Experience with the 5 Plus and InReach Mini

I'm wondering if anyone has hands-on experience using the inReach Mini when paired to the 5 Plus and what the experience is. I'm considering buying one but I'm not finding much great information about how the two work together. I assume you can send and receive preset messages to select contact and also trigger an SOS from the 5 Plus but I'd like to hear from someone first-hand before I drop 500 bucks only to be disappointed.

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0 Former Member over 5 years ago

The 5+ has a widget and a data screen for the inReach so you're able to send SOS, send/receive messages and start/stop tracking from the watch whilst the Mini is clipped to the back of your back.

Ironically, the texting experience is actually better than regular SMS as you're able to (very slowly) type out any response. Oh and as a hint, make sure you pre-enter as many expected responses as you're able. ie "Starting my run now", "Feeling good, but I'll be 60 mins late finishing" etc. It'll save you a bunch of time!

0 RadAd over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

Thanks for the info! How do you select which contact to send a message to through the 5x UI? Do you have to preselect them or something like that?

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to RadAd

Once on the inReach main screen, you would press+hold menu to see options. You can select from "SOS", "send preset", "start tracking", or "compose message" (might be forgetting one but those are the important ones). As Joel mentioned above, it's best to have your presets loaded for whatever you're doing. I usually have one preset that's like "check out where I am! no need to reply." another for "gonna be a little late, but I'm all good!" and then the final one is "ran into some trouble, here's where I am. I'll update with a custom message."

FWIW, the inReach mini is awesome. Really all you need unless you need a standalone navigation device. Paired with the Fenix, it's a no-brainer of a piece of gear.