Works Well

I used the Garmin InReach Mini 2 on a backpack hunt in Sequoia National Forest. The device works well, but I’m strongly considering returning it. The subscription is expensive, and it’s easy to go over the allotted text messages since the device doesn’t reliably update how many you have left. While T-Mobile now connects to Starlink, it doesn’t yet provide the same reliability for what I needed in the backcountry. For now, the InReach still does the job, but the cost makes it hard to justify.

Too Hard To Get Started

From a pure product standpoint, it is small and light, and the battery seems pretty good. From a usability standpoint, I am really struggling to get started. The online manual is very brief, and I haven't yet found a good resource that walks me through features and how to access them. It's pretty frustrating. If you have a friend who owns one and can show you how to actually use it, I'd recommend.

With its minimal weight and compact packed size, the InReach has been the long-coveted solution for communicating from the backcountry and having piece of mind in case anything should go awry. Thankfully, I haven't had an emergency since getting it, but the messaging has been clutch. Good choice for experts or novices alike.

Must-have For Emergencies

This is a must-have item for any emergencies on the trail. My family and I use this even when just traveling on long, rural road trips for peace of mind for even a simple flat tire situation. Only downside is having to pay the activation fee and monthly subscription on top of the device, but you can pause the monthly fee for up to 12 months on a single activation fee.

Probably the best satellite communicator out there. Still leaves quite a bit to be desired, especially in the Garmin apps. The Garmin ecosystem is incredibly obtuse quiring multiple applications. In order to keep the device up and running. Additionally the pay plan is kind of stupid expensive.