What Apple Doesn't Want You To Know!

[@brycewalburn3926]

I don't think that iPhone satellite messaging will convince many Garmin users to switch, but I do think it will convince many people who hike without any satellite communication ability that the iPhone is good enough.

[@robbiefushu5724]

Basically me. I have kids and don’t get to go remote more than 2-3 times a year. A subscription and inreach is just something I avoid. So long as I can get help when needed I’m comfortable with the phone.

[@MrSportdiver]

Exactly! I doesn't justify the buy if i already have an iphone and i don't get out that much! Also for me it's not about texts or pics but get in contact with emergency services in a worst case scenario!

[@weshickey3498]

@@robbiefushu5724 I think getting help when you need is less likely with the iPhone at this point.

[@SticksTheFox]

I honestly think thats kinda dangerous, theres already accidents revolving around people using GPS from their phones only, with no forethought and then getting stuck when their phone runs out.

[@brycewalburn3926]

@@SticksTheFox The antidote is knowing what you're doing. I've never had satellite messaging capability while hiking and I've never had a problem.

[@RuralHousewife]

I'm keeping my Garmin InReach. Last month, I had to deploy the SOS on Garmin while solo backacking. Garmin called me within 60 seconds, patched me through to the rescue rangers in GSMNP, and the rangers had me take a different route in order to meet them on the trail quicker. Because Garmin had my location pinpointed, the rangers could see every time I stopped and started hiking again. I hope to never have to use the SOS again, but wow, it made a HUGE difference that day.

[@TKAT.]

I don't get it. You hit SOS then hiked out? What.

[@RuralHousewife]

@@TKAT. SOS is not 911. It’s when you have an emergency situation and need to talk to rangers/park staff to ascertain what kind of help you need. It was a serious injury to my eye, not my legs. You should watch videos to educate yourself on the uses of Garmin InReach.

[@TKAT.]

@@RuralHousewife i hope they charged you for wasting their time.

[@Karting4life55]

Well, having your eye injured can be pretty timecritical if you don't want to loose your vision. Getting help from the rangers is reasonable in that situation. Of course, one should ideally not get injured in the first place, but that's not always in your control/mistakes happen. @@TKAT.

[@RuralHousewife]

@@TKAT. lol, they actually complimented me for remaining calm and said I did the right thing. No charge, but I made a donation that night to Friends of the Smokies, thanking the rangers by name. 🤗

[@ronb2008]

If you’re car camping, on a well used trail, or are in a group, just use your iPhone. If you’re backpacking solo off the beaten path, or in a potentially dangerous area and there’s no one for miles, bring a satellite communicator.

[@jgalleg4]

Yup. I do a lot of solo backpacking and bikepacking. I'm not getting rid of my InReach anytime soon. If my phone's battery is dead or I smash the screen on a rock or whatever, I still want to have other means of communication. It's great that this is now available on iPhones, giving more people access to that sort of communication, which I think was underscored in the wake of Helene, but something like an InReach/Zoleo/Spot is still going to be a better option for people like me.

[@MrSportdiver]

True!

[@chir0pter]

Yeah there’s no way I’d want to rely on iphone “find a satellite” if I’m twisted up at the bottom of a cliff

[@Feeris]

Apple may be trying to kill Satellite communicators, but the subscription to use the Garmin sure is rushing it along

[@jonarific8504]

Surely the business plan here is to kill of the competition with their built in advantage (everyone has a phone so you're getting it anyway), then it becomes a charged for service atop and they've suddenly absorbed someone's business. I'll bet we'll see Garmin and co lobbying about monopolistic practices soon enough. It's basically what happened to the compact camera market.

[@patrickcoyne1292]

the new prices are what is holding me back from buying a garmin

[@DJHaloM3]

This. Garmin needs no outside help killing Garmin, they're doing a knock-up job.

[@texmexia49]

Yep, stopping their pause plan was a very bad move.

[@alexeddie2479]

I'd have a Garmin if Garmin didn't have a 80 connection fee in Australia

[@bruce.KAY-bike-drifter]

If it was just about cost and convenience then your video makes sense. But the reason I invested in a Garmin Inreach device was for SAFETY. I head out into the wilderness bikepacking, and I want my wife to be able to see where I am. I also want to be able to send an SOS message if I am injured, if my bike has a mechanical failure, or if I am lost. A second reason I invested in my Garmin GPSMap 67i is battery life. I recently returned from a 6-day bikepacking trip. My Garmin had about 35% battery charge remaining at the end of the 6 days. My iPhone cannot do that. I do take my iPhone with me bikepacking. It gives me redundancy. It gives me a nicer screen view for route planning and my iPhone gives me a more user-friendly way to compose and send messages.

