1mlost: Gear Review: Garmin inReach Mini


This magical piece of kit unlocks the doors to all of life’s stupider ideas. I reluctantly purchased the Garmin inReach mini after following one of these stupid ideas. While exploring backroads near Sparrow Bush, I found myself under a 600 lb motorcycle at the end of a dirt road that started at the end of a dead end street. Nobody knew where I was. Nobody was coming down this fire road anytime soon. I ended up under the bike because my better instincts told me I was too off-grid and needed to turn around. As I attempted a u-turn over some deep ruts, the bike, and me, went down. After a good bit of squirming, I pulled myself from under the bike. After 20 minutes of wrestling with the bike, I got it upright and headed back to the pavement, tail tucked between my muddy legs.

The Garmin inReach is expensive and requires a monthly subscription (about $12.) It’s a small price to pay for the magic it renders. It’s allowed me to make many decisions against my better judgement. The number one feature is the function to send a text to my wife saying, "not dead." And don’t get me wrong, this thing is terrible for navigation. It’s terrible at texting. And it doesn’t really matter if the SOS button works or not. As long as I’m carrying it , my loved ones are ok with any stupid decision I make in the backcountry. I can now ride down those dead end roads, hike off trail, or wade a mile or two up the river. And should the need arrive I can just press that little button and.. uh… somebody (?) will come and find me. The freedom to get lost beamed down from outerspace.

-jk