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Could This 2-Ounce Device Replace Your Garmin inReach?
Staying connected while venturing into the backcountry has long been a challenge for outdoor enthusiasts, especially thru-hikers navigating remote trails. Most of us remain divided on whether the lack of cell service is a challenge to overcome or a benefit of the thru-hiking lifestyle to embrace. However, most hikers agree that they need a reliable way to call for help should the situation arise.
HMD Global, best known for producing Nokia-branded phones, has entered the satellite communication space with its new OffGrid satellite hotspot, unveiled at CES 2025. CES (the Consumer Electronics Show) serves as a global platform for companies to showcase their latest innovations in consumer technology, including this new hotspot. The lightweight device aims to make connectivity more accessible and affordable for those adventuring far from traditional cell coverage.
Here’s a closer look at the device, its functionality, pricing, and how it compares to established competitors like the Garmin inReach and SPOT devices.
A first look at the new device. Photo: HMD.
What is the HMD OffGrid?
The OffGrid is a compact satellite hotspot designed to enable text messaging, live location sharing, and emergency SOS functionality via satellite networks. Unlike other satellite communication devices, the OffGrid is compatible with both Android and iOS devices through its proprietary app, offering hikers an easy way to stay in touch even in areas without cell service.
At just 60 grams (2.1 oz!), the device is lighter than the 70-gram Motorola Defy Satellite Link it is modeled after, making it an appealing option for ultralight hikers. It features an SOS button for emergencies, prewritten check-in message functionality, and a small speaker to alert users to a low battery.
How Does It Work?
The OffGrid connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and uses satellite networks (Viasat and Skylo to be specific) to send and receive messages.
- Text Messaging: Users can send standard texts to contacts using the OffGrid app, provided they have a subscription plan.
- Emergency SOS: In a crisis, users can press the SOS button to contact emergency services.
- Live Location Sharing: The device can share your real-time location with up to five contacts at intervals ranging from every 4 hours to every 3 minutes.
- Battery Life: The 600-mAh battery lasts up to 10 days with minimal usage but drains faster with frequent location pings. For instance, sending location updates every 30 minutes reduces battery life to about three to four days.
Plan Options and Pricing
Sure, it all sounds great so far. But, what a lot of us truly care about is what is offered in each plan and how much it’ll cost each month. Let me break it down for you.
Photo: HMD.
Starting off with the hardware, the device itself will cost $199. HMD will offer two subscription plans for OffGrid users, each with distinct benefits:
- HMD Unlimited- ($15/month or $140/year + $10 activation fee):
- Unlimited texts and check-in messages.
- Unlimited SOS services.
- Optional unlimited live tracking for an extra $5/month.
- HMD Freedom ($80/year + $20 activation fee):
- 350 text and check-in messages annually.
- Live tracking pings cost $0.10 each.
- Optional unlimited live tracking for $5/month.
How Does It Compare to Garmin inReach and SPOT Devices?
Many hikers— myself included— often rely on Garmin InReach or SPOT devices for satellite communication. Here’s how the OffGrid stacks up:
| Feature | HMD OffGrid | Garmin inReach Mini 2 | SPOT Gen4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 2.1 oz | 3.5 oz | 5 oz |
| Messaging | Unlimited check-in messages; Unlimited texts offered | Unlimited preset messages; Unlimited texts offered | Predefined messages only |
| SOS Functionality | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Location Sharing | Live tracking with customizable intervals | Live tracking; intervals vary by plan | Live tracking; extra fees may apply |
| Battery Life | 10 days (with minimal use) | Up to 14 days (default mode) | Up to 10 days |
| Price | Device: $199 + plans starting at $15/month | Device: $399.99 + plans starting at $15/month | Device: $150 + plans starting at $12/month |
Why Choose the OffGrid?
The OffGrid stands out for its lightweight design, smartphone compatibility, and affordability compared to premium satellite communicators. However, it does lack certain features offered by Garmin and SPOT, such as detailed mapping and more robust battery life for extended trips.
This new device may be a competitor to the Garmin InReach and the Spot Gen 4 satellite devices for thru-hikers and outdoor adventurers in the backcountry. Photo: HMD.
For thru-hikers looking for a cost-effective way to stay connected while off-grid, the OffGrid may be an excellent alternative to pricier devices. Its functionality is sufficient for most hikers, though those needing advanced navigation or extended battery life might still lean toward Garmin’s inReach Mini 2.