[@atomicsmith]

There’s another hypothetical: Starlink introduces a small communicator type device. The bandwidth would likely be less constrained and costs probably lower.

[@VigAdventures]

tesla is working on a phone that utilizes starlink!

[@michaelanthony6274]

Tmobile and Starlink are taking this on currently

[@craigburns9377]

It amazes me how most people don't yet know about the Starlink TMobile deal to come, and that's just the first, all other operators are likely to follow when the service is fully available.

[@frstesiste7670]

Satellite messaging with phones will of course cut into the satellite communicator market but if you really need it in an emergency, I'd trust a dedicated device a lot more than a cell phone with limited battery life and less rugged construction.

[@foobar9220]

I would say, it really depends. How many people nowadays are carrying a dedicated GPS for navigation, and how many rely on their phone plus maybe their watch? Here in the alps, we have pretty good cell phone coverage nowadays, especially on the ridges and on anything that faces a ski resort. But there are still quite a number of dead spots for which a satellite device would come in handy. However, given the price of satellite devices and the subscription needed, this is really hard to justify for the average mountaineer. So only a few mountain guides carry one. If satellite connectivity became an affordable option in phones, that would greatly increase safety

[@Funkteon]

@@foobar9220 Garmin's subscription pricing is outrageous-charging $36 USD per month for just 40 SMS messages (160 characters each). That works out to an eye-watering $0.90 per message. When you break down the actual data costs, the markup is staggering. For context, many satellite providers charge around $0.005 per kilobyte for excess data, or about $5.12 per megabyte for commercial partners/resellers. A 160-character SMS uses roughly 0.137 KB, so the cost to send one message is just $0.000685 USD. In total, sending 40 messages would cost Garmin around 2.7 cents-even at premium rates from satellite companies like Iridium, Inmarsat, and Globalstar. Garmin does have an unlimited SMS "Expedition" plan, but you'd need to send over 96,000 messages in a single month (over 3,000 messages per day) for their wholesale data cost to match the $66 USD they charge you. This $36 fee represents a more than 131,000% markup-an extreme overpricing of satellite SMS compared to actual data costs. It’s similar to the early days of telecom companies charging $20 per megabyte for international data roaming, only for leaked documents to reveal they were paying a nanoscopic fraction of that cost. Today, companies like Vodafone charge just ~$20 per week for GIGABYTES worth of overseas roaming data, which is a 99.98% reduction in roaming fees almost overnight. Long story short - Garmin are only marking up the price by over 130,000 percent because they've been one of the only players in the game for many years... This new model with voice message and image sending capability is Garmin's 'Hail Mary' release as they shit themselves at the prospect of Apple and Google taking over the satellite-based SMS world. Garmin dropped the ball YEARS ago and got very, very lazy with their shitty AA battery-powered devices with 320x240 LCD screens from 2004. I give it 5 years from now and nobody will give a flying fk about Garmin and they will be nothing more than a figment of many hikers memories...

[@dustyroads834]

You hit the nail on the head. The 1 bar of service syndrome where you can’t do anything but your phone says. Yepp I got this. Nope.

[@sloanNYC]

Why the clickbait title and dramatic pauses and music? You don't need this silliness, you do great work.

[@vincentvega5686]

I don't think the title is clickbait but I can see how some people can see it that way

[@ao11861]

It works tho.... new subscriber here 👋🏻

[@sloanNYC]

@@ao11861 They changed the headline to a different clickbait headline now...

[@Sea_ass79]

Why are you bitching

[@________2705]

Not WE but Most people need that sillyness

[@niftyfiftyphoto]

I used this via the beta for a mountaineering trip and had an amazing experience with the iphone texts, I never needed to turn on my inreach, I think using this more would have shown that it is incredible. That said, if SHTF I still bring my inreach

[@NoMotif]

As much as I begrudge paying the subscriptions, the features, reliability and durability of the Inreach has been a major boon to my wife and I's bikepacking. It has accidentally fallen out of one my pockets into the road, and apart from a small imperfection in the shell it's undamaged. Has literally changed the course of a couple of our trips - we've had emergency family updates (hospitlization) diverting us to nearby towns so we can check in, and utilized the on-demand weather reports to make crucial decisions (facing down severe storms vs hunkering in place kinda situations). The peace of mind is incomparable, even when we're simply out of service driving to our destinations. and the battery life being completely separate from my phones and other devices is major plus

[@LostLakes]

These are crucial practical factors I hadn't fully thought about. Relying on an iPhone with the one bar transmission issue gives me shivers. But I'm an Android user anyway heh. Even if I was an iPhone user, I would still be carrying a sat comm device. I'm sure phones will get much better at this soon, but when it comes to IT (especially lifesaving IT), redundancy always has great value

[@masterxace]

Some new androids have sat capability as well.

