Off Grid Navigation and Comms - Import Routes to Your Garmin

[@gilmeacham8109]

Good advice. We had an incident this year where we had to get immediate medical help. One of our group had a Spot, and in less than 30 minutes the chopper set down right next to us on a backcountry trail. As you pointed out, for lesser issues, such as mechanical failures, the Garmin allows you to text the problem to a friend, saving thousands of dollars for towing costs. Being able to get a message out, then seeing a reply to know what is being done to help you is well worth the difference in price for the Garmin service.

[@gilmeacham8109]

After reviewing my comment, I could see where I may have made it sound like the Spot is superior for gettng a medivac flight, but that is not the case. The Garmin inReach and the Spot both have similar and equal capabilities for emergencies, excect for the world wide coverage of the Garmin is better, as Michael stated in the video.

[@cymbolic_space1832]

Doing an 8 day hike through Escalante in March which goes off the beaten path. this is going to really help us stay on track

[@Superyiyo47]

I missed a couple of steps but rather than drag the file I was able to open itby clicking on the screen. Great video, thanks foe taking the time to help us.

[@UtahKodiak]

Great video tutorial! Much better than Garmin's videos.

[@wanderlustfrost9938]

Thanks for this video! I got a garmin myself, and love it! :)

[@amateuralpine5207]

Great video, very helpful. Thanks for the info and providing this much needed information. Stay safe out there people.

[@LAtoELP]

Super helpful video

[@wayneoliver5987]

great video I am wondering if you can bring the map from the inreach to a larger screen like your iPad ?

[@OverlandBound]

Yes through the Earthmate app.

[@Monza3669]

This might have been asked, can you put Gaia gpx routs on this? And can you down load off a phone or does it have to be a computer?

[@H.pylori]

Good video on how to use this new inReach. One other thing that I found to be useful was to use GAIA on an Ipad Air that does not have a dedicated GPS chip but was able to use the real-time data from my original inReach, the yellow one (no map capability), to follow a track via a bluetooth connection. Worked perfectly in an area with no phone connection.

[@TheKPDX]

SPOT now has SPOT X which is a competitor, however, most reviews show that it still has a way to go to catch up with Garmin. Also available is the Garmin InReach Mini. It is essentially identical to the Explorer but with a much smaller form factor, smaller screen & no built in maps. Comparison reviews vary with initial reviews more negative than positive but I would say that has reversed with time. I strongly recommend Google &/or search YoutTube for comparisons. Hikers love the mini, ADV riders seem to be preferring the mini & 4x4/Overlanders tend towards the full size - probably because the form factor isn't as much of an issue in a vehicle (plus the nice powered mount). If you are linked to a cell phone or tablet, however, you could argue that the small form factor makes you more likely to grab the mini when you get out of the vehicle to go on a hike. I've used the SPOT Messenger for over 15 years, through all the generations. It's great at what it does, has a low equipment entry price (~$75 on sale) & I like it's small form factor, however I've wanted to switch to 2 way communication from one way communication. The SPOT X is out but I'm still undecided myself on the InReach, probably a full size Explorer+ for my Mom & a Mini for me and the kids.

[@guyoutten9153]

Great video, That was a tremendous help. Thank you

[@tyedavis9482]

Great video as always. I was wondering about that unit recently so this video was right on schedule

[@blacksheepexpidition4537]

Great video as always... This unit is part of my daily carry in the backpack. Never had communication issues from South Baja to Northern Manitoba Canada... Messaging may have a short delayed but always goes through. Tracking feature is great to let Family and Friends know your location.

[@AmericanJeeper]

Always a good idea to have more than one option to communicate

[@jamesrobertson6255]

Rookie Q.....if you go off path to camp, will the device navigate you back to your original path? IE....pick up where you left off? I always use a compass as a backup.

[@OverlandBound]

Yes, in that it plots waypoints as you travel.

[@jamesrobertson6255]

Overland Bound thank you so much. 👍

[@OverlandBound]

You bet!

