Customer Reviews for Garmin - InReach GPS with Built-In Bluetooth - Red/Black
Customer Rating
5
on May 25, 2022
Posted by: Anonymous
The first time I used this was on a SAR mission to find some lost hikers. We created waypoints using the GPS coordinated they were able to give via cell phone and headed cross country to their position. My InReach Mini performed just perfect and our mission was a success. The device interface4s just fine with my iPhone and I can share my track, position , etc. with the rest of the team. I also use this on backpacking trips to give my wife peace of mind that all is well with me.
This is great tech. I love that I can use my phone app to type the text and email. The battery life was great during a 6 night backpacking trip (I shut it off during the night). The smaller size saves weight. To me it is worth the extra weight for the added safety.
I bought this for a backpacking trip in southern Utah in April '22. I initially subscribed to the basic service but upgraded when I realized how few custom texts I could send with basic. I found that this unit worked well only when it had an unobstructed view of the southern sky. Unfortunately, this was often not the case when hiking in areas like Coyote Gulch and Egypt Bench. While in Coyote Gulch, for two days we were unable to get any satellite connection at all, even though we had a clear view of much of the sky. While in the Egypt Bench area, I found highly variable performance. One one day I was a able to successfully send messages from our campsite in a canyon. But the following day it would NOT connect from the same location and I had to climb about 1 mile up a steep mountainside before it would finally connect and send. I was carrying this device in case of an emergency but frankly I was underwhelmed by the limited connectivity. I no longer trust that this will summon help when I'm in remote areas unless I'm in an area with no obstructions in the southern sky, and that's fairly rare. I suspect that this isn't unique to the Mini -- it's probably true of all such communicators. But I'm still VERY disappointed that I can't rely on this to summon help in all places and situations.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, May 20, 2022
Thank you for your review and 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
Excellent little device! I used my Garmin In-reach in the Cranberry Wilderness recently in West Virginia where there was zero cell service. This awesome tool was able to contact my wife while on trail and keep her at peace knowing each time I made it to camp and started again on my journey the next day! Thankful to have such great technology.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, May 16, 2022
I’m new to backpacking. Bought the inreach not knowing there was a 2 out. Doing the Appalachian trail next year. Will need the battery of the two. Feel like I was cheated by Garmin.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, May 5, 2022
Thank you for your review and 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
We use it to communicate from our off grid cabin as there is no service in the area. Like the fact that it has pre set messages, I can keep in touch with the familia. Safety is our main communication concern. Excellent after sale service !!!!
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, May 2, 2022
I use this for backpacking and for the weight, it should have more features. ie: the Garmin watch shows your location on a little map. I do like the message sending feature. The battery does not last long and if you forget to shut it off overnight just once, it will not last 3 days.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, April 29, 2022
Thank you for your review and 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
After 8 years, my inReach SE quit working last year (2021) right before hunting season. After looking all over for a replacement I found an inReach Mini (not the new Mini 2) near me this spring. I have only tested it on one trip so far, but other than one hiccup it worked perfectly. For some reason it stopped tracking midway through the second day. It could have been me as the device I bluetooth tethered it to was also running my music over the car stereo, so until I know for sure, I will stick to 4 stars. I have a couple more trips planned where I will be using the Mini so I will be sure before I am off the road system (I am in Alaska). So far, it's about like using the older SE as I used the tethered app most often since it was easier to see the phone screen and use the buttons that way. Only real downside at the moment is I did drop it in the car and it went between the seat and the console as it's quite small. But that's a clumsy me issue. With the exception of the SOS feature I thankfully have not needed to use, everything else on the Mini seems to work as it should. Glad to have the message anywhere and tracking capability back.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, April 28, 2022