[@TheWillRogers]

For satellite messaging I think about it more and more. Instead of satellite communicators I've only used PLBs, the FastFind 220 specifically. I never liked the monthly cost, the battery life, and I didn't like the concept of getting into a debate with SAR. When I hit the big red button that means I cannot safely extract the person in need (you're more likely to use your beacon for another than you are yourself!) and I want the chopper to be inbound. But the monthly rates seem to be getting better and the thought of sending 'at camp' / 'leaving camp' messages to my partner is getting more and more appealing. I would never have a single device be so important, having your cellphone be your emergency beacon, your map, your communication... too many eggs in a basket that could become inoperable if you trip and the phone hits a rock, or if there's a rock under your tent and you accidently press your phone screen right into it (personal experience...). Phones are too fragile to be that important.

[@ruddyman]

Best real-world use video comparing the two services I've seen yet. Matches my own experience as well. As for the future of the services, the experience has to improve on the iPhone for me to switch completely.

[@Colby168]

I think the big thing you all aren’t talking about is when you hit the SOS button who is helping you at Apple vs Garmin. Does it go to the same dispatch? This is the part I wonder about. I believe Garmin has an internal team coordinating everything but I’m not sure what happens with Apple.

[@donnahenrikson1320]

I don't know about Apple, but I know that Garmin's service was very helpful when my hiking group had an emergency (a tree fell on one of our group). Not only did they co-ordinate rescue by helicopter, but also kept the victim's family (listed as emergency contacts) fully informed along the way - by a human being, who was happy to repeat information that a stressed family couldn't always take in in one go. That was definitely worth the subscription fee. It was my InReach, and I can pause it for $5/month. I understand that everything costs, but life is precious and priceless. Pretty cheap insurance, in my book.

[@Colby168]

@@donnahenrikson1320 this is why I’ll continue to use Garmin. Until I hear a story like that from using Apple I won’t switch.

[@christopherz92]

I'm on my county's SAR team. Super curious to see how many calls we get from iPhones once this becomes more widely adopted (and if there's a difference in the severity of their situations vs Garmin users). And for anyone wondering - I will still be carrying my Inreach for all of my personal activities.

[@RESISTAGE]

my zoleo last me 2 weeks on a charge. can any phone do that? that's wgy I stick to comm device not a cell phone

[@eric55406]

I have a Garmin Inreach Mini 2. I have it with the cheap plan for check-in messages and SOS capability. I don't have an iPhone but even if I did, I'd prefer the reliability of the Garmin device in an emergency. Thankfully I haven't needed the emergency capabilities but I'm glad it's with me when I'm out in the wilderness. I think that peace of mind and reliability is worth something.

[@shenkclan]

I just finished a section hike on the AT in an area that should be pretty cell phone friendly. I had good bars and signal but couldn't make calls or send and receive texts reliably. With my inreach messenger it worked every time, whether down in a hollow with plenty of tree cover or on top of a ridge. Messages sent with the messenger were reliable and didn't need babysitting it just worked. My conclusion is that the messenger is worth the cost for the reliability and safety. I plan to use the device during a 2025 thru-hike on the AT.

[@Erik_The_Viking]

My concerns about the iPhone are with durability and reliability. The dedicated devices are considerably more robust for outdoor conditions. I'm glad to see Apple getting into the game, as it will definitely force the other manufacturers to start making better devices. They know very well that a lot of people will be more than happy to jump ship.

[@Dizzy.peaks1]

Nothing a durable case and improved technology in the future won’t sort out.

[@Erik_The_Viking]

@@Dizzy.peaks1 Yes it will take some time. We will see what happens in the next 2-3 years. The cost for Apple will be a question down the road and now it compares with other devices.

[@planesandbikes7353]

thru hikers are logging thousands of miles a year on the same phone. Hikers are often in pairs too, so redundancy is right there. Just think until 10 years ago we backcountry adventurers had nothing at all.

[@Erik_The_Viking]

@@planesandbikes7353 Yes - often there will be multiple devices so you end up with redundancy. You're correct that to think how we managed without these devices in the first place.

[@jacoba5048]

@@Dizzy.peaks1 why do people keep getting lost and dying in national parks then?

[@cyclone3999]

I think its great that Apple is expanding their capabilities and helping the occasional outdoor enthusiast stay in contact with loved ones. But If you are a dedicated outdoor adventurer, get the dedicated tools. Garmin and companies like them have built their system specifically for navigation and communication in areas where thats not usually possible. Especially when it comes to SOS and other emergencies. As much as I love and rely on my iPhone, I don’t trust it with my life. in my opinion, these are two different tools used for two different purposes.

