Delorme, Spot, Garmin. Which one?

[buglebrush]

I'm looking for some feedback here.  I'm looking for a back-country communication device, and want to know why I should buy one versus another.  I know the Garmin Inreach is excellent, but it is over twice the money of a Delorme Inreach. 

I'm not planning to use the GPS function at all as I do all that on my phone.  Simply wanting the Text messages when there's no cell service.  Call in the horses when I've got an elk down, let the wife know I'm ok, etc...  Anyone have some feedback for me?  Thanks!

[Holg3107]

I have the DeLorme InReach SE+ (the yellow unit / basic unit). It does everything I need and more. When connected via Bluetooth to my phone it can easily be used as a fully functional GPS, easy and fast to text etc... Honestly I really don't see any advantages to the newer Garmin versions, possibly durability? unsure... Based on what your usage would be I don't see any reason not to go with the original DeLorme Yellow model. I bought mine 3 months ago and couldn't be happier with it!

SPOT - You have to pre-program in texts as far as I know, Its a useful tool for emergency but not for communication.

Heres a good podcast to listen to that will probably answer your questions.

[mburrows]

Used the delorme inreach se last year over the course of 20 days out hunting. It worked great for me and provided peace of mind. Ive got no experience with the others.

[Mr Mykiss]

Tag. I have pretty much the exact same question, except for the whole calling in the cavalry with a bull down...like I’ll ever get a bull down.

[actionshooter]

I have used the spot and Delorme.... The Delorme gets my vote, I had a hunting buddy sending me messages from Africa w/ his also.

[banishd]

Ive used the delorme for three years. Works good paired with your phone. I cracked the screen on mine when i had something fall out of my backpack and hit it just right. It stays in a waterproof case now. Activating it last year was a bit confusing since it was purchased by Garmin. Ended up calling Garmin and they walked me through it on the phone. My only concern is that at somepoint Garmin will quit pushing updates for the Delorme. Would love to get the new mini version but just cant justify buying it at this time.

[Okanagan]

I have used the spot and Delorme.... The Delorme gets my vote, I had a hunting buddy sending me messages from Africa w/ his also.

Ditto. Haven't used my SPOT since I bought the Delorme InReach SE.

 I don't know anything about the Garmins but have suspected more bells and whistles at higher price.

 When away from cell coverage, we use the InReach a lot year round to text info, such as moving a backpack camp from where we had planned to meet a party coming in two days later; telling my wife I planned to stay out overnight rather than come home as planned, and so avoiding having her call SAR, making arrangements with people who live in far isolated areas.     

[mburrows]

To add to my opinion, the one negative about the delorme is there is now an expectation to check in which is no fault to the delorme lol

[vandeman17]

delorme for me too. Worked perfect for our needs two years ago in the Frank Church

[Jason]

Spot has the new X model. I like the fact it has a keyboard for texting and you don't need a cell phone to do it, the plans are cheaper also.

https://www.findmespot.com/spotx

[Okanagan]

Spot has the new X model. I like the fact it has a keyboard for texting and you don't need a cell phone to do it, the plans are cheaper also.

https://www.findmespot.com/spotx

Thanks for the link to the new SPOT.  I didn't know about this one.  It appears to be an upgraded Delorme InReach with a better keyboard and a better purchase price.   I think that my DeLorme minimal plan is cheaper than the minimal SPOTx however, though the SPOT plan has more calls on it.  The DeLorme InReach does not need a phone either. 

Does anybody know if the emergency button locks on the SPOTx?  I had trouble with my old SPOT having buttons pushed accidentally in my pack.  I finally made a hard case for it.  The DeLorme SOS button locks securely and cannot be pressed without unlocking it, which makes accidental calls to 911 almost impossible.  (If it can go wrong, it does in my pack anyway!). 

Good find.  I'd sure check it out if I didn't have the DeLorme.

This technology is phenomenal to codgers like me.  For the first time in world history anybody with one of these pocket sized, reasonably low cost devices can directly and almost instantly communicate back and forth with anybody anywhere in the world who has a common cell phone, computer or another of these devices.   

[yakimanoob]

I have the "old" SPOT (i.e., not the new messanger one).  Honestly, I don't recommend it.  It's fine as an emergency unit, but considering you get messaging + maps + cheaper subscription fees with the Garmin/deLorme, you're getting a much better value with the inReach. 

I'll probably dump the spot once my current subscription runs out. 

[boneill]

Delorme InReach 100%.

