The plan was simple enough. Pack light, grab a rod, toss a few sandwiches in the bag, and ride out with my son for one night under the stars. It sounded good on paper. But by the time Friday showed up, life was already off balance — work wasn’t done, gear wasn’t packed, dinner hadn’t been figured out.

The sensible thing would’ve been to stay home. Catch up. Try again next weekend.

But there he was, helmet in hand, standing by his bike with that look — the kind that says he’s already halfway gone. So we went. No ceremony, no second guesses. Just a father, a son, and a quiet promise that some things matter more than being caught up.

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?

Every journey has a lesson, and when I’m not in the thick of adventure, I turn to others for inspiration, knowledge, and motivation. Our niche community of like-minded adventure seekers who each bring a unique flavor to their sport or activity.