The Finest Satellite tv for pc Messengers, Based mostly on Discipline Testing

Satellite tv for pc messengers can save your life. You need a unit with the most effective likelihood doable of contacting SOS providers within the occasion of an emergency. However satellite tv for pc messengers are additionally one of the vital costly objects in a backcountry equipment, with complicated subscription buildings and additional charges. Over the course of some years proudly owning a satellite tv for pc messenger, you’ll doubtless pay $1,000 or extra in upfront and subscription charges. That can assist you select the most effective satellite tv for pc messenger to your wants, I discipline examined six completely different fashions and put collectively a side-by-side comparability of their charge buildings.

To start out, satellite tv for pc messengers had been put by means of a head-to-head take a look at throughout Outside Life’s annual backpacking gear testing journey. This included testing the reliability of satellite tv for pc messengers in sending messages, and being attentive to variations between the Globalstar and Iridium networks. You’ll be able to learn a full breakdown of our discipline testing protocol right here. Subsequent, I seemed on the inside battery and weight of every unit. I thought-about each testers’ expertise with the satellite tv for pc messengers and examined specs in home. Lastly, I ran a worth comparability throughout each a single 12 months and 5 years of seasonal use for the most effective satellite tv for pc messengers. 

Finest Satellite tv for pc Messengers: Critiques & Suggestions

Finest Total: Garmin inReach Messenger

Key Options

• Able to sending SOS, monitoring, check-in messages, and customized messages
• Satellite tv for pc Community: Iridium 
• Weight: 4 ounces
• Month-to-month plans vary from $8 (SOS solely) to $50 (limitless customized messaging)
• Value: $300

Professionals

• Makes use of Iridium community
• Pretty light-weight
• Glorious battery life
• Capable of message with out a paired cellphone

Cons

• Solely is available in black
• No devoted cellphone quantity

After going by means of all the information I had on worth, reliability, and performance, it’s clear that the Garmin Messenger is the best choice for the overwhelming majority of individuals. Like all Garmin merchandise, it really works off of the Iridium community, which testing confirmed outperforms the Globalstar community in reliably sending messages. Whereas it’s center of the street for pricing throughout all metrics, I appreciated that it had a decrease month-to-month charge than the Zoleo and ACR satellite tv for pc messengers, which helps while you inevitably understand that you just forgot to deactivate. I particularly respect their latest choice to permit for an SOS-only subscription, referred to as Enabled, with the choice to ship customized messages or check-ins that you just pay for on a per foundation. This prices $8 a month, whereas their lowest priced plan that features 50 customized messages prices solely $15. 

The Garmin Messenger has essentially the most spectacular battery of any satellite tv for pc messenger we examined, and it wasn’t even shut. Whereas different testers had been checking and re-upping their satellite tv for pc messenger batteries throughout our testing journey, I left my testing unit on with out upping the battery as soon as. By the tip of 4 days within the backcountry, the battery was at 86 %. That interprets to roughly 3.5 % battery use per day which is on observe for the Messenger to hit the claimed 28-day lifespan. And that’s with sending a number of messages over the course of a testing journey. (I didn’t, nonetheless, have location tracing enabled.)

The Garmin inReach Mini 2 has lengthy been a favourite amongst backpackers for the flexibility to message immediately from the machine. Nonetheless, this includes some critical henpecking to really do. In apply, folks use the app. However, the flexibility to ship a message immediately from the satellite tv for pc messenger might be instrumental within the occasion that your cellphone is disabled and also you want emergency help.

In my expertise, the henpecking required to ship a message by means of the noticeably smaller display of the Messenger is barely extra annoying than with the Mini 2, however not sufficient so to override its important profit in comparison with that costlier unit. 

A few minor dings. There isn’t any choice to droop service with Garmin, solely transfer it to the bottom tiered pricing construction. For those who solely plan to make use of your satellite tv for pc messenger one week a 12 months, this might not be the best choice. That being mentioned, having a satellite tv for pc messenger obtainable to you at any time when you’re off grid, together with on distant roads or on one-off day hikes, isn’t a foul concept. I additionally don’t love the colour: black. As a result of satellite tv for pc messengers work finest below clear skies, there’ll inevitably be occasions that you just put the unit barely away from the place you’re establishing your tent. A brighter coloration (sizzling pink, anybody?) would assist stop backpackers and others from leaving it behind once they arrange camp. 

