Who uses a Spot Messenger?

[Mtnboy]

Well, I've spent a fair bit of time in the woods/backcountry alone and feel pretty comfortable, but this is the first year of having a baby at home expecting me back and it's got me thinking about picking up a Spot just for peace of mind.

My wife isn't too stoked on spending another $300 on hunting stuff and claims she has no worries at all (kinda nice to know she is confident in me at least ha)

What say you guys? Pony up and get a Spot? Go old school?

There is usually absolutely zero cell service in most places I hunt....one of the reasons I love Idaho!

 

[Buster]

Money well spent for piece of mind.

 

[Dwelsh]

For basic peace of mind I like my spot . Makes my wife feel better knowing I can call for help if I need it. It would be nice to have two way communication but for the money I wouldn't go with out my spot. You can buy a 2 gen on amazon for about $80 and there basic plan is around $100 a year last time I checked, but the yearly rate goes up fast if you and in some extras like rescue insurance, replacement plan and tracking. I just renewed mine for the year with all the extras and it was $179.

 

[charvey9]

Its well worth it for the piece of mind, and my wife really appreciates it. I hunt by myself 99% of time in places no one would ever find me if I went down. Kinda cool too. I have my dad in Michigan in and brother in Wisconsin on my list to get the check-in notifications, and they like getting to see where I'm out and about. This season my hunting buddy have some friends packing us in on horses for a week long hunt, and will have them set up with a custom message notification to come in and pack out our elk when/if we get one down.

 

[T43]

I got one after my first kid was born. I use it for hunting and hiking and give it to my wife when she travels where there is no cell service. Well worth the price.

 

[amp713]

I picked on up on here for the classifieds for a good price! Im liking it so far....

 

[todd kelly]

Money well spent. I've had one since they first came out and have used it a ton since. The wife and I don't have cell phones so we use them while traveling a lot.

 

[Crawfish]

I rented one last year (I think it cost like $70 for the week) and was very happy with it. It made my 10 day absence from the house bearable for the wife.

 

[Elkfitness]

I've had a spot for about 4 yrs now. Bought it with the delorme gps wireless unit when there was a big sale the pn60 model. Both work great. The delorme GPS lets me send messages.

 

[Matt Cashell]

My Spot 2 has been very reliable for me. I just threw it in the pack to head to the woods tomorrow.

 

[norsepeak]

I've got the SPOT connect, pairs with smartphone. It works good, used it a bunch last year in NV, B.C. and MT. But I'm going a different route so it's for sale. $80 if anyone wants it.

 

[8Crow]

Add one more to the heap. I used mine to check in every night on my CO elk trip last fall and I know it gave my wife some peace of mind.

 

[cwoodyt87]

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/show...Hydration-Lessons-Learned&highlight=blackhawk

This is why I will always bring one on future trips into the mountains. I had a similar experiece as the above story, though not as dire. Luckily we were able to get the person to keep fluids down, and there were plenty of other camps around in case we had to evac. I did not have a spot messenger of any sort at the time.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

 

[Mtnboy]

Went to Cabelas last night and picked one up. They were out of the new Gen 3 but had a couple Gen 2s so I got one of those, didn't hurt my feelings that it was $50 less either.

Am I going to wish down the road I got a Gen 3, any major differences?

 

[Snyd]

Gen 2 for me. I've read the Gen 3's aren't as good and use more power, or something like that. Can't remember for sure. Gen 2 works great.

 

[birdman1]

Ive got a Gen 3. The wife and family really like that they can follow along. I rented a satellite phone last year and was severely disappointed in the spotty service and high cost, the SPOT isn't as nice as it only has one way communication, but for the cost and ease of use it's worth it.

 

[cmc]

I bought a Gen 1 on ebay for $35 and have had no problems at all. I venture out alone a lot and ot sure gives my wife more peace of mind while I'm gone.

SPOT said I can change units if mine craps out using the same plan I have.

 

[ohhiitznik]

I use a spot 2 and it works well for me.

 

[dangerousD]

Sounds like most guys are using the Spot. Anyone use the DeLorme or others? I've been kicking around one of these also. Somewhere I read that search and rescue hates the Spot, but can't remember why. Anyone have any input on that? Seems like plans are maybe similar in price. Have to look at that closer.

http://www.inreachdelorme.com/product-info/subscription-plans.php

http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=103


Edited for Added link.....http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Personal-Locator-Beacon-Reviews

 

[shaun]

Sounds like most guys are using the Spot. Anyone use the DeLorme or others? I've been kicking around one of these also. Somewhere I read that search and rescue hates the Spot, but can't remember why. Anyone have any input on that? Seems like plans are maybe similar in price. Have to look at that closer.

http://www.inreachdelorme.com/product-info/subscription-plans.php

http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=103


Edited for Added link.....http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Personal-Locator-Beacon-Reviews

There was an outfitter in the Brooks last year that was using the in reach he was able to communicate with all his packers whenever they had a sheep down so they could head over to pack it out. Seemed like it worked good for him