Customer reviews from Garmin
Garmin - InReach GPS with Built-In Bluetooth - Red/Black
Average customer rating
4.1
(717 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 717 reviews
5 Stars
411
4 Stars
133
3 Stars
74
2 Stars
45
1 Star
54
Customer Reviews for Garmin - InReach GPS with Built-In Bluetooth - Red/Black
Customer Rating
5
It works well!
on February 7, 2021
Posted by: Larissa
Works well in all the remote places I bring it!! I’m enjoying it!!
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, February 10, 2021
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Necessary Tool
on February 8, 2021
Posted by: Doc_1707
I purchased the inReach Mini two days before starting my hike on the Lost Coast Trail (LCT) in California. My permit was for Feb 1 which was at the tail end of some of the worst winter storms in the area. I was hiking solo and the need for some sort of SOS device was considered critical. Even with one, the LCT can be very dangerous.
I went with the inReach over other PLBs because of the ability to communicate with the rescue team. Rather than sending out an emergency beacon (it does that) you can also tell them exactly what is going on so they can better prepare.
Beyond that, it gives a ton of peace of mind to family and friends. I'm not a big communicator so the preset messages were all I initially needed to give starting points and stopping points; however, I chose the Freedom Expedition Plan so that I'd have as many texts and such to work out any bugs or issues. I'd read a lot of reviews saying it was difficult to set up and, given the proximity of my departure, I felt that was necessary.
It was very easy to set up. Out of the box, I turned it on, got on the Garmin website, the inReach updated, and I sent texts to a few contacts to test it out. There were no issues outside of that. I am not sure what the reviews were talking about as far as it being complicated. This is my first GPS so maybe that is considered complicated, I don't know. It worked for me, is all.
There is no reception on the LCT or even in the parking lots at either end. The inReach was able to communicate through my car and through thick storm clouds to send texts quickly. Throughout the trip, the inReach communicated fine through my tent and my pack (I kept it either in the mesh side pocket or in the top flap depending on weather). I used the Earthmate map a few times to mark exact grids but I've always been a map and compass guy so I prefer that. The app is a good fall back. Especially since printed maps are typically years old and with an ever-changing route like the LCT, a GPS map is a wise choice.
Overall, I now consider the inReach as necessary as a tent. You can do without either, but I wouldn't recommend it.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, February 10, 2021
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
2
Nice size, questionable ease of use
on February 16, 2021
Posted by: JHP01
I purchased the inReach(R) Mini to se while out on adventure rides (motorcycle) and mountain biking. I thought the setup process was a bit long and convoluted. Not a very user friendly experience. Why does the device need to be hooked up to a computer? I felt tis defeats the purpose of a single device to communicate.
My first test message appears to have been a total bust. I now need to go back into the wilds (an area with no cell reception) to test the Preset 1 message function. I sent the message from the inReach using the on-screen prompts. Turns out my contact never got that message. They did get a message when I forwarded my copy from my phone.
This is not an acceptable approach to wilderness communication. It seems you need to keep your phone handy so you can communicate with the inReach. Totally defeats the purpose.
Then to make matters worse - when we were 38 miles into our off-road motorcycle ride and I tried to pull up the map function - NOTHING! No map. Just coordinates. Fat lot of good that does. Thankfully we knew where we were and this was just a test run. Apparently even though the map for California was loaded at my home once I got into the wilderness Garmin (or Apple) decided the map should be in the cloud and no longer accessible on my device.
I do plan to keep the inReach Mini and invest more time in trying to figure it out.
Would be nice to be able to READ preset messages before sending. I knew PS1 was a safe message. My PS2 was about running late and PS3 come pick me up. As I build out more preset messages I will either need to bring a 3x5 card with all messages written down or find another mechanism to read the message before it is sent.
And again - using SEND directly from the inReach did not work.
I also sent a map location to my wife. Fortunately she saved it for me to view. USELESS!!!
Not a map at all. Just the coordinates. What is she supposed to do with that?
This is a very frustrating device and the application is of questionable use.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, February 17, 2021
Thank you for your review and your experience with the inReach Mini. We would like to discuss this further over email. If you would please email us at product.support@garmin.com.
Thanks Jenny
Thanks Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Great Features
on February 16, 2021
Posted by: UltrarunnerFelly
My husband surprised me with this since I do a lot of trail running in areas without cell phone service. This will give us both peace of mind while I’m out running.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, February 17, 2021
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Simple and Useful
on February 23, 2021
Posted by: Tom Irvine
I've only had this a few days, trying it out on short hikes near home. I don't have a smartphone. I can say that it was easy to set up and use. I mainly bought it for some peace-of-mind for my wife while I'm off on solo adventures, but it has a few useful functions that can be appreciated on an everyday hike. It can give you a simple weather forecast, tell you your coordinates & how far you have travelled, and provide you with an on-line map of your whereabouts and route, which can be seen by your chosen contacts (or yourself when you get back home).
It is a comfort to know that I will have this resource along when I am in more remote settings where small accidents can be a big deal.
It is a comfort to know that I will have this resource along when I am in more remote settings where small accidents can be a big deal.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, February 26, 2021
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
1
Hard to figure out how to use it.
on February 25, 2021
Posted by: Russell
I keep looking at videos and still can’t figure out how to have friends and family follow me.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, February 26, 2021
Thank you for your review and your experience with the inReach Mini. We would like to discuss this further over email. If you would please email us at product.support@garmin.com.
Thanks Jenny
Thanks Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Amazing product
on March 3, 2021
Posted by: Anonymous
I bought the unit to support my daughter's journey to Nepal and the high mountains.
We kept track of her voyage throughout her trip. We communicated with her on a daily basis. After her safe return I'm using yhe tracker in my sailing yacht. It's simple to operate and easy to carry around. It's a majestic piece of art.
We kept track of her voyage throughout her trip. We communicated with her on a daily basis. After her safe return I'm using yhe tracker in my sailing yacht. It's simple to operate and easy to carry around. It's a majestic piece of art.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, March 3, 2021
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Love this inReach model
on March 4, 2021
Posted by: BumbleBee7una
I chose to get the inReach Mini because I already have the Garmin GPSMap 66S with Birdseye imagery and have no need for the higher end mapping capable inReach models. It takes a while to send and receive messages, and so far only once has my wife NOT received my messages. I would do a 4.5 star review but couldn’t, just because of the mishap texts. But I do LOVE using the Earthmate app for everything. So much better than tapping and tapping buttons to get one letter. it’s such a convenience to use what your normally used to (your own personal phone) to do the texting, configurations, and just about everything else. Oh! I also have been able to use my GPSMap 66S with the mini with the ANT+ feature. LOVING it so far
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, March 9, 2021
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin