As noted by Dan, yes on the billing to receive texts, but that can easily be avoided. Sorry, I haven't gone through all the thread but one of the nice features of the inReach is the ability to ping your location remotely, which is unlimited on the recreation plan and really inexpensive on the other plan. Someone can log into the website on a computer and check your location without sending a text. I've had inReach for a while, but I pay $25 a month for the recreation plan (same features as was posted in the picture but I just have a cheaper rate beuz I was in before they raised them) << That being said I would pay $35 a month for mine - no hesitation.
I've got mine tethered to my phone and it stays in pocket. I pull out my phone and touch the app, and literally in seconds I text right from my phone through the app, just like sending a regular text message. You can send the location with the text or just the text itself. I look at the map on my phone etc. The only time I actually touch my Garmin is to turn it on and off at the beginning and end of the day. I use mine year round, including on road trips when I can't get cell service so I just keep it active. The topo maps are pretty good IMO. As with any topo map, they lack the finite detail to truly make them 100% user friendly but that just goes with the territory.
For anyone concerned about the cost for a single trip or only couple times annually, I suggest looking around, as some places may rent these. I'm pretty sure Wicom in Calgary rents units (i know they rent sat phones). Also talk to GPS central. Another thing to consider is gathering your closest riding friends (typically folks generally ride with the same crowd) and split the cost amongst 3 or 4 people.
From someone who's been there, honestly they can truly be a life saver and I encourage anyone to use one. A medical emergency on the hill in our group while we were back in some very technical terrain required extraction. The ability to text the level of emergency and receive communication back about any rescue or assistance is amazingly important in a bad situation, especially for onsite folks to keep a level head and be psychologically re-assured help is on the way. Literally - minutes can save your life. I'm very fortunate my company requires me to have additional medical training at their cost, but consider even if you only had a knowledge of basic first aid, EMS or dispatch could also relay you critical advice if you didnt have the training or knowledge to do something (stabilize a fracture, dress a wound, monitor and report vital signs, look for signs of a stroke/anaphylactic reaction etc).
Honestly, I have also been considering an AED for a couple years, but they were too large to carry. Now that the Phillips FRx is small enough, I'm thinking its next on the list. I'll happily pay the minimal weight penalty if it saves someones life. I feel that strongly about it. Ride safe folks.
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satellite network for live tracking and messaging functions, including SOS."
