Customer reviews from Garmin
Garmin - inReach Messenger 1.08" GPS with Built-In Bluetooth - Black
Average customer rating
4.3
(204 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 204 reviews
5 Stars
127
4 Stars
41
3 Stars
15
2 Stars
14
1 Star
7
Customer Reviews for Garmin - inReach Messenger 1.08" GPS with Built-In Bluetooth - Black
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
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
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
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
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
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
4
Simple messenger
on September 24, 2023
Posted by: Toytac00
Great unit for messaging and tracking for friends and family. Small, light, and easy to use while bluetooth to phone. My biggest issue with it is that there is no way to track yourself. Others can see where you are but you cannot. If it was compatible with garmin explorer app or if the garmin messenger app had a MAP tab at the bottom that could show where you were this unit would be perfect. Since it can already track your path and bluetooth to your phone I know it has the capability to show you where you are. GARMIN, please add this feature/capability!
Response from GarminBy Garmin, Garmin, September 26, 2023
Thank you for your review.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin
Customer Rating
4
Battery life surprise
on October 2, 2023
Posted by: AtwoodBeer
In general, real happy with the Messenger. However, I charged it to 100% on a Saturday and Tuesday I left on backcountry hike. As I was hiking I looked at battery life and was shocked to see only 32% so 68% reduction in just a few days. I think I figured out the issue which is that it was sitting in the house those days and it could not connect with satellites in which case battery life is much less than advertised. Once in the field, it only went down a few percentage points each day. So just a heads up on that.
Response from GarminBy Garmin, October 9, 2023
Thank you for your review.
Written by a customer while visiting Garmin