Best buys · The campsite and the trail

The best satellite messenger worth buying

Our pick is the Garmin inReach Mini. Below: why, what actually matters when buying one, what to get for less, the step up, and whether today's price is a good one.

The satellite messenger

Garmin inReach Mini

Sends texts and an SOS by satellite where phones have no signal, and lets the people at home follow your track. It needs a subscription, and it is the one thing here that can get you rescued.

Buy it for
Backcountry trips, solo hikes, hunting, sailing.
Skip it if
You never leave cell coverage, or your phone's satellite SOS covers what you need.

What actually matters when buying a satellite messenger

  1. Two-way messaging, not just a one-way SOS beacon.
  2. The subscription plans, including whether you can pause them in the off season.
  3. Battery life measured in days of tracking.

Either side of the pick