STOP Choosing the Wrong GPS SOS Device for Your Next Hike

[@gabriele1975]

I’m here for the arm waving Toni 😅 Keep up the good work! ❤

[@TonyHobbs]

Lol you'll love an upcoming video 😆

[@Bikepacking]

Very good video mate

[@heinihefti8969]

Another interesting video. Years ago I bought the inreach SE before they merged with Garmin. Unfortunately, it felt down on rocky ground and was defective. Now I own the inReach Mini which has a much shorter battery life. If you don't pair the device with your mobile phone, it's difficult to write messages. The old device was better for me, even though it was a bit heavier.

[@TonyHobbs]

The original mini ie yours i believe the battery died even shut off. The mini 2 solved that so definitely better. Pop in pack shut off and itll last weeks and weeks. Interesting i didn't know inreach was originally separated i thought garmin invented a new thing and new name etc. Great comment thanks 😊

[@domo3552]

Interesting Tony. Your friend Chris recommended the Samsung XCover 7 phone to me, which is their rugged, shockproof, weatherproof phone as a good alternative to stand-alone GPS units. His advice was great as he considered my needs, where I'd need a spare phone as back up, so the XCover 7 serves as a full-on smartphone/GPS mapping. Id still want an InReach though

[@TonyHobbs]

www.christownsendoutdoors.com/2024/12/favourite-new-gear-of-2024.html Link to Chris article there with phone included. Interesting. I already carry two phones my main phone a Samsung s24 and a iPhone 13pro max that's mainly back up and bigger screen for mapping outdoor active i use and mostly for watching movies and the battery is much better than my Samsung. They are both in lightweight plastic housings, both waterproof etc only if water gets in ports there is only one port on both need to let dry no biggie) and just be careful. Although if you saw my vid with Chris last year both were in a pocket and when I collected water both fell out! Into river! Thankfully very easy to collect and no issues.but now by water I check pocket!!!! What i like with 67i it's got sos plus full routable mapping and no touch screen and battery will outlast phone my miles. But I'll need to remember to turn it off!! Leave on at night under cover drains battery badly very badly as its using power to locate satellites. Once hooked up it's fine

[@raymondlogister6828]

Thank you for this useful video.This is much appreciated. I also planing to replace my Garmin inreace mini 2 for the Garmin gps map 67i. I use now for navigation a old Garmin i-trex, with separate batteries, and that is not great. The 67 has a big battery capacity. And then I go from 2 devices to 1.

[@TonyHobbs]

Exactly the battery looks very very good in 67i . The screen is decent and check out talkytoaster mapping for it.

[@The-Highlands]

This type of GPS are one of the best ever built. I own two of those Garmin 60 CSx and I will never leave my house without one despite that my Garmin Fenix 8 it’s always on my wrist. Despite my watch being good never compares with the Garmin 60 CSx I’m glad to see that you went back to the map one. How long are the batteries lasting on your model?

[@TonyHobbs]

It's almost a no brainer in a way. This is about 270g. Inreach mini 2 was 110g. This has all that. So for 160g you're getting complete mapping back up. This is supposed to be very good. My understanding is the battery life is excellent and several to many days. I've heard 160 hours whuch in theory is 6 days constant use but potentially a couple weeks worth. Time no pun lol will tell my garnin epix will do 4 days of gps use at say 6 hour days. Which is less than advertised but still excellent. So this must do loads more. I agree watch excellent but bigger independent screen nice. What mapping you using?

[@FOXMAN09]

The battery on that is excellent. I considered it for bike camping but there is no easy way to mount it on handlebars. Just went with a more basic coros dura.

[@TonyHobbs]

Between this and my epix watch I'll not need to charge mapping up much lol

[@Bikepacking]

You wont want to keep on the bike ie handle bars just keep it on you like wear one of those vests

[@LoremIpsum1970]

Hiking Guy did a good review and comparison on this, esp with the latest sat updates on the iPhone (Android soon). Been looking at this, but I'd carry both, the mini 2 as a backup at only 100g.

