My Garmin inReach Mini 2 saved my life. I will not go into the backcountry with out it, and I’ve informed mates, members of the family, and most of the people that in the event that they love exploring the nice open air, they need to carry one, too.
It is an invaluable piece of backwoods gear.
And whereas there are different satellite tv for pc communicators available on the market, corresponding to Zoleo and Spot, one that everybody’s requested for is one from Apple. Particularly, they have been asking for years for the corporate to construct that performance into the iPhone. Now that is a actuality, as with the upcoming iOS 18 replace, everybody with an iPhone 14, 15, or forthcoming 16 could have the flexibility to ship texts or SOS indicators to each family members and emergency responders.
However although I feel Apple including that function to its iPhones is a superb concept, entry to emergency providers once you want them most must be as seamless as potential with a purpose to convey the message shortly and effectively, I do not assume an iPhone can substitute your Garmin. Or your Zoleo or Spot, for that matter.
Why? Effectively, all of it comes all the way down to sturdiness and use case, one thing the iPhone has at all times struggled with.
I am extraordinarily exhausting on my gear. I prefer to joke that I am the engineering edge case, the one individual designers and engineers worry, in order that they construct one thing a bit of extra sturdy than they most likely have to. I drop my gear on the bottom, throw it into the again of my truck or into the Pelican case on prime of my Can-Am, and fall with it on bikes quite a bit. I’ve dunked myself in rivers and dust puddles, and usually handled every thing I personal with wanton abandon.
What I am attempting to say is, I break a whole lot of gear. And that features so many telephones, I’ve actually misplaced depend, together with quite a lot of iPhones.
Regardless of the newer telephones going by way of additional torture testing, I’ve nonetheless managed to interrupt them. As have numerous others. Screens shatter, water will get into the case, bikes vibrate them to items, mud causes them to cease emitting sound, or they get too sizzling and die. They might now be constructed out of titanium, however they don’t seem to be indestructible. The truth is, mine’s at present not doing nice and I’ve had a case round it since day one.
And that is as a result of they’re simply not made for these actions.

iPhones are supposed to dwell in our pockets, on our nightstands, on our desks, or in our automobiles. They don’t seem to be rugged instruments. They’re simply telephones, no less than for the overwhelming majority of individuals. Apple might doubtless develop an adventure-oriented iPhone, however it’d be investing tens of millions in R&D for a really small portion of the huge iPhone-buying public.
So why hassle when the margins can be so small? However that is not the case with my inReach Mini 2, which is constructed to take successful and carry on working, as are the Zoleo and Spot.
Within the handful of years I have been operating Garmin’s inReach Mini 2, I’ve thrown it into rivers, run it over with a bike, dropped it right into a mud puddle, ran it over with my Can-Am, connected it to numerous packs on bike rides and looking hikes, dropped it, smashed it, washed it, and handled it as if it was principally an inanimate rock. And whereas there are a couple of scratches right here and there across the case, it really works and, after I wanted it probably the most, saved my dumbass from a freezing-cold destiny.
It doesn’t matter what, it simply works. And that is what you need in a satellite tv for pc communicator. The iPhone, nevertheless good the most recent and nice is perhaps, simply is not that. A minimum of, not except Apple decides to make a extra adventurous model. An iPhone Extremely, because it have been. However whereas there are rumors of such a cellphone, nothing has been introduced they usually’re simply that, rumors.
I’ve personally gone by way of too many iPhones to entrust my security in one thing designed for regular, non-edge-case human beings simply dwelling their lives within the security of house. The Garmin was designed for me, in addition to everybody else who runs the backwoods, to exit and do cool shit and take a look at to not die.
However here is the factor. I do assume that Apple including the function to these iPhone fashions is an efficient factor. It is the outdated adage of “Higher to have one thing and never want it than want it and never have it.” If Apple’s satellite tv for pc communications networks works and helps guarantee others get out and discover, however nonetheless have emergency providers inside attain, nice, I am all for it. Energy to the individuals and all that jazz.
However on the finish of the day, my Garmin saved my life. My iPhone would not activate as a result of it obtained too sizzling.
I do know which one I am entrusting my security to.
