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

My truck was snowbound after my GPS sent me down an unpaved back road in Readsboro Vermont. There was no cell service for 15 miles .I Needed a cable wrecker. Used it to text friend for help.

Folks, Garmin products are okay. But, the cost of the inReach service is ridiculous. You either have to pay a hefty monthly bill or an annual contract. I went with the annual contract. After 6 months, I decided that I didnt really need the service (particularly in the winter). I called to cancel. Turns out that they are going to bill me one large lump sum for the months I didnt use. I know, seems simple. If you are reading this review, you will be thinking what I did 6 months ago...its cheaper to just go with the yearly plan. But in reality, it is kind of a rip-off. Garmin should be ashamed of themselves for the cost of the service. You pay a premium for the unit, but that is only the beginning of the cost. Over years, this will compound into one of the more expensive investments. Buyer beware...you are getting ready to go down the rabit-hole!

It works great it’s exactly what we needed to feel safe when out on our Rzr or four wheeler.

Works great. Pairs with iPhone for easy messaging.

A+

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

We used this every night to send messages back to our families as we traveled from Chicago to the southern tip of South America. Never gave us a problem.... except for that one time when it said we were in the Dominic Republic of Congo... that freaked my parents out... but.. 99.99% of the time it has been amazing to be able to text family and provide a track that we can look back on to see exactly where we were.

I take my InReach MTBiking in areas that often have no cell coverage, and this model has much better functionality and connectivity than the previous version. The text messages are much easier to type, and actually now go thru reliably, so its a big relief to my wife who can now track me consistently. My friends call it an electronic bracelet, but Im glad to have it. You have to also pay $26 per month to Garmin, but its worth it for peace of mind.

This item is useless for road travel and the web description is incorrect. I have been a faithful Garmin customer for other products but this one was a complete and total waste of money. Sadly, I purchased it well in advance of my planned road trip and apparently now I cannot return it. It is the most expensive doorstop I have ever purchased.

Small screen- useless for navigation, very slow to connect, very little practical use- its a waste of money