I grew up in a rural area, complete with some of the most breathtakingly beautiful mountain ranges that one could possibly ask for. An unfortunate side effect of this is the frequency of rescue helicopters that are almost constantly in rotation. People go for adventures up through the mountains and valleys and when they are gone a long while, you must go looking for them. Precise time is spent searching, at great risk to the missing party.
Garmin seeks to eradicate such incidents as these with their latest release: the Garmin inReach Mini 2. A groundbreaking satellite communicator which ensures that no matter the location or situation, you are no more than a couple taps from safety.
Garmin are no strangers to the satellite communicator game and have established themselves as the go-to brand for both quality and versatility. Whether biking, skiing, hiking or any kind of exploration, Garmin has proven itself to be adaptable to fit your needs. Their inReach series has become a staple in the kits of all adrenaline chasers and recreationalists across the board since its initial release in 2016. Since then, they have been continuously tweaking and improving their product before arriving here at the inReach Mini 2.
Battery Life
In a piece of tech like this, battery life is the absolute most important feature. Perhaps the biggest feather in the cap of the inReach mini2 is this precisely, with the new battery being capable of withstanding up to 30 days of use.
The device’s multiple settings all affect the amount of battery stored and should be taken into account based on your expedition.
When set to track your location every 30 minutes, the battery can withstand up to 30 days of continuous use.
When set to track your location every 10 minutes, you can expect up to 14 days of continuous use.
The device also boasts the ability to hold onto a full battery charge for up to a year when powered off. This means that a fully charged inReach mini 2 should serve as an essential feature of anyone’s kit bag, allowing for peace of mind for unexpected adventures or complications on a standard trip.
Safety
On your adventures there is no telling exactly what type of terrain you may encounter. Limited visibility or unexpected route changes can leave you disoriented and in extreme cases in need of rescue. The inReach Mini 2 works to ensure that you are equipped to handle any circumstances you are faced with.
As well as the standard GPS network, Garmin is also equipped to engage with GALILEO, QZSS and BeiDou satellite networks to ensure that no matter how challenging or remote the environment, you can be found and capable of communicating in a speedy manner.
The inReach mini 2 also has a dedicated SOS button that will send an immediate alert to the Garmin International Emergency Response Coordination Center which is staffed 24/7 and is capable of both coordinating a rescue and communicating back and forth with the user to best assess what each situation may call for.
Dimensions and Durability
The words “satellite communicator” tend to conjure two images to the mind. Firstly, a bulky brick sized device seen in military movies that looks like it weighs about ten pounds, or a James Bond-esque sleek device which can be hidden on your person with a wide range of uses. The inReach mini 2 is firmly in the latter category, living up to its name with dimensions of only 3.9 x 2 x 1.3 inches, weighing in at around 4 ounces.
The device is also water resistant, capable of withstanding submersion of 3 feet for up to 30 minutes, meaning it is more than up for whatever route you may be taking.
Control Screen
Both the display screen as well the user interface is a massive step up from the original Mini. It seems that Garmin have taken more cues from their watches and implemented a similar interface on the inReach Mini 2.
While it is still recommended that you pair it with your smartphone or watch, the inReach Mini 2 serves much better as a standalone device than its predecessor. While the first Mini could only access one menu selection at a time, the Mini 2 allows you to view all functions in a list, showing your previous choices, allowing for a much more user-friendly experience.
The improved display is also an extremely important asset when taken alongside the device’s messaging service.
Satellite Messaging
As previously mentioned, the inReach Mini 2 has its dedicated SOS button, but you can also communicate through its two-way messaging service as if you were sending a regular text. While the device’s size can make it a task to type out longer messaging, the Garmin app can assist with this, and you can also load up to 20 preset messages to save on time. This means that not only can you contact any rescue service with specific details of your needs, but you can also contact family or loved ones to inform them of your safety.
The messaging service engages with the Global Iridium Satellite Network which also provides the device with some other original and essential features.
Key Features
The device’s weather updates allow for a full report on the conditions you can expect to encounter on your adventure. The premium report will even include how cold you should feel and wind speed information.
The newly improved trackback system will provide an on-device digital path in the event where the user becomes lost or disoriented, containing details of your past movements so you can retrace your point of origin.
The passive backtrack feature will also store your past route for up to 24 hours if the device is turned on, even if you haven’t enabled active tracking.
To take full advantage of these features you will need to download the Garmin app and subscribe to their service.
App and Subscription Service
In order to access the Global Iridium Satellite Network, you will have to subscribe to one of Garmin’s plans. There are the three main plans available. Each plan also comes with the “Freedom Plan” option which is priced slightly higher but requires no commitment past it’s 30-day use.
Available plans range from $11.95 to $49.95 a month for annual subscriptions, and
$14.95 to $64.95 for Freedom plans. All plans offer unlimited SOS alerts but will limit the amount of text messages ranging from 10 to 40 messages per month.
The Garmin Explore app syncs with your inReach device, enabling total off-grid use through the satellite systems, allowing for texting, downloadable maps and locations points as well as unlimited cloud storage for sharing your adventures with other friends on the app.
Conclusion
There is no excuse at this point to not have a communicator such as this in your kit when setting on an expedition, no matter the apparent risk. While there may be cheaper options available, the satellite tracking and messaging capabilities of this device, mixed with its sleek size and user-friendly interface is second to none. Well worth the price the peace of mind it shall provide you and your close ones.
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