idle. I too was worried about cost and subscription fees, but I got over it quickly. Since I'm almost always out of cell service, having that satellite link has opened up more opportunities than I was previously allowed (such as even solo trips).

If you don't like a dedicated GPS device, then the inReach mini is the way to go. I prefer dedicated handhelds, so the GPSmap 66 offered a lot more features for a couple hundred more. The only thing I don't like with the GPSmap is that the battery isn't swappable. I would think when hiking bringing some spare AAs would be preferred over a lithium ion charging pack, but maybe that's not a big deal either. Mine can go all day with 20-30% left and I charge at night.

But my kit is all vehicle based, so weight isn't high on the requirement list. That said, an inReach device is awesome for anyone who is frequently active away from civilization.