My Garmin inReach Mini 2 saved my life. I will not go into the backcountry with out it, and I’ve informed mates, members of the family, and most of the people that in the event that they love exploring the nice open air, they need to carry one, too.
It is an invaluable piece of backwoods gear.
And whereas there are different satellite tv for pc communicators available on the market, corresponding to Zoleo and Spot, one that everybody’s requested for is one from Apple. Particularly, they have been asking for years for the corporate to construct that performance into the iPhone. Now that is a actuality, as with the upcoming iOS 18 replace, everybody with an iPhone 14, 15, or forthcoming 16 could have the flexibility to ship texts or SOS indicators to each family members and emergency responders.
However although I feel Apple including that function to its iPhones is a superb concept, entry to emergency providers once you want them most must be as seamless as potential with a purpose to convey the message shortly and effectively, I do not assume an iPhone can substitute your Garmin. Or your Zoleo or Spot, for that matter.
Why? Effectively, all of it comes all the way down to sturdiness and use case, one thing the iPhone has at all times struggled with.
I am extraordinarily exhausting on my gear. I prefer to joke that I am the engineering edge case, the one individual designers and engineers worry, in order that they construct one thing a bit of extra sturdy than they most likely have to. I drop my gear on the bottom, throw it into the again of my truck or into the Pelican case on prime of my Can-Am, and fall with it on bikes quite a bit. I’ve dunked myself in rivers and dust puddles, and usually handled every thing I personal with wanton abandon.
What I am attempting to say is, I break a whole lot of gear. And that features so many telephones, I’ve actually misplaced depend, together with quite a lot of iPhones.
Regardless of the newer telephones going by way of additional torture testing, I’ve nonetheless managed to interrupt them. As have numerous others. Screens shatter, water will get into the case, bikes vibrate them to items, mud causes them to cease emitting sound, or they get too sizzling and die. They might now be constructed out of titanium, however they don’t seem to be indestructible. The truth is, mine’s at present not doing nice and I’ve had a case round it since day one.
And that is as a result of they’re simply not made for these actions.

iPhones are supposed to dwell in our pockets, on our nightstands, on our desks, or in our automobiles. They don’t seem to be rugged instruments. They’re simply telephones, no less than for the overwhelming majority of individuals. Apple might doubtless develop an adventure-oriented iPhone, however it’d be investing tens of millions in R&D for a really small portion of the huge iPhone-buying public.
So why hassle when the margins can be so small? However that is not the case with my inReach Mini 2, which is constructed to take successful and carry on working, as are the Zoleo and Spot.
Within the handful of years I have been operating Garmin’s inReach Mini 2, I’ve thrown it into rivers, run it over with a bike, dropped it right into a mud puddle, ran it over with my Can-Am, connected it to numerous packs on bike rides and looking hikes, dropped it, smashed it, washed it, and handled it as if it was principally an inanimate rock. And whereas there are a couple of scratches right here and there across the case, it really works and, after I wanted it probably the most, saved my dumbass from a freezing-cold destiny.
It doesn’t matter what, it simply works. And that is what you need in a satellite tv for pc communicator. The iPhone, nevertheless good the most recent and nice is perhaps, simply is not that. A minimum of, not except Apple decides to make a extra adventurous model. An iPhone Extremely, because it have been. However whereas there are rumors of such a cellphone, nothing has been introduced they usually’re simply that, rumors.
I’ve personally gone by way of too many iPhones to entrust my security in one thing designed for regular, non-edge-case human beings simply dwelling their lives within the security of house. The Garmin was designed for me, in addition to everybody else who runs the backwoods, to exit and do cool shit and take a look at to not die.
However here is the factor. I do assume that Apple including the function to these iPhone fashions is an efficient factor. It is the outdated adage of “Higher to have one thing and never want it than want it and never have it.” If Apple’s satellite tv for pc communications networks works and helps guarantee others get out and discover, however nonetheless have emergency providers inside attain, nice, I am all for it. Energy to the individuals and all that jazz.
However on the finish of the day, my Garmin saved my life. My iPhone would not activate as a result of it obtained too sizzling.
I do know which one I am entrusting my security to.