[giraffe_lady]

I don't think any of those are remotely common for recreational backpack hikers. Garmin inreach maybe, because it covers the two essentials this group actually wants of "check in with family" and "call for help." It would really surprise me if backpackers switch to this en masse, or if having it enabled anyone to start backpacking who currently can't because of this need being unmet.

It'll probably get used on boats, where people actually do kinda want to watch netflix at night and don't have to personally carry every gram every day. The current options are very expensive and power hungry.

And probably a bunch of other outwardly similar but culturally distinct groups that could use it. Remote wilderness hunters, ice fishers, who work out of a seasonal camp but otherwise are pretty cut off.

[hammock]

Great use case examples. The marketing bit is "fits in a backpack" but really it's "fits in a base camp duffel/dry bag." People with a boat, sled, overlanding vehicle etc this is great

[lxgr]

Not every backpack is used for backpacking! I use mine largely for the not-so-exciting trek to the office :)

[hammock]

The point was the use case is better for people who are not traveling by foot

[lxgr]

Definitely! But Starlink doesn't market it towards those people. Their page simply says "fits a backpack".

In fact, they almost don't do any marketing at all, and they probably don't need to, given how far ahead their service is at this point.

[devit]

It will be very niche because most people who spend time in nature seem to be either:

- Car campers, vanlifers or people living in a place permanently, which can just use the heavy Starlink version or go where there is LTE coverage

- Thru-hikers who hike every waking hour and want to be as light as possible and for which this system isn't even remotely light enough

- Casual weekend hikers for which it's going to be too expensive and also unnecessary since they'll have Internet access on Monday again.

It's only really a consideration for those who regularly go on multiweek trips or live long-term in the wilderness and move camp on a weekly/monthly frequency (rather than daily or never), and these people seem to be relatively rare.