[@EyeHike]

As a backpacker, one thing that has multiple uses beats taking multiple things. Phone, camera, satellite communicator, music, clock, backup flashlight. I’ll just take the phone, every time I’ve shopped for a satellite communicator I hate the price, but a subscription on top of that to make it work, I just can’t.

[@wisenber]

Having one device fill so many critical needs is also a single point of failure. That's why I stopped using the combination fork/toilet paper hanger along with the sock washing coffee mug..

[@blarfroer8066]

I disagree. Phone, camera and music can definitely fit one device, but a good old wristwatch also gives you emergency navigation without any connection and an actual flashlight or headlamp is so much more practical. Unless you're only backpacking in cities, that is.

[@EyeHike]

You guys work for Garmin? Some of us backpacked before cell phones and satellite communicators. I carry a map and compass, and always a headlamp (hence backup flashlight). My camera, which happens to be a phone is my EXTRA safety. Does it have service all the time? No. But I don’t feel the need to pay HUNDREDS of dollars to send a satellite text or photo!

[@wisenber]

@@EyeHike "You guys work for Garmin?" No, but if you've ever gotten into the marine applications of navigation, you develop a greater appreciation for redundancy in navigation and emergency notification. Dry Tortuga is pretty close to Key West, but try finding it with a compass and a map with no point of reference and a Gulf current. If I'm just going on a weekend trip in an area that I know well, I may not bring any electronics or a map. The further I stray from that, the more I'll add.

[@rogerhuston8287]

Today, the iPhone can be a backup to the Garmin. You bring both anyways. Tomorrow, who knows. Maybe we're bringing a starlink antenna in the back country.

[@amunak_]

A dedicated device is better if for no other reason that you're SOL if your phone breaks (and even if somehow the InReach broke then you still have a second device - your phone - and hopefully can use it to save yourself). With that being said I hope this will pressure Garmin and others to make their subscriptions more reasonable. At the very least if I buy a 300$+ device that'S supposed to save my life I expect it to save my life at any time without additional ongoing fees. Like sure, charge me a 100$ one-time fee if I do end up needing it, but the fact that it's a brick if you don't pay the subscription should be criminal. Same with the cancellation/activation fees and crap. Like, make the pricing actually consumer-friendly... Because if you don't you'll succumb to the phone market replacing you *very* soon.

[@wisenber]

"I hope this will pressure Garmin and others to make their subscriptions more reasonable." They just increased prices right after introducing photo support.

[@WaymanBell-p2w]

The iPhone Sat messaging saved me last month when I accidentally locked my keys in my truck in a no cell signal area of the mountains of Wyoming. I had no trouble getting the satellite and sending messages, even while INSIDE my camper!

[@nohandle54]

Of course, backcountry hiking isn't the only use-case for Garmin - that $50 with images is HUGE for private sailors who are crossing oceans. To be able to send a photo of a broken engine part or similar could mean life or death

[@squngy0]

Even for hikers, a picture of a wound could help an emergency crew give better help.

[@MrGhris]

On a boat I think it would be more practical to go with starlink.

[@nohandle54]

@@MrGhris except they are cracking down on moving outside of your area of service - and you dont want it canceling at the wrong time

[@MrGhris]

@@nohandle54 Ah did not know that. I thought you just had worldwide access.

[@nohandle54]

@@MrGhris not at all - they have been lax about enforcing it until recently. Many long-distance cruisers finding service turned off

[@Kamel419]

I use the garmin in reach specifically because it is not my phone. As the name suggests, I keep it in reach very close on the top-left of my chest. That way in the event of an actual emergency I can still use it. My phone might be in my pocket, in my bag, somewhere else entirely. If I'm incapacitated I may not have the luxury of grabbing my phone. Depending on what happened, I may only have one good arm. Also the phone may be dead or gotten damaged in a fall. Much lower likelihood with the in reach mini.

[@distractedmonkeydesign]

Nice comparison/review. I'm just glad to see all the options that are developing. I'm currently using a Garmin Messenger, but I've used an Explorer, Spot and various satellite phones in the past. The Messenger is sufficiently light, battery life is awesome, and it fills my communication needs so I'll probably continue with the Garmin until there's a compelling reason to switch.

[@rayrichardson6378]

Great points! believe Garmin Freedom plan dropped the yearly fee and charges more for the use time. The Freedom Plan for us was like renting a sat phone for remote multi week remote expeditions. Paying when not using it makes as much sense as a large SatTV or CableTV bill. Pausing flex inreach service and having a low cost medivac emergency care insurance for our travels works. I believe the image and voice transmission has more justification regarding emergency care than people care to discuss. While I can't currently justify a new inreach device I do believe I find some comfort in the additional sat communications for my travels.

