Inreach Mini 2 Vs Messenger Vs GPSMAP 67i | Best Satellite Communication Device from Garmin ?

Well done. I just bought a 67i to replace an old eTrex HCx, and put it through its paces last weekend. I paired it to my Android, and while that's nice for certain things, it can get confusing and a little out of sync (Confucius say, man with 2 GPS never know where he is). I'm glad the 67i can be a stand-alone device in a much more rugged way than a phone, despite the bulk. I plan to use it hiking, hunting, on ATV, and maybe bicycling. Looking back on the weekend and the Android pairing, I was intrigued about the Mini 2 and its light weight, which led me to your video. Good fit for some people, but not for me. I never really got the concept of the Messenger, and your video confirms that. I think you're spot-on about the future of mobile comms, but it will be a while.

As a backcountry snowmobiler, I went 67i, for its stand alone nav. I've had my phone die to many times, and riding places like Salmon La Sac, there's no cell service even in the snowpark. I was riding up on Mt. St. Helens years ago, the clouds blew in, and it was a whiteout. So even though I'm good at finding my way back to the truck, having a screen with nav, can be a life saver, if you can't see landmarks.

Wow... best review on YouTube. Thank you so much! 67i for me!

I hadn’t given much thought to the phone & satellite possibly making other units obsolete, but other than that, I bought the 67i for all the same reasons you gave. I have an old handheld GPS that I will stop carrying. I want the security of having a navigation device and I want InReach capabilities (messaging, tracking, etc) so for me it was a no brainer. My old GPS weighs just as much, and now it gets upgraded along with InReach. It will give me more comfort doing long thru hikes even though I know people on the trail will scoff at the added weight.

Very helpful review. I decided to use the 67i for my AT through hike so I would have a good navigation backup if my phone dies.

Best review of the Garmin devices on the internet hands down! Great job! All this info i wanted!

Amazing feature review video on exactly what I was looking for. I just got a mini2 and love it for its simplicity. My goal was to find another unit for my spouse and didn’t want to get another mini2 for inreach to inreach coms, so I think you sold me on the 67i.

If cold weather is a factor to consider then its also good to mention that all these Garmin devices have a minimum operating temperature of -20 Celsius (-4F). Below this threshold they will automatically shut down. I haven't found a way to prevent this from happening. This happened to me in Sweden. Because of this I like to have some redundancy in navigation, tracking, and messaging. A combination of a GPS67 and a messenger works well for me.

Excellent video: clear, thorough, and a good presentation. Thank you.

Excellent video, well organized and to the point. Happy that we both picked the 67i.

I was just on a motorcycle trip at the Tail Of The Dragon. A rider went down at 6 PM and wasn't seen laying down in the ravine until Noon the next day (18 hours later). Multiple people who had stopped had iPhones and the SOS feature on them wasn't doing squat. Not saying that would always be the case but it was a snapshot in time...not that far from civilization either. Just mountainous terrain with a dead cell area about 10 miles wide.

All I need is the Messenger! I already have a battery bank, a solar panel, my foretrex, my phone, paper topo map and a compass. I will be good for weeks!

Absolutely Great Comparison! Thank you!

Excellent info but yes, the music is NG. You tube must instruct creators to use music in the background and it is amazing as a LOT of people complain about it. Me included.

Very comprehensive review! Great job!

Very thorough review like always.

Assuming a person is carrying a phone when they go backpacking, carrying a GPS 67i would be like carrying two+ phones- extra weight, extra bulk. The messenger is awesome for having less bulk, more tx power, more battery capacity/ powerbank, and less slop if you strategically mount it internally to the top/side of your pack. I fancy the idea of using this with a Etrex SOLAR, or Foretrex 801/901 or Instinct 2x Tactical (SOLAR) for wrist mounted navigation. Then carry a good map and compass as backup.

A dedicated device will always beat your smartphone in terms of battery robustness waterproofing, etc.

Very helpful reviews, thank you.   I am prepping for back country canoe tripping. With my limited eyesight, I need the large screen of my iPad for navigation, tracking, and topo maps. My iPhone screen often is too small for me, for those purposes.  Am I correct in thinking that both the Mini 2 and the 67i will connect by Bluetooth to my iPad so I will have use of that large iPad screen while travelling. - showing my track and present position?   Also, would I be able to use the screens of the iPhone and iPad, through Bluetooth to either the Mini 2 or the 67i, for sending and receiving text messages?

While the future might bring ubiquitous satellite connectivity for phones, the Messenger & Mini 2 won't be obsolete IMHO since they are way more rugged and have a long-lasting battery thus making them the better choice as a safety device.