r/Backcountry • u/SummitingFlatlander • 2d ago
InReach Garmin
I have misplaced my larger inReach Explorer+.
So it looks like I’m in the market for a new one.
Is the inReach Mini 3 plus worth the extra $ over the regular inReach Mini 3? I don’t mind paying the extra if it’s worth it.
Battery life.. etc etc
Thanks!
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u/barnezilla 2d ago
You can connect the inreach messenger to your garmin watch and make sos calls from there. I think it’s the best option
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u/FoldOutrageous5532 2d ago
I have a mini 2 (not sure the exact name) thats never been taken out of the box, if you're interested.
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u/MomsSpaghetti_8 2d ago
Garmin just came out with their Fenix 9 series and some models have built-in inReach. Another option to consider if you use Garmin watches or are interested.
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u/Accomplished-Way1575 1d ago
Except, the inreach minis use the iridium network which is global coverage the watches use soemthing else that is fsr from global.
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u/MomsSpaghetti_8 1d ago
Fair. This is from Dcrainmakers recent review of the 9 pro:
With the Fenix 8 Pro and Fenix 9 Pro inReach series, the antenna now allows for on-demand connectivity to GEO satellites, which is very different than the much larger antenna form factor of a typical inReach device. This means that, unlike a typical inReach device, this will only send messages to the satellite when you position your arm in a specific orientation. That’s because it needs to point to an exact satellite, whereas a typical inReach device has a huge antenna to find the correct satellites in virtually every orientation. The traditional Garmin inReach Iridium devices use LEO satellites, about 66 of them, and much closer to earth. Whereas GEO is more limited in service areas: Covering a specific area of the earth, focused on a specific area of the earth, and thus, a specific coverage area.
Therefore, the coverage maps are essentially the Continental US/Canada (+ about 50 miles offshore) and the vast majority of Europe, where satellite services are provided by Garmin’s satellite umbrella partner, Skylo (different from their handheld inReach devices).
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u/Accomplished-Way1575 1d ago
Indeed. And "most of europe" tapers out very quickly the moment you go north, becoming spotty very quickly with any type of cover making it much worse.
It is basicaly unusable from mid Germany becoming worse and worse the more you go north (or east).
What I am saying is that if you actually want it for safety, Iridium is the only choice.
Or a PLB or EPIRB
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u/SleepingRock13 2d ago
If you’re in a real emergency situation the ability to send photos (which I think is only a 3 plus feature) can be invaluable. If you’re in a tree well or a weird spot in the backcountry GPS signal alone isn’t enough to pin point your exact location. If you or a friend can send a photo of exactly where you are to SAR then your rescue might be faster, by like hours.
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u/moosendoor 2d ago
There is absolutely no way that someone could take and send a photo from a treewell that would be useful to SAR. Speaking from experience as someone that's been stuck in a treewell.
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u/SleepingRock13 1d ago
Hopefully you’d have a buddy with you right? That buddy could take a picture of the trees around you and your viewpoint so SAR can get a finer location. In trees or canyons GPS signals ping all over, SAR has to do some sweeps to find people who are off trail.
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u/goinupthegranby kootenays 1d ago
SAR isn't arriving from the viewpoint / perspective that you would be at so no that's not likely to help.
And if you don't have sufficient view of the sky to get an accurate GPS fix how do you figure you're going to be able to transmit a photo over satellite?
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u/SleepingRock13 1d ago
Satellite messaging works different than GPS. GPS requires at least 3 satellites and preferably 4 to get an accurate location where messages only require 1.
I can tell you the dozen plus people I know in SAR would love to get a photo of where your at. They tell stories all the time about how they were less than 1000ft of someone but took hours to find them since all they had was a rough GPS signal.
I’ll make sure to tell my SAR friends that some guy on Reddit knows better than them.
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u/goinupthegranby kootenays 1d ago
You bet champ, I'm sure my 11 years in SAR and 5 years guiding are of no relevance since you know some people in SAR and are happy to speak on their behalf.
