Satellite Communicator (Garmin In Reach Mini II) questions.

[Subvet]

Just bought the Garmin In Reach Mini II as I am getting older and want to stay safe on my travels!
Says it "withstands incidental exposure to water of up to 1m for up to 30 mins".
Curious where folks that have them carry them on trips? On your PFD, in barrel/dry bag, in your pocket, on belt, etc? Also does anyone use a waterproof case for it or is the "up to 1m and up to 30 mins exposed to incidental water" sufficient for most situations one might encounter?
My plan as of now is to just attach it to my PFD.
Appreciate any info/input!
Gary

 

[memaquay]

I have a dedicated Pelican case for all of my electronics. I keep my In Reach, my cell phone, my Garmin GPS and my camera in one case, along with spare lighters, bear bangers, anything I don't want to get wet. During daily travel, I keep my GPS in front of me, if it is raining, I keep it in a map case so I can still see it.

Are you thinking about keeping the In Reach on your PFD because you will be using it for tracking, or do you just want it readily available?

 

[Subvet]

Not really going to use it for tracking, just to have it handy in case of sudden emergency. The Pelican case sounds like a great idea for phone, camera, Garmin, etc as you mentioned. Thanks!

 

[Gamma1214]

I use the inReach Explorer (which is larger) and I keep it turned on & attached to a belt loop at all times that I am out of the tent (I turn it off at night to save the battery but, if I get up in the night & leave camp to hit the thunderbox, it gets carried along).

I've been in some pretty heavy downpours and have even accidentally submerged it (but not 3 feet and I certainly didn't sit there for 30 minutes). The waterproofing is such that it doesn't (in my experience) need additional protection. Mine came with an aluminum carabiner and, if you wear a belt (I don't), that would be a more secure attachment than a belt loop.

The screen is getting pretty scratched up so, if it were new, I might look to see if someone makes a screen protector like I use on the phones. As it is, if it continues to withstand the abuse for another 5 years, I may look into sending it back for a new screen. (I'm pretty sure it'll take the beating)

My recommendation would be to keep it on your person at all times. You're just as likely to break an ankle gathering firewood as you are to injure yourself within reach of your pfd and the sos button is useless if you can't reach it.

 

[Boatman53]

Mine is clipped to the PFD. Two years ago on my BWCA trip at the end of the carry on one of the last portages before takeout I fell straight backwards with the canoe right on top of me. It was very rocky and I don’t even know what happened to my footing. I was flat on my back with my head supported by the thwart and a very points rock just to the left of my spine. I was a little bruised but otherwise ok. The inreach was right there with me if I needed it. I was not alone on that trip but I could have been.
Jim

 

[Mason]

I use the inReach Explorer (which is larger) and I keep it turned on & attached to a belt loop at all times that I am out of the tent (I turn it off at night to save the battery but, if I get up in the night & leave camp to hit the thunderbox, it gets carried along).

I've been in some pretty heavy downpours and have even accidentally submerged it (but not 3 feet and I certainly didn't sit there for 30 minutes). The waterproofing is such that it doesn't (in my experience) need additional protection. Mine came with an aluminum carabiner and, if you wear a belt (I don't), that would be a more secure attachment than a belt loop.

The screen is getting pretty scratched up so, if it were new, I might look to see if someone makes a screen protector like I use on the phones. As it is, if it continues to withstand the abuse for another 5 years, I may look into sending it back for a new screen. (I'm pretty sure it'll take the beating)

My recommendation would be to keep it on your person at all times. You're just as likely to break an ankle gathering firewood as you are to injure yourself within reach of your pfd and the sos button is useless if you can't reach it.

I carry mine for general use in a Garmin case (Garmin case ) (with a strip of orange duct tape around it), that way I don't have to worry about it getting scratched up. The case has a belt loop (which I don't use) with which you could attached a carabiner if wanted. I don't trust the OEM clip and mini-biner. I throw it in a pack every time I go out in the boonies (climbing, bc skiing, hunting, even motorcycling), and even when I'm driving long distances. On the water, it goes in my PFD pocket in a ziploc (dunno if necessary though). I don't use the tracking feature at all, though, so I have to be conscious to use it (!).

 

[lowangle al]

I also think it's a good idea to keep it on your person, especially if solo. I hang mine on the paracord along with my neck knife.

 

[memaquay]

You fellas are getting me paranoid now, I was thinking maybe I should start hanging it from my lifejacket too, but then I remembered I don't wear a lifejacket, so I guess I'll just keep it in the waterproof kit, something needs to float if I tip.

 

[Marten]

I keep mine in a case in a fanny pack so it is always easy to find and attach.

 

[BWCA66]

Your reason for carrying it points to keeping it on you and accessable.

