For Backcountry Safety Use Garmin InReach Mini

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Quick Summary

  • Garmin InReach Mini satellite communicator provides two-way text capability using the global Iridium satellite network: https://amzn.to/3kzIOCb
  • Push the SOS button to activate a 24/7 rescue organization
  • Family and friends can track your location on a convenient website
  • Optional real-time weather updates to stay safe in the backcountry or when off-grid
  • Long life battery lasts up to 50 hours
– Page Contains Affiliate Links – Why? (click here to expand) We lose money every month producing the TX:GX Overland website and YouTube channel. Creating content takes time and money – we have to pay for:
  • Website and WordPress hosting
  • Trip videos that cost money for fuel, admissions fees at parks/events, and wear and tear on our vehicle
  • An enormous amount of our time producing this site and the videos (I won’t even begin to calculate that cost!)
Basically, we lose money every month. We use affiliate links and YouTube monetization to try to reduce this monthly loss but they don’t pay much. We lose about $20 per month just from our website costs (not including trip costs). Purchases made via this website using affiliate links sometimes result in us making a small commission (usually 2-4%) that we use to keep the lights on. But since we lose about $20 per month (not including trip fees) you can see we are definitely not “in it for the money” – we do this out of a love for helping other people enjoy the outdoors and overlanding, to help people get started and find gear to make their trips more successful, and to produce videos that inspire and entertain our viewers. Even though we lose money each month, we are committed to helping the world we live in. Please read “Who Our Affiliate Links Benefit” to see a list of the causes and charitable organizations we donate to. Thank you for your understanding!
– Who Our Affiliate Links Benefit (click here to expand) TX:GX Overland is about experiencing the outdoors and doing so in a responsible, sustainable way. Without the trees, the forests, the clean babbling brooks and the open trails we enjoy while overlanding we simply couldn’t exist. Therefore, we are committed to helping organizations that support our outdoor adventures. Though we do not make a profit from the TX:GX Overland website or YouTube channel we still make donations to worthwhile causes. We make donations to the following organizations:
  • OneTreePlanted
  • Tread Lightly
We have reviewed these organizations and determined they fit our purpose. We do not have the resources to do an exhaustive background check of their prior/current activities, partnerships, board members, etc. so if they are “doing something bad” we’re not aware of it. We hope our donations to these organizations is doing the world some good – if you disagree with these choices we respect your decision, please respect ours.

Overview

The Garmin InReach Mini is a satellite communicator that provides two-way text messaging via the global Iridium satellite network.* You can send messages to loved ones or request assistance from emergency crews – no cell service required! Its small size makes it very easy to carry with you at all times when off the grid or simply traveling across the country. The easy to find SOS button activates a 24/7 rescue organization called GOES that will coordinate your help or rescue anywhere in the United States and in many international areas. They will even help coordinate an offshore rescue! You can also use the InReach to download weather updates and maps to your paired mobile device. Garmin InReach Mini https://amzn.to/3kzIOCb

We always take our Garmin InReach with us when venturing beyond the paved road. It’s reassuring to know that if something bad happens, whether it’s a health or safety emergency or simply a vehicle mechanical failure, help is just a click away. No cell signal required! Additionally, our family can stay up to date on our progress – we text them at the end of the day to let them know we are okay or they can track our location (permission controlled) via the Garmin InReach website. 

Recommended Subscription Plan

It’s super convenient to use the month-to-month payment plan that allows us to turn on the device service when we need to use it and turn it off when we won’t be using it. We don’t travel every weekend so it’s helpful to only pay for service when we need it! Frequent travelers can opt for a recurring monthly service plan or one that increases the custom text message allotment. 

Using the Garmin InReach Website

When using the Explore Garmin website, we highly recommend you setup your access options BEFORE leaving on your trip. It requires an internet connection to set password protection and alert options – things you can’t do once you leave cell tower access. Trust us – we’ve made this mistake before!

Mounting the InReach Mini To Your Vehicle

You do not need to mount the InReach Mini to your vehicle for it to function properly, but we found it’s more convenient to mount it on our dash mounted rail for convenient access to the SOS button, it’s easier to see the screen and any incoming messages, access to power and a clear view of the sky for GPS signal. We purchased the Ram Mounts spine clip holder to attach the Garmin InReach to our dash mounted rail 1” Ram ball mount.  RAM Mounts Spine Clip Holder with Ball for Garmin Handheld Devices RAM-B-202-GA76U: https://amzn.to/2XHBqve

When hiking, we simply clip the InReach Mini to our belt or backpack using the provided carabiner clip or the provided loop.

What’s in the box

  • inReach mini
  • USB Cable
  • Carabiner Clip
  • Spine mount adapter
  • Documentation

InReach Mini Accessories 

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