Finest for Quick-Time period Use: Zoleo

Key Options

• Able to sending SOS, monitoring, check-in messages, and customized messages
• Satellite tv for pc Community: Iridium
• Weight: 5.3 ounces
• Month-to-month plans vary from $20 (25 customized messages) to $50 (limitless customized messaging)
• Value: $200

Professionals

• Low upfront price
• Makes use of the Iridium community
• Devoted cellphone quantity

Cons

• Barely heavier than different satellite tv for pc messengers
• Can’t ship customized messages with out a smartphone
• Much less strong battery

Zoleo’s decrease upfront price has made it a preferred selection with backpackers and, given the snowballing advances occurring within the smartphone-satellite area, which will make it a sensible selection for somebody who expects to make use of their smartphone as an all-in-one possibility within the not-to-distant future. Affiliate editor Ashley Thess sung the reward of her Zoleo, saying that she had used hers to “ask a buddy the way to scare off a rattlesnake, get quarterly updates on a soccer sport, checked in along with her emergency contact on journey delays, and ship a contented birthday message.” 

There’s a draw back to the price of the Zoleo on the again finish, the place it has the next month-to-month subscription price, $20 for 25 satellite tv for pc messengers in comparison with the Garmin inReach’s $15 for 50 messages. And whilst you can hit the SOS button immediately on the machine itself, there isn’t any method to sort a message out with out a smartphone bluetooth connection. Thess was additionally shocked that her Zoleo’s battery didn’t final at some stage in the journey, needing to be recharged after a single day of being left on. (You’ll be able to lengthen the battery life by turning it off when not in use or altering the interval of how usually it checks for messages.) Lastly, ultralight backpackers, take notice: This one additionally weighs about an oz. greater than our high decide and virtually two ounces greater than our greatest ultralight possibility.  

Finest Ultralight: Garmin inReach Mini 2

Key Options

• Able to sending SOS, monitoring, check-in messages, and customized messages
• Satellite tv for pc Community: Iridium 
• Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Month-to-month plans vary from $8 (SOS solely) to $50 (limitless customized messaging)
• Value: $400

Professionals

• Half an oz. lighter than my finest total decide
• Simpler to textual content immediately on the machine

Cons

• Larger upfront price
• Smaller battery than the Messenger
• Barely slower messaging occasions than the Messenger
• No devoted cellphone quantity

Regardless of having extra options and a bigger on-board display, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 clocks in at a half an oz. lighter than the Messenger. However there’s a price to all that. A literal price: The inReach Mini 2 is $100 costlier. And likewise a performance price. Not solely is the battery on the Mini 2 about half that of the Messenger, it additionally has a much less strong antenna. Throughout testing, the Mini 2’s messages all the time took barely longer than the Messenger’s to ship, with the worst differential being quarter-hour. 

However should you’re going out for lower than every week and plan to message in your satellite tv for pc messenger solely (moderately than pairing it by way of Bluetooth to an app in your cellphone) then this may increasingly certainly be the best choice for you. The bigger display and autocomplete perform does make it simpler to message immediately from the Mini 2 than the Garmin inReach Messenger.  

Garmin inReach Messenger+

Key Options

• Able to sending SOS, monitoring, check-in messages, customized messages, voice memos, and photographs
• Satellite tv for pc Community: Iridium 
• Weight: 4.1 ounces
• Month-to-month plans vary from $8 (SOS solely) to $50 (limitless customized messaging, 50 photographs/voice memos)
• Value: $500

Professionals

• Can ship photographs
• Can ship voice memos
• Can ship longer textual content messages 

Cons

Whereas Outside Life wasn’t capable of embody Garmin’s new inReach Messenger+ on our testing journey, because it launched after we had returned to the frontcountry, affiliate editor Ashley Thess acquired out with the newest mannequin to see the way it in comparison with the competitors. What units this unit other than all different satellite tv for pc messengers is that it is ready to share photographs and voice memos whereas off grid. 

