If you like spending time in the mountains, there’s a good chance you’ve found yourself in a place without cell service. I’ve lost service plenty of times, and while it never really bothered me, my family felt differently. Since I often travel and hike solo, they wanted to know I’d have a way to reach someone—or call for help—if something ever went wrong. That’s ultimately what led me to buy the Garmin inReach Mini 2.

Despite knowing I’d eventually need it, the device sat untouched in its box for more than a year. Every time I thought about activating it, I convinced myself I’d figure it out before my next trip. As it turns out, my recent backpacking trip in Colorado was finally the motivation I needed.

After using it for the first time, I realized I’d put off setting it up for no reason. The process was much simpler than I expected, and having a reliable way to communicate when I had zero cell service gave both my family and me a little extra peace of mind.

If you’re considering buying a Garmin inReach Mini 2—or you already own one that’s still sitting in the box—here’s what you should know before your first trip.

Notice: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking through one of my links, I may receive a small commission for your purchase to help maintain my blog. Thanks in advance!

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What Is the Garmin inReach Mini 2?

The Garmin inReach Mini 2 is a satellite communicator designed for people who spend time outside of cell service. Instead of relying on a cellular network, it connects to the Iridium satellite network, allowing you to communicate even when you don’t have cell service.

Some of its most popular features include:

• Two-way text messaging
• Interactive SOS emergency response
• GPS location tracking
• Location sharing with family and friends
• Weather forecasts
• Route navigation and waypoint tracking

While you can use the device on its own, pairing it with the Garmin Messenger mobile app makes typing messages and navigating the device much easier. The Garmin inReach Mini 2 does have a small screen and allows you to type messages directly on the device, but the Messenger app is probably where you’ll want to do most of your typing. You can create preset messages on your phone and have them readily available on your inReach, so you can simply select the message you want and send it without having to type it out each time.

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How Much Does the Garmin inReach Cost?

One thing that surprised me before purchasing my inReach wasn’t the price of the device—it was learning that it also requires an activation fee AND a satellite subscription.

Here’s what you’ll need to budget for:

• Garmin inReach Mini 2: $250.00
• Activation fee: $39.99
• Monthly subscription plans starting around $7.99/month (depending on the plan you choose)

That means you’re looking at a minimum of about $300 just to purchase and activate the device, before paying for your first month of service.

Garmin offers four different consumer plans, with different allowances for messaging, photo and voice messages, location tracking, and weather forecasts. Here’s a quick look at what each plan includes:

Plan	Enabled	Essential	Standard	Premium
Monthly Price	$7.99	$14.99	$29.99	$49.99
Emergency SOS	Included	Included	Included	Included
Text Messages	$0.10 each	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Photo/Voice Messages	$1.00 each	25 free messages	50 free messages	Unlimited
Location Tracking	$0.10 each	$0.10 each	Unlimited	Unlimited
Weather Forecasts	$0.50 each	50 free inquiries	150 free inquiries	Unlimited

*Prices and plan features are current as of July 2026 and may change. See Garmin’s website for the most up-to-date pricing.

Garmin offers both annual and month-to-month plans, so you can choose the option that best fits how often you travel. If you’re only taking a few backpacking trips each year and don’t plan to use your inReach as your main form of communication, a lower-tier monthly plan may be all you need.

You Don’t Have to Pay Every Month

One thing I really like about Garmin’s subscription plans is that you don’t have to keep paying for your subscription during months when you’re not using your inReach. There aren’t any partial or prorated months, so you simply pay for the full month when you need it and then pause your subscription when you don’t.

For example, I activated my subscription for July because I knew I’d be using my inReach on my backpacking trip. Once my trip was over, I stopped the subscription rather than continuing to pay for a device that was going to sit in my gear closet. When I have another trip where I’ll be outside of cell service, I’ll simply reactivate it for the month I need it.

There is one catch: you need to pay for at least one month of service every 12 months to keep your device active. If you go 12 months without making a payment, you’ll have to pay the activation fee again (currently $39.99) when you reactivate your device.

For me, the initial cost is worth it for the peace of mind of knowing I can communicate with family when I’m somewhere without cell service.

