I'm a professional hiker — here are 3 reasons you should take advantage of Garmin's new one-year free in Reach offer and consider buying a pocket communicator | Tech Radar
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I'm a professional hiker — here are 3 reasons you should take advantage of Garmin's new one-year free in Reach offer and consider buying a pocket communicator
Stay connected — both to nature and your family back home
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Garmin made a massive U-turn this week when it announced that Garmin in Reach users who suspend their subscriptions will receive free SOS access for up to 12 months.
Garmin in Reach is a service which allows you to signal emergency services and send two-way messages without mobile service. This can be done from some of the best Garmin watches like the Fenix 8 Pro, Quatix 8 Pro or D2 Mach Pro 2, or more affordably on one of Garmin’s dedicated in Reach pocket-sized satellite communicators, such as my in Reach Mini 2 pictured above. Only the sender needs the in Reach device, as others can receive messages and reply via SMS, email or the Garmin Messenger app. The service also provides GPS navigation, location tracking and weather updates.
As an outdoor and travel journalist, my in Reach Mini 2 comes with me on all of my backcountry adventures – I’ve taken it to Everest Base Camp, the Swiss Alps and on three long-distance trails through remote sections of the UK over the last year.
Previously, users had to hold an active subscription costing anywhere from
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Here I’ve shared three things I really like about my Garmin in Reach subscription and my in Reach Mini 2, plus one I don’t, to help you make up your mind. That price tag is a lot more palatable when you get a year’s worth of SOS messages for free.
My favourite adventures take me well off the grid, over days or weeks at a time, and I’m usually alone. The wilderness can be a dangerous place, and while I’ve never got myself into a situation I couldn’t get out of, there’s always a chance I could break an ankle or pick up a bacterial infection that could render me immobile miles from the nearest town.
Yes, I have a Google Pixel 9 Pro in my pocket and here in the UK, that now means I can send a text via satellite. But like Apple’s service, that’s currently only available in select countries (North America, Western Europe and Australia), whereas Garmin’s reach spans the entire globe.
Knowing that as long as I’m conscious, I’ll be able to call for help with the simple press of a button really does give me peace of mind and more confidence in the wild.
Hiking is about getting off screens and back to nature for me, but because I tend to travel solo, I love being able to keep in touch with family and friends no matter what.
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In the Himalayas, I sent an excited text to my editor when I met the son of the famous Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay in a Buddhist monastery, and my parents appreciated being able to track my progress over the 11 days using the Map Share web feature.
When I arrived at an alpine hut in the Alps last summer to discover there was no Wi Fi, I was still able to check in with my partner and parents, letting them know all was well. Sometimes, it’s frivolous, but I enjoy being able to stay a little connected and share my adventures in the moment, while not being able to access my full suite of apps.
I use my phone and my Garmin Fenix 8 watch a lot more than my in Reach device, but those devices both have limited battery life, and if I do have an accident, they could easily end up with shattered screens. The in Reach device is a hardy piece of equipment that’s got real staying power.
The in Reach just bounces when I drop it onto rocks from height, thanks to rugged materials like impact-resistant polymer, chemically strengthened glass and shock-absorbing rubber buttons. With a waterproof rating of IPX7, it can sit in a pool of water up to a metre deep for up to 30 minutes and still work.
It’s also got an incredible battery life. If I were using it constantly, I’d get 14 days between charges, but since I only occasionally turn mine on, I can go months (though I check it before every outing). I never have to worry about carrying a portable charger, running out of juice or finding an electrical outlet on my travels.
What I don't love: Tedious texting on the in Reach Mini 2
The only thing I don’t love about most in Reach devices, such as my Mini 2, is that it isn’t as easy to type a message on as your phone. I have to use arrows to scroll up and down through the alphabet and select each letter; it’s like searching for a You Tube video on a smart TV, except the screen is tiny. It’s not a dealbreaker, and I can get around it by using the Garmin Explore app on my phone, but it is a tedious task.
That said, the Mini 3 has solved this problem with a full keyboard on the touchscreen, so if all of this has convinced you to take the plunge, it may be worth going with the latest tech.
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Julia Clarke spends most of her time exploring the outdoors and writing about the travel, tech, gear and skills needed for adventures in the wild. She spent 20 years in the US where she earned her degree in journalism and enjoyed over a decade in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado before coming home to Scotland.
Her recent adventures include walking several of the UK’s beautiful long distance trails as well as trekking to Everest Base Camp. When she’s not outdoors or writing about the outdoors, she’s usually on her yoga mat and has a strong interest in health and wellness.
She is the author of two books, Restorative Yoga for Beginners and Living in Balance with Maharishi Ayurveda, and was a staff writer at ourdoor website Advnture.
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- Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more
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- Unlock instant access to exclusive member features
- Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards
