SPOT vs InReach?

[Krampus Snail]

Anyone have opinions about SPOT vs InReach for a tracker? I like that InReach lets you text back and forth (to the emergency doctor, when you're trying to figure out what to do with the guy with the broken leg and the spine injury, for example). But it does cost twice as much as SPOT. Anyone know about reliability of those two devices?

[dh024]

I bought an InReach to do some solo touring on the Trans Canada Trail this summer. They work really well, and I never really had any problems with dropped reception, even in some thick forest in central BC, and I always carried the thing in the bottom of my handlebar bag. However, the text function isn't like on a cell phone. It takes 5 - 10 minutes for each text to reach the destination number. So it's not really like one can text back and forth and have a conversation in real time.

Having said this, I also brought the device on a 4-day trip I did through the Canadian Rockies with a good friend of mine. He is a backpacker and long-time SPOT user. He borrowed my InReach device for a week-long backpacking trip, and he liked it so much he is now ditching the SPOT in favour of the InReach device. So there's one informed vote in favour of the InReach.

[Krampus Snail]

I'm not so interested in having a text conversation as being able to text to my husband that I'm OK, in a comfortable campsite, and haven't been attacked by a grizzly bear. He told me today to get the InReach instead of the SPOT, because he'll have more peace of mind hearing from me every day. It's worth the extra money to him.

[NT]

I've used a spot for several years and was planning on bringing it on my thru ride of the CT this past summer until my friend got an inreach which we used instead. I like it way better than the spot but it's still got some issues. Super clunky interface makes typing a text take fooooorrrrreeeeevvvvvveeeeerrrrrrrrrr, but at least you can text back and forth. It was super helpful for a couple of resupplies we set up and was nice to not have to think of just a few 'canned' texts that the Spot limits you to. I had a mechanical and was able to have my wife get in touch with a bike mechanic in lake city and silverton for me.
I'd like to upgrade to the inreach but am thinking about holding off until the next version- hoping they can make one that has gps capabilities on par with my garmin (current inreach kind of sucks for gps navigation).

[Krampus Snail]

My understanding is that you can use your iPhone to compose texts, then bluetooth them to the InReach. Did you have the ability to try that interface?

[NT]

I didn't get a chance to try that but believe my friend has. We didn't use that function on the trip as he was saving his iphone batteries.

[dh024]

I'm not so interested in having a text conversation as being able to text to my husband that I'm OK, in a comfortable campsite, and haven't been attacked by a grizzly bear. He told me today to get the InReach instead of the SPOT, because he'll have more peace of mind hearing from me every day. It's worth the extra money to him.

Then this will definitely be a good device for you. The other very nice thing is that if people need to reach YOU (e.g., in an emergency), they can either respond to one of your text messages or you can set up a password-protected web page on the Delorme site where they can send a message. That in itself is worth the extra cost of the InReach device.

My understanding is that you can use your iPhone to compose texts, then bluetooth them to the InReach. Did you have the ability to try that interface?

And yes, you can use an iOS or Android device to compose texts. It is WAYYYYY easier than composing texts on the InReach

[jaymtb]

Hi,
I used one on ID Hot Springs route.  The rechargeable battery seemed like a downside at first.  However, I  did not need to keep tracking on, just turning it on occasionally to send a few tracking points and or preset messages and an occasional free form text with an Android phone.   The 3 free preset text messages must be  pre-defined with content and  those to whom they will be sent. 
There was a strange hang in the hardware that would not allow a recovery by turning off.  To clear this I found a "secret handshake"  button hold sequence that cleared it on an Inreach forum.  I put this key sequence on a laminated note along with the preset  messages.

The keypad/user interface seems a bit cheesy- like an old flip phone.   They may  update it on  newer more ballyhooed model, preferring to  withhold new technology as long as possible -- a practice known as crippleware. 

It worked fine, and all messages came through OK.

[dgjessee]

I would absolutely get the InReach Explorer edition so I could combine a SPOT and GPS navigation. But I would want something that I could still use in races when Trackleaders is present. I'm assuming TL only works with SPOT...can anyone say otherwise?

[gotchile]

So I'm assuming the InReach devices will show up on the TD Spot Tracker?

[ScottM]

Yes, TL has direct support for inReach feeds -- available for any bikepacking event including TD.  We do not, however, rent inReach units -- only SPOTs, including Gen3 and the super small/light/simple Trace units.

I haven't used the combo GPS/inReach, but every other Delorme GPS I've used has been pretty clunky and frustrating, IMO.  I prefer the cheap Garmins, for sure.

The ability to text (2-way comm.) is a nice feature that SPOT does not give you.  In most cases the 2-3 message types can get the point across, but in a few cases it is nice to get actual words across.  The downsides, I guess, are cost (per msg) and a little bit of weight/bulk.

[Flounder]

I have both the third gen SPOT and the new inReach Explorer. I used the inReach for a month in Iceland's remote backcountry and again in the remote Andes of Ecuador. It works flawlessly. The battery life is great, the functions work as advertised. It's great. It does work best for messaging when paired to a phone, but its not necesssary.

[ScottM]

What's your sense on the battery life on the inReach?  They claim 100 hrs at 10 / min tracking, but that's with clear view of sky.  Do you think you got close to that?

It's not too big a deal to recharge it several times while on a longer trip like TD, though it does mean you need to find outlets or get a room (or dynamo...).

If I were racing TD I'd probably go with a Trace -- tiny and one set of batts for the whole event.

