Looking for truly emergency beacon ("SPOT") recommendations.? Not for navigation or sending messages home just for rescue call.? Light, reliable, able to keep battery life a long time when turned off, good coverage, not requiring huge long term fee. ??

I wonder what's the group recn on the latest technology.

Thanks

Judy McGuire

I recommend the garmin Inreach mini (I think there is a version 2 now). Very light, decent battery life, rechargeable, works with or without a phone, reliable two way text messaging. Not very good as a stand alone gps, but that’s not really what it’s made for. Has several subscription plans, I just use the basic. I have used this on multiple Sierra trips and on some PCT sections. I highly recommend it. Also recommend getting the SAR insurance, just in case.

Nick

Spot and Garmin both have plans that can be set up on a monthly basis as well.

I would keep a separate GPS for general use and keep the other stored until needed.

As for insurance, there is also the membership with Lifeflight that is pretty good - I have it. It also has a Fly-U-Home option that will get you from what ever hospital you are taken to in an emergency, to get you to a hospital near your home once stabilized.

Two Dogs

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For your minimal requirements you may want to look into a certified Personal Location Beacon (PLB). These are mostly single use devices, you extend the antenna and push the button to notify the appropriate SAR agency you need to be rescued. There is no annual fee so you only pay the cost of the device, currently they are around $300. There is NO messaging, location or tracking function. If unused the batteries last 5-7 years. The batteries are not rechargeable or user serviceable and are fairly expensive. Some brands are ACR ResQLink, McMurdo Fast Find and Ocean Signal RescueMe.

I have the McMurdo Fast Find but upgraded to the Garmin Mini so I could send messages with track info and communicate with home when hiking solo. I carry the Fast Find on day hikes when my Mini isn't activated. Fortunately I haven't used either in an emergency.

Frank

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Frank

I agree with Frank. If you don’t want any messaging or navigation features, a bona fide PLB will do the job without the lingering user problems that go with Swiss-Army-knife devices. You want high reliability, which in my opinion, points to the single purpose PLBs.

Judy... I have the Garmin Inreach Mini...$12 month for the annual safety plan. I would stay away from SPOT, it is on Globalstar network which is just not as robust as Iridium, which Garmin uses.? A PLB is a good option if all you want is an SOS button. PLBs do not offer any two way communication and there is no ability to know if your distress message was received or not.? I think Cris does a very good job explaining the differences and how a PLB works.? Might be worth reading to help you decide:??

JP

I used a spot for many years before switching to InReach in 2016. I did so to have two way communication with family. My entire reason for carrying a device is to be in touch with my family since it makes them feel better about my trips. And in recent years, I feel better about being on the trail knowing that if an emergency arises at home, I can be notified and that way I could exit as soon as possible. I use the cheapest InReach freedom plan and don’t use tracking. Unless there’s a reason to text (emergency only), I use unlimited preset messages only.?

If I did not have a reason to keep in touch with family, I would not carry a PLB on heavily trafficked trails in peak months, such as the JMT. Or if I did see a need, like off trail or off season, I’d use one of the PLB devices with no monthly fee that has no texting capability.?

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