Garmin GPSMAP 66i GPS Handheld and Satellite Communicator Expired

Seeing some good points here.
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My phone died during one trip. Fortunately, second GPS device helped us to get back on track before it got too dark.


I like Garmin maps and watches, but consumer outdoor and vehicle navigation hardware tend to be glitchy, outdated, overpriced. Apparently, they aren't interested in dedicating resources for certain product lines. That's why I don't want buy new Garmin handheld.

There is another option. Get case with higher level of protection (like Otterbox) for main phone and/or rugged phone with satellite SOS as backup. For example:
Motorola Defy 2 (https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola...-12141.php)
Cat S75 (https://www.gsmarena.com/cat_s75-12140.php)
Ulefone Armor 23 Ultra (https://www.gsmarena.com/ulefone_...-12757.php)

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Why not to use both solar charger and power bank?

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Right, phones offer more flexibility. Besides maps and track recorders you can download a lot of useful stuff:
Astronomy Apps (Stellarium, LunaSolCal)
Animal / Plant identifiers
Guides on first aid, cooking, knot tying, etc.
Companion apps for dedicated cameras like GoPro or DJI
Games, Books, Music, Anime…

P.S.

… and Ballistics Calculator if someone chasing after you

The Iphone and soon other phones are ok for casual hiking and being able to use Satellites to send an SOS if you get lost in the woods or hurt. However, there are some major advantages to owning a quality handheld GPS/Satellite Communicator.

First, the Iphone is not built for rugged conditions. Although phones have come a long way and many are now waterproof to a degree, they can still be fragile in extreme conditions.
For example, your hiking and take a bad fall. Your phone screen could be smashed and broken, thus limiting your ability to see the text and answer the SOS questions, etc. Whereas GPS units are built for rugged and extreme conditions. Ice, snow, river rafting, jungle heat, etc.

Second, battery life on our phones is not bad, but even then, they do not compare to the life some handheld GPS units can achieve. My emergency GPS unit can last double the time my phone can. Also, I carry a small solar charger on camping trips that is capable of charging my phone or GPS unit.

I live in a very rural area and camp and go off-roading often. My wife and I were 12 miles deep into the woods on ATV's one weekend when we got turned around and could not find our way out. The area we were in was very remote and if you chose the wrong direction, you could go 100 miles and still be in the woods. We had no cell service and back then, our phones had no GPS. Luckily we found our way back to the trail but it took about 3 hours and at times we were very scared as the sun continued to go down and we did not want to be stuck there overnight. It taught me a valuable lesson and we immediately bought a GPS unit to keep with us on all trips.

I would never trust my phone in many of the conditions we go through on our trips. My phone has never failed or been broken, but I'm not putting my life on the line for it either. Again, if your a casual hiker or outdoorsman, your phone might be just fine. If you really travel off the beaten path or to very remote areas, I'd highly suggest the best GPS/communicator you can afford. You can always make more money, but you can't bring yourself back from the dead.

What if we put the phone in battery saving mode and buy an extremely rugged outdoor phone case? Would that solve most of the issues?

Possibly, but can you find a case that floats? If your not into doing things on water it probably won't matter, but as a white-water rafter, my GPS unit floats and my phone does not.

What if we put the phone in battery saving mode and buy an extremely rugged outdoor phone case? Would that solve most of the issues?

I had an inReach for a few years back when most of the AT near me had zero cell service. I might have sent 3-4 SMS via satellite (outside test messages) in the $600+ of fees I paid. There's a monthly fee, a fee to stop service, a fee to restart service, a fee to change your plan, and the website is just a bear to navigate to do anything regarding billing. I'd rather have better gear and an emergency PLB.

I had an inReach for a few years back when most of the AT near me had zero cell service. I might have sent 3-4 SMS via satellite (outside test messages) in the $600+ of fees I paid. There's a monthly fee, a fee to stop service, a fee to restart service, a fee to change your plan, and the website is just a bear to navigate to do anything regarding billing. I'd rather have better gear and an emergency PLB.

It's an insurance plan, not something you make money off.

Do you bitch when you pay for your car insurance and don't use it too?

PLB is an insurance plan; inReach is primarily a communication device/service. If it were something you could turn on and off like an eSim, sure. But it's $20 to start a plan and $25 to stop getting charged or to lower your plan. Or you can pay an extra $25/yr plus a 20% surcharge for the privilege of changing up to 12 times. PLB you pay once and it's good for the life of the beacon (5 years, iirc)

I'm not saying it isn't useful, I'm saying it's a fairly expensive luxury. If you have kids at home and you need contact, or you're sending your kid out on their first or second overnight - sure, it's probably worth it. If you're just an adventure hiker, $300/yr for basic location pings (or $150+$15/day), and 50c per SMS seems like a lot when the same price as the inReach hardware would buy you the Personal Locator Beacon hardware and service for 5 years for emergency rescue. I'd rather spring for a nice HT with with GPS with the extra money.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/906397

You are again missing the actual point of these. A luxury to say Hi to your kid when doing a 5 mile, heavily used trail.. indeed.

It is a necessity as a solo hiker in the middle of the woods, for it's actual purpose... an emergency SOS device.

See, we always went out with radios. Even FRS will keep you in touch for a mile or so. To me, $700 in locators and $600/yr (2 service plans) to send a few texts is a luxury. But different people have different price points for convenience, this is just beyond mine.

Lol how many times are you going to gloss over and ignore the real reason to get one of these units. To you, it's useless. To the solo hiker hiking the PCT and slips into a valley.. priceless.

What if we put the phone in battery saving mode and buy an extremely rugged outdoor phone case? Would that solve most of the issues?