ACR ResQLink Garmin InReach Alternative

ACR ResQLink vs Garmin InReach Mini

The new ACR ResQLink 400 is a buoyant, GPS-enabled PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) with a hydrostatic release to activate on impact with water from up to 2 meters depth. It has on-board strobe and two powerful LEDs for increased visibility in low light conditions and underwater. Have immediate access to emergency services no matter how far off the grid you are. When activated, your location is transmitted by satellite and relayed back to the search and rescue center along with your name and other pertinent information that you have previously registered with NOAA.

– 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.

The ACR ResQLink is similar to the Garmin InReach Mini and Mini2 in that it transmits your location to emergency services during an emergency. However, there are some key differences:

Garmin InReach Mini/Mini2ACR ResQLink
Form Factor
Subscription
Required
YesNo
Satellites
Used
IridiumCOSPAS-SARSAT
Emits Radio SignalNoYes
Send MessagesYes – On Device / In AppYes – minimal
Weather ForecastsYesNo
MapsYesNo
Battery Life (max before recharge/replace)30 days (recharge)5 years (replace)
Built-in StrobeNoYes
Weight3.5 oz5.3 oz

If you are looking for a device that allows you to constantly communicator with others when off grid the Garmin InReach Mini is the best option because of its two-way communication app and capabilities (though they come at a price). If battery life and ruggedness are key then I would recommend you consider the ACR ResQLink. Either way, both give you peace of mind in case of emergency knowing that help is just a click of a button away.

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