Customer Reviews for Garmin - InReach GPS with Built-In Bluetooth - Red/Black
Customer Rating
5
It just works
on August 3, 2019
Posted by: dndx
The communicator just works. Sending message is quick and easy and menu is simple and intuitive to navigate. The free preset message are great features to let people know you are doing great. Overall, I highly recommend this product if you find yourself in places with limited cellular coverage.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, August 5, 2019
I just purchased this inReach and so far everything seems to be working great. All my messages have gone through without an dropped calls. Taking it a week long trip on th PCT and looking forward to see if all messages go through.
GPS location is pretty quick, messages also get out quickly, much better than the SPOt Gen3. Acknowlegment of messages sent and two-way capabliltiy also very reassuring. Web page (particularly Quick Messages) is awful, but after a couple hours I managed to get my messages installed. Otherwise, 5-star.
I bought the gamin mini several months ago and just used it for the first time several weeks ago on the JMT. I am very pleased with the size and it's capabilities. especially paired with my cell phone. The mini took the place of my satellite phone. With a rechargeable battery,cell phone and the mini, the weight came out to be the same as the satellite phone.
I'm struggling to learn how to use it. Instruction materials are not always consistent. I do love the size, and the ability for two way communication while in the back country.
Response from GarminBy Chris, Garmin, July 26, 2019
If you would like some very detailed information and setup instructions please visit our support center : https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?productID=592606&tab=topics
The mini seems like a well built device and is working as intended. The online application and mobile app need some improving as far as the MapShare is concerned. Also, the mobile app doesn't have the ability to send the "Preset Messages" via the Mini... which is annoying.
I bought the inReach Mini last week and so far having mixed experience using it. The GPS signal at my house is non-existant and I live Los Angeles which should have full coverage. It took over an hour to sent my first message and I was driving down Figueroa holding the unit out the window. The software is not super intutive and I don't like that you have to access the plan through a website and then use apps to access the unit via bluetooth or USB cable. So I have two Garmin devices now and need 3 (Express, Earthmate, Connect) apps to access them and go online (https://us0.inreach.garmin.com/) to add messages etc. Can't it just be a single app?
I will take it up into the Angeles National Forest next week to see how it does there. Fingers crossed.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Outdoor, July 22, 2019
Thank you for your review and your experience with the inReach Mini. We would like to discuss this further over email. If you could please email us at product.support@garmin.com. Thanks Jenny
I decided several days ago that I would go hike the 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine. All was going well up until about 45 miles into it, and I started getting cramps, and fatigue. Then I got hungry and tried to eat and I couldn't keep any food down. Then I started having other unpleasant issues, but long story short I sent an SOS and passed out of exhaustion. When I woke up I was safe no longer in the wilderness, and some how alive... all thanks to the Garmin InReach MINI. I highly reccomend this if you ever do anything risky! You never know when illness can occur, and if it happens at the worst time you will want this device nearby.