Garmin Instinct Crossover (X-over) was released on Tuesday 8th November.
Garmin Instinct Crossover combines weeks-long battery life with office-friendly looks despite a low-resolution screen of 176x176px. It’s widely compatible with sports apps and accessories and comes with a wide range of Garmin’s wellness features including Sleep Score, Advanced Sleep Monitoring, Body Battery, and more.
It comes with many legacy Garmin features namely VO2 Max, Pulse Ox2, Fitness Age, Training Status/Load/Effect, HRV Status, and Recovery Time.
Navigational features include Multi-GPS tracking, ABC sensors and TrackBack routing to a starting point, and Reference Point, to keep track of a known place relative to their location. Its durability is good with a rating of MIL-STD-810, and WR 10 ATM (100m). GPS battery life is stated as 25 hours (31 with solar) however there are other battery modes for hiking-like activities that extend battery life to many days.
We created Instinct Crossover for active lifestyle individuals who prefer the look of a traditional watch but who are ready to tap into the functionality of a modern smartwatch [Dan Bartel, Garmin VP]
What’s new?
- Analog Watchface
- Glow-in-the dark elements to the timekeeping aspect of the wa\tchface
- Multi-System Airoha GPS chip
- Battery life is slightly increased.
- Strange truncated square display
Last Updated on 29 May 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. See the gear tfk uses. ID
Btw do you have this new Polar model scheduled for 9 november? Ignite 3 / unite 2 maybe? 😉
any rumors for new Garmin 540 maybe?
no.
i’d guess next spring
Do you think there might be an S version of the Crossover as with the Instinct 2? Thanks as always.
no, i think they will see if the concept sells first.
Any rumors about the new Vivoactive 5 ??
I agree it’s a strange omission. One would think there are people who like the idea of a cheaper, more lifestyle Fenix with a truly always on watch face. A Venu 2 with MiP screen.
not recently, there were several rumours months ago.
HI, any rumor about a Fenix 2s (small wrist) ? Thx
I guess 249$ or 269$ would be a reasonable price.