Anyone have experience with the Zoleo or the inreach messenger? i was planning to get the inreach messenger but the Zoleo looks pretty good to.

curious if anyone has any first hand experience with either. how quick were messages sent and received? any issues with cloud cover or dense tree canopy?

Ive ran Delorme Inreach for about 10 years and like it. Battery is about gone so will upgraded to mini 2 or messenger .

Both Zoloe and Garmin do not like heavy canopy cover, doesn’t mean it won’t work just more delayed.

As far which is better, Garmin Mini has a lot more features than the Zoleo. the Garmin Messenger is closer to the Zoleo in function, but the Garmin Messenger has a much longer battery life.

Just an update for any onlookers , picked up Garmin messenger. Faster than Inreach Delorme and mini 2. Alittle different on carrying, As it’s not meant to be carabiner’ed fore say. It is ment to go in top of pack. new messenger app is a lot better the the old Garmin one, easier all around from function to connectivity

Thanks Bobo. I am leaning towards the messenger as well. I haven't pulled the trigger yet but will shortly.

With Onx on my phone and its tracking ability offline i am thinking the messenger for sending texts is a perfect solution for my needs.

That’s me to a T. I run onx for all nav. The new Garmin messaging app for the Messenger is the similar type interface as iOS and android text and sync’s all your phone contacts also.

The sos button is also very protective on the device unlike the old Delorme units(I had slight issue one time on accident)

Can also sos through phone app

It is weird not having the same carabiner clip as the other models, but testing in top pocket of pack works fine

Can you confirm the messenger has ability to do group texts. Also, it is capable of reverse charging?

Reverse charging yes. But the Anker Nano is a better option

Group chat yes but not in the sense you are use to. it sends individual text to all, so reply would be individually

Both the Zoleo and the inReach Messenger are solid options for satellite communication, but they have their own quirks.It’s generally pretty quick with messages, sending and receiving them in just a few minutes. It switches between cellular and satellite networks, so it works well in most conditions but might lag a bit in heavy tree cover or bad weather. It’s also user-friendly and tends to be a bit cheaper.
This one’s also quick with messages, but you might notice slight delays depending on satellite connections. It’s known for being reliable in remote areas and tough conditions, though dense canopies can slow things down. It integrates well with Garmin’s ecosystem, which could be a plus if you already use Garmin gear.Overall, if you want something more budget-friendly and versatile, Zoleo is a good choice.

Hello AI. Geez Bobo already said it best.