InReach Messenger vs Zoleo? And the One Big Difference

[@BackcountryExposure]

It might be helpful to point out that with Zoleo you can freeze your plan for $4/month after the initial 3 months, and then reactivate without paying a new activation fee. The freezing also keeps your dedicated phone number. Great list of information and comparison dude!

[@bucky716]

The InReach Messenger is a neat little device! I love my Zoleo and has worked well for two years now. I love that I can suspend it for $4 a month when I know I won't be using it and save a few bucks while family and friends will still be able to know they can reach me at the same number. No screen is a tiny drawback but going into 2023 we all use our phones, keep them charged, and carry extra power.

[@mrcanoe5588]

Thanks for this review. One difference I noticed is how the Zoleo seems to be much easier to lend/borrow, with its own dedicated number and email, while Garmin's instructions for lending/borrowing seem very complicated.

Timely video, as I just received my Zoleo today! I got the deal at REI for $150 so I snatched it up but you gave me more to think about before I open it. You're really coming in clutch for me lately! Thanks!! Really thorough and informative review!

[@kevinboyer6249]

I used the Zoleo for 2 straight months in some of the most remote areas of backcountry in Montana this past summer and it was flawless. I researched all the available messenger devices for months, except the Garmin you are reviewing, because it was not available at the time, and decided the Zoleo was hands down the easiest for me to use and understand. Sure it doesn’t have a screen, but I’d rather not have a screen than have one that is so small that it defeats the purpose of having a scene at all in the first place. I had to call Zoleo a couple of times when I was setting up my device, and I was able to talk to techs on each occasion who were exceptional at answering my questions, and sent me follow up emails offering additional help if I needed it. That is worth its weight in gold to me.

[@DrofJustice]

Thanks for the comparison!! Saves me a ton of time ❤ So true, messaging is clutch. Making those at home comfortable with my being in the backcountry is super nice. I’m using the InReach Mini2 and super happy with it.

[@bretosborne7504]

As a safety device it's important to appreciate how much more powerful the Garmin's transmitter is. If you are down deep in a forest with a thick canopy overhead the Garmin has a better chance of getting it's signal out to help.

[@AvoidingChores]

3:10 That’s odd, weather is showing in C when I updated the firmware & app back in Nov

[@bl8danjil]

4:42 If I remember from when I looked this up, Glonass is not included because InReach uses the same frequency(s) as the Iridium network for communication. It is not because of current events. All of their multi GNSS devices, both past and present, still have GLONASS, but when InReach gets included as a feature on the device GLONASS is always dropped from the list.

[@hawkins5560]

On device messaging is a major thing for me. If youre going to activate SOS, being able to differentiate between "broken leg" and "lost" even when you cant access your phone are massively important for SAR, especially when in an area without dedicated SAR teams.

[@hawkins5560]

As someone who is not SAR, but lives in an area without SAR and has had to respond to wilderness 911 calls, it truly can be life or death. We wont get helicopters rolling until we know 100% what's wrong. If your buddy fell and broke his back, but you cant communicate that then you are going to delay definitive care by at least 3x. EMS will likely not be called to respond to an SOS if there is no further information. Youre more likely to get DNR or LE. Even being able to send "need ems" from the device can change the outcome. Thankfully all of my trail calls have mostly been orthopedic calls where it wasn't life or death, and the ones that were happened on trails with cell service.

[@JustinOutdoors]

Great info and first hand experience!

[@erkful]

You can send the same info with ZOLEO on the app….probably quicker

[@hawkins5560]

@@erkful Not if your phone battery dies. Garmin also has an app.

[@jessedasovich2782]

Not mentioned, Zoleo’s construction is more robust. Compare the dust and water specs. Zoleo includes a carabiner for attachment, Garmin a small tether that you have to purchase separately. It’s clear the Zoleo is a better choice for the serious outdoor enthusiast.

[@KrizAkoni]

Looking to get one of these to supplement texts during my AT through hike - helpful comparison!

[@JarradShaw]

So glad you did this review. The new Garmin is something I was really curious about.

[@stephenb2817]

Hi Justin I just wanted to say I'm a huge fan of your video's! With 2023 around the corner could you please do a 2023 gear review and clothes review? I watched your older videos but most of the gear and clothes are no longer available. I could really use advice on what to buy being that I am currently going to be geting into hicking and Camping.

[@KevinSmith-wr1sy]

Unreal level of detail Justin - no other reviewer is even close.

[@clayp520]

Thanks for the information Justin. Help a technologically older hiker out. The multitude of features is overwhelming. I just want a device that keep track of me and can share that with others; plus let me send an "I'm ok message". Who wins that?

[@JustinOutdoors]

Garmin will do what you want better. More tracking options and a website portal that your people can go to in order to follow your tracks. They can even ping your location if you have that feature turned on.

