Garmin

Is the Garmin inReach Obsolete? How the Newest Smartphones Stack Up in the Backcountry

· By Endurance Wire

Can your cell phone replace a satellite beacon in the backcountry? (Photo: Alberto Menendez Cervero / Moment via Getty) In the backcountry, phones become little more than a camera once the bars disappear. That’s where personal locator beacons (PLBs) and satellite messengers have traditionally filled the gap, allowing hikers to contact friends and emergency services while off the grid. But with satellite messaging now built into some smartphones, more people than ever before can reach search and rescue when there’s no service. The question is, can you trust your smartphone with your life?

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