The best personal locator beacons

This exceptionally portable and packable PLB features global satellite coverage, two-way text communications, and more. It’s easy to see why it leads the market in terms of capability and functionality. Most importantly, the Mini2 enables you to send interactive SOS alerts to the fully staffed GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center. The IERCC is manned 24/7 and helps coordinate rescue with local search and rescue organizations. Unlike many PLBs, the Mini2 has two-way text messaging so you can keep friends and family updated on your progress. You can even post to social media and communicate directly with other inReach devices in the field. The MapShare function allows users to share their location. All inReach communications travel via the Iridium satellite network which provides truly global coverage (not all SATCOM systems do). Plus, this device allows you to communicate directly with local responding search and rescue agencies.

The Mini2 is tiny — measuring four by two inches — and weighs only 3.5 ounces. It’s also tough, durable, impact-resistant (MIL-STD-810), and water-resistant (IPX7). Other stand-out features include TracBack routing which enables you to navigate back to your starting point should you get lost, a digital compass, decent battery life (14 days of use at 10-minute tracking mode and up to 30 days with 30-minute tracking), weather forecasts for your location AND other locations (bonus!), and unlimited cloud storage for trip planning. It also integrates seamlessly with other Garmin products. Using a USB-C interface, it charges twice as fast as devices with micro USB ports. This device is best for mountaineers, climbers, backpackers, backcountry skiers, hunters, hikers, trail runners, and others looking for an ultralight two-way Satcom SOS solution.

This compact hand-held PLB is a lower-priced and very capable option for backcountry users. Running off of the Iridium satellite network, the Zoleo provides truly global coverage and SOS connectivity to a 24/7 monitored rescue center. In fact, it’s the same IERCC that Garmin uses. The palm-sized gadget is fairly lightweight at 5.3 ounces. It’s rugged as well, with IP68 dust ingress protection, MIL-STD 810G shock resistance, and water resistance up to 4.9 feet for 30 minutes. The unit also features a Micro-USB port power input and internal GPS chip for location awareness to 8.2 feet accuracy. There is no screen on the unit, rather LEDs to let you know your power status, that have messages and the status of your SOS and messages. This well-designed and intuitive device has an SOS alert button (also cancellable) and check-in (to let folks know you’re OK) button integrated into the unit. It also has a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery with 200-plus hours of life. Charging takes about two hours with a 1.5 amp charger. The unit is entirely capable of activating an SOS and telling rescuers your position as a stand-alone unit. You can also preset check-in contacts so you can share your location with others at a user-selected interval from every six minutes to every four hours. That’s the good news.

On the downside, the Zoleo requires a cell phone interface via the Zoleo app for two-way communication. This is potentially problematic because if your cell phone battery dies, you lose two-way messaging functionality, which is pretty critical when you are trying to coordinate a rescue — especially with local responding SAR units. On the upside, typing texts on your cellphone to send through the Zoleo to others via satellite is much easier than most systems. It’s a trade-off, but an important one to note. Because of this design consideration, your power requirements increase since you have to keep both your cell phone and the Zoleo charged in the field. Also, charging with the Micro-USB takes about twice as long as devices that use USB-C. The Zoleo is also pretty tolerant and can operate in temperature ranges from minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It comes with a lanyard, carabiner, USB cable, and a two-year warranty. This is a great option for budget-conscious users who are willing to accept the additional complexity, weight, and power requirements that come with a cell phone to message interface to gain superior two-way messaging capability.

There’s a lot to like about the Somewear Labs Global Hotspot. As a stand-alone device, it delivers push and pray SOS capability and sends a rescue and location signal to a 24/7 rescue coordination center. If that’s all you want in a PLB, there are cheaper options out there. Where the Global Hotspot really shines is when it is paired with a smartphone via its proprietary app and allows for reliable and easy-to-use two-way communication. With the cellphone app interface, you gain text messaging capability, the ability to set interval tracking (10- to 60-minute check-ins) to allow friends to follow your progress; the ability to set navigation waypoints; access to downloadable topo or satellite maps; and on-demand weather reports.

When paired with a phone, the app seamlessly switches between satellite, cell, and WiFi networks and allows users to send messages via text to both phone numbers and email addresses. Also, its subscription plans are less expensive than the competition. It’s important to consider the total price in terms of the cost of the unit, activation fees, and monthly/annual service subscription. This device is so intuitive to use that the company doesn’t even include a user manual. Nice! That’s the good news.

