Customer reviews from Garmin
Garmin - inReach Messenger 1.08" GPS with Built-In Bluetooth - Black
Average customer rating
4.3
(255 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 255 reviews
5 Stars
160
4 Stars
50
3 Stars
20
2 Stars
15
1 Star
10
Customer Reviews for Garmin - inReach Messenger 1.08" GPS with Built-In Bluetooth - Black
Customer Rating
5
love it!
on September 23, 2023
Posted by: Chelseaco
I bought this 3 weeks ago for elk hunting (sometimes solo) at high altitude in the Colorado mountains. It has all the features I need in a device like this, messaging, ability to send my location, and SOS of course (and other features I don’t really use). It was an obvious choice for me over the mini 2 with the longer battery time, upgraded antenna and lower price. It has worked great so far for messaging.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Garmin, September 26, 2023
Thank you for your review.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Wish I bought this 10 years ago
on September 23, 2023
Posted by: shmeecor
Makes me
Feel so much more secure on the trail as a woman. Definitely 10000% worth it!
Feel so much more secure on the trail as a woman. Definitely 10000% worth it!
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Garmin, September 26, 2023
Thank you for your review.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Works great and is really small and light!
on September 20, 2023
Posted by: Dylan A
from Livermore Falls, ME, US
It does exactly what it is advertised to do! Ot pairs with my Fenix 7x Saphire. My only complaint is that the messaging plans should be much cheaper, but I knew that before I bought it, and I still pay for the plans!
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Provides Peace of Mind
on September 20, 2023
Posted by: SloMo
After researching available options, I bought the Messenger for an off-grid trip in northern Maine. I subscribed to the Freedom Safety Plan and purchased SAR insurance. The unit was easy to set up and test and worked seamlessly when utilizing either cell or satellite connections. The audio signal it emits upon sending and receiving messages was a welcome confirmation that I was in contact with my family, letting them know that all was well.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Garmin, September 21, 2023
Thank you for your review.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Great & Lightweight
on September 20, 2023
Posted by: r0se
We ended up selling our Garmin Explorer+ so we could buy this more lightweight option. I don’t really need the Mini 2 features like the map & stuff. I really just wanted something for SOS and sending messages to friends/family while backpacking, hiking, climbing, etc. I feel like this was a great choice for what we need!
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Garmin, September 20, 2023
Thank you for your review.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
InReach Messenger works great!
on September 20, 2023
Posted by: Anonymous
Bought InReach Messenger August 2023 to use flying and remote hikes. I have used it in house, car, airplane, and pocket. It transmits without issue even in my pocket with multiple layers of clothes over top. Orientation of unit doesn't seem to matter either... sideways, upside down, whatever. In sub freezing temps or flying I keep it in my pocket. Above freezing it lives in my backpack pocket, just stuff it in a side pocket and no issues. Screen on unit works well for starting tracking without turning on phone. The tracking feature allows me to deviate from my flight plan and not worry. On a borrowed InReach Mini battery would go down 10% a day for my use. The messenger seems to be about 3% a day for my use. Very happy with battery life.
Minor negatives that i've noticed so far are that if the unit is on and then you turn your phone on you have to turn messenger off and on again to get phone to connect. Also the texts remaining is not accurate when on satellite system. Also cannot upgrade to unlimited texts while on satellite system.
Overall I love it. Texting is prompt. Wife is able to pull up map and see exactly where i'm at... no more trying to interpret maps and notes.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
5
Performed flawlessly
on September 19, 2023
Posted by: JimO
Just purchased my inReach Messenger before a seven day float trip down the Main Salmon in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Started out by charging it to 100% about four days before I left and turning it off. When I turned it on the first night, the battery had dropped (while turned off) to 92%. This concerned me a lot, but over the course of the next seven days, using it morning and night to check the weather (and send about a dozen or so texts total), the battery only dropped down to 82%. Odd that it lost so much charge while turned off, but using it seemed to support the battery life claim.
Meanwhile, the unit had no problem finding satellites, even in some deep parts of the river canyon. Messages sent and received without any problems. And the companion app on the phone made it all super easy and painless. Very happy with this device!
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Garmin, September 20, 2023
Thank you for your review.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
4
Easy to track someone
on September 13, 2023
Posted by: RevRef
It is easy for designated persons to track me. I did try to send satellite message once and it didn’t go through. Don’t know why not. Another one did go through.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Garmin, September 18, 2023
Thank you for your review.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin