Beacons

Featured review by Jordan Hufford

If you're looking to combine your messaging and GPS needs into one device, this is it.

I've acquired this GPS for a solid price of $300 through incentives of my workplace, and its the best $300 I've spent on gear. This GPS has accompanied me on any challenging hike, backpacking trip, backcountry skiing, or any trip into the mountains.  Communication (Requires subscription) As shown in some pictures I've uploaded, this GPS doesn't anything special in terms of features. But what it does do it does well. The communication aspect of this GPS is easy if you have a phone, and still very manageable when only using the device.

Read more: Garmin inReach Explorer+ reviews (3)

Reviewed by BigRed

A two-way satellite communicator and potential life saver for whenever things go sideways anywhere outdoors. Send and receive messages and track points, get weather reports, follow a planned track or backtrack, send an SOS, all in a 113 g /4 oz device that fits in the palm of your hand. Control using a Bluetooth app makes using it a lot easier. Navigation functions are somewhat limited.

A couple years ago I went on a long, mostly off-trail solo hike over a series of summits on a horseshoe-shaped ridge around the head of a valley, involving some exposed scrambling to get around an obstacle on a sharp ridge. I had a signal on the last major top so I called my wife to let her know that I was headed down and should be home in 3 or 4 hours. There was one more minor top that I could have skipped, but I decided to add it in because it would only add a couple kilometers. 30 km and 2500 m of vert Wrong.

Read more: Garmin inReach Mini 2 review (1)

Reviewed by Denis Evans

Simply carries out what it advertises. Rock solid Bluetooth connection. Excellent satellite connection. Very good companion Apple iOS app.

I have had a number of other satellite communication devices but this is the best so far. It uses your smart phone so the Zoleo doesn’t need a screen. This keeps the price down compared to other alternatives. It has iPhone and Android apps but I have only used the iPhone app. It works very well. The Bluetooth connection is rock solid. It reconnects easily if you separate the iPhone and the Zoleo too far. It has an international SOS rescue function like a PLB, but you can send SMS messages to anyone, anywhere.

Read more: Zoleo Satellite Communicator review (1)

Featured review by Sean Van Cleve

Being difficult to rate something I've never actually had to use, an excellent product for one that needs a long term insurance product that doesn't incur monthly billing.

I have been in the market for a PLB for a VERY long time. Many companies (SPOT, DeLorme) have a recurring monthly bill for their services. I wasn't interested in a product that will cost THOUSANDS over the years, but needed something in case of the worst-case-scenario ever happened. I have been backpacking for 30 years, and decided to stop gambling.  The local REI has upgraded to the FastFind 220, which put this on clearance for $150, now we're cooking. Prior to this purchase, I was also looking at an ACR product (also good), but most decent PLB's are $250 minimum.

Read more: McMurdo Fast Find 210 reviews (2)

Featured review by LoneStranger

The safety of an SOS button connected via satellite to a monitoring response team combined with features you can use on every trip. Those features include two-way texting including localized weather reports, live updating of your personal online map and others you can choose or ignore as desired. The device and subscription service are not cheap, but for those venturing far afield, especially those who go alone, it gives a good return on the investment.

Lots of function packed into a pretty small package, the Delorme inReach SE is either a safety device with lots of useful functions or the other way around. Whether you carry it for safety or for the other functions it isn't that big of a load for what you get as far as I'm concerned. Measuring roughly 6"x2.25" if you count the antenna it weighs 6.8oz/194g on my scale when full charged. Not sure of the weight when the battery is empty :) Subscriptions Rates as of Feb 2017. Since a lot of people were asking I've added their current list of plans and prices for the needed subscription service.

Read more: DeLorme inReach SE reviews (5)

Reviewed by Schifferj

As a pilot and sailor I've used EPIRBs for many, many years.  Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) were introduced into the United States not too long ago and I immediately purchased an ACR Sarlink.  Now ACR has introduced the ResQLink PLB and this is a backpacker's dream. It's about the size of a flip model cell phone at 1.3" x 1.9" x 3.9" and it weighs a scant 4.6 ounces.  Due to space limitations let me just say that the beacon transmits to high and low satellites whose sole purpose is search and rescue.

Read more: ACR ResQLink review (1)

Featured review by Elizabeth McCoy

This is a must have item on a backcountry thru hike! GPS satellite communication device with tracking and text messaging capability and SOS.

I bought this device at a recent REI Garage sale for a steal! I've been wanting one for a long time and now I own one! I activated it immediately, which was easy to do. There are multiple different plans to choose from. I have loaded more than 50 trails and routes to the device and it is amazing! I'm super excited to have this device for my upcoming JMT thru hike in August. Piece of mind out in the backcountry will be nice for sure. Also the capability of letting my family back home know I'm OK and where I am exactly is pretty sweet! 

Read more: DeLorme inReach Explorer reviews (2)

Featured review by Daryl Wells

Lightweight, small, and has the reliability of ACR behind it (I trust ACR locators).

The ACR ResQLink+ is a replacement for my old heavy ACR TerraFix 406 PLB. The ResQLink+ is 1/4 the size of the old PLB and about 1/6 the weight of the older model. I had to use my old old PLB when I tore my right quad tendon while hiking White Oak Canyon in Shenandoah NP. Help did not arrive until I reached the parking lot. I got help from some ice climbers and a father and daughter out for the day.   At that time, the PLB was already old, the battery was in need of replacement, and I was in the mountains.

Read more: ACR ResQLink+ reviews (2)

Reviewed by Skygenie

This is such a simple transceiver to use. I'd recommend it for any recreational user. It's also commonly used by ski patrollers.

This transceiver is very simple to use and that's what makes it so great. When I do practices with friends with other digital units, they seem to get hung up on other features and confused about how to interpret what the transceiver is telling them. This is due to not practicing enough, but with the Tracker 2, it is far more intuitive and even without much practice can be effectively used.  Some people express concern over multiple burials with this unit but Backcountry Access has good information about this on their website.

Read more: Backcountry Access Tracker 2 review (1)

Featured review by Rob R

The Spot 2 is a small, rugged, highly portable, GPS locating device which allows the user to transmit pre-typed messages to friends and family using the Globalstar satellite network. It also transmits "Help" and "SOS" messages for non-emergency or emergency situations. It does not have the ability to receive messages.

The Details: I have recently purchased a Spot Satellite GPS Messenger (for the rest of this review I'll refer to it as "Spot 2" or "unit") through an online website for $99.  I've noticed the price varies from $99 to $169, although the MSRP is $119 on the Spot website. The Spot 2 is marketed as follows, "The SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger provides a vital line of communication with friends and family when you want it, and emergency assistance when you need it. Using 100% satellite technology, SPOT works virtually anywhere in the world, even where cell phones don't – all with the push of a button." According to the coverage map on the website, in regards to land areas, there is nearly coverage everywhere except the southern portion of Africa...

Read more: SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger reviews (9)