For those of you who followed along (literally) during our early upland season, you were able to track all our hunts in real-time thanks to Garmin’s inReach Mini satellite communicator. What you didn’t get to see is regardless how far off the grid we were hiking or hunting, we were always able to send and receive text messages from friends and family.
When paired with the free Garmin Earthmate smartphone app, you begin to realize the full capability of the inReach Mini from weather reports to waypoint storage, detailed mapping and trip planning.
In the event you or someone in your party is injured or incapacitated, inReach allows you to trigger an SOS alert to the GEOS 24/7 emergency response team. Even when you like being way upland alone, having emergency backup can be a true comfort to loved ones.
Battery life is outstanding, ready for multiple days of hiking even when accidentally left in a frigid truck overnight. A service plan is required, but the Monthly Freedom Plans work out great for hunters who have a seasonal use — $275.
