Comments on: Delorme inReach Review — Take Texting to New Lands

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 07:56:50 +0000

Hi Phil, Greg and of course Joe for the great review, thanks very much to all!
Got my InReach, Amazon.com, delorme (RAM holder) and Shipito.com worked virtually flawlessly!
Tried my InReach out whilst paragliding in the Alps 2 or so weeks ago, although bl….. cold up there it worked fine, just like Joe wrote, App installation and use was surprisingly simple, text messages sent, posted on facebook etc.
Map usage all worked!!! w/o loads of stress, which very often happens with new hi-tech gadgets coming onto the market, in combination with a low tech user
Guys, Delorme thanks very much!

By: jeff

jeff — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 23:35:56 +0000

Three skiers are using the Delorme Inreach on their massive ski and packraft traverse from Vancouver to Skagway. Check out their blog at http://traversethecoast.wordpress.com

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:39:21 +0000

As far as DHL’s policy, the essential clause is “contained within” meaning physically installed inside the device. The other main part being maximum 20 watt-hours per cell, and maximum 100 watt-hours per battery (I doubt these little AA batteries come close to that though). I’m just going to tell my forwarder to open it up and keep the batteries for himself if it’s an issue. Believe it or not the IATA and ICAO regulations are a bit easier to deal with this year as opposed to even last year.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:16:02 +0000

Thanks Greg, that’s a great Idea. Lithium Batteries shouldn’t be a problem I checked this from e.g. the DHL homepage:
Prohibited Items: “Small Electronic Items, including Mobile Phones, containing Lithium Batteries –each package may not contain more than 2 batteries which must be contained within the electronic device.”
Although IMO the bit about the batteries must be contained within the device sounds strange. Surely if the device is defective and has/causes a short circuit during transport (They don’t always handle these boxes with care!) then the Batteries will overheat! The safest way is surely new and still packed in the original blister package? But maybe I’m just missing asomething here…….

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:54:12 +0000

@Carrie, Amazon are selling it cheaper than most (USD$210) with free US shipping. So if you get it sent to a service like shipito.com, you could probably get it sent to Europe for about the same price as most US retailers are selling it for locally. The included lithium batteries could be an issue for IATA regulations though, but your forwarder could probably just remove them if necessary.