HMD OffGrid will be available starting in January in the United States, Europe, and Australia/New Zealand, with more locations coming throughout 2025. Until user reviews begin rolling in, all we can do is speculate, but I’m pretty excited to see this innovative piece of gear hit the market.
Featured image: HMD
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Comments 12
The satellite networks mentioned are not what the established devices are using (Garmin using Irridium, Spot using Globalstar). It would be helpful to know how reliable these networks have been. Tests done by Backpacking Light have indicated a slight degradation in quality between the Irridium and Globalstar networks, Irridium being the better one.
Other than that concern, it’s great to see more competition in the satellite communicator space. Either of the plans mentioned seem more attractive than Garmin’s.
I don’t disagree! I’m really excited to see this adopted by a few people and hear their perspectives on reliability. I know on the AT (or other trails with heavy foliage coverage) people report issues with connectivity even with Garmin. Only time will tell!
There’s also ZOLEO which is basically the same thing. Sure weighs a few ounces more, you wouldn’t notice the difference. Costs half the price on sale and still cheaper at full price, plans and apps are the same thing for every one of these devices, that’s not a differentiator. ZOLEO even has deals giving you a paired GAIA GPS subscription for a year. Battery life is 10 days. And it’s the same network as Garmin, Iridium which is the best coverage globally out of all the networks. So game changer no not at all. Overpriced and only innovation is slightly lighter which at current weights don’t matter. User interface with the applications is the only innovation none of these manufacturers improve and offers the biggest game changer. This one’s a hard pass.
I’m not sure it’s that cut and dry. The only reason I didn’t include ZOLEO in this is the reported issues with the hardware itself and the less than stellar warranty & replacement policies for these defects. One of the pieces of gear I’m most keen on having function perfectly when needed is my SOS device! The ZOLEO also requires your phone to be functional (as does this new hotspot, as far as I can tell), which adds another dependency to the functionality. My understanding between the HMD and ZOLEO is it’s a matter of satellite function vs. hardware reliability. Since no one has been able to take the HMD out for a test in the thru-hiking world yet, I don’t believe we’re able to make any judgements comparing the two yet in terms of usability and value!
Katie,
I’d love to hear more about these issues if you have the time. I personally have and use a Zoleo and have never encountered issues. I know it’s also the communicator that Skurka relies on, which gives me reason to believe that reliability may be fairly good indeed. I wonder if this is similar to the teething issues Platypus had when launching the Quickdraw, where some defective units in initial launch were widely reported and it took a while for the product to acquire a better reputation.
Biggest concern is this is really just a rebadge of the Motorola Defy Satellite Link. Which HMD worked with Bullitt on. I liked my Defy, but I don’t trust Bullitt at this point. Look up how they went bankrupt and what they are currently doing to existing Defy users plan wise.
As long as HMD is doing the plans and they improve on the requirement to have to have the app for responding, it could be interesting.
Is this a paid placement (pure advertising) or an unsponsored article?
Very much unsponsored. I would love to try the device out, but I’m not even sure it’s available yet to the public! I’d never give my paid thoughts without first testing the product and including a note in the article about the circumstances of review.
Great review, and I’m happy more manufacturers are creating devices like this. However, I have one sticking point with this and several other Garmin competitors. With my InReach Mini, I have a lot of functionality – even if my phone falls off a 100′ cliff, or if the battery simply dies. It wouldn’t be ‘fun’ to draft a message on my InReach (without my phone), but it would be possible. In Utah’s back-country, you can pretty much count on having ZERO cell coverage, no matter where you’re backpacking. With that in mind, I’ll be sticking with my Garmin device until someone comes along and can match Garmin’s reliability and functionality.
This review skips over one of the very big differences – coverage. Simply put the only devices which are global are Garmin. The OffGrid, Defy, and others all have limited coverage and while they may offer a decent service where there is coverage (but in my experience that’s not always the case) in reality where there’s a likelihood of being outside of North America, Europe, or Australia then inReach is a the only solution. My defy (of which the Offgrid is a carbon copy?) is 18 months old and useless. When I needed it it didn’t work, when I played with it it worked but it’s clunky and unintuitive. Great that things are evolving in this space but for now I’ll give this one’s miss.
I believe the Zoleo uses the exact same satellite network that Garmin does, but yes — many other competitors (Spot, Defy, Offgrid) suffer from that fatal flaw.
I’m sticking with my inreach. What happens after I send a SOS? With my Garmin I know someone is coming. For an extra ounce or two the stand alone ability is worth it. Relying on a phone is nice for typing messages but a negative if it dies. Nice to see some competition though.