Garmin Explore™

I have used this app together with my inReach mini 2 to track work trips and to pin locations. I’ve used the app extensively, and compared to apps from others (e.g. the Bivy app and similar), the Garmin’s is way way more reliable in all ways (not crashing, features working as intended). Still, having traveled tens of thousands of kms just last year, here are a few simple things that if fixed could really make my life easier: 1) show the battery status of the mini 2 (or whatever device connected to the app) in the app (while sleeping, I often attach the mini 2 some meters away from me, where it can have a good view of the sky, but if I want to check on the battery level I need to get up a reach for the device); 2) sometimes messages take a while to send, and likely that’s because the mini 2 is not optimally positioned, but if signal strength (or better, the number of satellites visible) were shown it would be easier to identify and fix that; 3) again, when sending messages, having an indication of the total message size and how much data has been sent already would reduce the amount of time one spends wandering if the message is being sent at all. But as I said, all these points are minor and don’t detract from the fact that the app is overall very reliable - and that is my primary concern regarding an app like this.

Controle total sobre o dispositivo

0

There should be more maps to download and they should be customizable

There is some things I love and some things I do not. I wish there was better information on how to use it and not so much having to mess with it to figure it out. I love the texting and being able to let my loved ones fallow me on my adventures.

This app works like so many adventure type maps should.

Don’t bother. “Connection Timed Out” appears within seconds when pairing. Garmin needs to hire a few Apple engineers to overhaul all their UIs . And they need to internalize the idea that their users are not in Kansas, so software should work without a data connection. C’mon guys…

Great but need dark mode for maps and ability to edit courses made in the connect app

Just stick to Garmin, other brands are inferior. I’ve used my inReach mini 2 several times now and it’s incredible. Loving how it works so well with phone to send messages.

Just finished the JMT and used Garmin Explore along with my InReach for the better part of it. When compared to other trail apps, like AllTrails, Explore completely fails in every category. Not only are the maps low quality — like Windows 98 quality — but unlike the Garmin Messenger app, Explore either has a hard time refreshing or reconnecting to the satellite device, or it simply doesn’t provide any useful updates to its status. It basically failed every time I needed it most. At one point, during a side hike, I simply gave up and used AllTrails with my iPhone’s GPS, sans the InReach. The experience was night and day. Though it definitely drained my phone’s battery much faster, AllTrails exceeded every expectation. For a company that’s been in the GPS and map game for so long, the folks at Garmin have utterly failed at something other, newer companies do so well.