I took it down a 28 day Grand Canyon Trip and always had service.

Luckily, I've never personally used one for evacuations, but if you need to get in touch with someone, the InReach is what you want. My friends got evacuated out of British Columbia last year via heli and I've also had friends use it in Ecuador and India for evacuations (not hunting, kayaking whitewater in remote places with high consequences).

It's also very nice you can link it to your phone and text normally- texting on the InReach itself is quite painful.

[Elkcollector82]

I have the garmin inreach. Loved it. Always had service and you can set up quick messages or type out your day of hunting activity’s and send to who ever. Battery life is unbelievable. (All depends on how often you have it searching for a messages etc) the plans are cheap. But I wouldn’t get the lowest plan I would get the next one up. Cause every set point it sends it charges you. You can send a link to whoever and they can watch your every movement you make. I know garmin is looking at updating this to better map quality and better tracking bread crumbs.

  Cons for the garmin inreach. The bread crumbs are not exactly accurate. It lays your tracks fairly close to where you walked. But not exactly. The reason for this is it only updates so often to save battery life. You can login and adjust the update to every few seconds. But then the battery life goes quicker. I have mine adjusted to set a bread crumb or waypoint every 15 min. (But I don’t use it to navigate anyways unless things went south)

My partner had the spot. It worked great. Laid out tracks. Had a couple preset messages. But nothing you can communicate with. It would loose service every once in awhile. But if money was a deciding factor. I wouldn’t hesitate on buying a spot and using it.

Delorme inreach. Well garmin bought them out. So once garmin puts its own updates and twists on this unit. Delorme will be discontinued. My 

[The Big Game Hunter]

I'm looking for some feedback here.  I'm looking for a back-country communication device, and want to know why I should buy one versus another.  I know the Garmin Inreach is excellent, but it is over twice the money of a Delorme Inreach. 

I'm not planning to use the GPS function at all as I do all that on my phone.  Simply wanting the Text messages when there's no cell service.  Call in the horses when I've got an elk down, let the wife know I'm ok, etc...  Anyone have some feedback for me?  Thanks!

They're all pretty good, but it really comes down to what you want. The SPOT is cheaper and has more basic features (but still adequate for most situations). The InReach is a lot more expensive, but also allows you to combine a GPS with a fully functional messaging unit.
From the sounds of your initial post, the SPOT 3 will work for you: you can check in with your wife and let her know you're ok, call for help in an emergency, and set up a pre-programmed message to call for assistance in packing out an animal.
The SPOT cannot receive messages and it can only send pre-programmed messages to pre-programmed recipients though. For what it's worth, I've used a SPOT 3 for a long time and am very happy with it.
For more information on them, visit: http://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/gifts-for-hunters/

[netcoyote]

I have the "old" SPOT (i.e., not the new messanger one).  Honestly, I don't recommend it.  It's fine as an emergency unit, but considering you get messaging + maps + cheaper subscription fees with the Garmin/deLorme, you're getting a much better value with the inReach. 

I'll probably dump the spot once my current subscription runs out.

Just be careful to read the fine print on how to stop your SPOT subscription. I had a helluva time trying to get mine stopped and kept going round and round with their customer service. That was years ago but I swore I would never buy a SPOT product again.

[pianoman9701]

I got the Garmin Inreach this year and my wife loved that I was able to communicate in and out of the woods each day. Bluetooth with the phone works great. My recreational plan is 24.95/mo and I can suspend each month. It cost me originally about $100 to get signed up and the unit cost 289.00 on sale at COSTCO. I have zero experience with the Spot or Delorme. I had a Delorme GPS once and it sucked at picking up signals.

[ghosthunter]

I have the old spot. And for me it’s all I need. I also have a rhino 650.

It all depends on what your needs are. For me my 20 day hunting trip is coming up. I am on call 24 / 7 the rest of the year. I do t wa t to talk to anyone besides a hunting partner. My wife knows this and dose t expect me to call.

When I am alone I will use the spot to report where I am and when I am in camp.

Other than that I want to be shut down off the grid.

[Tbob]

I use a Delores inreach. Scored mine, new in the box for just under 200.00
Works great for checking in, I tell my wife I’ll check in every few days and just leave the unit off when not using it to send messages. The battery lasts forever that way too!  It did have a little trouble this year in Northen Idaho sending messages. The unit said, unable to send message and to relocate the unit with more clear view to the sky. Had one message take about an hour to go out and others only take a few minutes.. regardless, it’s a great unit to have if you’re hunting solo!