[@frosty_feet4404]

I know this is a niche case, but I work in Antarctica, my season is between 1 and 5 months long and I have to say the $50 to send messages, voicemails, and photos seems like such a non-issue to me. I haven't used one yet but I have been eyeing up and inReach... and it just seems like a superior product.

[@jgalleg4]

As someone who does a fair bit of solo backpacking and bikepacking I think I'll stick with my InReach for now. Yes, the iPhone has some MAJOR advantages for a lot of people, but the fact that my InReach can message and do SOS without the need for a phone along with a battery that can last for multiple days without a charge is the deciding factor for me. Whenever I buy a newer phone (I currently have an iPhone 12 Pro Max) the satellite communication ability will be nice to have, but I won't be getting rid of my InReach anytime soon.

[@Radimkiller]

It's expensive, but is if it can save your life one day, it's pretty cheap.

[@brucehargrave4837]

Exactly this! How much do you value your life? What price do you put on it? Also, the Garmin back track feature is very useful and Iridium is military standard - it works where other stuff doesn’t.

[@co2wheels]

Welcome to Denver, you're going to love it here!

[@KevinBye-ig2ev]

Appreciate the information but it also reminds me that I'm getting old and have hell of a time keeping up with technology. That's why I take a Thomas Guide on the trails. haha

[@1sgooden]

New subscriber here. Thank you for explaining the pros and cons clearly. It allows us to make the right choice for us. No longer able to get up into the high country like I used to so for us iPhone makes sense but if I was still as active as I used to be it would be Garmin with a lower tier plan and iPhone for back up. Keep creating excellent content. Hope your ankle feels better. Be safe.

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

Thank you for watching and subscribing. My ankle feels much better.

[@1sgooden]

@@MyLifeOutdoors Good to hear. Be safe.

[@TheJoshSeattle]

I’m excited for phone based messaging since it is aways with me. The live tracking feature is a safety critical feature of the Garmin while paragliding in remote areas. I hope garmin keeps going strong enough to continue to deliver its excellent service.

[@davidalderson7761]

Tracking 2.5min, 5min,10 min hands free is the key feature I use my SPOT Tracker, NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH communications back and forth. Having only one means of communication your phone isn't really enough either, having two completely separate systems is always best.

[@scottoneill774]

Thanks for the great comparison.

[@fournierluc2205]

Thank you for the good and fair review and comparison. The IPhone is the Swiss Army Knife of device, not great but functional however the functionality will improve over time, just like the phone has eliminated basic video and still digital cameras. I can see a time when the phones will be compatible with higher capacity satellite networks like Starlink and provide full Internet access in the middle of nowhere but you will probably have to pay something (roaming charge) for the service. In the meantime, Garmin and others will not attract the average backpacker/day hiker with the cost of devices and plans costing more than a monthly that put them out of reach. You also have to take into consideration that satellite network providers have set their prices based on exclusivity and with the launch of new networks, they will have to reduce their prices to remain competitive or disappear, Garmin and other communicators are just resellers of these services. There will be a market for Garmin and maybe one other that offers top-tier service but the price will have to come down significantly especially for service and they will need to make their plans more flexible (a week or a month activation at a time).

[@DubTDub]

I’m an iPhone and Apple user. Was going to purchase a Garmin inreach, but since Apple made the crossover into satellite messaging, I’m sticking with my iPhone. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@snyper069]

Thank you for the valuable tech review and opinion. Great vid! Be safe.

[@norberts482]

as an emergency device imo it's a must to have battery life more then 36 hours;) ... depending on the product and settings inreach will last for weeks

[@DustyBrushy]

Having recently upgraded to an InReach from a Spot I can say that Globalstar, in Canada anyways, has a long way to go for reliability. Not even close. I'm sure Apple will catch up like they always do but for now it's no contest when you also factor in the map check ins. The battery life is a pretty big deal when you are on a multi-day trip too. BUT, that's not most people's experience. For most people in 3-5 years, phones will likely end up being the way to go since it's there and works good enough most of the time. Much like (in North America and Europe anyways), most people no longer have a dedicated camera.

[@JeffBarnhart]

Garmins new plan changes were the nail in the coffin for me.

[@FreedomToRoam86]

Excellent video! I like that you didn’t waste a bunch of time on the technology of the InReach Messenger, because for actual use purposes, what counts is it it connects better, with less battery drain than an iPhone. Also, that you nailed on the head the Achilles heel of iPhones is battery drain, and the Achilles’ heel of Garmin is exorbitant prices to send messages or do tracks now. When I was in Utah last week, I used my iPhone to send satellite text messages, but my Garmin InReach is what I rely on for keeping a track and if I were to need it for emergencies instead of the iPhone dance. For me, that is probably what I will continue to pay for Garmin for, is emergencies. I don’t know that the track points will be worth it anymore. My iPhone, with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cell off, does a reasonable job of GPS tracking with Gaia GPS maps.