[@TonyHobbs]

Yes he shows my epix and 67i both do very well. I like this as back up with mapping. My mini 2 with clip was 110g so the 67i is only 160g more for full mapping and long battery life mini yes it's bit more but if phone batteries dies chances high this will be ok

[@TheSimong69]

now thats a nice piece of kit.. im still old school with map and compass, but i will think of buying that piece...hmmmm very intresting... great vlog brother

[@TonyHobbs]

Always carry the old bit of paper n puss lol this a nice addition 👌 many thanks for popping by tonys directional pointer 😆

[@TheSimong69]

@@TonyHobbs funny.hahahahhaha

[@jasonkelsey987]

Very good. I’ve got a Montana 700. Weighs a ton but my eyes are rubbish so need the bigger screen. You can lock the screen. Very complicated to use and set up compared to my old sat map. I probably should have got the one you have with the buttons. Still at 800 quid with all the maps not going to change anytime soon.

[@TonyHobbs]

I was very very very seriously looking at Montana.... but size weight put me off a bit plus the touch screen. If you lock it dows that mean you can't actually do anything with screen? The battery also put me off. The 67i should last long ish time. Having said that your Montana is a serious bit of kit. Enjoy.

[@fatherdamo2]

@@TonyHobbs @jasonkelsey987 Have the Montana700i too, got it because of the big screen too, more though to see more map on screen, a limitation of my previous small screened GPSMAP devices. Had it since 2021 and it's earnt my trust, its a solid bit of kit. Brought to replace the NUMO, GPSMAP64s & Spot device. Battery lasts me two days, and easily charged in the field with battery bank. Recently used in Chile, kept me in touch with back home and allow great navigation.

[@Gromit-walkies]

Any thoughts about Starlink's text-by-satellite facility disrupting this area ? Works with current 5G phones and being rolled out in USA by T-Mobile. EE rumored to be considering this for the UK in the next year or two.

[@TonyHobbs]

Probably OK shame it's musks I'd stick with garmin

[@theslatestonecarver4454]

A map and compass is all you need you don't need all the GPS gadgets it's because of the gps that folk cannot read a map or use a compass correctly to start with !!!!!

[@TonyHobbs]

Always carry map and compass and know how to use it! I always do and am fairly proficient with it. Some compliavcted lands like north Wales is more challenging but generally it's fairly simple. Fog etc more tricky. But with care is ok. With a GPS on phone or gadget you still need to read the map and contours to know the terrain etc.

[@wildyorkieoutdoors7271]

​@@TonyHobbsGreat reply 👍

[@mezmerya5130]

I mean, man, i understand everything, but you have rolex explorer on one wrist, and epix 2 pro on another wrist. You don't need to justify your purchases really.

[@TonyHobbs]

Haha 😄 fun to explain alternative options 😄

[@wildyorkieoutdoors7271]

What is all the fuss about?

[@TonyHobbs]

Sounds like you're fussing about something lol 😆 spill the beans so we all enjoy them 😉

[@wildyorkieoutdoors7271]

@TonyHobbs 😂😂😂😂

[@michaelhex]

