Garmin has released its 2025 inReach SOS report, providing an overview of emergency incident trends managed by the Garmin Response international emergency coordination centre during the 2025 season.
The company, which specialises in GPS technology and wearable devices, noted that its satellite technology has assisted users with emergency response services, two-way messaging, and location tracking for 15 years.
In the 2025 season, Garmin expanded its SOS capabilities across several product lines. This included the launch of fēnix 8 Pro, which is the first smartwatch from the company to feature inReach technology for both satellite and cellular connectivity.
Other releases during the year included the inReach Mini 3 Plus and GPSMAP H1i Plus. These satellite communicators allow users to exchange voice messages, texts, and photos with the Garmin Response team in the event of an emergency.
According to Garmin’s report, more than 3,000 inReach SOS incident messages were received throughout the year. Data shows that users triggered SOS messages most frequently during hiking and backpacking activities. These were followed by driving and motorcycling incidents.
Garmin added that trail and mountain-based incidents were notably up in 2025, and marine incidents were a growing category.
Work-related SOS incidents entered the top 10 categories for the first time. This suggests that more organisations are equipping staff with inReach technology for safety in remote or hazardous environments.
Injuries remained the primary reason for SOS messages being sent. Other leading causes included motor vehicle accidents and medical issues, such as heart problems and altitude sickness.
While the majority of SOS messages were sent for the device user, Garmin noted an increase in messages triggered for another member of the user’s party or for a third-party individual.
With the assistance of the Garmin Response centre, users were able to self-rescue more than 12% of the time.
The system works via a dedicated SOS button that utilises the Iridium and Skylo satellite networks. When a message is triggered, the device alerts Garmin Response, a 24/7-staffed professional emergency coordination centre.
Garmin’s team coordinates with the user, their emergency contacts, and search and rescue organisations. They provide updates to all parties until the incident is resolved. The centre currently monitors millions of devices, including handhelds, satellite phones, and smartwatches.
Mylene Torres, an inReach customer who triggered an SOS message after being struck by a boulder, said “I never imagined I would have to use the SOS feature, but when I did, it worked flawlessly – and I genuinely believe it made the difference between life and death. I will never go on another adventure without my inReach.”
Stephen Hackett, who used a device following a hurricane, said “It’s hard to describe the anxiety felt in the aftermath of a disaster by the inability to communicate with loved ones. It was a great relief to have a device and service that could ease people’s minds when regular communication systems failed.”
The Garmin range for 2026 includes several connectivity options for endurance athletes and explorers:
- fēnix 8 Pro and quatix 8 Pro smartwatches for satellite and cellular connectivity on the wrist
- The inReach Mini 3 Plus, a lightweight two-way satellite communicator for voice and text messaging
- GPSMAP H1i Plus handheld, which is designed for mountaineers and includes preloaded TopoActive maps
- Tread 2 – Overland Edition and Tread XL – Overland Edition for off-road navigation
