Built for the backcountry: Garmin launches inReach Mini 3 Plus
The Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus is a new compact satellite communicator for riders and explorers heading well beyond regular mobile coverage.
Garmin has expanded its inReach range with the new inReach Mini 3 Plus, a rugged, pocket-sized satellite messenger that adds a colour touchscreen, built-in speaker and microphone. The big update? Riders can now send voice messages, texts and even photos¹ from the trail, the campsite or the far side of a mountain pass.
Designed for anyone who spends time outside the reach of cell towers—overlanders, trail riders, long-distance tourers—the Mini 3 Plus also allows users to trigger an interactive SOS with Garmin Response℠ if the day takes a turn for the worse. Battery life is quoted at up to 330 hours in 10-minute tracking mode, enough to cover multi-day bike trips without digging for power banks.
“Staying connected matters on every kind of adventure. With the inReach Mini 3 Plus you can share the moment—whether that’s a view from a summit or just letting people know you’re OK—straight from a compact, rugged device that clips to a pack,”
— Susan Lyman, Garmin VP of Consumer Sales and Marketing
Garmin has widened the ways riders can stay in touch with the inReach, starting with simple voice messaging. The Mini 3 Plus lets you send and receive 30-second voice clips straight from the device, ideal when you’re pulled over at the roadside or still wearing gloves. If listening isn’t practical, such as when you’re tucked away in a quiet mountain hut or trying to keep wind noise down behind the bike, those voice messages can be converted into on-screen text so they can be read instead.
The new colour touchscreen also makes everyday messaging far easier. Riders can fire off longer texts (up to 1,600 characters) as well as emojis, reactions and even group chats, all without reaching for a phone. Photo sharing works in both directions, too. You can view images sent from home and share snapshots from your journey through the Garmin Messenger app, giving people a clearer sense of where you are and what you’re seeing.
For those keeping an eye on your progress, a LiveTrack location sharing feature allows friends and family to follow your route in real time. It also shows your distance travelled, time, and elevation, which can all be viewed as you move – useful reassurance for anyone tracking a long ride or multi-day trip.
SOS support when things go wrong
Triggering an SOS sends an interactive alert to Garmin Response, a 24/7 emergency coordination centre. Voice and photo messages can be shared during an incident, giving responders a clearer picture of what’s happening at ground level.
Garmin claims its team has handled more than 18,000 inReach-based incidents across over 150 countries, covering everything from hikers in trouble to offshore emergencies.
The inReach Mini 3 Plus is built to handle harsh environments, and is resistant to extreme temperatures, impacts and it has an IP67 water rating. It can be paired to the Garmin Explore app for planning routes and following GPX tracks. The device is available now at £439.99; more information can be found on the official website.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