Dedicated GPS units are now a complete waste of time and weight, apart from explorer type people going way off grid into the jungle or arctic etc, which you are obviously not. I gave up watching after 6 minutes as by then you really hadnt said anything definitive at all and please stop waving your arms around its just bloody annoying and distracting. Phones have much bigger and better screens, in built GPS, you can download OS maps 1:25000 scale maps and use them offline and for the price of a 67i £489, you could actually buy 2 and just use them as backup to each other. I used to have a Oregon 750i and got rid of it as I never used it. I have a Fenix Epix 2 Pro, which I download courses to but use it primarily for displaying OS Grid References (its just the dogs!!!), before that I have a F7x, F6X, etc. I do have an Inreach Mini 2, purely for the SOS, online sharable tracking, and text messaging for emergencies. As a pilot I have to carry a PLB, so I always bring that along as well, because as good as the garmin is, it isnt a "professional" device whereas a PLB is and talks to the world wide CORSAT/SARSAT SAR constellation. And I see there are comments about "Duh, you only need a map and compass" so before they moan again, Grow the fuck up. A prepared person takes advantage of all the technology available so they can be as safe as possible. WTF do you think a compass is ?, its technology, and they fail as well. Thats why people carry backups. My watch has a compass, 2 in fact, my Inreach has a compass, and my partner carries her own compass. I also carry laminated OS 1:25000 scale maps as a primary navigation tool, as its a great skill to continually practice, but in 20m vis, 35mph winds and horizontal rain on top of Yes Tor, its also bloody nice to look at your watch and just confirm you are where you think you are.

[@TonyHobbs]

I appreciate your detailed perspective! It's true that different tools work for different situations, and having backups is always a smart move. Thanks for sharing your experiences! AI Even writes replies now! OK Back to me... AI kinda sums it up tbh! I'll be sure to wave my arms even more to annoy people with a low threshold of enjoyment in life Mr TurdWarbler, perfect name for a Mr Grumpy! If you had watched more rather than complaining you'd have heard my reasonings as you carry an inreach mini two as I did I have added 150g for a more functional tool. Talking of tools Mr Grumpy lets carry on, I do love a troll, you're too much fun to bait back.. Battery life is supperior to phone, it's stronger and won't be affected by rain etc. I'll nbe in Norway and nope not a million miles to North Pole but it'll be handy option. The mapping on this is excellent with TalkyToaster and it has more paths than on OS maps. Yes I said if you watched more, that a phone is better screen etc. If you watched you'd see I showed my phone with Outdoor Active mapping which has OS and Harvey on it. I f you followed the channel more ratrher than maoning Mr Grumpy, you'd know I also have a Garmin Epix Pro 2. I wear it 24 /7 it's excellent. Longer trips the batter needs a top up with this in combo that is less power usage. I had the F7x and 6X too... Check out my watch channel I can annoy you more there. Then you comment on compass map brigade quite correc t then contradict yoiurself by saying tech is there to use, exactly.... ;-) I always carry a map and compass, usually a Harvey map. Thanks for comment, I hope you let video run whilst typing it all lol - I suggest watch more arm waving :-)

[@fatherdamo2]

GPS units are still superior IMO to phones, battery life for one, as for Apps, OSmaps etc can randomly log you out (had it happen) to check subscription, and you are screwed if you don't have a signal, even if you've downloaded an offline map, because they won't let you back in. Didn't when I was in middle of Hebrides last year. Did complain, they might have listen. At time I dug 700i out of pack and OSapp got benched), so only use OS maps on chrome for planning at home now. Watch is great if sticking to a route, have a Fenix7x, but prefer my 700i when naviagting and going off track.

[@michaelhex]

@@fatherdamo2 GPS units are generally more sturdy I grant you that (however you can buy ruggedised phones), but apart from that they are now just a waste of money. I have never had OS Maps log me out and I always use it with downloaded maps, but maybe it will one day, but we have 2 phones. I walk with my partner, we both carry OS maps on our phones, we both have Garmin watches that display an OS Grid Ref, and an IR mini 2, and we always walk with a laminated OS map and 2 compasses. I dont really download courses to the watch, no need really. I virtually always walk with map and compass, its a great skill to keep current, I only use the OS grid ref when I am in a hurry and I just want an accurate fix.

[@muddytify]

Respect to you sir. All valid reasons to use modern tech. I myself take both a map, compass and my 67i when going to more remote regions of the UK. I like the belts and braces approach of having the ability to send an SOS just in case the phone doesn’t have cell connectivity. Admittedly, lack of phone signal in remote locations is rare nowadays but still an issue in some places. You crack on mate and enjoy using your tech. Each to their own 🙂