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Setting Up My Garmin Before My Trip

Before heading into the backcountry, I wanted to make sure everything worked as expected.

Setting up the device included:

• Creating my Garmin account
• Activating my satellite subscription (payment card required)
• Downloading the Garmin Messenger app
• Pairing the device with the app
• Updating the software
• Sending a few test messages and requesting a weather update

And don’t forget to charge it! Mine wasn’t fully charged when I first took it out of the box, so I made sure to give it a full charge before heading out on my trip.

The entire setup process (not including charging) only took about 20 minutes, and I was glad I did it at home instead of trying to figure everything out at the trailhead. Having a reliable internet connection was necessary to complete several of the setup steps, so this isn’t something I’d recommend waiting to do until you’re already on your trip.

One thing I’d recommend to every first-time user is testing these features before you leave. That way, you’ll know your contacts can receive and reply to your messages, and you’ll be comfortable using the device before you’re relying on it. It also gives the people receiving your messages a chance to see what an incoming inReach message looks like and get familiar with replying to you.

Personally, I only pay for the $7.99 consumer plan, which is a pay-by-message plan, so I tell my family not to text me back unless they really need to. Ten cents per message isn’t a lot of money, but it can add up if you’re checking in with multiple people and requesting weather forecasts ($0.50 cents) over a longer backpacking trip. I use my inReach primarily for safety check-ins rather than having conversations, so there’s really no need for my family to respond every time I send a message.

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Using the Garmin inReach on My First Backpacking Trip

My first real opportunity to use the Garmin inReach came during my backpacking trip to Lone Eagle Peak in Colorado.

Once I lost cell service, the inReach became my only reliable way to check in with family back home. When I arrived at camp, I sent a quick message letting them know I’d made it safely to my final destination and shared my location so they could follow my progress.

The messages weren’t instantaneous like texting on my phone, but they were delivered reliably, which is exactly what I wanted.

Since this was only a one-night backpacking trip, I didn’t need to use the weather forecast feature while I was on the trail. However, I did test it out at home before heading out. You have the option to request a basic or premium forecast. The basic forecast provides a 2-day weather update, while the premium forecast provides a 7-day forecast. You can request a forecast for your current location or for a selected GPS coordinate or waypoint.

The forecasts you receive will look like this:

Thankfully, I never needed to use the SOS feature, and hopefully I never will. Still, simply knowing I had a way to call for emergency assistance if something unexpected happened made me feel much more confident hiking in a remote area. Garmin published a great support article and YouTube video about what happens when you push the SOS button if you’d like to learn more about that.

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Other Satellite Communicators to Consider

Although I chose the Garmin inReach Mini 2, it’s far from the only satellite communicator available today.

If you’re still comparing options, here are a few popular devices worth looking into:

Device	Best For	Notes
Garmin inReach Mini 2	Backpacking & hiking	The device I personally use.
Garmin inReach Mini 3	People who keep up with Tech advances	Garmin’s newest satellite device. I haven’t personally tested it.
ACR Bivy Stick	Lightweight adventures	Lower cost alternative; I haven’t personally tested it.
ZOLEO Satellite Communicator	Budget-friendly option	Popular among backpackers; I haven’t used it myself.

Since I’ve only used the Garmin inReach Mini 2, I can’t personally compare these devices. If you’re shopping around, though, these are a few options worth researching to see which best fits your budget and adventure style.

Another thing to keep in mind is that satellite communicators frequently go on sale. If you’re in the market for one and have some time to wait, I’d keep an eye on prices rather than automatically paying full price.

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Final Thoughts

If you’ve been putting off setting up your Garmin inReach like I did, don’t overthink it.

Spend a little time activating your account, send a few practice messages, and familiarize yourself with the basics before heading into the backcountry. Once that’s done, the device is incredibly straightforward to use.

For me, the biggest benefit wasn’t the technology itself—it was the peace of mind. Knowing I could check in with family from miles away from the nearest cell tower made my first trip with the Garmin inReach well worth it.

Hopefully, I’ll never need to press the SOS button. But if the day ever comes when I do, I’ll be grateful I packed it.

Pin this for later so you have it ready when you’re planning your trip.