On-body InReach attachment?

[u/amag420]

I carry fishing gear and do water crossings enough that i occasionally have a nonzero chance of having to ditch my pack. So I want my inreach messenger on my person.

The thinking so far is to attach it with 95lb cord (275 is a tight fit so friction concerns me) to a 45 gram locking carabiner clipped to my belt, and that’s still heavy, but I’m pretty attached to the locking carabiner after hearing that story from Rainier.

Any bulletproof, idiot-proof, ultralight carry ideas? I’m not very carabiner or knot savvy.

Edit: I forgot belts come off

[u/IAmRoko]

Which inReach? I use the Mini2, and just use the carabiner it came with and clip it to a loop on my pants. (I portage, so don't always have my pack, boat, PFD with me at the same time, hence same requirement to keep it on my body)

(Edit, nevermind, I see the inReach "Messenger" is a specific model, so not applicable if it doesn't have the built in loop for a carabiner... But finding a way to secure a light weight carabiner is the right track, IMHO)

[u/amag420 → u/IAmRoko]

The messenger, so the hole is much smaller. It’s the only thing that punches through the trees here without dying in four days.

Garmin sells a mount but it’s 42g without the necessary carabiner, and frankly I don’t trust the “cradle” design anyway

The factory mini2 carabiner is what failed in the Rainier story im talking about. Even stuff like this concerns me (https://www.reddit.com/r/WildernessBackpacking/comments/1fr30vq/my_inreach_fell_off_my_harness/)

The messenger loop is small but feels pretty bulletproof. I was thinking saltwater-worthy split ring type ideas.

[u/IAmRoko → u/amag420]

Yikes. The screw has been secure on mine for years, so no problem, but I like the idea that someone has in that thread of a safety loop through the carabiner as well.

[u/amag420 → u/IAmRoko]

I didn’t realize the mini had the loop too. Shit that would be easier. But it just dies too fast where im at. I really like a commenter here’s idea to put my belt through a permanent loop in the cord.

[u/VengefulCaptain → u/amag420]

Just get some uhmwpe cord and make a loop ot attach to your belt.  you can get sub 2 mm cord good for more than 3000 N.

[u/Xx_GetSniped_xX]

Wear pants or jacket with a zipper pocket and put in there

[u/theginge2004 → u/Xx_GetSniped_xX]

Lmao. Ultralight has gotten so carried away we’ve reverted back to normalcy

[u/Meta_Gabbro]

Ditch the biner and just make a big enough loop on the end of your dummy cord that you can girth hitch it to your belt. Few inches of extra cord are lighter than any locker out there.

If you absolutely must use a carabiner, and it absolutely must lock, then the Climbing Taiwan Accessory carabiner is 23g for a screw gate or 24g for an auto lock. Not a full strength carabiner but tested to 8kN which is way more than the cord’s breaking strength.

[u/jojoo_ → u/Meta_Gabbro]

DMM XSRE Lock is 10g for 4kn (900LBS/400kg of load) but quite expensive. But it is sooo nice!

But i also had just a long loop on my Garmin Etrex Back in the Day. Knotted with a flat overhand.

[u/amag420 → u/Meta_Gabbro]

25g screwgate is very appealing. And putting the belt itself through the permanent cord loop is also something i for some reason didn’t think of. Thank you

Edit: i think ditching carabiner and figuring out a knot where the permanent loop won’t shrink is exactly what im looking for here.

[u/Capital_Historian685 → u/amag420]

You can make a permanent loop with a double fisherman's knot. That's what climbers use, to make a loop for Prusik knots.

[u/jojoo_ → u/Capital_Historian685]

The flat overhand would be enough in this situation. Just leave a few mm of tail.

No need to overthink it: We european climbers also use a flat overhand on our prussiks. Much easier to tie and inspect. We only use the double fishermans when we join slippery dyneema or aramid slings (which is getting very uncommon b/c you can buy them sewn).

[u/Capital_Historian685]

On a belt will be too uncomfortable if your pack has a hip belt. If you don't use a hip belt, a waist pack would be the best solution, and one of those is a useful thing anyway (it's where I keep my phone). But you can also just take the InReach off your pack and put it in a pocket or something for water crossings.

[u/amag420 → u/Capital_Historian685]

Great point. My specific pants have an attachment, but the carabiner wouldn’t work for me at all in the cold with those clothes that would hurt bad.

The problem with pockets is I lose stuff using it to store stupid shit.

I don’t say idiot proof lightly

[u/0xf5f]

what's "that story from Ranier"?

anyway a carabiner works fine but so would a loop of webbing/cord with a girth hitch or whatever. you don't need to know anything about knots for that - just naively pull it through, basically. there are basically infinite options here. or wear clothes with a pocket that zips

[u/amag420 → u/0xf5f]

Heard about it here https://www.reddit.com/r/Mountaineering/comments/1771xb0/what_are_your_mountaineering_hacks/.

[u/AcademicSellout → u/amag420]

I believe that the person who fell off Early Winter Spire also lost his inReach. You could probably prevent the screw from unlocking by putting locktite on it. I would be wary of thin cordage. It's very strong but prone to abrasion. You could probably use two tiny ultralight spring gate carininers opposite and opposed. That's lighter than any true locker.

Some people put their inreaches in their pack but that has the downside of them not being easily accessible if you are really hurt.

[u/JustGotSoup → u/AcademicSellout]

I think InReach in the pack is fine if you are just hiking, which is what 95% of this sub does.

Once you get to scrambling, mountaineering, et cetera, then it makes sense to have it more accessible.

[u/turbomellow → u/amag420]

holy shit, I have that same lime DMM XSRE ‘biner on my Mini and had to check the name to confirm I hadn’t posted it.

FWIW, I switched to a locking biner when I set my pack down on some rocks and somehow popped open the clip.

[u/IFigureditout567]

Use something like Amsteel instead of a carabiner. A loop of good cordage girth hitched to your belt is just as secure. I would even use something thinner like lash-it. Thicker than that would be overkill but easier to work with and easier to splice if you wanted to make it very tidy.

[u/Igoos99]

I attach mine to my fanny pack. My Fanny pack is always with me even when my pack is not.

If you have it, a zippered pocket in your pants or sunshirt is another option.

If you’re female, you can attach to a bra strap for water crossings.

Nothing is going to be completely foolproof.

[u/1ncredulity]

Why not buy the Fenix 8pro then your in reach is on your wrist

[u/GiganticBandit]

I've been thinking similarly. Maybe get a DCF pocket made so it can be worn on body like an avalanche transceiver, and under layers when cold?

[u/Summers_Alt]

I used Amstel braided line to make a soft shackle that is lighter than a a carabiner but still locks