Customer reviews from Garmin
Garmin - InReach GPS with Built-In Bluetooth - Red/Black
Average customer rating
4.1
(729 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 729 reviews
5 Stars
413
4 Stars
134
3 Stars
77
2 Stars
47
1 Star
58
Customer Reviews for Garmin - InReach GPS with Built-In Bluetooth - Red/Black
Customer Rating
4
Cool Device!
on September 21, 2021
Posted by: mrtee073
I ordered my inReach Mini a week or two ago. I like the capabilities of this device, especially for safety and for use in potential emergencies.
I have had some minor issues figuring out navigation and setting my recipient(s) for preset messages. There's a bit of a learning curve to set it up and to get it running correctly. User interface on the Explore Garmin website can be a bit confusing. I am getting used to the menus and controls on the device. I had to keep going back to Explore Garmin often. I also had to watch a few video tutorials to iron out all the little issues. I think this device will be very helpful in the future.
I have had some minor issues figuring out navigation and setting my recipient(s) for preset messages. There's a bit of a learning curve to set it up and to get it running correctly. User interface on the Explore Garmin website can be a bit confusing. I am getting used to the menus and controls on the device. I had to keep going back to Explore Garmin often. I also had to watch a few video tutorials to iron out all the little issues. I think this device will be very helpful in the future.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, September 21, 2021
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
1
Difficulty setting up and not working
on September 20, 2021
Posted by: Jim E
I bought this product before a solo trip from Geneva lake to Snowmass Lake, and back. The reason was to update my family letting them know I was safe during a couple of days of solo backpacking in remote areas. I purchased the Gamin inReach Mini, with software for my iPhone. It looked as though my text messages went through when I sent them from the back country but I returned to find they did not. NO MESSAGES WERE RECEIVED.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, September 21, 2021
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
Thanks Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
4
on September 20, 2021
Posted by: Amanda D
So small and lightweight that it's easy to keep on your person via the small carabiner. Maintaining the subscription is a little expensive if you aren't often in areas without cell service, and the little costs (like messaging) can add up fast. But it's a nice little bit of extra comfort to the folks back home if you're a solo hiker heading into the backcountry.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
4
Peace of Mind
on September 19, 2021
Posted by: jakeinthewoods
My boyfriend and I hike a lot. We're usually not in complete wilderness, and not for extended periods of time. However, given the frequency with which we hike, it's nice to have the peace of mind of the inReach Mini. It's not the *easiest* to get set up, but it's not too bad.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, September 20, 2021
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Great addition to smartphone mapping
on September 18, 2021
Posted by: Nmhunter
This unit is pretty handy… an excellent way to stay in touch with the family while in the back-country. One feature that I would like to see is a new mode, similar to the XT tracking mode, except for satellite messaging: it would be neat if the whole unit could be set power off completely during the hour-long interim periods between automatic “message checking”.
All in all - glad I went with this route instead of a larger device. For my use cases this works well: Clip it and forget it.
Love the smartphone tethering capabilities.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, September 20, 2021
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
3
Very slow GPS response
on September 18, 2021
Posted by: Mountain Hiker
We bought this for an extended hike around Glacier Peak in the Glacier Peak Wilderness in Washington State. I was struck by how slow it was able to locate the GPS signal compared to the backpacking app on my cell phone. Even in clear high areas, it would state the GPS signal was poor (and also even though the message might send after only one minute). Most messages and location notifications took at least 10 or more minutes. I don't understand why the cell phone/hiking app was able to function so much better. Near the end of our trip, the weather was changing for the worse and we tried to get a weather report. After 30 minutes it still had been unable to do so and I gave up.
So those were my frustrations, which are pretty significant. Its size is great, and it did give us confidence that we could have some kind of emergency contact, although I expect communication would have been horribly slow based on the above. We also bought it so that we could notify family that we were fine and where we were; that also worked out well, and I think the family appreciated it. It seems very sturdily built.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, September 20, 2021
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
Thanks Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Great peace of mind
on September 18, 2021
Posted by: Matticus
I regularly fish 60+ miles offshore, and the InReach Mini is outstanding. It uses an app on my phone, connects to my Garmin Helm, and allows me to keep my wife updated on my location and status. It is a tremendous safety and communications device, and she lets me fish more!
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, September 20, 2021
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
excellent unit
on September 18, 2021
Posted by: Wendell
I bought this 2 years ago for a back country trip to allow for emergency rescue and contact with family to let them know our status. The inReach Mini worked great with the EarthMate app to allow convenient communication. The process is a little slower than typical cellphone texting. Battery life was reasonable and a small solar charger kept it and our phones fully charged.
Response from GarminBy Garmin , Outdoor, September 20, 2021
Thank you for your review. Jenny
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin