The Garmin inReach Mini 2 has become an indispensable tool for me as a Landscape Photographer and guide. I carry it with me at all times to ensure that even when I am far off the grid, I can communicate with loved ones, and in case of an emergency, communicate with rescue services. From the research I have done, Garmin has become the go-to provider for two-way, global satellite messaging devices and services.

I have been using the Garmin inReach mini 2 now for 12 months. It is always attached to the shoulder strap of my camera bag, meaning it is easily reachable in case of an emergency. Adding this little device to my gear has given me added peace of mind and makes me feel more comfortable being in the wild and away from phone reception. Putting it simply, this device could save your life!

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 5.17 x 9.9 x 2.61cm

• Display Size: 23 x 23mm

• Display Resolution: 176 x 176 pixels

• Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion

• Battery Capacity: 1250mAh

• Battery life: 2 to 30 days depending on usage and sky view

• Charging Port: USB-C

• Operating Temperature Range: -20° to 60°C (from -4° to 140°F)

• Waterproof Rating: IPX7

• Weight: 100g

• Sensors: GPS, Galileo, QZSS, Compass, High-sensitivity receiver, GPS compass (while moving)

• Connectivity: BLUETOOTH®, ANT+®

• Cost: €325.00 + subscription

Features:

• INREACH WEATHER FORECAST SERVICE - Get detailed weather updates on inReach Mini 2 or a paired compatible device. You can even request forecasts for your current location or other waypoints or destinations on your itinerary.

• DIGITAL COMPASS - Get accurate heading information — even when you’re not moving.

• TRACBACK ROUTING - The TracBack routing feature navigates you back to your starting point the same way you came, should you get lost — right on your device.

• GLOBAL SATELLITE NETWORK - ​Instead of relying on mobile phone coverage, your messages, SOS alerts, and location tracking are transferred via the global Iridium® satellite network.

• TWO-WAY MESSAGING - ​Exchange text messages with loved ones back home, or communicate inReach to inReach in the field.

• INTERACTIVE SOS ALERTS - ​In case of emergency, trigger an interactive SOS message to the Garmin IERCC, a 24/7 staffed emergency response coordination center.

• LOCATION SHARING - ​Share your location with loved ones back home at any time using your MapShare™ page or with your coordinates embedded in your messages.

• BATTERY LIFE - The internal, rechargeable lithium battery gives you up to 14 days of use at the default 10-minute tracking mode and up to 30 days in power-saving mode.

SOS/Emergency Message

The inReach Mini 2 requires a paid subscription to enable you to use it. When you hit the ‘SOS’ button, a message is sent to the Garmin IERCC, a 24/7 staffed emergency response coordination centre. That dispatch center will then know your location, some rudimentary identification information (which you add during registration and should update periodically), and that you have some sort of emergency. At this point, you need not do anything more. Dispatch will contact local Emergency services.

The pace, type, and viability of local response depends on, among other things, local socio-political realities, economic factors, terrain type, weather, and other potential emergencies in the area.

If you have further information about your emergency that will help rescuers respond, you can send out these details using the inReach Mini 2. It requires some preplanning and familiarity with the device and its function, but sending more nuanced information to emergency responders is possible. Short of two-way voice communications as provided by a satellite phone (way more expensive) or radio (shorter range and more complicated execution), two-way services like the InReach products provide the best possible emergency messaging service.

Non-Emergency Messaging

The original Garmin inReach revolutionized off-the-grid communication with its ability to send and receive messages. The Garmin inReach Mini improves this functionality by being both much smaller and lighter. Sending messages with the InReach device is slightly different from using a smartphone, but it is easy to operate.

Another type of non-emergency messaging on the Mini 2 (and on some other satellite text devices) is weather forecasts. The inReach apps, through their “Premium” weather forecasting service, are the only satellite products that I know of that allow for the acquisition of a weather forecast for a spot that you are not currently sitting in. This is cool, and extremely helpful when hiking for multiple days and checking the weather forecast before you get there.

Signal Coverage

The Garmin inReach Mini 2 uses the global Iridium satellite network to communicate. Satellite communication has always had its limitations, steep terrain, buildings, and trees can all significantly reduce or block satellite signals, that being sais, if you take these limitations into consideration, the inReach Mini works all over the world.

Ease of Use

The trade of for the tiny size and portability of the inReach Mini 2 is that you sacrifice some ease of use as compared to the bigger inReach devices (There is no keyboard on the device). The Min’s battery life is little shorter than the previous version and sending messages straight from the device is harder.

In reality, these drawbacks are minor. You have two main options for sending messages with the Mini 2, you can either send using the Garmin app on your smartphone, or you can text directly using the inReach Mini 2 device. Naturally, writing messages with the app is much quicker and easier than on the device.

Portability

This is where the Garmin inReach Mini 2 really shines. The device is incredibly compact and lightweight, it is unobtrusive and can be clipped onto the shoulder strap of your backpack or camera bag. The Garmin inReach Mini 2 is so small and lightweight that it has also become popular with trail runners.

The Garmin inReach Mini 2 is identical in shape, size, and weight as the original Garmin inReach Mini. From what I have read, there are some clear hardware upgrades (USB-C charging port and improved battery life).

Should You Buy the Garmin inReach Mini 2?

