Inreach/66I vs Topo50

Well good morning team.

After long and arduous process (15mth) I have finally been given the tick for my FAL. I have done a bit of hunting growing up but mainly pigs, however have recently decided to get into stalking after the boss gave me permission to fork out and get my setup.

Quite confident in the bush having spent 5 yrs in the Army but as you all know, our hills are pretty unforgiving if you don't know the area.

I've been toying with getting an Inreach or 66i for all the reasons you have all discussed on here previously (Nav/Communication/SOS) and piece of mind for the wife when I'm out. On the other hand, I can't see myself going for any longer than an overnight trip, at least for the first few times heading out anyway. So in that sense, is the Topo50 and a PLB more than enough to be able to navigate around.

I wont be long range shooting, i'll be stalking in the Kaimanawa's predominantly and Kawekas from time to time.

I just want to know your guys thoughts, especially from those who do stalking and in similar terrain. Does Topo50 work well under canopy? Is it worth forking out for the Garmin or do I wait until im familiar with the area and have more experience for longer trips before I do that?

Cheers
Scottie

In my experience my LG android phone with nztopo50 picks up signal location and bearing way way quicker than a garmin unit (inreach mini and inreach explorer). Get a plb for emergency. The homing capability of them is what SAR will need to pinpoint your exact location anyway.
I got rid of the explorer because I found the navigation capability of it so far behind an app that cost a few dollars on my phone and got a inreach mini for communication and back up navigation if needed. The pricing on the subscription hurts a bit but is a small price when away on multi day trips to keep in touch with home base.


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As said, the advantage of a PLB is for air/ground crews looking for you to home in on the beacon itself with telemetry equipment.
It really speeds up rescue or recovery especially under a solid tree canopy.
My colleagues have been involved with a search where the position generated/or the position provided from Garmin was 2.2 km out.
Having an inReach and two way communication must be very reassuring an emergency but they are not as good for the people coming to help you.

@Scottie, different bits of kit for different uses. You could combine most into an inReach I guess.

inReach / SpotX don't use the same network as the PLBs. Some people trust the inReach, others carry both. inReach is great if you get stuck behind a swollen river or shoot something on the way out and end up staying another night.

To my mind the best combo is PLB plus an inReach mini. PLB provides homing beacon for chopper crew to find you. But I've also spoken to several guys who pressed the PLB button, and waited for hours for help to get there, meanwhile they just had to trust the message got through. Benefit of inReach etc is that you can let people know you are stuck but still ok, things like twisted ankle etc. Also very re-assuring to have 2-way comms when SHTF situation.

From a nav point of view, a lot of guys just use mobile phones switched to flight mode, with location on. I download the geotiff topo maps direct from LINZ and use AvenzaMaps on an android phone.

The Inreach has non Garmin mapping and they are not rated as well for the maps. The 66i has Garmin mapping. The Inreach service can be quicker to get a response and at least you can answer questions about why you need help etc but Searchers cannot home in as easily to the Inreach however the breadcrumb feature can be followed by anyone with a Inreach login. Inreach goes through Tony at TrackMe in Christchurch with 24hour support.

A PLB is almost instant but you can get no information it literally just sends an SOS at this location to RCC (Rescue Co-ordination Centre) who in the first instance will just send a chopper (very expensive to the tax payer).

I would like a 66i but simply cannot justify the current $35 a month subscription to the service.

Had an inreach in the past, now just use a plb and topo50 on the phone now

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Originally Posted by 223nut

Had an inreach in the past, now just use a plb and topo50 on the phone now

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Same for me.
Still have a GPS but for what I need phone app good enough.

Cheers team

Had a good yarn with the boys at Hamils Rotorua. Aim is to save on cost at the moment without risking safety.

Having been in the army and now Police and working alongside SAR squads in the past, Pro's/Con's for both.

Will stick with the Topo50/PLB for now until I start doing longer trips. Appreciate the opinions.

Scottie

funny,it almost seems like folks dont use a map and compass AT ALL to navigate anymore...Ive started to carry them again and enjoy the challenge of finding where I am on map and then and only then,consulting GPS to back that up...mate had phone app the other day with same map on screen and I was within very small distance from where his phone said when we compared the two images....my reading bearings off side of map still needs work LOL.

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Originally Posted by erniec

Same for me.
Still have a GPS but for what I need phone app good enough.

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I used to be map & compass until 2 years ago- now PLB & NZTOPO 50. As Micky says, the map & compass should be #1 and I should go back to that with NZTOPO50 as a backup to check the positioning on the way out in fog/darkness.

I bought a GPS to leave breadcrumb trail after being accused of poaching kms from where I was....guess phone will do same ,it shook me up and having ability to prove where Ive been aswell as where I am is a good thing.

I've had both. Personally found that a combo of Topo 50 and a PLB suits me better. Couldn't really justify the i66 in the end so moved it on.

I occasionally still print off map of the area I need and can borrow an InReach from SAR if needed but seldom bother as its just another thing to carry.

Just published a thread about the new ZOLEO 2 way satellite communicator that's been released last Monday in the country. More info at skippersmate.co.nz/zoleo

I still laminate a map double sided with permit and carry compass.
Mind you have never been asked for permit.

