Garmin’s new SOS device could be a lifesaver on your next off-the-grid adventure
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Garmin has launched its latest off-the-grid adventure device: the inReach Messenger. It’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and can send an SOS message if you’re out of cell range and need help.
If you’re in the mountains or some other remote location and use one of the best Garmin watches to track your adventure, this new device, which fits easily in a pocket or backpack, can be invaluable in an emergency. .
The inReach Messenger, a sequel to Garmin’s InReach Mini 2, pairs with your phone via the InReach Messenger app and automatically switches to a satellite connection when it detects you’re out of range.
In an emergency, you can press an SOS button on the side of the inReach Messenger, and a dedicated emergency response team coordinates a response from a 24-hour center.
The team can interact with the inReach Messenger to notify emergency services while also alerting the user’s emergency contacts.
In addition to being an SOS device, it also acts as a tracker, so friends and family can constantly track your location, whether you’re hiking a local mountain or in the middle of nowhere. The tiny device, which looks like a portable phone charger, measures just 3.1 to 2.5 inches and weighs 14 grams. It also has a messaging service on the small screen and can even be used to charge your phone in reverse.
The new addition to the Garmin family, which costs $299 / £249.99, can be used on its own, which is useful if the phone’s battery is dead, but it can also be paired with the InReach Messenger app, which itself pairs with 80 other Garmin devices, including smartwatches, handhelds, and navigators.
One of the big selling points of the InReach Messenger is its long battery capacity: once fully charged, it can last for 28 days, which is double the capacity of the InReach Mini 2, meaning you can plan a long adventure without worrying. about losing connectivity.
Is the device a game changer for adventurers?
Fitness tech companies are aware that we want more from our gadgets, including safety features, and this new device gives us a little bit of reassurance when we’re out on an adventure.
Garmin isn’t the first to offer this kind of technology. The Apple Watch has fall detection, so your close contacts or emergency services are warned if you have fallen hard. The Apple 14 phone also allows you to send an emergency text message via satellite if you are out of range of your cell phone or Wi-Fi.
But it’s the long battery life that is a real winner – not many devices these days last more than a few days, let alone almost a whole month. The app, meanwhile, is a great addition, allowing you to send longer messages to friends or family.
Want to follow the rest of your adventure? Here’s our guide to the best fitness trackers.