Thess got here away impressed with the convenience with which she was capable of share photographs and ship voicemails by way of the Messenger+. Whereas testing can be ongoing to make sure it has the identical reliability that we’ve come to anticipate from different Garmin merchandise, should you’re searching for extra strong communication with family members within the frontcountry, this can be a stable decide. Nonetheless, in case you are solely buying a satellite tv for pc messenger for the aim of SOS capabilities and with the ability to reassure family members within the frontcountry that you just’re nonetheless alive, it’s not likely needed. Be aware that whereas the upfront price is considerably larger than for the common Messenger mannequin, the subscription plans are priced the identical. 

Learn Subsequent: The New Garmin inReach Messenger Plus Sends Pictures, Voice Memos, and Group Chats

ACR Bivy

Key Options

• Able to sending SOS, monitoring, check-in messages, and customized messages
• Satellite tv for pc Community: Iridium
• Weight: 3.5 ounces (examined at 3.8 ounces)
• Month-to-month plans vary from $20 (20 customized messages) to $60 (limitless customized messaging)
• Value: $300

Professionals

• Light-weight
• Rolling textual content message accrual
• Appropriate with GoPro mounts
• Devoted cellphone quantity
• Straightforward arrange

Cons

• Much less strong battery
• Despatched our take a look at messages to a spam folder
• Costly in the long run

First, a disclaimer on this overview. It took over a month for me to take a look at the outcomes of my satellite tv for pc messenger discipline take a look at — too busy wanting on the outcomes of our take a look at of the finest backpacking tents, finest backpacking backpacks, and others. Then, once I did, I had no messages in my inbox from the ACR Bivy we examined. Additional trial messages revealed why: They had been despatched to my spam folder, the place they had been then deleted after a month. Whereas this sadly makes it tough to check the pace of the ACR Bivy’s antenna towards the likes of the Garmin Messenger, we will luckily nonetheless infer some info because it makes use of the Iridium community, which carried out higher than the Globalstar community throughout the board. 

Whereas utilizing the ACR Bivy implies that you’ll need to guarantee your contacts are frequently checking their spam folders, this unit did have some benefits over the others. For those who’re sending textual content messages as an alternative of emails, the ACR Bivy has a devoted cellphone quantity that your contacts can add to their cellphone. It’s pretty light-weight, if not fairly as gentle as marketed (my unit clocks in at 3.8 ounces), and might be mounted utilizing the identical {hardware} as a GoPro, which may be very helpful for these of us vulnerable to misplacing smaller objects. I additionally appreciated that this one was comparatively quick to arrange.

Sadly, the minimal subscription charge for this makes it a reasonably expensive unit to personal long-term. That being mentioned, unused textual content messages roll ahead, month to month, which can assist mitigate the prices for much less frequent, extra related customers. 

SPOT Gen4

Key Options

• Able to sending SOS and pre-set messages solely
• Satellite tv for pc Community: Globalstar
• Weight: 5 ounces
• Month-to-month plan is $15
• Value: $150

Professionals

Cons

• Missed a check-in
• Excessive per thirty days charge for the service offered
• Heavier than different choices we checked out
• No two-way messaging (could also be thought-about a professional by some)

As satellite tv for pc messengers get higher and higher, the entire concept of being “off grid” appears to be in danger. Pictures? Voice memos? Group chats? What’s subsequent, Slack? For these of us that desire our tech rather less superior, the SPOT Gen4 has precisely what you want and nothing extra. This one has an SOS button, a monitoring button, a check-in button, and a second message button that you would be able to customise prematurely. That’s it. There isn’t any method to sort out a custom-made message within the discipline; no method for somebody to get involved with you. That is particularly good when you have somebody within the frontcountry who’s nervous about you however you don’t essentially need to be listening to from them on the common.

As a Luddite myself, I like the concept of the SPOT Gen4 (I even used an older model of this again in 2014 on my PCT hike). Sadly, I can’t give it a full-throated advice for a few causes. The primary is the price. Whereas this has a low upfront charge, the subscription price is on par with different satellite tv for pc messengers, even a little bit larger in some instances. This simply doesn’t make sense given the decreased performance. However the larger concern is that in testing, each the SPOT Gen4 and the SPOT X missed the identical check-in.

