DeLorme inReach Selected by Men’s Journal for 2011 Gear of the Year Honors
OutdoorHub 12.13.11
DeLorme, the innovation leader in navigation technology, today announced that its new inReach Satellite Communicator has been chosen for a Gear of the Year award by Men’s Journal magazine.
The inReach is a personal communication device that, for the first time, offers affordable two-way satellite communication, message delivery confirmation, remote tracking, and SOS emergency capability anywhere in the world. It is available from better retail and online outlets offering electronics or outdoor recreation gear.
According to Men’s Journal, its editorial experts scour the globe each year for “the coolest gadgets, the most tech savvy active wear and the all-around best gear out there for the active, accomplished man.”
Priced at $249, inReach can serve as a standalone device for sending pre-programmed messages and SOS alerts and activating remote tracking. When paired with a user’s Android phone or DeLorme’s Earthmate PN-60w handheld GPS, inReach enables two-way text messaging, allowing users to exchange information with family, friends, colleagues, or emergency responders. Messages can also be posted to Facebook and Twitter.
Messages are relayed by inReach to and from Iridium satellites, which make up the world’s furthest-reaching communications network. The inReach is built around the Iridium 9602 short-burst data transceiver, enabling its global, two-way connectivity.
“We believe inReach’s affordable communication capabilities can dramatically expand what’s possible in remote or high risk environments, and it’s very gratifying to see that recognized,” said Jim Skillings, DeLorme vice president for commercial products. “Already, we have inReach units headed to Africa for a kayaking expedition and to Antarctica.”
The inReach has received numerous other prestigious accolades, including a 2011 Popular Science Best of What’s New selection, 2012 CES Innovations honors, a National Geographic Adventure Gear of the Year award, and Outside Magazine Gear of the Show and GearJunkie.com Best of Show awards from the industry-leading Outdoor Retailer Summer Market trade show.
