Garmin buys out DeLorme

[Yellowknife]

I foresee some interesting devices in the future:

http://www.pressherald.com/2016/02/11/yarmouth-based-mapmaker-delorme-sold-to-garmin/

 

[hflier]

I think this may be a good thing.

 

[Trial153]

Might pay for me to hold out on my In Reach purchase

 

[sneaky]

The Delorme guys told me it would be first quarter 2017 at the earliest for anything new on the InReach front. I bought one of the Explorers today for work just as much as hunting use. I travel a lot of remote country and with any significant changes being a year or more away I pulled the trigger.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Interesting turn of events. Can't wait to see what they come up with.

 

[chindits]

Thanks for the heads up, now I have a good excuse for not getting something to text the wife with when out of cell service.

 

[dotman]

This is great news! It is only the mapping not the device or satellite side but a partnership could develop.

 

[colonel00]

This is great news!!!

I would have to agree

 

[wapitibob]

Garmin has all but abandoned their handheld division. They had a good thing going when they added Andriod OS to the Montera but just let it die. I see them adding InReach to their automotive side to try and compete with OnStar and adding more wrist bands.

 

[robby denning]

Ryan and I have always thought DeLorme InReach would be a popular Rokslide member product. We've even talked to them about coming on the site.

What's your guys thoughts on their current products- good match for Rokslide? Will this merger be a good thing for our crowd?

 

[armyjoe]

Ryan and I have always thought DeLorme InReach would be a popular Rokslide member product. We've even talked to them about coming on the site.

What's your guys thoughts on their current products- good match for Rokslide? Will this merger be a good thing for our crowd?

Robby,
Without a doubt it's a great fit for Rokslide. If you look at the market segment for both companies there is an overwhelming overlap. I'd venture to say that nearly 90%+ of Rokslide members could or should be using some sort of emergency beacon system and Delorme makes IMO the best one on the market. This fits the Rokslide sponsor vetting as you guys only have high end quality companies on this site.

Joe

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I have to agree with Joe. While most of us can't justify a Sat phone, Delorme certainly fills the niche. I bought one because I heard about it on here and it fit my needs perfectly, having a wife and to little ones at home. I also quit carrying a dedicated GPS because between the Delorme and my phone I was covered. Garmin joining forces with Delorme can only make things better. It's a perfect fit for RS.

 

[COlineman78]

This could be a double edged sword here. Garmin will hopefully greatly improve the mapping capabilities of something like an InReach Explorer, but hopefully they don't ruin it with some of the stuff that has put me off of Garmin over the years, such as overpriced map packages that should have been included in the first place. I could see them increase the pricing of the subscriptions which would negate the reason that most of us bought it (which live2hunt pointed out was primarily for cost).

 

[Justin Crossley]

Ryan and I have always thought DeLorme InReach would be a popular Rokslide member product. We've even talked to them about coming on the site.

What's your guys thoughts on their current products- good match for Rokslide? Will this merger be a good thing for our crowd?

I think it's crazy they aren't already a Rokslide partner. As Joe pointed out, just about all the members are, or should be using something like the InReach. I also agree that they have the best product available for the price. They also have great customer service in my experience. Most companies don't like to stand behind electronics, and when my InReach started having issues, they replaced it without question.

I'm not sure that I'm a fan of this merger with Garmin. Like others have said, hopefully the prices don't go up. Delorme has a really cool map app available now for a great price. I would hate to see Garmin come in and ruin that. I guess we'll see....

 

[xziang]

Robby,
Without a doubt it's a great fit for Rokslide. If you look at the market segment for both companies there is an overwhelming overlap. I'd venture to say that nearly 90%+ of Rokslide members could or should be using some sort of emergency beacon system and Delorme makes IMO the best one on the market. This fits the Rokslide sponsor vetting as you guys only have high end quality companies on this site.

Joe

I learned about the 'inreach' on here and have been looking at them and possibly purchasing one sometime before the next hunting season.

 

[gmajor]

I returned my old beacon and am going to pick up an inreach se. Love the messaging, wish the plans were a touch less expensive.

 

[robby denning]

Thanks all for the feedback. I'll share this with my contact at Delorme. Maybe we'll get to test these new releases and do an update on the InReach.