If you spend any amount of time off the grid in the wilderness, whether its for hiking, landscape photography or wild camping then I would definitely recommend it. The peace of mind it gives you and your loves ones is invaluable, and if the worst were to happen, you have the option to call for rescue, even when in the middle of nowhere.

Design & Usage

The inReach Mini 2 is tiny, tough and built to last, it is impact resistant (MIL-STD-810) and water-rated to IPX7. When holding the device, the antenna and power button are on top, the up/down scroll buttons and the USB-C charging port are on the left, and the OK, Return and SOS buttons are on the right side of the device. Note: The SOS button is protected by a cover to prevent accidental use. The screen is black and white with a clear display. Instead of relying on tower-based mobile network coverage, the Garmin inReach satellite communicator messages, SOS alerts, weather forecasts and tracking information are communicated via the world-circling Iridium satellite network

I found the menus easy to navigate and the large buttons make it easy to use the device using just one hand. The buttons are firm enough to avoid them being pressed unintentionally.

The antenna of the inReach needs to be pointed at the sky for maximum efficiency, meaning the device should be kept upright, this is easily achieved when attaching it to the shoulder strap of your backpack. A mini-carabiner is provided for this. I like clipping it to a loop on a shoulder strap as then I can use it as a watch (yes, it also tells the time).

Battery Life

The built-in 1250mAh Lithium-ion battery is charged via a USB-C cable. How long the battery lasts depends on the functions that you use and certain other factors such as how much of the sky is visible (Easier for it to connect to satellites), the tracking interval, and how much time is spent scrolling through the menu and sending messages.

Garmin claim that the battery in the inReach Mini 2 can last up to 30 days with full sky view when using the 30 minute Standard tracking, and up to 10 days with moderate tree cover. I set my inReach set to standard 10-minute tracking intervals, which Garmin claims gives up to 14 days with full sky view and 4 days with moderate tree cover. I’ve found these figures to be fairly accurate with the limited testing that I completed in the Faroe Islands and Iceland earlier this year. Having a small capacity powerbank for emergency use can also help ensure you stay connected on longer trips, the 1250mAh battery charges in less than 1 hour.

Garmin Explore app & smartphones

The inReach Mini 2 can be used as a standalone device, however I find a much better user experience when pairing it with the Garmin Explore app on my smartphone. You can use the app from both a laptop or desktop to edit contacts, create/edit preset messages and see how many messages you’ve sent. Using the Explore app on the smartphone you can send texts and emails without needing a phone signal. Typing messages is very slow on the inReach device as you need to scroll through the menu for each letter, for this reason I tend to only use the device to send preset messages. The device can be paired to a smartphone via Bluetooth.

GPS Navigation

The Garmin inReach also functions as a GPS navigation unit, using the iridium satellite network. You can see your location on the map (Note: It is much easier to navigate once you have paired your device to a smartphone) or as a grid reference which you can share with your contacts. All the usual waypoint functions of a GPS are present, including a digital compass that works when stationary and a GPS compass that only works when moving. There’s also a track-back function that enables you to navigate back to your starting point. The map with your route can be shared with contacts.

Subscriptions

Garmin offers a plethora of different subscription plans, I use one of the three personal plans, and each plan has two charging options, monthly and annual. All the plans allow unlimited preset messages and unlimited SOS signals. Below is a quick breakdown of the plans:

• The basic plan, called Safety, then allows 10 messages per month and charges 10 cents for each track point sent.

• The Recreation plan allows 40 messages and has no charge for sending track points. Both Safety and Recreation plans have tracking intervals of ten-plus minutes.

• The Expedition plan allows for unlimited text messages unlimited track points, and 2 minutes + tracking intervals.

Note: Messages include those sent to you as well as those you send.

For sending preset messages and the very occasional text on day walks and short backpacking trips the Safety plan looks the best. If you’ll be sending more than five messages a month and are out on longer trips then the Recreation plan may be a better option for you.

At the time of writing, the costs for monthly plans are €19.99 for the Safety plan, €39.99 for Recreation, and €74.99 for Expedition. The monthly plans are good if you won’t be using the inReach for a few months at a time, as it allows you to suspend the service when it’s not needed. However, it wouldn’t take much extra usage for the costs to exceed those of an annual plan. The annual program fee is €39.99.

SAR Insurance

Garmin also offers Search and Rescue (SAR) Insurance, they offer three different tiers of this, these are:

• SAR 100

• SAR HIGH RISK

• SAR HIGH ALTITUDE

Pros

• Tiny

• Light-weight

• Uses the global Iridium Satellite Network

• Can text from phone and device

• Good battery life

• Preset Messages

• Tracking

Cons

• Small screen

• Sending messages from the device directly is very time-consuming

• Device cost and subscription are not cheap

Conclusion

The Garmin inReach mini 2 is fairly costly to buy and to run, but if you want two-way communication with your loved ones when out in the wild and where there is no phone reception, it is a must have tool. Being able to send your location and route to contacts from the inReach is useful, and ofcourse, in case of an emergency, you have the SOS function which connects you with the nearest emergency services.

The inReach Mini 2 is very light and compact and so far has proved reliable. It will now be with me on every trip.

Important: InReach satellite subscription plans are available for purchase worldwide, except countries that are subject to a U.S. government embargo or sanction. Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communications devices.