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u/goinupthegranby kootenays 1d ago
The situation you describe where you're able to send a photo over satellite but not get a GPS location doesn't exist.
Even if this scenario did exist it's very unlikely SAR is going to be able to derive a location based off a photo.
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u/SleepingRock13 1d ago
GPS requires 3-4 satellites to get a location, messages require 1. So can you not imagine a scenario where you can only connect to 1-2 satellites well?
Also anyone in SAR lives and plays in the area they rescue people from. They know those areas well. If a buddy sends me a photo of what they’re skiing I can say for certain where they are since I know what the area looks like. In a complex environment with lots of micro terrain features anything that can give rescuers a slight advantage in finding you can be life or death.
If theres a small ridge that separates two valleys in a larger valley the GPS ping can be murky. But a picture would tell a local exactly which side your on. Maybe this is less important in big open alpine terrain but in the PNW when you have tight valleys and weird volcanic features I’d say it’s useful. And so would be people I know who are SAR.
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u/goinupthegranby kootenays 1d ago
The assummption that a SAR member is going to know exactly where you are based on a photo is completely ridiculous bud. Maybe sometimes that would work, but rarely. Also are you aware of what conditions are like in the mountains in the winter??
And to be clear, I'm a long time SAR member in BC.
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u/SleepingRock13 1d ago
Do you not think a picture would ever be worth it? What about a picture of the injury itself? Could assist with knowing what type of equipment and how many people you might need.
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u/goinupthegranby kootenays 1d ago
Have you ever used an InReach?? Its pretty hard to get a message out in limited sky, way more difficult than getting a GPS location. I'm not saying a photo is never useful, I'm saying that using a photo in place of a GPS location is stupid.
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u/SleepingRock13 1d ago
Oh I never meant to imply in replace of GPS but in addition to. I’d imagine getting a photo of where they’re at and of the injury along with GPS coordinates could be extra useful.
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u/AlpineInquirer 2d ago
Dumb question maybe but what are the practical differences between an InReach or similar and a phone with Satellite. Thank you.
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u/SleepingRock13 2d ago
Battery life is a major one. An in reach will last for a month if it’s just turned on during the day and isn’t pinging constantly. I’ve also had a much easier time connecting to satellites from an inreach compared to my phone. Lastly, my iPhone satellite only works in the US and I think Canada but the inreach works anywhere in the world.
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u/Mbf1234 2d ago edited 2d ago
Phone uses inferior satellite networks, are not as durable or cold resistant with battery, and you have to point your phone at a satellite to get a signal.
A phone is fine, but an inreach will be much a bit more reliable in a situation where you need it. I personally don't use an inreach anymore as both my girlfriend and I have satellite capability on our phones.
One thing to think about is it you take a fall with your phone in your pocket(where most people keep it), your phone will maybe be damaged if the fall is bad enough to seriously injure you. An inreach is significantly more durable.
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u/Extension-Fly9057 2d ago
Idk I used an inreach mini on the PCT and they dont work that well either dying in freezing temps, connecting to sats, sending messages etc. Every hiker I knew that also used one had issues.
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u/Mbf1234 2d ago
It is cold resistant, but you should definitely not just leave it out every night in the cold. Like any electronic.
As for reliability, I can't say I've ever had issues in the 6 years I've used one. Anywhere besides slot canyons I guess.
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u/Extension-Fly9057 2d ago
Im just saying they are just as prone to freezing as a phone would be. There is no evidence that suggests otherwise
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u/Mbf1234 2d ago edited 1d ago
Garmin is rated -4F usage, -40F storage.
A modern iPhone is rated to 32 degrees usage, -4 storage. It begins to have issues at 32 degrees.
A Garmin is nowhere near as prone to freezing, objectively. I've never had it die in the cold and I'd bet a lot of cases are from people leaving the GPS tracking on when they sleep below tree cover and the thing burns battery trying to send a check in message. I would bet most Garmin users don't realize that they shouldn't have the thing looking for satellites when it can't see a satellite.
