BWCA Texting device? Boundary Waters Gear Forum
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bombinbrian
distinguished member (407)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/12/2019 12:24PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Anyone know of a device that you can use to give updates back home, besides a sat phone?
 
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04/12/2019 12:28PM  
yes there is. im drawing a blank on the name but several outfitters rent them. INREACH is the name i think. google it.
 
gravelroad
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04/12/2019 12:48PM  
Count me among the very satisfied users:

inReach® Global Satellite Technology

I've had an inReach SE for the last few years and use it frequently.
 
04/12/2019 01:52PM  
I have an InReach SE. I am able to text and receive weather updates. Different fees apply depending on your plan. If you pair it with your phone it's easier to text and you can use it as a gps.
 
huntfun2
senior member (92)senior membersenior member
  
04/12/2019 02:07PM  
The InReach works really well and has been very dependable. Able to:
* Text back home and receive texts with absolutely no issues
* You have a SoS feature
* Map features that sync to your phone along with the GPS
* Coordinate plotting
* Apparently there is a weather forecast feature which I haven't used yet but will using this year
* Your family can log onto the computer at home and watch where you are (this is really nice. My wife and sons who don't go like watching our progress to see that everything is ok and where we're fishing)
* Battery life has been really good, we just bring along a small power source and recharge when necessary

I was hesitant about getting this at first but I would never take another trip without it!
 
04/12/2019 03:31PM  
Yup InReach works great
 
04/12/2019 04:10PM  
There is also the Bivystick and the Somewear
 
04/12/2019 09:19PM  
The InReach SE+ is on sale at Costco for $220 right now, not including the annual/monthly plan costs.

There are some outfitters that rent them, and Spot's as well. I figured I would use it enough to pay the $220 last week. It is worth it to be able keep people at home appeased.
 
Birdknowsbest
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04/13/2019 07:39PM  
I suggest renting one the first time you use one to see if you like it. I know Piragis rents the In Reach.
 
IndyScouters
member (41)member
  
04/14/2019 07:05AM  
We took an InReach last year and I was impressed with how well it worked. Paired with my iPhone to make Texting easier plus the GPS and maps were great. Like others have said - take an extra power source and you should be good. I know on the GunFlint Trail Rockwood offers these and you can rent them online. If you have any questions that haven't been addressed, send me an email and I'd be happy to help answer them.
 
04/14/2019 08:46AM  
The SPOT devices work ok too, if you just want to send an I'm ok type message. You can also prepick a message like " coming out tomorrow". Some of the outfitters rent them or you can rent on line. Keep your Fed-ex receipt, I had to show I sent one back one-time.
 
scramble4a5
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04/14/2019 09:30AM  
ILcdr: "The SPOT devices work ok too, if you just want to send an I'm ok type message. You can also prepick a message like " coming out tomorrow". Some of the outfitters rent them or you can rent on line. Keep your Fed-ex receipt, I had to show I sent one back one-time. "


I have a Spot device I got marked way down when the local Gander Mountain was closing. It works great but I didn't cancel the subscription service after my trip so I have kept paying it. One way texting is good for me. I don't want to bad ansewring texts when I am up there.
 
huntfun2
senior member (92)senior membersenior member
  
04/16/2019 09:15AM  
Birdknowsbest: "I suggest renting one the first time you use one to see if you like it. I know Piragis rents the In Reach. "


I may be slow learner, but I don't like learning how to use a device in crunch time when I need it. There is a bit of learning curve with the device and just getting to know how to use it, which generally applies with any tech device. If you rent it I think you might wind up spending and wasting a lot of time on your trip trying to figure out how to use it and learning what it can do for you, not to mention you might not know how to use a certain function when you really need it most.

If you bought one or borrowed one from a friend and used it for a week or two before your trip I think you would enjoy and appreciate the device a lot more. You can have "pre-set" text messages set up, you can have the important cell phone numbers(contacts) set up in the device and you can learn how to set up the route settings that you like. You could also plug in waypoints (campsites, portages, etc..) that might be important to you on your trip ahead of time.
 
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