Each customers obtained affirmation that their message had gone out on the SPOT units they had been accountable for, however once I checked the log again within the frontcountry, they had been lacking. I don’t love that the SPOT was unable to ship a message in any respect, however the larger concern right here is that it indicated it had despatched a message when it had not. It’s value noting that each the SPOT Gen4 and SPOT X use the Globalstar satellite tv for pc community, which can also be the satellite tv for pc community enabling SOS performance on iPhone fashions 14 and better.

SPOT X

Key Options

• Able to sending SOS, monitoring, check-in messages, and customized messages
• Satellite tv for pc Community: Globalstar
• Weight: 7 ounces
• Month-to-month plans vary from $15 (15 customized messages) to $40 (limitless customized messaging)
• Value: $250

Professionals

• Low worth for the options
• Constructed-in keyboard

Cons

• Missed a check-in
• Heavier than different choices we checked out

The SPOT X is the one satellite tv for pc messenger we checked out with a built-in keyboard. That implies that even when your cellphone died on you within the discipline, you would nonetheless use the SPOT X to customise messages to family members or emergency personnel with out the henpecking required by the Garmin inReach choices. And it supplies all of this on the identical pricing construction as for the SPOT Gen4. In my view, the SPOT Gen4’s subscription plan is overpriced, however the SPOT X’s is a a lot better deal. 

Sadly, as detailed above, lacking a check-in could possibly be a giant concern for backcountry vacationers, and doesn’t encourage confidence within the SOS characteristic. 

Satellite tv for pc Messengers vs Smartphones: Rising Off-Grid Communication Applied sciences

Over the past two years, it’s change into clear that the SOS perform on Apple’s iPhone 14 and 15 is a gamechanger for the backcountry. People who beforehand won’t have carried a devoted satellite tv for pc messenger are actually in a position to make use of their iPhone to ping the orbiting Globalstar satellite tv for pc community for assist in the occasion they’re misplaced or injured out of service. Extra just lately, Apple has added two-way communication. So when you have an iPhone 14 or larger, do you even nonetheless want a devoted satellite tv for pc messenger?

There are a number of causes that you must nonetheless carry a devoted satellite tv for pc messenger, a minimum of for now. The largest one is that Apple’s iPhone is utilizing the Globalstar community, which our testing confirmed remains to be tormented by reliability points. And whereas iPhone is now able to sending each SOS alerts and texts by way of iMessage, there are some limitations. The primary is that this performance is barely obtainable with iPhone 14 or more moderen fashions. The second is that, to textual content, each events will want the iPhone 14 or larger. With different satellite tv for pc messengers, your contact within the frontcountry can textual content you again or ship an electronic mail from any machine, not only one outfitted with satellite tv for pc messaging. 

However, that Apple already has this performance up and operating is spectacular. They usually aren’t the one ones. Garmin introduced a take care of Google to supply SOS functionality on Pixel 9s. Lastly, Starlink in partnership with T-Cellular is launching satellites that can be utilized for texting and, sooner or later, mobile calls and knowledge use. 

Whereas I don’t see any one among these updates as spelling the tip of devoted satellite tv for pc messengers any time quickly, cumulatively these product upgrades are trending towards a future the place they might very properly change into out of date for a lot of. Outside Life will proceed to observe these developments, together with side-by-side testing of those options as they change into obtainable to raised perceive their performance and reliability. 

How We Examined the Finest Satellite tv for pc Messengers

Satellite tv for pc messengers had been evaluated on numerous metrics, together with performance, pricing fashions, in-house measurements, and discipline testing. 

Discipline Testing Satellite tv for pc Messengers

Satellite tv for pc messengers had been included as a part of our testing protocol on the 2024 Outside Life backpacking gear take a look at alongside the Goat Rocks Wilderness part of the Pacific Crest Path. Members of the testing crew had been every assigned a satellite tv for pc messenger to check. Every day, on the identical time and in the identical place, all of us despatched a message to my electronic mail. Whereas utilizing the satellite tv for pc messengers, customers famous battery lifespan and performance points. 

Under I’ve laid out the times and occasions of our check-ins. Occasions replicate the timestamp in my inbox within the frontcountry, whereas parenthetical occasions replicate the time that the satellite tv for pc messengers indicated they had been despatched. The ACR Bivy check-in’s sadly had been despatched to my spam folder and subsequently deleted, so there isn’t any report for these messages presently. 

