
Garminās mini satellite communicators are on sale for up to 40 percent off
REIās annual Anniversary Sale doesnātĀ start until March 15th, but that hasnāt stopped Garmin from rolling out discounts on a range of devices ā including its InReach Mini satellite communicators. Right now, for instance, you can grab the Mini 2 at Amazon, REI, and Garmin for $249.99 ($150 off) or the Mini 3 for $399.99 ($50 off) through the same retailers (Amazon, REI, and Garmin). Thatās the lowest price weāve seen on the newer InReach model, which launched in late December. Garmin inReach MiniĀ 2 Where to Buy: $399.99 $249.99 at Amazon $399.99 $249.99 at REI $399.99 $249.99 at Garmin Garmin InReach Mini 3 Where to Buy: $449.99 $399.99 at Amazon $449.99 $399.99 at REI $449.99 $399.99 at Garmin As someone who has used both the Mini 2 and Mini 3 in the backcountry, Iām a big fan of dedicated satellite communicators over smartphones, even those with support for satellite SOS and messaging. Both the Mini 2 and Mini 3 are far more rugged than your average phone, for one thing, and each device offers multi-day battery life, which certainly isnāt the case with iPhone 17-series phones and Googleās newer Pixel phones. They also operate in higher temperatures and allow you to pull the weather report, which is a massive plus when youāre off the grid and exposed to ever-changing weather patterns. The core functionality of the Mini 2 and Mini 3 is largely the same, however. The two palm-sized satellite communicators leverageĀ the Iridium satellite network for coverage, allowing you to send text messages, share your location, and even trigger SOS alerts in the event of an emergency. The big differences between the last-gen model and the Mini 3 are that the latter features a color touchscreen interface, which makes it far easier to navigate menus and type messages (the Mini 3 Plus also adds support for photos and voice messages). Keep in mind that whichever model you choose, youāll need to sign up for one of Garminās InReach Consumer Plans, which start at $7.99 a month for the most basic plan. Each tier requires a $39.99 activation fee and includes a set number of messages per month; however, if you run out, youāll have to pay an additional fee per message (live tracking always costs extra). Personally, Iāve never found the messaging limits to be that restrictive ā my aim in the backcountry is to avoid copious amounts of human contact ā but itās something to keep in mind if youāre planning a longer trek in the woods or need more constant communication with someone back home. window.HYPE_DESK_CONFIG = { productImageUrl: "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/assets.sbnation.com/csk/uploads/hype-desk/product-images/macbook+neo.png", productImageAlt: "Apple MacBook Neo", productTitle: "Apple MacBook Neo", shortDescription: "An affordable, well-built laptop for a great price.", longDescription: "Apple's most affordable Mac ever starts at $599, and it does not feel like a compromise. The MacBook Neo has a durable aluminum enclosure that comes in four colors, and the battery life can handle everything you throw at it every day. Students and educators can save even more off an already surprising price.", purchaseUrl: "https://apple.sjv.io/c/482924/3875167/7613", purchaseLinkText: "Buy at Apple" }; More ways to save today Itās never been our No. 1 pick, but if youāre looking for a wireless outdoor camera,Ā Blinkās Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for $54.99 ($45 off), which is just $5 shy of its best price to date. The battery-powered, 700-lumen cam offers up to two years of battery life, Alexa support, and two-way audio, though, like most budget 1080p cameras, youāll have to shell out for a premium subscription to leverage its more advanced features. Legoās 2,660-piece replica of Hogwarts Castle is down to $136.99 ($33 off) at Amazon and Target, nearly matching its all-time low. Is it as cool as Legoās recently announced, LOTR-inspired Minas Tirith set? Probably not, but if youāre a Harry Potter fan obsessed with all things witchcraft and wizardry, the small scale model is a neat way to tide you over until the new HBO series kicks off on December 25th. Itās also, like, significantly cheaper. One of our favorite pieces of beauty tech, LāOrĆ©alās Colorsonic Hair Color Device, is available from Amazon and Target for $87.49 (about $28 off), one of its lowest prices to date. The clever gadget is designed to make at-home hair dyeing less of a hassle, and while we have some gripes about its ability to cover grays and how long the cartridges last, itās relatively straightforward to use and far quicker than box dye or a trip to your local salon. Read our review.



