Inreach on outside of pack. Why?

[FAAFO]

I see a lot of pics of hunter’s who wear their Inreach/other satellite messaging device on the outside of their pack. Sometimes on their bino harness. I’m curious as to why? I carry one on every one of my hikes and always keep it in the pack.

Are people texting and hiking/hunting?

Tracking to post miles walked etc later?

Just seems like a good way to scratch it up or possibly lose it. Not a big deal in the lower 48 but could be serious issue in AK.

 

[eamyrick]

Mine definitely stays tucked in to my bino pouch, corded to a strap. I also don’t understand why you would have it out and exposed. It texts just fine in the pocket.

 

[atmat]

I see a lot of pics of hunter’s who wear their Inreach/other satellite messaging device on the outside of their pack. Sometimes on their bino harness. I’m curious as to why? I carry one on every one of my hikes and always keep it in the pack.

Are people texting and hiking/hunting?

Tracking to post miles walked etc later?

Just seems like a good way to scratch it up or possibly lose it. Not a big deal in the lower 48 but could be serious issue in AK.

I keep mine on my bino harness as a safety device, not for communicating.

If I get injured, it’s much easier to SOS on my harness than tucked away in a pack somewhere.

 

[dirtshooter]

On the harness because sometimes you leave your pack behind...

 

[Poser]

The idea is to have it readily available. I don't worry about this when backpacking/hunting and often just keep it in my lid, but when I'm backcountry skiing, I keep it on my shoulder strap.

 

[FAAFO]

On the harness because sometimes you leave your pack behind...

It’s NEVER a good idea to leave your pack behind

 

[FAAFO]

I keep mine on my bino harness as a safety device, not for communicating.

If I get injured, it’s much easier to SOS on my harness than tucked away in a pack somewhere.

That’s what I initially thought but if it’s that catastrophic of an injury hopefully your Inreach isn’t damaged. Will an emergency come up that quick you need to hit the SOS right away?

 

[grappling_hook]

Because in case of serious injury, I might not be able to get into my pack to use it. And/or my pack could have gotten separated from me in the fall or whatever happened for me to need the InReach in the first place.

Plus sometimes it has a hard enough time getting a signal through heavy overcast skies, and being in the pack doesn't help that.

 

[FAAFO]

The idea is to have it readily available. I don't worry about this when backpacking/hunting and often just keep it in my lid, but when I'm backcountry skiing, I keep it on my shoulder strap.

Makes sense in your situation. What finally made me post this was a friend found one while backcountry skiing yesterday. Looks like it came unclipped. When he went to post it on the skiing forum he already saw a post from the person that lost it.

 

[FAAFO]

Because in case of serious injury, I might not be able to get into my pack to use it.

Plus sometimes it has a hard enough time getting a signal through heavy overcast skies, and being in the pack doesn't help that.

That would be a serious injury no doubt. So you hike/hunting with yours on? I was curious about that.

 

[grappling_hook]

That would be a serious injury no doubt. So you hike/hunting with yours on? I was curious about that.

Yes, although the new models are supposed to still have the SOS work even when it's off.
The areas I hike and hunt, the most common case of needing to use an InReach would be if I've fallen off a cliff or slid and am stuck in a rock or tree or shrub, or I've had a tree or rocks pin me down.

Edit-- or I'm burried in snow/ice and can't move fully (noted the skiiing example above).

 

[GunsAreFun]

In side pocket of my bunk harness tethered to the harness. I have a screen protector on it.

Very important reasons for this:
1. It is readily accessible should I need SOS button.
2. Should something happen to me and I’m unable to activate SOS, it is sending tracking every 10 minutes so the search radius for SAR will be massively smaller.
3. I can receive text passively from my wife if there is an emergency.

Leaving it tucked away in a pack is a big mistake IMO.

 

[GunsAreFun]

Makes sense in your situation. What finally made me post this was a friend found one while backcountry skiing yesterday. Looks like it came unclipped. When he went to post it on the skiing forum he already saw a post from the person that lost it.

I took the clip off so it would fit in my KUIU Bino harness side pocket. Use the tether strap. That’s the only secure way to carry it unless you get a special case.

 

[atmat]

That’s what I initially thought but if it’s that catastrophic of an injury hopefully your Inreach isn’t damaged. Will an emergency come up that quick you need to hit the SOS right away?

There’s lots of catastrophic injuries that might not destroy your Garmin.

I hope an emergency never comes up that I need it at all, but I’d rather have it.

And as much as I know the rules, I’ve dropped a back before for stalks.

 

[Jason Snyder]

I clip mine on the outside so I can see it and know it’s there. I take it off my pack for chukar hunting and put it on my vest. I want to be able to tell just by looking I have it with.

They make screen savers if you’re concerned about scratching it.

 

[jrob712]

Let’s be honest- Looks cooler in pictures

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

In case I get bit in the face by a rattler while climbing up a shale bluff and my eyes swell shut, causing temporary blindness leaving me to feably reach around trying to smash the sos button on my chest rather than try to dig I guess.

 

[wapitibob]

On the shoulder strap. For sos and so I can see when I have a msg.

 

[Jethro]

I have explorer+ and hang it on my pack bag. Can’t see it, but the carabiner has never let me down. I don’t really touch the inreach all day. All messaging through phone app.

 

[FAAFO]

Some great points I’ve never considered. Good to know the reasons. I’ve never seen someone with it out in person, just on social media etc.

Thanks for the responses!