The bad news is that, like the Zoleo, you have to take along a smartphone to access the full functionality, and this adds complexity, weight, and increased power requirements in the field. Unlike the Zoleo, the Somewear unit alone doesn’t have a push to send pre-programmed check-in “I’m OK” message function. You can, however, both activate SOS and enable friends to track your movements from the base unit alone.

Like the Somewear Global Hotspot, the compact and lightweight Bivy Stick, by itself, is a basic SOS beacon. Like the Zoleo, the Bivy Stick has a pre-programmed check-in button. Like both, the Bivy Stick’s functionality expands greatly when paired with a smartphone to include two-way messaging — essentially it turns your cell phone into a satellite communication device. Using the Iridium satellite network, the Bivy Stick provides true global coverage. Through the app, you can also get detailed weather reports and track your pace, mileage, and altitude, and download detailed offline maps for everywhere in the world.

Additionally, the Bivy Stick comes with a dedicated phone number and email, which allows unsolicited incoming messages so that people can reach you any time without the need for you to initiate contact. (For some of us, this is a major negative!) The app also has more than 50,000 mapped climbing, hiking, biking, paddling, and skiing routes to check out, and also weather reports.

Keep in mind that you’ll need your cell phone to enjoy the full capabilities of this device, and that will add another layer of complexity, additional weight, and increased power charging requirements. ACR also makes several different mount accessories for the Bivy Stick and a lightweight 15W solar panel that can help keep the device charged in the backcountry.

Of all the devices we reviewed, the SPOT X is the only one that has an integrated keyboard in the PLB unit. (In fact, it reminded me of the old Blackberry phones we were issued in the Marines.) Of all the units tested, the integrated keyboard enables the fastest and most easy-to-use text messaging. It also features the largest LCD display of any unit we found.

On the face of the device are a directional keypad, an SOS button with a hard plastic cover, and a tracking button. It is also designed with a large, obtrusive antenna — so it isn’t the smallest or most pocketable device we reviewed. But if you want to leave your cell phone at home, the SPOT X will enable you to send an SOS and also communicate two-way via text. In fact, you can also pre-program up to 14 messages for select-and-send use. It will also pair with your smartphone and app for expanded capability.

Unlike many other PLBs, the SPOT X has a dedicated cell phone number — meaning that you can exchange messages with any cell or email address from almost anywhere in the world. It also provides tracking on a 2.5-, 5-, 10-, 30- or 60-minute interval so you can track your progress via SPOT’s cloud-based mapping. The check-in feature allows you to quickly alert friends and family that you’re OK, and the integrated compass helps you navigate and includes programmable waypoints.

While it has global coverage for SOS, the SPOT X doesn’t have complete global coverage for non-emergency messaging. It does have full coverage of virtually all of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Australia, portions of South America, portions of North and South Africa, North-East Asia, and hundreds of miles offshore of these areas. It does have big gaps in a lot of the countries you probably don’t want to go to anyway. Check out the coverage map before you buy. Also, it takes a few minutes for the unit to send a message, which is a bit of a drag. This PLB is best for users who truly desire an integrated QWERTY keyboard and are willing to carry a larger and heavier device.

This maritime SOS beacon is absolutely dialed. It does one thing exceptionally well: transmit your location to an emergency coordination center while you bail, deploy your inflatable lifeboat, and fight off sharks. EPIRB stands for emergency position indicating radio beacon. This is a standard kit for commercial fishing vessels and passenger ships, and you can own it as well. It’s exceptionally well-made and deploys automatically by hydrostatic release from its bracket if submerged between one and four meters. Once deployed, it will float to the surface and start transmitting your oh-shit signal. As your signal reaches the emergency coordination center, search and rescue will pull up your beacon’s registration. EPIRB sends your location via GPS data or via triangulation via low Earth-orbiting satellites. Once on scene, SAR will use the 121.5 MHz signals to find your exact location and fish you out of the water.

The EPIRB has a 66-channel GPS to speed activation from a cold start. The unit features a protected keypad to prevent false activation, and is waterproof to one fathom — that’s 33 feet or 10 meters for you landlubbers. The battery pack has a 10-year lifespan and can be replaced by users to keep costs low. Once activated, it will operate for a minimum of 48 hours at minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit, and longer in warmer temps.