[RonK]

My Inreach uses AA lithium batteries. One of my prime reasons for choosing it over the Spot.
Two sets lasted for a month on tour with around 5 - 8 hours use per day.

[Flounder]

Scott, I'd say their claims of battery life are not over stated. I don't often use such a tight ten minute track interval, but when I do, I'm surprised by the battery life. The reason most own an inReach is for the messaging, and that takes up the most juice. That said, I "chatted" with my wife from Iceland almost daily, maybe 3-8 messages a day, and it would hold a solid charge for 3-5 days depending. That's with a lot of use.

For my charging needs, I brought an Anker 12,000mAh charger. Love that thing. Not terribly heavy, has no external buttons (you shake it to turn it on) and it could not only charge my iPhone 4-5 times if needed, it charged the inReach Explorer 3-4 times during my month in Iceland. What I really loved about that duo was that the Anker would charge the inReach from say 50% to full in about 30-45 minutes. Charging the Anker is a little slow and needs a full night.



I did a pretty comprehensive review of the inReach here: http://expeditionportal.com/field-tested-delorme-inreach-explorer/

This review I did is also relatively fresh. Good information in here about how these devices work to some degree. And man...this took a while to compile.

http://expeditionportal.com/personal-locator-beacons-and-satellite-messengers/




So, here's an interesting anecdote regarding messengers in use on the bike. While in Iceland I had three rather ambitious (read foolish) routes I wanted to ride. One involved a series of major rivers to cross. I was about a mile from the first big river and I heard my inReach go, "ding." I had a message from my wife that read, "Be careful crossing that river." Pretty wild that I was being "watched" from above. I could't cross that river and was able to tell my wife why I was altering my route. With my SPOT, she just would have seen me changing course with no way to tell her why. As a solo traveler these things are comforting.

Also, when I was in Ecuador in October I got another, "Ding," as I was riding through a certain town my wife had researched. The message said, "Please buy me an alpaca scarf at their textile market." Again....VERY important communications.

[evdog]

Bumping this thread!

I have been thinking of getting a unit but still undecided on which one.  I would have it mainly for emergency use, but would also like to use it on Trackleaders for bikepack races.  I had always thought Delorme would not work with Trackleaders, but per Scott above they do work, which is good to know. 

For basic emergency use I don't see an advantage for either.  But I really like the messaging capability of the Delorme, could be a life-saver when you need it.  Realistically though I probably would not use it often. 

Disadvantages, the Delorme is a bit heavier than Spot by 3 oz.  It also costs more to purchase/set up and the plans seem more expensive.  Spot is $150/yr plus the $50 tracking upgrade to be able to track beyond 24 hrs, so $200 total.  Delorme has options at $12 and 25/mo (annual contract) for $144 and $300/yr total, more for the monthly plan.  The monthly Delorme plan has costs for tracking points and messages which could add up.  But you can set it to track less frequently or upgrade the plan if it is to be used a lot.  Seems like the annual cost could come down into range of the Spot and is more flexible as you can suspend the account or upgrade/downgrade plans as needed.   

Both units have $75 rebates right now ($50 for older Delorme).  So Spot costs $75. The newer Delorme would cost me $300 after rebate, REI dividend and REI credit card dividend plus activation fee.  The older version is about $50 less 

If the Delorme could replace a regular GPS it would give that unit a big advantage.  Has anyone used a Delorme as their primary GPS?  You can navigate with them somewhat, but their capability seems limited. It does not appear that you can load a GPS track in it to follow; can you at least export a GPS track of your route?  When pairing the delorme with a smartphone, does this increase its capability?   I don't use strava or anything, mostly just use mine for mapping and navigation so would only need basic capability.  Spot obviously can't take on that role at all. 


So really the decision comes down to whether the messaging capability of the Delorme is worth the extra ~$225 up front cost.  I don't see much promise in its current usefulness for navigation but if it could replace my garmin, at least on bikepacks, that would make the extra cost very worthwhile. 

Not sure I have actually added anything to what has been said already, but any thoughts on my rambling would be appreciated! 

[pyro_]

I have an Inreach se that I use for backpacking solo for the last couple of summers. Have not had any issues with it and really like that it is two way messaging as that way I at least know that the msg was received. Have not had to use it in an emergency yet but has been useful for organizing pickup times while out of cell coverage

[sdr]

Spot is $150/yr plus the $50 tracking upgrade to be able to track beyond 24 hrs, so $200 total.

evdog, your post is well timed. Currently trying to decide which unit to purchase so your comparisons of the two units and their respective plans has been very useful. Thank you.

When researching the Spot I didn't quite understand (as I quoted from your post) that you can upgrade to "track beyond 24 hrs". Not sure about where anybody else is going to ride but there is only 24 hours in a day where I'm going.

[vikb]

I own a InReach. I've used a number of SPOTs previously, but they have all been unreliable and the support from SPOT has been awful.

When I considered what unit to get I decided effectiveness in an emergency was my priority. From that perspective the InReach is superior.

Typically I leave it turn off in a pack and only use it when I want to communicate something. I've never used tracking on it.

One really nice feature of the InReach is the ability to text device to device. We used this on one trip to regroup after a navigation error forced the main group to split up.

I do a lot of fishing, motorcycling and MTBing solo out of cell range. My InReach lives in my pack for all these activities.

https://vikapproved.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/delorme-inreach-se-review/

[C79L388]

I'm also considering which one to buy.

For me it's important to have a google maps on my blog that can locate me with an update  once of twice a day. Even if it's not google maps but I want people that will read my blog to be able to follow me.

Do any of the two devices allow this?