Thread: Inreach Mini vs 67i

Apologies if this has been asked before. Looking at getting an InReach capable device. My first inclination was to go for the 67i because it's all in one standalone unit and I don't like the idea of relying on a smartphone in the field. But the mini and using a phone for GPS is such a common choice (which surprises me tbh) it seems that maybe I'm wrong? Does anyone have anything to offer?

For context my phone is pretty knackered with extremely poor battery life and I can't really afford a new one...

I don’t have an Inreach but I have a Garmin and smart phone. While I never use the Garmin it is in my pack for remote trips. Navagation is all iPhone based apps which work well. Battery life on flight mode is good and I take a rechargeable battery pack as back up.

The system works, epirb for if there is real trouble. I’m holding out on the inreach until we get starlink on our phone plans. Next 24 months?


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I have a garmin 66i and use that and phone depending on hunting situation.

In the bush I use the 66i because it's waterproof and robust and lives in a pouch on my belt with lanyard. I don't have to worry about losing it or damaging etc.

On the tops is different as you don't really need navigation so just use phone to plan travel or check out a spot I may head into. 66i lives in pack and is only turned on when needed for messaging or weather reports etc.

I think with starlink coming on line inreach will become obsolete for most situations so would invest the cash into a new phone and power bank and if you don't have one already a PLB.

Thanks for the info guys

I have a 66i and my partner likes the live tracking, she can see how I'm going. The messaging is also very useful.

InReach use the old terrible maps where as Garmin have much better quality mapping.

You can message on the Mini and use a range of preset messages as well. It's a slow manual process to type messages and you need good eyesight. I use an Alpha 200i (have a dog) which has a touch screen which is easier to use. I tend to type on the device and not use Garmin app on the mobile as I've found connection issues. I also noticed sending from the device provides location for the receiver as a default

I like having a phone and gps so have two forms of comms.

The Garmin 67 has some very good functions & is very accurate, there are some good comparisons online between the models regarding accuracy.
Also battery life is really good now, in the older models it was pretty average.

I've been looking at the Garmin 67 as well, but like someone else said suspect it will become obsolete when we get the cellular / starlink coverage, sticking to my Avenza maps on my iphone for now.....

It will be interesting to see what Starlink/One charge for the service as you know it won’t be free.

It will also be interesting to see if it actually works - with OneNZ being involved I have my doubts given the level of "service" I am experiencing from them at the moment. Starlink while expensive and sometimes hard to get through to a human for actual tech support has been nothing but reliable for me, considering where I live (4km out of the Tauranga urban boundary and looking over the Mt/Mauao) I can't get OneNZ coverage at all and 2Deg is marginal. We were on Spark 4G, but that failed leading to Starlink.

One NZ and Starlink not seeing any money from us. Luckily other telcos are also looking at offering the same type of service.

https://www.signals.net.nz/products/...ersonal/zoleo/

Haven’t used my mini for a while but as I recall it synced it to my iPhone that let me type txt messages on my cell phone and send them via the mini. Think it costs a bit if u send to many messages but a quick “nite honey off to sleep now safe n sound easy etc” gold when your wife is a world class worrier!

Originally Posted by Shearer

https://www.signals.net.nz/products/...ersonal/zoleo/

Any good??