[@MarysolMendozaQuiroz]

The route does not synchronize automatic with my Garmin InReach Explorer+. Also, I don’t have the option to synchronize and I can’t change the active collection in Plans & Devices when I have a user assigned. Maybe you can help u.u

[@sergiobedon1]

can somebody Hep with this question?

[@USMC6976]

Great Video. It answered a lot of questions I had.

[@gur123noor]

Thank you!

[@garyjillson1204]

Could you use the new inReach mini and a phone or tablet the same way? What is your inReach model preference?

[@OverlandBound]

Explorer! I know little about the mini, but reviews are not great.

[@TheKPDX]

Mini is essentially identical but with a much smaller form factor, smaller screen & no built in maps. Reviews vary. Initial reviews were more negative than positive but I would say that has reversed with time. I strongly recommend you Google &/or search YoutTube for comparisons. Hikers love the mini, ADV riders seem to be preferring the mini & 4x4/Overlanders tend towards the full size - probably because the form factor isn't as much of an issue in a vehicle, though you could argue that the small form factor makes you more likely to grab it when you get out of the vehicle to go on a hike. BTW, SPOT X is similar but most everyone prefers the Garmin InReach Explorer to the SPOT X.

[@jaredwhite489]

How do you text Inreach to Inreach?

[@bwildjournals]

Nice tutorial! Question: When navigating off grid can you plug the InReach into a tablet to view on a larger screen? Or is it limited to the InReach screen only? Thanks!

[@OverlandBound]

HI Neil! Yes you can. The Earthmate app works on tablet devices.

[@port3973]

Good job explaining man, my question for you, as I am new to this....if I upload a map, can I navigate just like I’d do with a regular GPS? Meaning turn by turn with voice notification? Thanks

[@sethsweger1743]

Is there a way to find routes others have already created to upload to your inreach? I have one and am planning a backpacking trip and have been manually inputting our trips one point at a time.

[@TheKPDX]

Check All Trails and similar sites online. Googling gpx hiking routes will likely get you what you are looking for

[@bicycleninja1685]

How do you text message your route before you head out?

[@MartinBradyRallyCoDriver]

thank you

[@davidseck1146]

So Michael I noticed you said that you activate your account as needed before you go out. Is this like a Starbucks account? Lol I'm curious as to how this works if you don't mind. I've been dragging my feet in this because of the monthly cost but if I could do this on an as needed basis as opposed to contracts etc this changes everything.

[@Reese842]

Awesome tutorial

[@YouCantHandleTheTruth71]

Not compatible with Safari on macOS

[@OH-qp1fk]

Very helpful

[@michaelleigh5238]

you can use a ham radio for all that hams made this all possible thay have been doing it for years

[@MrDara1952]

good eventually but it took the first half to actually get to the process for importing. Otherwise good.

[@crjmoto]

Great info. Now if I could only read those tiny GPS screens... ha ha

[@TheKPDX]

FYI, for the most part you can use your cell phone or tablet linked to the device via BlueTooth

[@crjmoto]

Really.. I had not heard of this. I speak primarily with my etrex 30 experience. I record in case I get really lost but I rarely actually navigate with it.

[@TheKPDX]

@@crjmoto I get it, I have 25+ years use with Garmin GPS & it's old grey screens then finally the color screens. The ability of BlueTooth to pair with a cell phone is a real game changer. Since lots of hikers & even backpackers are using maps on their phone this works well with that plus you can link it to a tablet and use it with something like GAIA GPS in your vehicle. I have several older Garmin units but even my old Oregon can't link with BlueTooth so it's a bit of a dinosaur (kind of makes me sad when I remember how much I agonized over paying for that expensive piece of hardware something like 12-15 years ago).

[@cschueren]

Need to explain the text messages better. Otherwise its not a bad video

[@tyedavis9482]

First to comment

[@OverlandBound]

Hahaha! Congrats!

[@biologistjim4905]

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