[@sailingpelagia7706]

Zoleo Tracking now makes it easy to share maps via URL

[@Dixy_1989]

Always take your advice with products as best I can, not always easy to get my hands on the same equipment coming from Scotland. I remember watching this video a while back but not really taking anything in as I'm fairly new to backpacking/hiking and couldn't see myself using or needing anything like this. But this year I plan on making more use from my recently purchased gear (tent specifically) and over here people going missing or getting into trouble out in the mountains/hikes is becoming far to common. I will most likely be looking into something like this. Though there is no price in your safety and wellbeing I hate how these things are so expensive, the initial cost and then the monthly charges are mad. I have the Garmin fenix 7 and I like the idea of the screen, but for most people the biggest feature or use will be for messaging. I think I'll stick with Garmin coz I know what to expect and right now the messenger model is on sale at £220

[@KirstenBayes]

Really helpful, Justin, thank you! Exciting time for these kinds of devices: both look like decent options, though I tend to be a Garmin girl.

[@theodoreeisele]

Thanks so much for doing this. Outstanding information!

[@KaneDoesOutdoors]

Garmin for the win. Good review Justin. I don’t understand why the mini is still more expensive 🧐

[@TLK22]

It has a bigger screen and has maps that can be used to navigate without needing a phone.

[@OutsideChronicles]

With Zoleo, is the 3 month commitment only for reactivation with no plan? If I were to suspend my plan and pay $4/mo, can I activate for 1 month and then suspend again after that month? Or do I need to activate for 3 months before re-suspending?

[@Mainer_in_Oklahoma]

Nice video! You reminded me to update and change the batteries in my SPOT

[@johncheeseman6764]

Bought my zoleo on sale at REI, paid 150.

[@musingwithreba9667]

I've never used a Garmin anything, but I bought the Zoleo last year pretty much based on price alone. The monthly plans at the time were also less than the Garmins that were available. I quite like my Zoleo, (I suppose I'd like it better if it was a bit slimmer and weighed less but...) and my family likes that I have it and I can message them if I'm being mauled by a bear, or if I am meeting someone at the trail and there's no cell signal for them to text me.

[@MumentoMory]

Gonna whip out the Zoleo and shoot some texts while being mauled by a bear, huh?

[@musingwithreba9667]

@@MumentoMory sure thing! Or I could hit the SOS button, just like the folks who use Garmin or Spot 😁

[@erkful]

Garmin simply cannot make a user friendly app….no matter what it’s for it’s always a pita to use.

[@chasee1563]

another helpful video. thanks Justin!

[@elr05]

Great review, as usual!

[@LMay64]

Fantastic comparison!

[@stephencarr9342]

Excellent video. If you’re messaging family and friends from either device, do they have to have the Zoleo or Garmin apps installed or does it go straight to their ’normal’ messaging service?

[@JustinOutdoors]

Will go straight to either the email or text message app

[@david_onthetrail]

@@JustinOutdoors with Zoleo doesn't the recipient need to have the Zoleo app? That's what I'm understanding as I am researching which device to get.

[@wanttogo1958]

@@david_onthetrailto receive an SMS message from a user of ZOLEO, who will have to have loaded to their phone the ZOLEO mobile app, the recipient, who is using only their phone to communicate, does not have to have the ZOLEO mobile app loaded to their phone. Apparently, If the mobile phone user has the ZOLEO mobile app loaded to their phone then their texting experience with the ZOLEO user will be improved by additional capability available via the mobile app.

[@Cocohikes]

Thanks for the review! I love my zoleo but this video brought up some great points! However im wondering if Garmin is actually still using dark sky- Apple bought dark sky a while ago and are ceasing support of the dark sky app to “integrate that technology” with their app.

[@JustinOutdoors]

I did a triple check and Garmin is still using Dark Sky and haven't indicated whether they are switching and, if so, what the timeline would be.

[@Cocohikes]

@@JustinOutdoors cool thanks! Yeah the Dark Sky app itself says it won’t be supported as of 1/1/2023, I’d be interested to see if that changes how garmin handles weather at some point.

[@pierrebeaini]

This was helpful, thanks!

[@jaredwhite489]

My Montana 750 i has been a nightmare. Ditching it for the new 68 i

[@catchusoutside4884]

Great video. Thanks for the info

[@BobGrimminger]

Dark Sky is going away 1/1/23. Will the Garmin continue to use the new Apple equivalent?

[@Chase_Crawford]

Do either of these extend GPS coverage for your phone so that Google Maps or AllTrails will work?

[@JustinOutdoors]

Your phone's GPS works even if you don't have cell phone coverage. But you need to be using an app that has off-line maps. Alltrails does for the paid version and I think googlemaps has a similar feature as well.

[@Carlos-jh5tb]

ZOLEO is often on sale for $149. Kind of an easy choice

[@JohnnyFinns]

How do you clip the inreach messenger onto yourself or pack?