Editor-in-chief Alex Robinson and I had been additionally capable of take a look at out Garmin’s machine to machine service. Relatively than be a part of us at the beginning of the backpacking trek, Robinson met us midway by means of, utilizing a facet path to intersect our location on the Pacific Crest Path. I confirmed timing with him utilizing the Garmin inReach Mini 2 and Garmin inReach Messenger whereas we had been each off grid. Two members of our testing staff had been ready for him on the intersection minutes earlier than he hiked up the path. 

Messaging Capabilities

All satellite tv for pc messengers supply completely different messaging choices. Right here is an outline of what every gives so you possibly can guarantee you’re choosing the choice that meets your wants. 

Weight and Battery Lifespan

I weighed every satellite tv for pc messenger and famous how the claimed battery life carried out within the discipline, the place tree cowl and canyons can have a large impression on battery lifespan. Needless to say the more durable it’s to hook up with a satellite tv for pc, and the extra messages you ship, the much less time your battery will final.  

Value Comparability

With satellite tv for pc messengers, the upfront price is simply the beginning. Subsequent there’s the activation charge. Then it’s a must to select between a month-to-month subscription or a yearly subscription plan — be careful for hidden charges like reactivation costs. It was such a large number to type by means of that I ended up placing collectively an Excel spreadsheet full of formulation. 

The beneath desk breaks down the prices, and compares the worth for a season’s value of service for one 12 months versus a season’s value of service for 5 years. I additionally included notes on one-time activation charges (paid while you begin up your subscription) and reactivation charges while you restart a subscription that was suspended

Issues to Take into account Earlier than Buying a Satellite tv for pc Messenger

Satellite tv for pc Community

There are two personal satellite tv for pc networks that satellite tv for pc messengers use: Iridium and Globalstar. Backpackers and others have lengthy felt that the Iridium community was extra dependable, and that units on the Globalstar community will point out that messages have been despatched which might be then by no means obtained within the frontcountry. Our testing confirmed that that is nonetheless the case. 

The opposite two satellite tv for pc networks to pay attention to are Cospas-Sarsat and Starlink. The previous makes use of a group of satellites from varied authorities businesses world wide. Whereas this community has lengthy been heralded as essentially the most correct, you possibly can solely use SOS on it. As such, most satellite tv for pc messengers have moved to Iridium or Globalstar. Extra just lately, Starlink has moved into this area. Whereas their satellites need to date not been appropriate with cell telephones or different satellite tv for pc messengers, they’re working to change that. 

Battery Life

A satellite tv for pc messenger with a lifeless battery isn’t going to save lots of anybody’s life. And whereas most backpackers now carry energy banks, a dependable, long-lasting battery will at a minimal present you peace of thoughts within the backcountry, and will even save your life. One other consideration is that the batteries in satellite tv for pc messengers will slowly leak energy over time, even turned off in storage. For those who haven’t upped the cost in your satellite tv for pc messenger in a while, there’s a likelihood that the battery has utterly died. And if the battery is totally depleted for too lengthy, it can finally not have the ability to maintain a cost. 

Purchase What Your Buddies Have

Sometimes I wouldn’t advocate for following the group, however on this occasion, there’s a good cause. That’s as a result of when you have a Garmin satellite tv for pc messenger and your pals have Garmin satellite tv for pc messengers, you should use them to speak with each other whereas within the backcountry. That’s big within the occasion you’re separated. Similar with SPOT. And Zoleo. And ACR. However, it’s a must to have the identical model of machine for this to work. 

Messaging Capabilities

How a lot messaging functionality you want relies upon largely in your private circumstances and preferences. Some folks like to remain in shut contact with mates and family members within the backcountry; others desire the solitude. For those who plan to remain in common communication, search for a plan that has an amazing worth for limitless messages. You may additionally need to contemplate choosing a satellite tv for pc messenger that permits you to compose a textual content immediately on the machine. 

FAQs

Remaining Ideas on the Finest Satellite tv for pc Messengers

A satellite tv for pc messenger is a probably life-saving piece of drugs. Whichever one you select, ensure you have an lively subscription and absolutely charged battery earlier than heading into the backcountry.