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I still carry compass everywhere but Topo 50 is excellent. Worked flawlessly for 8 days in coastal fiordland and everywhere else I have used it. If you want to communicate then the inreach mini is an excellent combo with your phone if using topo 50. Others have already covered off the pros and cons for inreach vs PLB so will leave it at that.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

funny,it almost seems like folks dont use a map and compass AT ALL to navigate anymore...Ive started to carry them again and enjoy the challenge of finding where I am on map and then and only then,consulting GPS to back that up...mate had phone app the other day with same map on screen and I was within very small distance from where his phone said when we compared the two images....my reading bearings off side of map still needs work LOL.

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I think it's still important to carry both map/compass. At least you know that will never fail due to technological error. That will always be a backup.

Just want something fast/efficient as well.

Ive been working through the same details lately. You have a pretty decent discount on the NZPA website worth using no matter what you go for!

Something worth thinking about is i believe the 66I and similar inreach models only have a built in battery which you will have to charge. I think my best plan so far was along the lines of always keeping a spare power bank thats never touched other than when you're properly desperate! Compass to follow a bearing taken from the gps will save battery life from turning the screen on all the time just for the odd quick glance. Also compass and map carried as a safety.

There is something to be said for having separate kit for separate functions given murphys law.

I havent committed either way yet. I still have a bodgy old gps ive borrowed and crowbarred topo maps from the free topo project into it. One thing to be said about old gps is the batteries last a lot better and they do the job!

based on my short ish 2-3 day trips i use nztopo or the like on my phone screen that is large enough that i can read it. put it in flight mode and only turn it on intermitantly as most phones only last 8-12 hr of gps on a good day.
l use my garmin watch for basic minute by minute navigation and compass etc. however i find the screen too small for the mapping to be much use even if i get my glasses out. Without the watch i would be back to hanging a compass around my neck.

then i carry s little PLB for those oh shit times and just hope its for someone else.
Ps, you probably know this from your army time but i had a ex army guide point out to me how useless a plb is in you pack if are 20mtr from it and have an accident or slide. always on your person.
Z

Like a lot of these guys I use NZTopo50 and carry a PLB on my person. As @ZQLewis notes- they’re not much good if they’re in your pack & you can’t get to em.

I had a Garmin Rino 650 unit for a while but sold it as I find NZTopo50 just as accurate and a lot more user friendly. I mostly use it to add waypoints and as needed for navigation. Still carry a compass too. Again, as others have mentioned, phone on flight mode will help conserve battery. I also carry a power bank for multi day trips. It weighs about the same as my phone & gives me about 3 charges of the phone. I’d like to get an Inreach mini at some point just so I can let the other half back home know I’m ok etc, but for now due to cost I’m sticking with the NZTopo50/PLB combo.

& to answer your other question- I’ve never had an issue getting GPS signal on the NZTopo50, even in thick scrub. Have always found it holds signal well. I use an iPhone 7, so certainly not the fanciest phone. Other thing I’d recommend is a good case, especially if you’re using it as your main form of nav. Not much use of it falls out your pocket & the screen smashes or it ends up waterlogged.

Cheers for all the feeback team. Appreciate it all.

Now for the real debate....... Rifle/Calibre haha! Jokes, i'm set on a 308 for now but stuck between two models being the Browning X-bolt Hells Canyon SS or the Tikka T3X. Felt both, multiple times, and really like the feel of the X-bolt but obviously so does the Tikka.

And go.....

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Originally Posted by Scottie

Cheers for all the feeback team. Appreciate it all.

Now for the real debate....... Rifle/Calibre haha! Jokes, i'm set on a 308 for now but stuck between two models being the Browning X-bolt Hells Canyon SS or the Tikka T3X. Felt both, multiple times, and really like the feel of the X-bolt but obviously so does the Tikka.

And go.....

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Read the 308 post in the lower section before you commit ;) :thumbsup:

Seems your looking for 3 different purposes. SOS emergencies, Navigation and text satilite text messaging

I also didnt get the Inreach Explorer because didnt like the maps and functionality

DONT rely on Inreach as an emergency device
Inreach use different satlities to PLBs, and sometimes I have to wait an hour before getting a message out. usually fairly quick in high, open places
Inreach Mini uses Bluetooth with mobile phone to send messages, very simple
you dont want to be in a deep gorge, leg broken or worse, waiting for your SOS to get out

I use Inreach Mini only for text and email messaging daily when in the hills. to let family know intentions, delayed or whatever.

Get a lightweight PLB - at least.

I have had problems using Inreach since Garmin took over, and am just having my Mini replaced by them (for free) right now

If you want a GPS, I'd rely on phone or a dedicated GPS. The Inreach Explorer might be ok, havent tried it.

PS, Garmin now put out a Montana version combines GPS and Inreach. looks expensive

One definite safety feature of the inreach is the tracking when shared with someone. Very worst case scenario if you have a bad accident and are incapacitated, at least there will be one person at home who can check and see online where your tracking has stopped (and where a search should atart)

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