Test and review of the inReach Mini 2 communicator and the fēnix® 8 smartwatch by Garmin: pros, cons, how to use it and all the advantages of the satellite device and the complete and precise multisport smartwatch
To remain isolated from the world you don’t need to go too far: whether we are a few kilometers from home, in the place where we usually go trekking or picking mushrooms, or in the mountains among snow-capped peaks, it only takes a moment to be left without a telephone signal, or with cell phone suddenly dead due to the cold. And if necessary it becomes a huge problem… Garmin has thought of the hiker’s needs – from the quiet walker to the extreme climber – with inReach, a communication device that relies on the satellite network: very easy to use, infallible for asking for help in any situation at any latitude, when we cannot use our mobile phone. We tested inReach in the most popular version, with very small dimensions: inReach Mini 2 (list price 499.99 euros) surprised us with its practicality, ease of use and effectiveness in communications where there is no telephone signal. We carried out the test in Montespluga, in the province of Sondrio, also going out on an excursion with the Fenix 8, the latest version of Garmin’s multisport smartwatch.
garmin inreach mini 2, first approach
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Very small size and weight (4×2″, weight approximately 100 g), fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. Shock and water resistant, inReach Mini 2 is a compact device which can easily fit in the pocket of an outdoor jacket or can be attached to the backpack thanks to different kits available (the basic equipment contains a fabric ring and the battery charger). Very intuitive navigation menu, has a retractable charging socket and four main buttons: two scroll arrows between the menus, an “ok” button and a “back” button. Then there’s the magic button, the stop button protected by a rigid door that avoids involuntary pressure during our activities. The device must be connected to our Garmin Explorer profile and can communicate with the Garmin Messenger app. Periodic software update, the device signals any updates, to always have the most efficient version. We can also upload the contacts from our address book to inReach, via connection to our mobile phone, to have any number available from the device too.
inreach mini 2, track sharing function
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There are many navigation possibilities directly from inReach Mini 2. Meanwhile, the transmission of the signal over time allows whoever we want to monitor our movements via a link generated by the device and sent to the chosen recipients: transmission intervals can be set by the userfrom a minimum of 2 minutes to a maximum of 4 hours; the longer the interval, the longer the battery life, but with a standard 30 minute transmission you get a “life” of about 30 days under clear skies. The Garmin satellite device also has an integrated electronic compass and a weather forecast service for the place where we are. But of course that’s not all…
inreach mini 2, SOS/rescue request function
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The great added value of inReach Mini 2 is the possibility of ask for help via the SOS button. Once you have connected the device to your Garmin Explorer profile and activated a subscription, the function is effective. If we are hiking, skiing, mountain biking and an accident happens, no problem. The Garmin device has an SOS button protected by a hard cover: just press it and the satellite system sends a georeferenced distress request which is processed by the Garmin Response assistance center. At that point, a two-step rescue procedure is triggered: 1) the assistance team gets in touch with the applicant to get some more details; type of accident, condition of the hiker in difficulty, etc.; the position is precisely identified thanks to automatic satellite transmission, while the type of rescue necessary is established (by land, air, sea…); 2) even if the person seeking help cannot respond, help is initiated immediately, despite having few or no details regarding the accident. Garmin Response – over ten thousand rescue operations activated in the first ten years of operation, with an average of approximately three interventions per day across the entire planet – contact the local emergency center closest to the accident site and we proceed to the rescue/recovery of the person in difficulty. Garmin inReach Mini 2 is not designed, as mentioned, only for hiking professionals: the effectiveness of the device is total in all conditions, even in the woods a few km from home; the battery life is very long and the satellite coverage guarantees access to communications even in places where conventional signals do not reach.
inreach mini 2, the field test
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We tested Garmin’s compact satellite device in the field, choosing an isolated place where there was no telephone coverage. The test took place in January 2025 in Montespluga, a hamlet of Madesimo (Sondrio) which can only be accessed via the Spluga Pass road. The area is surrounded by Alpine peaksall around 3 thousand meters above sea level, which hinder the telephone signal and in most cases inhibit it completely. From the dam of Lake Montespluga, with ski mountaineering equipment, we went up large stretches of the natural basin formed by the frozen lake and the mountains. To be sure of complete telephone isolation, we walked for over an hour in the snow, rising from 1900 meters of base camp to around 2300 meters of the place where the test was carried out. The carrying versatility of the inReach Mini 2 is remarkable. In the first part of the excursion we have attached the device to the backpack: inReach was locked to the hard fastener, which was hooked to a Velcro-locking base; all tied via two Velcro straps to the backpack shoulder straps. The carrying convenience is remarkable, with the advantage of having the inReach Mini a few centimeters from your face to hear the sound alert if you receive a text message. In the final part of the journey lasting approximately 3 hours, we moved the inReach Mini 2 to the outside pocket of the jacket: how can you not feel it, even if attaching it to the backpack certainly offers greater convenience for more frequent use if, for example, I have activated the navigator function. The advantage of the Garmin is that it can also be used with (thin) gloves on, given that the buttons are few and well spaced: no fear of inadvertently pressing the buttons, you have to press the chosen button distinctly, in order to carry out operations with precision . Once the absence of signal has been verified, we carried out the SMS test: first a “check-in” message, a generic check, in which it was said that “I’m carrying out a test, everything is going well”. Then personalized messages to three different recipients: responses received very shortly after, with one confirmation of receipt by two recipientsand one confirmation of receipt plus real-time location display by the third party recipient. About an hour and a half after the first test, moving to another area, another message was sent saying “return to base camp”. Also in this case, no obstacles and quick and simple sending/receiving operations. A “little friend” which however allows you to stay in touch with friends/family/excursion colleagues and above all allows you to activate a rescue/life-saving plan of inestimable value considering the news episodes regarding fatal accidents which are unfortunately always too frequent.
garmin fenix 8 for the outdoors
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When testing the inReach Mini 2 we used another outdoor tool made by Garmin: it Fenix 8 smartwatchthe latest version of the hugely popular wrist product. The tested version is with amoled screen (list price 1,199 euros), there is also a version solar with a battery powered by solar energy. Premium smartwatch of considerable effectiveness, well known among those who do outdoor sports: running, trail running, mountain biking, snow sports, water sports. The latest version introduced the AMOLED screen – crystal clear in all light conditions – expanded the possibility of using the integrated topographic map, improved the efficiency of measuring physiological parameters and completed the disciplines with which Fenix can be used: there are all winter sports, from alpine skiing to snowshoeing, through cross-country skiing and ski mountaineering; waterproof up to 40 meters of depth allows diving activities. The Fenix 8 used has a diameter of 51 mm, very convenient for viewing routes directly on the wrist. Based on the activity chosen (from simple walking to the sport you love most), it offers maps, storage of average and real-time parameters, measures physical capacity and recommends recovery times. Naturally, Garmin’s flagship smartwatch retains all the navigation functions of the other models, for example for running lovers it transmits data per km without having to look at the display: a “voice” tells us the running pace at intervals. Battery life is notable: in screen always on mode and frequent use, we can get up to two weeks without recharging, but the “life” of the battery can exceed a month if we activate the smartwatch activation mode only with movement of the wrist and “eco” use of the features . Fenix 8, connected to your smartphone, can completely replace it for reading messages/emails/notifications, and can be used to make calls instead of your cell phone. In version 8, with a water-resistant and micro-adjustable synthetic strap, new colors have appeared and customization is almost total.
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