[@jeffpeters5347]

Another thing to remember, dedicated devices are much more robust in their construction. And iPhones are much more delicate. If I’m ever in an emergency, I would prefer to have something tough that will survive so that I can call SAR. If I’m solely relying on my iPhone and it breaks/fails, I’m out of luck.

[@KrizAkoni]

The thing I find lacking with the iPhone is asynchronous receive (receive satellite message while in my pocket). The Garmin does this well. Many areas where I hike there is no service at all - so I rely on messenger to messenger comms regularly.

[@bunionation1222]

Please research direct to consumer EBikes to ensure your local bike shop can/will work on them. DTC can be a nightmare for shops trying to find support for mechanical / electrical tech specs. We turn bikes away constantly.

[@BoneFromTheDale]

Great video. Sticking with my ZOLEO subscription. Unless apple switches to iridium or starlink I’ll be staying with ZOLEO.

[@kevinm1734]

I really like my ACR Personal Locator Beacon. It lacks any bidirectional text communication features because it's designed to only do one thing very well. The ONLY thing it does is send an SOS to SARSAT via satellite with GPS and broadcast radio homing signals. It does have an upfront ~$350 purchase price but the main advantages are not relying on having an up to date subscription and it has a battery life of 5 years, after which the battery is replaced. There's obviously benefits to text communication, but I prefer an SOS device that only does one thing, very reliably, without paid subscriptions or needing to remember to charge a device.

[@anninwhack1998]

I see this mostly being useful in a “civilian “ setting in an emergency like the recent hurricanes or a blizzard if power and internet go down You are very right to point out a flaw w having just one service bar. This even happens to me in some remote car camping locations where having my zoleo helps a lot to text family and check weather even if I am not using it for SOS in that setting.

[@neemancallender9092]

Interesting Thanks I use the three preset texts to keep the family happy And the peace of mind of SOS

[@TheNoobHiker]

Absolutely excellent comparison! Really enjoyed the breakdown!

[@kimohacio8189]

When your phone runs out of battery/breaks then good luck with your SOS messages, ontop of that the "1bar" no signal issue has happened to me multiple times and is a massive design flaw in the system.

[@skippylippy547]

Excellent review/comparison!!! thank you! 🥰 👍 💯

[@MarkGriffith]

I will carry both. I tried out iPhone satellite today and it was MUCH faster than garmin.

[@waysofseeing1]

Being old, you have to wonder if your life is worth the considerable sums of money spent on tech gadgets to stay safe in the backcountry. My whole outdoor life was spent without this kit. That being said, my wife made me buy a Zoleo, cheapest option i could get, up front.

[@asmith7876]

Oh dude, your wife must have talked to my wife...I'm 62, been backpacking forever, went alone forever, before cell phones were invented. Now she thinks I'm a doddering old fool, my camping partner is moving away so my new camping buddy will be an Inreach model of some flavor. Whatever it takes to stay swaying in my hammock deep in the woods!

[@stitch3163]

@@asmith7876 Apparently, my wife talked to your wife after your wife talked to @waysofseeing’s wife. I am also a doddering old fool at 66. I am currently relegated to only backpacking in areas that have cell phone reception or with a partner in areas without cellphone reception. I just don’t get out enough to fully get my money’s worth out of a Garmin subscription. However, I do have an iPhone and will use the SOS mode if I need to

[@frogturtle]

it isn’t worth it until the one day it is

[@CookingMike]

I live in the Denver area too ! I work as a cook here gret area. Its crazy how quickly you loose signal around here. Ive been saving thinking about a Garmin , but the overall value of just upgrading my phone for an sos sound sprerty reasonable .

[@fl5966]

I'm going to guess you get asked this all the time, but what is the brand/model of your hat?? Been binge watching your vidoes, great content!!

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

It’s from Dorfman Pacific Company. I think it’s the Safari something. I talk about it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXa6mHSCfqupZsksi=0xBcLYMmJrm0KxsI

[@jadenm]

I almost bought garmin but their subscription service at the time was expensive (seems like it still is). I send my itinerary out beforehand. Anything beyond that has been a bonus for me. If i can send out a text message in the remote back country, apple is good enough for me.

[@MakoBlitz]

on iphone if you have just one bar but want to use satellite anyway you can turn off your esim line. it’s one toggle and super easy!

