps, but not necessary. You can plot and map on the watch itself. It has a dedicated GPS button. If you don't have your phone on you, the watch will auto sinc your GPS data next time it connects to it.
Thanks for WATCHING .... bars :D
Better a fenix7 delta? Thnks
Preciate the video.
Instinct or Rangeman G-shock?
Instinct easily. More features. MGRS system.
Rangeman
Nice review.
I’m planning to join the Military and I was wondering if I could use that kind of watch when I go in like the Navy because I wanna be a Navy SEAL so would this watch be okay to wear
Most initial training in the military restricts what devices and gear you can have on you.
You should ask your recruiters office.
Buy a solar power bank and use that to help charge the watch and to save the money
Man, thats a hell of an idea 😱
Ur a genius!
A power bank works unless your trying to save weight
Can you add tide and sunrise/set information to the watch?
I believe Tide and Surf info is only available on the Instinct Surf edition. Sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset is available on this one, the Tactical edition.
The Tactix line gets tide and surf.
Is this the second one ?
This is the 2nd generation, where they added solar charging. I believe the 3rd generation was just released with the optional screen sizes
My PVS-31D’s can see it :)
i rather get a rangeman nav gshock
Luke Gabriel @lukegabriel8106
It's been a year and you still can't see your watch? You're so knowledgeable, it's surprising you missed this easy one.
Put a shutter cap over your 31 lens. At the expense of a darker image, you will see near (your watch) and mid range ~50-75 it depends..
You can make or buy one or a set. I don't want to recommend mattbutts because they're racists.
You can also dump your 31 for 1531 that have 25cm mfd so a bit less than 10 inches.
Researching to find the best watch to wear that is night vision compatible.
At about $6000 the Breitling Chronospace Military is pretty expensive that holds some resale value! The tactix® 7 - Pro Ballistics Edition is $1600 for a plastic watch with little resale value as tech improves and no touch screen! So what's left?
I'm surprised that many of the marketed cool-guy popular tactical "dive" watches and Casio are not NVG compliant. Someone should review all the NVG compliant tac watches. Something with a user changeable CR2032 battery, solar and atomic clock that can go "stealth mode" would be nice to set it and forget it.
The next point many miss is, that some of the more expensive "Luxury" cool guy tactical watches require that the user send the watch back for servicing just to switch out batteries, because the watch will lose its pressure rating seal and need to be sealed properly again!
Why can't these idiots make a watch where the user can change batteries, like on optics, lasers, etc., where these units don't lose their pressure seal and do not require factory service?
Do you send your optics, red dots and lasers back for servicing each time you switch out batteries for new ones? Watches should meet this minimum expectation. Some of us like to switch out batteries for new ones, every time we go out! I don't care if the factory states a battery will last 500 hours to 7 years, we like to switch them out every time we go out! A "tactical mil watch" should meet this minimum requirement for my use!
Blue lume watches seem to do okay if they haven’t been exposed to light for a while. My Garmin Tactix 7 pro is what I’m using most of the time. It works pretty well, but have to turn the gain down sometimes. Lume is always glowing, so it’s an issue the Garmin doesn’t have. Wish Casio would do a g shock squared that was NV compatible. Also, you’re dead on recommending adjustable iris. Perfect for map reading too.