 

[yknpdlr]

I don't know about the Inreach or what kind of antenna it uses. But During the Yukon River reaces, every boat was required to carry a SPOT, although more recently I think other eequiavlaent devices are approved. Before coming to Whitehorse, while still at home, you had to demonstrate that you knew how to operate and transmit your location with a SPOT device. During the inprocessing briefing we were told by Peter, the race director, which I have on video: "there is no greater sin than to not properly operate and transmit from your SPOT". It was to be set to automatically transmit our location every 10 minutes, and also to prove that we departed the river and camped for not less than 6 hours each "night". SPOT has a small patch antenna that must openly face directly skyward to communicate its GPS location to satellites. It would not work if it was placed in a pocket or carried such that it was pointing in a random orientation. I fastened mine to the bow deck of my canoe, where I could easily oprerate it in case of emergency with the antenna firmly facing upward. Failure to properly send location transmissions would result in a 30 minute time penaly for each infraction. At least one of the kayakers, carrying their device zipped in a pocket, accumulated as much as 9 hours of time penalties, to be added to their race finish time. Others had lesser penalities. My canoe had zero penalities, technicallly finishing in first place.

 

[recped]

I have an old pre-Garmin InReach, during the day it is always in my pfd pocket and in tracking mode. When I'm camped it's usually readily at hand and if I wander away from camp it comes with me.

The scenario that scares me the most when tripping is not on the water but rather when "exploring" on land, either getting lost (has happened) or stumbling and doing serious damage that would make returning to base difficult. I do not want to find myself lying on the ground with a serious fracture (or stroke) while my InReach is back at camp a kilometre or more away.

 

[Jatfomike]

I carry mine clipped to my PFD…..

Mike

 

[Simuliumvenustum]

I have used a Garmin InReach Explorer, the original InReach Mini, and now an InReach Mini 2. I upgraded to the Mini 2 two years ago because of its improved battery life and antennae. I sold the Explorer and Mini to friends, and they are both still in use. I use the InReach for all my outdoor pursuits in all seasons. I always attach it in an at-the-ready position on the shoulder strap of my packs or life vest when hunting, hiking, biking, paddling, etc. The unit is always turned on and ready on the shoulder strap of my pack or life jacket. When hunting from a tree stand, I always attach the unit to my person. I do not use a supplemental waterproof case since the unit is waterproof for up to 30 minutes at 1 meter. Under extreme conditions, I will move it to an inside pocket to protect it from the cold (to extend battery life) or precipitation. I often turn it off at night to extend battery life, but always keep it within reach. I have never had a text message or email fail to go out from any of the three units I have owned, including on four different trips in some remote canyon areas at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Fortunately, I have never had to activate the SOS. I use an Apple iPhone and Garmin Epix watch with the Mini. The Epix watch can remotely activate the SOS function if the two units are separated but are still connected via Bluetooth (which I have found to be roughly 50 feet, but it varies). After a close call with a friend when he fell on the ice and suffered multiple breaks in his ankle on Mt. Marcy on a cold late November day and the subsequent delays in getting emergency help caused by poor cell reception, I have not gone into the backcountry since without a PLB and/or a satellite communication device such as an InReach. I often bring both, especially when sea kayaking.

 

[Subvet]

Thanks for all the input and responses!

 

[Keeled Over]

I never used to keep my inReach with me on portages in the ADK's, however further north felt a little different so we kept it with us on all portages/hikes.

 

[jdeerfoot]

My group used an InReach to have a paddling partner evacuated from the bush in Wabakimi last week due to cardiac issues. We won’t go on trips in the future without one.

 

[Aslowhand]

I did a long trip in Quetico this spring/early summer. For the first time, I had the InReach Mini on me during the day (I had always carried it in my daypack before). In the morning when I left the tent, I put it in my shirt pocket and it stayed there until I went to sleep. The device got wet, either from rain or sweat. It rained a lot in Quetico and it didn't damage the device.

 

[CaptainOllieWest]

I don't know about the Inreach or what kind of antenna it uses. But During the Yukon River reaces, every boat was required to carry a SPOT, although more recently I think other eequiavlaent devices are approved. Before coming to Whitehorse, while still at home, you had to demonstrate that you knew how to operate and transmit your location with a SPOT device. During the inprocessing briefing we were told by Peter, the race director, which I have on video: "there is no greater sin than to not properly operate and transmit from your SPOT". It was to be set to automatically transmit our location every 10 minutes, and also to prove that we departed the river and camped for not less than 6 hours each "night". SPOT has a small patch antenna that must openly face directly skyward to communicate its GPS location to satellites. It would not work if it was placed in a pocket or carried such that it was pointing in a random orientation. I fastened mine to the bow deck of my canoe, where I could easily oprerate it in case of emergency with the antenna firmly facing upward. Failure to properly send location transmissions would result in a 30 minute time penaly for each infraction. At least one of the kayakers, carrying their device zipped in a pocket, accumulated as much as 9 hours of time penalties, to be added to their race finish time. Others had lesser penalities. My canoe had zero penalities, technicallly finishing in first place.

I still use a SPOT Gen 3. I did test it once with an unintentional swim. The water did not harm it at all. When I am in the back country, I generally leave it on tracking mode. I figure if I ever go missing, they can always start looking from the last tracing point. I also kind of like that I can't recieve text messages!

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

I did a long trip in Quetico this spring/early summer.

Ooh, tangent: Any report or pictures to come?