Garmin InReach Refresh

I definitely like having my coordinates, sometimes like creating waypoints, once in a while like creating tracks (to make maps with later) and virtually never like following tracks. The large screen is really only needed for that last one, so I’d live to see an InReach Nano with satellite communication and those 1st three functions, and then the new InReach Explorer can live on to provide all 4.

I’m not sure what the solution is to the tedious typing method of the InReach. It’s terrible but a touch screen seems like a problem in the rain and a full physical keyboard a la BlackBerry is probably too complex.

If the GPS part works as well as say a Garmin Etrex 30 than this is a good deal. On my packrafting trips I’ve been carrying an InReach Explorer (in case I break my leg) and an Etrex (so I don’t paddle over a waterfall). The two together weigh 10.5 oz if I recall.

A new device for both jobs would be nice. But I’d have to carry a battery pack for it so I doubt the weight savings would be that much.

Actually I wonder if this is a strategy to keep GPS sales going.Smartphones must be cutting into those sales. It’s not hard to imagine Garmin selling mostly satellite devices someday. And making money selling map sets to go with them.

I am sure cell phones are cutting into dedicated GPS sales both in the front country and in the backcountry.  Garmin is going to have to be proactive to not be like the P&S camera makers.

I have an older SE and generally have a few preset messages for each trip to avoid using the clunky interface but it does work in a pinch and I did use it to get confirmation of  a change in bush plane pickup time in Brooks Range in 2015.  This past year I just used the preset messages this past year in WRR.

In a weird way I’m glad my SE has such a janky text interface because it is a disincentive towards texting much while in the backcountry. I’d rather not have the option.

Re: Wanting dumb device plus smartphone.

How quickly we forget.

The DeLorme inReach SmartPhone was a dumb satellite tracker and messenger that linked to your smartphone, with a few buttons to send SOS and predefined messages only.

DeLorme dropped the inReach SmartPhone soon after releasing the original inReach SE (Screen Enhanced) in early 2013. The SE was about an ounce lighter.

Seems DeLorme “tried that, didn’t work, need to sell something better (or more profitable.)”

More details buried in this 2013 BPL article and posts:

https://backpackinglight.com/satellite_communications_sotmr_part3/

— Rex

I’m not sure what the solution is to the tedious typing method of the InReach.

I’d be happy to go back to the ancient days of cell-phone texting on a numeric keypad.

You remember, less than 10 years ago, pre iPhone :-)

Some astounding world-record texting speeds were set on simple cell phones. For example:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4370000/newsid_4372800/4372871.stm

— Rex

hey rex, do we know why delorme dropped the smart phone? (confusing name. since it isn’t a smart phone.)

I remember those Rex. A new version with a few updates would be perfect for me.

Ben,

I don’t know why DeLorme dropped the inReach Smartphone. That was their third model using that form factor; they also made the original inReach Smartphone (which was Android-only), and the inReach PN-60W that paired only with one of their own GPS devices.

The inReach SE expanded their market into people (like me) who don’t want to carry smartphones in the wilderness. Also, the inReach Smartphone had replaceable AA batteries; the inReach SE and following models use built-in batteries with limited life spans, guaranteeing an early replacement market. And DeLorme wasn’t that big a company – with limited engineering and support staff, the might have had to focus on a small number of devices.

All speculation.

— Rex

I use an InReach SE, paired to my cell phone via the Earthmate app.  Yesterday, I forgot to put my smart phone into airplane mode to save battery.  By the end of my hike, my phone had drained its battery, and I was glad that the InReach was still active.  I was able to send my boyfriend an “All’s Well” message–I was late on the trail and it was getting dark, he was starting to worry.  If I’d been relying on a device that was only able to work with a smartphone, I’d have been SOL.  Not a life-threatening situation by any means, but the whole reason I carry the thing is to keep Bill happy when I’m soloing.

I have had situations where it was difficult to get a signal out–deep in a river valley, under tree cover.  I did download an app to my phone that tracks where the GPS satellites are, I’ll be curious next time I go up the Carbon River trail to see if it shows me why the tracking isn’t working.

You could have been in the same boat if you didn’t keep your Inreach charged. If you are carrying devices without replaceable batteries you should think on that.

For me that old smartphone device hits closest to the mark. You can still send an SOS without your phone. Good compromise.

