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Locator Beacons

Top Picks

How we choose: The best locator beacons highlighted here were selected based on 110 reviews of 13 products. Our top picks are those that are readily-available in the United States and have received the highest overall ratings from reviewers.

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Top Locator Beacon / Handheld

Garmin inReach Explorer+

user rating: 4.5 of 5 (3 reviews)

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

Reasons to Buy

  • Rugged design
  • Trustworthy mapping
  • Detailed maps
  • Good battery life

Reasons to Avoid

  • Not as user friendly as some Garmins
  • Not as many bells and whistles
  • Almost exactly the same as the older one?

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)

Garmin inReach Mini

user rating: 5 of 5 (1 review)

I'd recommend this device for anyone going on an extended wilderness trip where they likely won't have cell service. I used it for a week in the Sierra Nevada mountains and it was very helpful as it allowed my group to stay in contact with our families on the outside to notify them of changes in our itinerary. Definitely a must-have from a safety perspective.

Reasons to Buy

  • Long battery life
  • Lightweight
  • Reliable
  • Easy to use

Reasons to Avoid

  • Slow to send/receive messages
  • Somewhat expensive

Ease of use: I found the device easy to use. There are just enough features to be useful, but not too many to the point of being confusing. Also you can connect it to your phone via Bluetooth (even if you don't have service on your phone) and control the device from an app which really streamlines the whole thing. Features: The most important feature for me was the ability to send and receive custom messages. This allowed us to have meaningful contact with the outside world while on the trail.

Read more: Garmin inReach Mini review (1)

McMurdo Fast Find 210

user rating: 5 of 5 (2 reviews)

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.

Reasons to Buy

  • No recurring bills
  • Uses NOAA SAR technology
  • 5 year battery life

Reasons to Avoid

  • Does not float
  • Expensive
  • Must be sent back to have batteries replaced (5 years)

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)

Locator Beacon / Handheld

DeLorme inReach SE

user rating: 4 of 5 (5 reviews)

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.

Reasons to Buy

  • Good connectivity to stable network
  • Settings allow for customized use
  • Good battery/power efficiency even in cold
  • Online mapping features both live and after the trip
  • Social media connectivity for social folk
  • Bluetooth capability

Reasons to Avoid

  • Keying process is time consuming when messaging
  • Web site has many features that are hard to undersand at first

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)

ACR ResQLink

user rating: 5 of 5 (1 review)

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)

Top Handheld GPS Receiver / Locator Beacon

DeLorme inReach Explorer

user rating: 5 of 5 (2 reviews)

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

Reasons to Buy

  • Create multiple routes
  • See your tracks and navigate with onscreen maps
  • Trigger an SOS
  • Send and receive texts
  • Post social media updates
  • Share your location, GPS coordinates, course, elevation and speed

Reasons to Avoid

  • Expensive

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)

ACR ResQLink+

user rating: 4.5 of 5 (2 reviews)

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)

SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger

user rating: 4.5 of 5 (9 reviews)
discontinued

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.

Reasons to Buy

  • Compact
  • Lightweight
  • Rugged
  • Easy to Use
  • Multiple ways to carry it

Reasons to Avoid

  • Small buttons
  • LED light difficult to see in bright sunlight
  • No coverage in Southern Africa or Extreme Polar Regions
  • Needs clear view of sky to operate correctly

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)

SPOT Connect

user rating: 4 of 5 (5 reviews)
discontinued

Works great with my smartphone to upload messages to Facebook or for friends/family to track us, but gives us peace of mind should anything bad happen and we need help.

Reasons to Buy

  • Small and durable
  • Great battery life

Reasons to Avoid

  • Can be slow to upload messages
  • Can only write messages of so many characters

Product is well made, durable and has excellent battery life. We travel on our ATV's in areas of Northern Ontario which does not have any cell phone coverage. Should we break down, or get hurt we would have no way of contacting anybody to help us, so we were looking for something we could carry with us.   It is easy to use and when paired with our smartphone allows us to post updates on Facebook for our friends/family to see.  We have also shared the live tracking feature for people to see where we go on our rides. We have been using our Spot Connect now for almost a year, and would highly recommend it! Disclosure: The reviewer received a sample of this product from the brand or its representatives in exchange for a review.

Read more: SPOT Connect reviews (5)

More Reviews of Locator Beacons

Trailspace reviewers have shared 110 reviews of 13 different locator beacons.

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Other Types of Navigation Tools

Find more navigation tools reviewed in these related categories:

Maps

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