Garmin 010-01735-10 inReach Explorer+, Handheld Satellite Communicator with Topo Maps and GPS Navigation

Use it for boating, snow going, flying and camping.

I bought this product and will use it for trips to the BWCAW in northern MN. I use the device mostly for communication to the outside world that all is well and I have it just in case all is not well. My subscription is the most basic $16 a month freedom plan. I also used it for weather and for GPS capabilities as well.

Dont know how much I will use this but I look at it and the plan as cheap insurance. Great way to get help or keep in touch when out of cell range

My wife and I are in our mid 80s, and we bought an Off Road Jeep. Our kids insisted that they have something to keep track of us, so this InReach Garmin GPS was a perfect fit. It allows the kids to track us as we wander deserts and forests, and determine if and where we are lost. They can Message us and we can message them via satellite even when out of cell phone coverage.

These are perfect for alaska outdoors.

This worked exactly as it was supposed to, but we returned it and purchased a satellite phone. We purchased this as an backup for an catastrophic emergency for wilderness canoe trips. However, the texting on this device would have been impossible under stressful circumstances. You have to use the arrow keys and the ok button in order to choose each letter while texting and the screen would require old eyes to use glasses. The price was more attractive than the sat phone, but being able to actually speak with a person in an emergency is worth the extra $$$. This device does have a number of other features, but its purpose for us was intended only for the emergency situation.

Item arrived quickly and in perfect condition. Setting up the account necessary to operate the device was very straight forward and easy as was activating the device with Garmin. Just follow the instructions in the manual and you shouldnt have any problems. The device itself is awesome. It has a myriad of features that work well and is very user friendly to operate. The buttons used to operate the device are well thought out, conveniently placed and make it extremely easy to navigate through and select any/all of the features the device offers. I usually get intimidated trying to operate a device that has a bunch of buttons on it, but this device is a breeze to operate. The maps, the tracking features and especially the communication features (text & email) are fantastic and the best part is all those features are available without having to rely on having a cell signal. Also, the ability to permit your friends/family to track your location on an online map in real time is great. Lastly, the SOS button could literally save your life if you ever get injured out in the wilderness where theres no cell service. Just hit the button and then communicate with rescuers as they respond to assist you. My feeling is that the device is worth it just for the SOS feature alone, but the communication abilities and other features just make it even that much better. Using the available EarthMate app you can easily pair the device via bluetooth with your smart phone or tablet which enables you to use your phone to access and use the device features. This makes it especially easy to send text messages since you can now use the keyboard on your phone rather than having to manually find and click on individual letters on the device to send a text. I did have to spend some time watching product support videos and reading available product tutorials to fully understand all the features and how to use them, but I actually enjoyed that process and within a short time I was extremely comfortable with the device and how to get maximum use out of its features. If you spend time out in the wilderness where theres no cell service then you should really consider purchasing this device.... you and your family and friends will be glad you did.

This is a review for Garmin, not for the seller who sent the item and everything went fine. I received my Garmin and figured okay, getting online service and text messaging will be relatively cheap. Wrong, their data plans are absurd and for the cost of this device a 2-year warranty just does not cut it. Save yourself the 15-65$ a month because all the plans have horrible terms and character limits per text. It is designed to nickel and dime the consumer. I would much rather pay for full Starlink satellite internet or use the downloaded topo maps on your average smart phone which are usually free. I immediately requested a return after viewing their service plans. They charge you per text, and the cost varies based on current weather conditions. Location requests cost 10 cents per location unless on the premium plan at 65$ a month. The same also applies to the premium weather and premium marine weather, as both charge you 1$ per use unless on the premium plan which is outrageous in base price. They need much better data plans that are not from the 1990s cell phone minute plans. Make sure if you are reading this review to verify everything I listed here on Garmins own webpage.

Ive used Garmin products for years so it took a little getting used to this as its not integrated into the Garmin maps and products like Basecamp yet. The messaging works well. The included maps are very detailed. Well worth the price for the piece of mind knowing you communicate anywhere in the world.

On the plus side, being able to communicate by satellite is very useful for back country scenarios, camping scenarios where youre off cell service, and disaster scenarios. It serves that well. On the minus side, Garmin Sync must be used to install updates or add new contacts, but it no longer works on Mac Catalina, which means that if I hadnt programmed it already Id be out of luck. With Garmin no longer providing working software, is it worth buying one or two at over $400? I wouldnt spend the money for something thats being treated like its at its end of life. Id go for one of the newer, better-supported satellite messengers. And in fact, if this ends up breaking and no longer being usable due to their failure to support the software, I probably wont be going to the expense of buying Garmin anything again. I dont invest in devices that will only live a couple of years. As long as the hardware works, the software should too, otherwise theyre ripping us off.