Garmin inreach or Zoleo?

[NY_BLUES]

I'm researching both for my 1st GPS/satellite messaging service. Both use the iridium satellite system, so probably a push there. Both are around the same money, and I'd rather buy once rather than find out I wasted cash. Any information on either would be beneficial. Hopefully your input will tip the scales one way or another for me. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[rjthehunter]

I have a Zoleo, but after hunting with a buddy who has an inReach Messanger, I'd go the Garmin route. You can send photos with the Garmin and that's a nice feature. That being said, if you don't want to send photos, buy a Zoleo and save some $. I'd even give you a deal on mine.

I think phones will be capable of satellite texting by this hunting season.

 

[Addicting]

Make sure you look at the plans for what it cost monthly and reactivation fees. When I bought my in reach, you could suspend it and it didn’t cost anything to reactivate. Now there’s like a $43 charge Or pay 17 some dollars a month.

For the one week I use it every couple years it’s hard to justify the expense of it now.

 

[rjthehunter]

Make sure you look at the plans for what it cost monthly and reactivation fees. When I bought my in reach, you could suspend it and it didn’t cost anything to reactivate. Now there’s like a $43 charge Or pay 17 some dollars a month.

For the one week I use it every couple years it’s hard to justify the expense of it now.

I feel like in the last year or 2, prices have jumped a lot on these. Garmin & Zoleo know their time is coming to an end for the satellite communicators. Once phones work, you won't need to pay for another device. Honestly, with the prices, I'm excited to get rid of the damn thing.

 

[brymoore]

I sat texted a lot in crazy places in Idaho last fall/winter via IPhone with no problems including a week long backpack trip. iPhone has an emergency feature too.

I wouldn’t pay for Zoleo or Garmin.

 

[NY_BLUES]

As a dumb Samsung user, I fear that I will be stuck with a satellite connection for a bit. Iphones seem to be 4 or 5 steps ahead all the time with regards to technology.

 

[Wyhunter]

I have the inreach mini. I like it. Clip it to my pack or put in in the front of my bino harness. It's good for simple messages. Old school 1 letter at a time kind of thing. It's worth the monthly charge to have it in you gear. Makes you feel a little safer, plus it sends GPS cords. Every time you message. The wifey likes that feature. Battery lasts well into the 5-7 days while messaging. Longer if you don't use it much.

 

[npaden]

Make sure you look at the plans for what it cost monthly and reactivation fees. When I bought my in reach, you could suspend it and it didn’t cost anything to reactivate. Now there’s like a $43 charge Or pay 17 some dollars a month.

For the one week I use it every couple years it’s hard to justify the expense of it now.

I felt the same but it actually ends up a wash or maybe even cheaper if you only use it every couple years. The old way you had to pay the annual fee, the new way you have to pay an activation fee. I think the annual fee was $35 and the activation fee is $40.

 

[RookieSeason]

I choose the Zoleo last year. It worked well for both seasons I hunted. I believe part of my choice was I get more messages when on a comparable Garmin plan. I can also suspended my plan for around 4 dollars per month then reactivate when it's needed.

 

[Bob-WY]

I lost an i reach mini and replaced it with the zoleo. Differences in see

• zoleo is cheaper, both out of box and monthly
• In reach has GPS feature though I never used this as I have onx
• Zoleo has unlimited "checkin" messages. Wife and I use this to let her know when I leave truck and when I'm back at truck
• Both have a phone app to make texting easy and to contact
• Zoleo comes with a number that is yours, inreach wife had to wait for me to start it
• Zoleo is a bit bigger but worked from inside my pack, I reach dodnt
• Zoleo sends and receives faster

They both have a lifespan of a couple years, between starling and phones adding satellite texting the end is coming

 

[homers]

Garmin updated their subscription plans a few months ago. Much improved imho.

 

[npaden]

I lost an i reach mini and replaced it with the zoleo. Differences in see

• Zoleo has unlimited "checkin" messages. Wife and I use this to let her know when I leave truck and when I'm back at truck
  

They both have a lifespan of a couple years, between starling and phones adding satellite texting the end is coming

The InReach has unlimited check in messages that don't count against your total as well. They have 3 customizable presets that really make it so you hardly ever need to actually send a text unless something big is happening.

My InReach is 10 years old now. Seems a little longer than a couple years.

I'm signed up for the Tmobile beta testing on their satellite plan. Even though I'm on AT&T and have an iphone 13 it is supposed to work. Sounds like it will end up around $15 a month once they get it up and running. Not sure what the activation or annual fee will be if you don't plan on using it all the time.

 

[Forkyfinder]

As a dumb Samsung user, I fear that I will be stuck with a satellite connection for a bit. Iphones seem to be 4 or 5 steps ahead all the time with regards to technology.

S24 and s25 samsung have sat texting, already.

Dont buy fruit phones.

 

[Bob-WY]

The InReach has unlimited check in messages that don't count against your total as well. They have 3 customizable presets that really make it so you hardly ever need to actually send a text unless something big is happening.

My InReach is 10 years old now. Seems a little longer than a couple years.

I'm signed up for the Tmobile beta testing on their satellite plan. Even though I'm on AT&T and have an iphone 13 it is supposed to work. Sounds like it will end up around $15 a month once they get it up and running. Not sure what the activation or annual fee will be if you don't plan on using it all the time.

My couple year lifespan didn't mean how long it lasts, sorry. I meant couple years from now they could be gone do to being obsolete

 

[okie archer]

Great information on this thread. Looking to draw Colorado elk this year, may be solo.
Thanks all

 

[NY_BLUES]

I'm glad to hear all the positive and negative of both systems. I know that phones are moving to sat comms, but having that stand alone ability of check in messages is a huge positive. I was hoping this would help me go one way or another, but so far I'm still in the same place

 

[npaden]

I think you just look at how you would use it and look at the plans and see which one fits best.

If you are going to use it once every couple years the InReach probably maths out better. If you are going to use it for a month then not use it for 5 months then use it for a month then the Zoleo plans make more sense. If using it continuously they are both pretty close.

Just look at the plans and do the math. Like you said the important thing is that they both use the irridium network.