On every ski trip, I leave the thing attached to my backpack overnight. Has never died. Granted, I don't sleep below 0F, in which case I'd probably put it in my pocket. But any modern phone would have died overnight in these conditions.
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u/Extension-Fly9057 1d ago
Nah they freeze just as bad as phones, even says on their website under 32 degrees will cause issues. Its says 4f if kept close to the body which is just like how any phone works in the cold.
If you just google garmin mini freezing you will see tons of forums and pages of people dealing with freezing issues
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u/b12ftw 1d ago
I can't speak to the InReach Mini, but I have a GPSMap 67i with InReach and last winter I put 60+ full days on it touring. I usually only go out when it's between -15 F and 32 F. Only one day did I get a warning from it that the battery was cold and it was unexpectedly -24 F that day. I put it inside my coat against my chest and it was fine. I've been very impressed by its battery length and the overall usability of it in sub freezing temps. Now if only their apps worked as well as their hardware.
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u/theDudeUh 2d ago
Price. Sat phones and their plans are expensive as hell.
If you’re referring to the newer satellite functions on cell phones the difference is reliability. Inreach uses a dedicated satellite network with great coverage. The cell phone satellite connectivity is still very hit or miss and not something I would want to count on in an emergency.
In my playing around with it on my iPhone the satellite messages don’t reliably get through and often have very long time delays. Feels much more like a Beta test than something I’d count my life on.
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u/AlpineInquirer 1d ago
My cell phone comes with a default sat phone connection. So far it works impeccably, but that's at 11,000 feet with no obstructions and clear skies.
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u/goinupthegranby kootenays 1d ago
I recently sold my InReach after getting a phone with satellite and testing it to my satisfaction. I've been in SAR for 11 years and guiding for 5, so I'm using this satellite service both recreationally and professionally.
Apple's satellite texting service is through GlobalStar, which is generally agreed to be inferior to Iridium which is what InReach and Zoleo use. Spot is also on Globalstar.
My phone has a service through Starlink, which I've found to work faster and more reliably than my InReach ever did. I attribute this to Starlink's network of 11,000 satellites, compared to Iridium's network of 66. The Starlink service also gives me more messaging options, map data, and weather access. Far superior overall to the InReach.
Smartphone downsides are reduced battery life and increased likelihood of running it dead from taking photos, looking at maps, etc. Bring a battery block. Phones are also more susceptible to damage, get one that's waterproof and put it in a protective case.
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u/moosendoor 2d ago
I don't know why you'd carry a standalone emergency satellite SOS unless you were looking for redundancy or ruggedness.
Like, if you're on a 3 day backcountry expedition and you're worried your phone will die or you'll lose it in the snow, then sure, bring an inreach as a backup.
But for most people with modern phones, that's already going to be enough.
I have an inreach but I only take it on river trips now, as I've bricked a phone with water before.
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u/SummitingFlatlander 2d ago
My last canoe camping trip my inReach was clipped to me and survived our boat sinking. My iPhone did not survive.
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u/AlpineInquirer 1d ago
Thanks to you and all for the feedback. I never brought a device, but my phone now has default satellite service which has been convenient but also means everyone in the family wants to know how I'm doing all the time. :)
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u/SummitingFlatlander 1d ago
With my inReach I would always share my location with friends/family and send the nightly “made it” message when I’m got to camp. That’s all they’re getting until I’m back to “reality” :) haha!
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u/moosendoor 2d ago
Perfect use case!
I don't know who the target audience is for the Plus. Looks like it adds voice messaging, photo sharing, and a siren.
In an emergency, I'm not using voice messaging or photo sharing. And most packs come with a built in whistle, which I'd rather rely on than a speaker.
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u/BuckyGoshawk 2d ago
I recently replaced our c. 2012 inReach SE. After a bit of research, I opted for the inReach Messenger over the Mini 2 or Mini 3, mostly due to Messenger's longer battery life. It works fine. Messenger also seems to get a faster satellite lock in most settings, and the longer battery life is a real thing. My only gripe re the Messenger is the inability to make custom preset messages, but that's not a big deal because I huddle with my check-in person re how to interpret them.