[@Gear_Frontier]

I give it less than 3 years before dedicated sat communicators are killed off by phones.

[@amunak_]

Ehhh it's probably gonna be more than that, and there will always be a market for a separate, rugged device that can save your life in an emergency. But hopefully the cost of using it will be more reasonable.

[@thomas.thomas]

@@amunak_ Sure, people still buy dedicated walkie talkies, radio or use paper maps. But I suspect that dedicated sat communicators will be less common, they already are just a niche product

[@prisyum]

really just depends on how fast android phones adopt it now. atm, the pixel 9s are the only android phones that do. samsung can be a little on the slow side with adding features, but i guess we'll see how long it takes them

[@wisenber]

If it's more casual use sat communications, perhaps. When it comes to navigation and true SOS, dedicated rugged devices are still valuable. Toss in potential saltwater exposure and it's not close.

[@SergieRachmaninoff]

I don't see it killing them off, as there are distinct advantages to a dedicated device, but I do hope it reduces the subscription pricing or makes it more competitive (no annual fee, for example).

[@teronevala2064]

Here in Europe and specially in FInland, there is only one option and that is Garmin. So, no choice really. And my first generation InReach Mini is still kicking and working perfectly, happy to use it. Also, at least in Finland, we have much more flexible plans with Garmin. I use my device only couple of times a year, and during those times it costs 20 euros/month to basic plan which includes 20 messages and sos-service, plus 40 euros yearly fee. So, it costs me about 60e/year. Thats not bad for a basically life saving insurance.

[@BackcountryRenegade]

nice vid, alot of the same points i mentioned in my iphone vs garmin vid as well. I do like that garmin brought in photos with their new device, but another thing they did with the new messenger, that you didnt mention is they also brought voice messenges. A big game changer imo. Iphone is going to be subscription no doubt in the next year or two. Garmin for the win

[@BlacqueJacqueShellacque_]

I did a long road trip to the Arctic last year. Obviously very limited cell service. I think the iPhone would be fine for that in case you broke down or just wanted to let your family know you made it to your nightly destination. For backcountry trips I'm sticking with my Garmin. I want the ease of a simple button push in the case of a serious emergency where pointing the iPhone in the right direction may be difficult or impossible. For $8/month for SOS only, I just keep it on year round now. I take it on every hike I go on. Even if I think I'm going to have cell service.

[@ChrisHufnagel_Polymath]

Insurance policy for me and my companions on trail. I'll gladly pay the minimum for peace of mind I can send an sos.

[@dahveed284]

I have both an iPhone and an InReach mini 2. I do not see the iPhone replacing the InReach for me anytime soon. I sail offshore and the InReach's ability to send tracking updates so that friends and family can follow me and see where I am is not duplicated by the iPhone. I can get weather updates on the InReach as well. Not sure the iPhone does that via satellite. Plus its waterproof. For hiking, yeah maybe the phone is ok. But the InReach is a great tool and having it be a separate and dedicated tool means its simple and effective. Plus the battery in the open lasts for days with the 10 minute tracking interval.

[@wyregrasser7540]

My assumption is that Samsung is on the doorstep also. It will be very interesting, for me, to see how they counter. I'm a S23ultra user. Thanks for the share. 👴.

[@TruuGemini]

I recently went out camping no cell service and satellite mode wasn’t even working which was a huge let down. Until I experience a sent message thru satellite mode, garmin would be the way to go if I was willing to pay. However I’m not willing to pay period. So ima have to wait and see what happens with iPhone lol.

[@TheFoxyt2]

Inreach for SOS is king. A few iPhone msg is nice to have. But I’ll be keeping my inreach for a long long time.

[@RedWingsninetyone]

It should be noted that fat bike tires also have much more grip and you can run lower psi which are both great for riding in the snow. However, it also means that they tend to like to wander if your psi isn't super high or you're going pretty quickly.

[@JesemanuelRamirez]

Do I have to pay a monthly subscription for a whole year or is it pay as you need? Because if I can just pay for a month and I know that I’m going on a big trip, just chuck it in your budget as a travel expense. But having to be tied to a multi year contract like a phone service then it’s going to be very pricey.

[@mickilkr]

Dude this channel is awesome. Outdoors!

[@rgs559]

While satellite messaging devices can be life-saving in remote areas, they are sometimes considered a "bane" for search and rescue teams because of the potential for false alarms, where users accidentally trigger an SOS signal, leading to unnecessary rescue missions that divert resources away from genuine emergencies and put rescue personnel at risk; this is especially problematic when location data is inaccurate or the user doesn't properly understand how to operate the device.

[@countrygirl63baker64]

😊thank again Steven, always great info !!!

