Garmin inReach vs. Sat Phone ? Recommendations? Use will be Alaska, Remote Rockies, RSA and Botswana

[TakeMeLord]

I am approaching 70 years of age and my family wants me to start carrying a device that will allow communications in emergencies. Suggestion? God Bless,

 

[Tucketed]

InReach very small inexpensive. They can keep up with your location 24 hours. You text no talk We use ours when crossing the Gulf Stream to Bahamas. Gives loved ones peace of mind.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I live in rural Alaska. Most of my buddies have InReaches. I will probably go that way myself at some point. Currently I have a sat phone I got on eBay for a song a number of years ago. I buy sim cards with minutes on Amazon. It has never let me down. I have mine for a combination of worst-case scenario health concerns and just the simple bonus of calling to change a pick-up flight, or getting a friend to update me on weather conditions, while I am in the field and can't check it myself.

 

[MontanaPat]

Garmin InReach work great in the US, in Botswana or RSA just use your regular cell phone to keep in touch or emergencies. RSA and Bots have better cell reception even in remote places than I have anywhere in the state of Montana!

 

[Uncompahgre]

I have used inReach for years. I have used the larger 700i GPS inReach for the past 5 years. I really like the tracking feature where my wife can see where I am at when I'm out in the mountains by myself. I also really like the weather forecasting ability for my specific location. For fun I would send her my location and what I was hunting when I was in Namibia a few years ago. I also have an iPhone 14 with the satellite SOS feature. The inReach allows me to text as much as I want and when set up will provide the person receiving the text my exact location every time.

 

[Firebird]

I loaned my gps unit to some friends who did a tour in South America. It was lots of fun to follow their daily movements. I use mine in the states to text my wife so she always gets the texts and has my gps location. I’ve used it from remote mountains while hunting and also from canyon roads on the way home when we were stopped for traffic problems and had no phone reception. It is inexpensive to own and operate. Mine is the inreach explorer +

 

[Mekaniks]

I have used my Garmin Inreach in Antarctica, Namibia, Carribean, and Alaska Northslope. It literally works everywhere.
The only reason I can see to have a SAT phone is if you need voice calling….
If you only need text, Inreach is the way to go….

 

[K-man]

I have had an inreach for over 10 years and is perfect for emergency and short texts to your family. An added bonus is I GPS every camp I am at and also the GPS of every animal taken. No one can ever accuse you of poaching/ trespassing because you have proof. Enjoy yours!

 

[Wahoo]

I enjoyed the newer inreach messenger plus this past fall in Zim. It allowed me to send text and pics real time via an app on phone (phone had zero service fyi) that communicated with the inreach unit in my pocket.

 

[sureshot375]

I’ve been happy with the in-reach mini that links to my phone.

It’s really inexpensive. Works well for text. I like that you can get a month to month plan. I’ve used mine In Zimbebwe and Argentina. I was glad I had it in Zim as the Wi-Fi in camp was spotty at times.

 

[1dirthawker]

i hunt/guide in a very remote area on the alaska peninsula, i use an inreach that i link via bluetooth to my phone. it works just fine. lets the wife know i am not dead but keeps me from talking a bunch.

i can call our support boat if i have an emergency or need a pick up, so, i am a fan.

 

[baxterb]

I keep my inreach plan all year long and have for quite a while. It does take some playing around to understand how it works, etc. but you can setup breadcrumbs so your family can even watch where you go without you having to check in, but if course if you need an emergency text you can do it. I setup dual message (the free ones) so I can check in in the AM and PM free or just drop a random 'hello.'