Garmin’s inReach devices have revolutionized the way we approach backcountry adventuring. They enable communication, support navigation and orienteering, and provide an emergency support lifeline to the outside. I’ve carried my inReach explorer to the far corners of the world, and backpacked my inReach Mini into some of the most remote wilderness on earth. With them, I’ve texted my family, been alerted of incoming storms, saved waypoints, recorded tracks, and navigated unfamiliar territory. These days, I won’t go afield without one.
February 2022: Garmin has announced the new inReach Mini 2. It features better battery life; on the default 10-minute tracking mode it will last for two weeks of continuous use, and if set to the 30-minute tracking mode it will run continuously for thirty days.
The user interface has been updated and is purported to be more intuitive, and the unit is now compatible with the Garmin Explore mobile app, a handy tool for communicating and navigating.
One of my favorite new features is the TrackBack – meaning inReach Mini 2 passively stores your route. If you get lost or disoriented simply engage the TrackBack feature, and an on-device digital path will lead you back to your point of origin. And like all inReach devices, should you find yourself in a life-threatening emergency, simply press the SOS button to summon the cavalry.
Like all inReach devices, the Mini 2 will require a subscription. A variety of plans are available at about twelve bucks per month and up. The Mini 2 itself will run you around $400.
You can read Garmin’s press release below for all the details. I’ve read them, and here’s my take; I’ll have a new inReach Mini 2 in my backpack just as soon as I can get my hands on one.