[@petestuff3257]

I did notice there’s a little loophole on one of the corners to attach a cord/strap

[@elr05]

The ZOLEO has worked very well for me, and I’m trying to stop buying gear when I already have something similar, lol. The only problem I had with ZOLEO was 100% my fault. I went into the backcountry without checking the app itself. Didn’t realize until I got to camp that it had offloaded off my iPhone and wouldn’t open bc I didn’t have a connection to the App Store to download it again. So I had a functioning device that could say “I’m safe” or “SOS” but I couldn’t read or send texts. I learned the hard way to ALWAYS check the app before I leave, I will certainly remember that from now on. If I didn’t already have the ZOLEO I would probably get the new garmin instead.

[@vimanaboy]

That's a really good point to keep in mind. I'm on CalyxOS (de-Googled Android) now and apps don't offload, but I remember that (optional) feature from my iPhone days and I'm sure the same thing would have happened to me. Important enough to note in the user guide, I'd say.

[@dustyroads834]

Garmin drops it again without a dedicated number. To me that’s a deal breaker. Guess I’ll just trudge along with my 100% dependable Zoleo that hasn’t let me down even once in 3 years.

[@glenndorsey9068]

It is simply impossible to keep up in the electronics arena. Several Years ago I decided to go with ZOLEO and am still satisfied with what it does for me which is basically telling my wife I’m ok. But my smart phone is several releases out of date and don’t even ask about my laptops.

[@returnedfrompanama]

I know you can’t navigate with these devices, but can you at least see your location on a map on your phone?

[@JustinOutdoors]

yup. But 99% of phones will have equally as good if not better GPS receivers.

[@returnedfrompanama]

@@JustinOutdoors Do you think the iPhone 14 Pro has a better GPS receiver than the Garmin InReach Mini 2?

[@aithney]

InReach Mini 2 or InReach Messenger? Is it still worth it to dish out for Mini? And what about new iPhone SOS feature? What do you guys think?

[@josephgrn2818]

I’m wondering the same!

[@cathiewilliamson2807]

Mini 2 has additional navigation features that are not available on the Messenger. The Messenger was created to go head to head with the Zoleo, and is primarily for sending and receiving messages. It will also track you and do weather, but you can’t navigate or download maps. The on device screen is what topped it for me over the Zoleo. I didn’t need the fancy bells and whistles the Mini 2 has.

[@tom6363]

It is also important to point out that the Zoleo will first try and send messages through cellular and will only jump to satellite if no cellular is available. Garmin can’t do that. For mainly messaging and SOS use it was a easy decision for me to go with the much lower cost Zoleo. The marginally lower cost subscription plan for Garmin would be several years pay back on the hardware cost.

[@JustinOutdoors]

As I mentioned in the video, the inreach messenger will do that. It will try wifi, then cellular, then satellelite.

[@Andy-Mesa]

The answer, like most titles that end with a question mark, is no.

[@outwithradios8145]

No good calling sos when most services are already on their knees, the uk 🇬🇧 has the said best health service and military rescue response teams in the world until you call , Typically 4 hrs for an ambulance 4 hrs wait in A&E on the rare time they do turn up, I only ever called once in my life for an ambulance to be told you have a broken ankle no blood no protruding-bones ? Make your own way to the hospital and then puts the phone down. All good n well calling for help but if nobody on the other end can be bothered why buy this stuff. Go with someone with medical training and train yourself. The only person that will help you is Y O U.

[@bobthetomato8375]

And.... don't do stupid stuff! 😅

[@outwithradios8145]

@@bobthetomato8375 tell the rest

[@bobthetomato8375]

@@outwithradios8145 Self-reliance, that's what I was thinking before I read your comment and had to chime in. An SOS button is no excuse for taking risks, going beyond what one is prepared to handle. People die mostly due to lack of preparation, physical or gear-wise. I was in the Smokies last summer during a really bad hail storm and it scared the s*it out of me. I will be better prepared next time!!! And I do have a Zoleo and love it.

[@outwithradios8145]

@@bobthetomato8375 if I die the world will be a better place,I never liked this planet or the humans on it

[@alangauld6079]

The SOS button isn't likely to be calling on the NHS ambulances, more likely the Lifeboat service or Mountain Rescue etc, most of which consists of volunteers! They don't expect you to be using their SOS service while sitting in your house.

[@iamsemjaza]

Both of these rely on fragile phones to be fully fuinctional... That is a MAJOR downside

[@вечная_мерзлота]

bought zoleo yesterday. zoleos plans cheaper than garmins.

[@filbertapplebag5663]

Sponsored by Garmin.

[@JustinOutdoors]

nope

[@Dutchling88]

Well, no. He is highlighting some key but clear differences between the two units, which justifies the base price difference.

[@jaredwhite489]

No one uses Celsius. It’s 2023, gwr on board with the rest of the world

[@david_onthetrail]

Those of us in Canada are not on board with the rest of the world so we have Celsius to deal with. But its a simple system because -40 Celsius is -40 F, bloody cold.

[@TLK22]

Nobody use Fahrenheit except in the US, Liberia and maybe some old people in Canada.