[spoonman]

Spot has the worst customer service I've ever dealt with. My Delorme has been great!

[Stein]

InReach is great, you can turn the service on or off on the website and zero problems so far.

[JeffRaines]

From what I’ve heard - not sure it’s been covered here yet - is that the spot is very hit and miss in Alaska. If you never plan on going to Alaska, then it’s not gonna matter to you. But, if that might someday be in the cards, I’d rather just go ahead and get what I need since theyre fairly close in price considering the spot x and delorme offerings.

[yakimanoob]

FWIW, I picked up a Garmin inReach SE+ before the high buck and it's WAY better than the Spot.  I really love being able to text my lady while I'm out, and ERMAGERD WEATHER FORECASTS.   I'm never going back . 

Spot subscription is up 11/22.  Here's to hoping they don't cause a fight...   

[Russ McDonald]

I just got the Spot X.  Have not received it yet.  Will use it some time next month maybe turkey hunting.  Spot also has a flex plan where you don't have to pay all year.  The problem with spotty satellite coverage is the orientati on of the satellites.  Low orbit mid or high.  Low orbit will have problems seeing in steep canyons.  These are satellite to so dense canopies they won't work well in either.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[Bushcraft]

Spot sucks. My hunting partners and I have (tried) to use it in the past.  You'd think that it would work on top of a mountain with clear skies. Not always. Get in the bottom of a valley with some timber....forget about it.  You might as well be packing a few ounces of poop in your pocket. It uses the Globalstar infrastructure...which has a long and storied history of sucking.

The (now Garmin) Inreach is supported by the Iridium satellite array. I've used one for the past few years and have nothing but positive experiences thus far. A friend loaned his to a lady friend and she successfully used it to call in the attempted rescue of the guy that died last year in the Enchantments. Very effictive means of communication when paired with an iPhone.  Almost as fast as texting with normal land based cell coverage.  Fair warning...you won't ever truly be on vacation again while hunting the backcountry. 

I've got a client in Mongolia on a hunt right now that I've been communicating with seamlessly. Buy the right plan with confidence.

[kselkhunter]

I'm sure there's maybe a way to do it with the Spot as well, but one feature with the InReach that isn't talked about as much is with my hunting partners also having InReach devices as well, we text device-to-device when we split up to hunt different drainages certain days.   This has come in very handy multiple times, to keep track of where each other are.   Similar to the concept of the Garmin Rhino, but without any of the range/terrain limitations.

Before the days of InReach, I've had to go looking for a hunting partner after dark a few times.   I don't miss those days. 

[Buckhunter24]

I am in the market for one of these and hoping to clear up a few questions. Is the text service work from the device to a cell phone or just to other inreach devices?

[Buckhunter24]

I also see 500 waypoint capacity on the one i see. Would like 1k preferrably 5k, anyone seen one with that kind of capacity?

[KFhunter]

SPOT uses an inferior satellite network,  InReach uses the iridium network which is better in the USA + Canada.

If you were in Mongolia I'd use a SPOT as they have more overall global coverage, but in areas with coverage the InReach is better.


I've had SPOT, got it when it first came out and it did what I needed it to do but it was spotty.  I used it snowmobiling back country in US and mostly in Canada at high elevations, even though I'm on top of a mountain on a blue bird day the texts were slow and inconsistent. 

The InReach isn't perfect either.  On my end I get errors that a text didn't go though, but so far all of my texts did in fact go through.  I would like better confirmation system that they did go though and leave me guessing.

[KFhunter]

I do like the small inreach mini,  I clip it to my backpack grab handle and forget it. 


I would say if you use your phone for your main GPS system get the InReach mini and just Bluetooth it.


If you don't use a cell phone then I wouldn't get the mini.

[Stein]

I am in the market for one of these and hoping to clear up a few questions. Is the text service work from the device to a cell phone or just to other inreach devices?

You can send a text to anyone with an e-mail address.  For most cell providers I think you can also "e-mail" to their phone.  I don't have it in front of me so others may chime in.  You can send a standard message or a custom one.  For typing out stuff, the app on the phone is the way to go unless you want to spend 10 minutes typing out four words on the inreach.

I don't use the inreach for GPS, mapping or waypoints, the iPhone with onX is far better at that.

For the inreach, you can subscribe for just a month if you want, you don't need an annual contract unless you want it that way.  In addition to safety, it gives me way more wiggle room with the family, they don't mind longer trips if we can pass a few notes every now and then and they don't need to worry.