[@invaderjoshua6280]

The only way Garmin and Zoleo will survive long term is if their devices drop to about $100 and the subscription for unlimited messages is only $2 a month. Once Apple and Google really get their acts together with satellite communication or team up with SpaceX or something like T-Mobile is doing it will be over.

[@EdwinWatson]

Garmin in the last couple of weeks, increased their pricing on their InReach plans. They digging their own grave at this point!

[@Harry-Giles]

Literally was hiking this week in Zion and was thinking about this. Timely video.

[@vonsigler5596]

So, what doesn’t Apple want me to know?

[@romererunamerika9437]

good content Steve v hummingbird guru!

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

Hey Hummingbird Guru! Good to hear from you.

[@romererunamerika9437]

@@MyLifeOutdoors planning the CDT in may. Maybe you can section a small portion in colorado with me?

[@francoisgirard8399]

No iPhone has the autonomy of the Garmin. What a lack of understanding!

[@mikemazzantini6397]

I sent a text from the iphone the other day with no service...it was awesome. I've never found enough need to justify the Garmin monthly charge.

[@robertsurtees4380]

Live tracking can save your life if you can't push the button.

[@frogturtle]

wish it had impact detection

[@BennyHubba]

Does the “find my” function work through the satellite connection?

[@patrickflowers9140]

Very happy with my Zoleo. I do not like Apple phones at all so this feature isn't something I'm interested in on on their platform. A stand alone satellite messenger is the way to go in my opinion. Like you said they are though, designed for one purpose and do it well.

[@logicsoundinc]

I really like Apple products, their ecosystem, and the form factors...but I will always keep a toe in other companies/manufacturers. I bring a Zoleo into the backcountry (it's nice to be able to turn it off in the off season), and I use a Garmin watch every day. My phone, earbuds, and laptop are all Apple though. I don't think Apple is quite ready to take the market away from Garmin. On top of that, don't forget Garmin's foothold in aviation.

[@mowensmd]

The key is the sat network. That means Starlink is the only future.

[@azimali322]

Best thing about all of this is the competition amongst GPS messengers, in general. Apple offering the service for free (until whenever they decide to stop) is definitely going to make GPS messengers have to do a double take to make sure they are competitive. Personally, I don't think Garmin's messenger device needs to cost as much as it does with some of the monthly rates that they offer. Or just make emergency messaging/a few free GPS messages built-in with the cost of the device and not on a monthly fee.

[@jayalicekurtmaya]

Great video and thoughtful comments, but curious to hear if you think that both of them will be dramatically affected by Starlink's direct to cell service with T-Mobile?

[@ValkyrieHikes]

Also... you have the option (which I highly recommend if you can do it) of getting Rescue Insurance with your Garmin subscription. I have the rescue insurance for myself and my son, and it already more than paid for itself when I needed to call for rescue when my son ended up with altitude sickness.

[@matthewdonoghue321]

I have been on the fence about buying one of these satellite devices for years. By the looks of this video I should just wait a couple more years till the cellphone tech evolves to be better.

[@msiege5212]

What about Google Pixel? Android 15 actually. I also recently tried a Motorola Defy that worked and is super cheap.

[@diamondnvi7675]

Personally I don’t mind the service fee for garmin. As someone who doesn’t get out more than twice a year, but when I do it’s for extended periods of time, $8 doesn’t feel that bad. Especially since they allow flexible cancellation and restarting of the service. Although I might feel this way because I’m 6 years out from my inreach purchase and have forgotten the initial sunk cost

[@PeterR0035]

Begin 2023; CAT S75 normal phone with satellite capabilities. Keep up to date, man. Unless this is hidden advertising from your free iPhone or inreach sponsor 😮 And why not discuss the EPIRB option?

[@cmiller4567]

Can you comment on the quality of the photos and voice messages received via satellite? I'm curious how much compression is involved.

[@TheDirtyBirchTrails]

Unfortunately Garmin pricing has ALWAYS been out to lunch with it's devices, maps to purchase and its subscription costs !! And yes I have had many of them over the last 20 years !!

[@wisenber]

It depends on your use case. For hiking the maps and subscriptions are high. For water, they have a virtual monopoly, but changes in sea channels are critical.

[@leviantuna8553]

I just switched my Garmin to the $8 a month for Emergencies only because of the iPhone update.

[@0ricle]

Im thinking of replacing my Garmin with a PLB for emergencies (no subscription required), and using an iphone for back country communications.

[@tarekith]

Same.

[@danvk3ndg104]

Hey Stephen, just curious why you’ve switched from Zoleo to Garmin?

[@stigcc]

How much did you get for this?

[@david.seholm]

Garmin is much bigger than the in reach ... if they put this out, their market research shows there is a market for it.