Oh, I know, Ken, I carry a battery pack.  I would have been able to charge my smartphone if I’d needed to.  The battery usage on the InReach is wa-a-a-ay less than a smartphone, though, so if one is going to rely on electronics in the back country, it’s nice to have the redundancy.

Definitely, the next time I purchase a cell phone, I will pay more attention to the battery specs.  I’ve got a Samsung Note 5, and the thing is a serious battery hog.  When I’m on a multi-day trip, I use it only for linking to my InReach, and as a Kindle in camp for reading, and occasionally as my field guids–I have a bird ID and plant ID app on it, plus a star map app.  Mostly I keep it in airplane mode, I just forgot yesterday.

The texting function doesn’t worry me too much. I’m not looking to send a lot of messages with it. I don’t want to be in full text communication when I’m in the backcountry.

“The DeLorme inReach SmartPhone was a dumb satellite tracker and messenger that linked to your smartphone, with a few buttons to send SOS and predefined messages only.”

Not true.   The inReach for smart phones was a full featured two way messenger as long as it was paired to your smart phone.  Without a paired smart phone you could only send predefined messages.

The inReach for smart phones was a significant improvement over my Spot Connect.  The Spot Connect was half the weight of the Delorme but only did one way messaging and only half of the messages and track points were being sent with the Spot, so the Delorme “brick” with its two way messaging and better performance made it the best of the day.  I switched to the SE for its standalone capability (no smart phone required) but the old inReach worked very well and I still miss being able to replace the batteries.

I have the SE for 2-way communications. My worried family needs more than “I’m OK”, and with many elderly relatives I need to be able to get word from home, just in case. I had the same initial reaction to the DeLorme’s keyboard interface as everyone else has, but in the end I found it doesn’t really bother me nearly as much as a I thought. I don’t want to fiddle with pairing to a smart phone, and while the typing on their keyboard is tedious I have plenty of time when in camp to peck out a short message, it probably takes me less time to type it that way than it would to pair the devices. What I really don’t like, though, is that their auto-fill options (that anticipate what word you are trying to type) are not optimized for expected backcountry word choices — if I type “t-r-a-i” then everyone here knows I’m trying to type “trail”, but DeLorme predicts I’m trying to type “train”.

I like it as a communications device but for navigation it falls short. I have a full review the Garmin InReach Explorer up on my site. Impressions after heavy 4 month use.

https://hikingguy.com/hiking-gear/in-depth-garmin-inreach-explorer-review/

@hikingguy-com

Your link above doesn’t work.

@pedestrian thank you – updated!

My wife bought me one for her peace of mind as I typically backpack solo. I use the smartphone interface with the phone in airplane mode. I carry a RAV power pack to re-charge both items. I shut them off at night once I exchange texts with her. I can go at least 2 days on the phone (battery life is starting to slip with its age) and probably 3 days on the Delorme Inreach SE. What she really likes is that she can log into the Delorme/Garmin site and watch my tracks on the map as I’m moving. I will say that I’ve had a few times that I had a hard time getting a text out in heavily wooded areas.

I told her that if I start moving really fast or going in crazy directions, that meant a bear was wearing my Inreach. I didn’t get a single laugh.

Nice review.  One recommendation I have is to clarify the tracking types used, of which there are three.  One is the send interval tracking, which uploads the points to the online web page, the second is the log interval tracking, which stores the points internally to the unit and only gets uploaded when you connect to a computer and sync with the online service and the unit.  Both have independent interval settings. The third mode is extended tracking, which sets the unit into sleep mode between track points to maximize battery life and disables Bluetooth, wireless technology, detailed track lines, message checking and turns off log interval tracking.

@wkerber haha you got a laugh from me on that one… and yes, my use is similar, when I do a backpacking trip off the grid, I send the location with the preset and my wife can see where I check in. It’s such a great tool for the folks not on the hike.

@kkkeating thank you for the recommendation – post updated – quick question, have you been able to figure out the “breadcrumb trackback” they mention on the website? Or do you think they just mean you can follow your track line back on the map (manually by looking at it)?

I believe what they mean is following the track line back using the map and the points that had been previously logged(bread crumbs).

One item that I have found somewhat frustrating with the Inreach Explorer is the operation manual and instructions.  To me they’re just not clear and intuitive. I’ve had to call them a couple of times to discuss certain aspects and get clairifications.