I've never heard of anyone that got one and didn't like it - hunters, hikers, if you are in the woods it's an amazing tool.

[Buckhunter24]

Right on thanks guys. I think I will go pick one up this week. I have a garmin 64 i will keep using for my waypoints I think.

[sagerat]

I am in the market for one of these and hoping to clear up a few questions. Is the text service work from the device to a cell phone or just to other inreach devices?

You can send a text to anyone with an e-mail address.  For most cell providers I think you can also "e-mail" to their phone.  I don't have it in front of me so others may chime in.  You can send a standard message or a custom one.  For typing out stuff, the app on the phone is the way to go unless you want to spend 10 minutes typing out four words on the inreach.

I don't use the inreach for GPS, mapping or waypoints, the iPhone with onX is far better at that.

For the inreach, you can subscribe for just a month if you want, you don't need an annual contract unless you want it that way.  In addition to safety, it gives me way more wiggle room with the family, they don't mind longer trips if we can pass a few notes every now and then and they don't need to worry.

I've never heard of anyone that got one and didn't like it - hunters, hikers, if you are in the woods it's an amazing tool.

   I agree

[SuperX]

So has anyone tried successfully to stop auto-renewal with SPOT?  mine's coming up and I'm going to switch to the InReach Mini since I have my phone with me.

Do I need to hire a lawyer?

[birddogdad]

basemap pro on android phone?

[pianoman9701]

So has anyone tried successfully to stop auto-renewal with SPOT?  mine's coming up and I'm going to switch to the InReach Mini since I have my phone with me.

Do I need to hire a lawyer?

My Inreach has been on pause since last September. No issues with autopay happening.

[BDildine]

bought a used inreach a few years ago, saved me some $$$ and still works flawlessly. there is a yearly charge (like 30-40 i think, coming up) and you can pick from multiple level of plans, and you can do yearly (cheaper per month) or on for a month and off for 5, also you can send the waypoints with texts, so if you need help packing out, your buddies know right where to go

[netcoyote]

So has anyone tried successfully to stop auto-renewal with SPOT?  mine's coming up and I'm going to switch to the InReach Mini since I have my phone with me.

Do I need to hire a lawyer?

I had a helluva time cancelling my SPOT cancellation. Turned out my card expired about the same time so they couldn't keep charging to it and that was the end of it. That after many heated phone calls. I'd never deal with them again in a hundred years!

[bracer40]

So has anyone tried successfully to stop auto-renewal with SPOT?  mine's coming up and I'm going to switch to the InReach Mini since I have my phone with me.

Do I need to hire a lawyer?

My Inreach has been on pause since last September. No issues with autopay happening.

I bought the Inreach last year from Costco for $289 and used it daily during 10 days in Idaho (no cell service) and it worked flawlessly for letting loved ones know I was backin camp safely.
No problems suspending service and turning back on for the month of November.
Thankfully haven’t needed to push the sos button, nor was I worried about accidentally activating it as the design is pretty clever.

[JeffRaines]

I also have an inreach I bought used off ebay that has worked flawlessly.

I was reading awhile back that someone had tried using the SOS feature of spot and it didn't work at all. I've also heard spot coverage sucks in Alaska and some other countries. It made the decision simple.

[HikerHunter]

I had some issues cancelling my SPOT Gen 2 a while ago. I had it on the auto-renewal and had to talk to one person about cancelling my service, then was transferred to another to get my money back because apparently their policy is to not refund any money after the auto-renewal. Not sure if that was worth the hour of my time...

All that for a product that only sent about 50% of the messages successfully. You can't always hike to the top of a mountain just to send a message. On one trip, I went on a 3 day hunt in the backcountry and was supposedly sending "I'm okay" messages back to my wife. Got home and she was worried sick because not one message made it through. Apparently their network was down during that time. Not cool. Good thing I didn't have a real emergency.

Then SPOT doubled their yearly subscription prices out of the blue. I bit the bullet and bought an Inreach Mini. With the flexibility to turn the plan on/off, it will pay for itself quickly and there is two-way communication. And it works off a more reliable satellite network. I should've switched sooner!

[BeerBugler]

Buddy and I went halves on the Garmin inReach. Good unit, easy to use and battery life is amazing. Sharing it hasn’t been an issue, but neither of us use it for navigation, just messaging/emergency on remote hunts.