I’m not a big product endorsement kind of guy but when you get something that works and works really well, I feel obligated to share. I’ve been using Garmin’s inReach Mini for a little over a year now and what made me realize I like it so much is the simplicity in it’s design. It’s a hugely high-tech piece of gear, relying on satellites circling the earth to send/receive messages and pinpoint your exact location, yet it’s super easy to use.
For those who are unfamiliar with satellite messaging devices here’s the lowdown. They first arrived on the scene when folks figured out it’d be great to communicate with the outside world while in the backcountry. These devices rely on two-way satellite communication not a cell signal to get messages in and out, so they’ll work anywhere in the world you just need to have a clear view of the sky. I first became interested because their main feature was an SOS beacon that basically sends the Calvary to your location (just kidding they send a rescue/medical helicopter) in the event of an emergency. While I never anticipate something terrible happening on our trips if I’m being honest between some of the older folks in our group, the fact we’re always playing with guns/knifes/broadheads, sometimes in the dark and in steep nasty country we have all the mix-ins to get ourselves into a pickle. I should also mention it’s no joke when you hit the button, they will send in the troops and if you’re not dying you’ll get stuck with a big bill for the rescue operation. If you are dying you may still get stuck with a bill depending on where you’re at and who comes to the rescue but at least you’ll be around to pay for it.
I should also mention this isn’t my first go-round with satellite communication devices. I recently retired an older SPOT device that solely sent out several preprogramed messages “hey just checking in, everything’s great.” We could get off topic here and debate if we should be sending these types of messages or not but for today, I’ll stay on-task. This older SPOT also sent out the emergency distress beacon, which is why it secured a spot in my pack to begin with.
Why I decided to upgrade was two-fold. The main reason I decided to go for the Garmin inReach over the SPOT is they sell subscription plans by the month. So, September rolls around and I’m going elk hunting, I login and get it going for the month vs. the SPOT which only sells an annual subscription. I should add that I just received a charge for $26.32 for my plans annual fee, so there is a base fee + per month of activation. However, this is still less expensive than the SPOT annual fee.
Secondly, the newer inReach Mini tethers to my smart phone allowing me to text via satellite. I don’t love that I’m relying on two devices in the backcountry but so far it has worked flawlessly and been a great asset. You can still text standalone with the mini but it’s slow and painful – if you want the ability to communicate via satellite but want to leave the phone at home, you might check out the Mini’s big brother – the Explorer+. Being able to communicate with members of your group, meat packers, air taxi’s, loved ones back home, etc. has been a huge plus to our backcountry hunts.
The good stuff:
- Long battery life. It seems most of the electronics that make their way into my pack (phone, GPS, headlamps, flashlights, etc) are always running low on juice. I’m guessing because this device has only several very distinct tasks and it does them very efficiently it uses very little battery. I’ll make sure it has a full charge before heading into the field and over a 10-day hunt won’t notice any battery drop.
- Simplicity. Some tech gear needs a full operators manual (the list keeps getting longer the older I get, ha) and then a training course to get you up to speed. This thing is just plain intuitive. Again, maybe because it doesn’t do a lot, but there isn’t a big learning curve which is refreshing. One thing I noticed, and this may seem stupid, it starts up super quiet, no loud obnoxious sounds that might scare things away. Silly little feature but much appreciated.
- Weather updates. They’re a good thing to pay attention to, we learned this the hard way many years ago in the Zirkel Wilderness – see 2006 Elk Hunt and now anytime I can get a weather update while operating in the backcountry I’d gladly take it.
If you’re currently spending much time off the beaten path and want to do everything in your power to make sure safely return to civilization, this little guy is worth looking at.
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