If you want a simpler tracker for one-off adventures, the Spot Gen4 offers reliable one-way communication and location tracking. This tracker’s features are limited compared to its more powerful two-way rivals, but it has great safety features and lasts a long time. This monster will last you a long time.
This is a one-way messenger, so unlike many of the other devices on this list, you can only send simple outgoing notes and can’t receive replies from people back home.
For testing, I used the Spot Gen4 for a variety of one-day ultramarathons in the European mountain ranges and it was perfect for providing the simple peace of mind of knowing safety crews knew my location at all times.
I love that you can program it to enable tracking when you arrive or leave a specific location, and that you can set it to power off when you’re stationary and turn on when you’re moving, saving crucial battery life.
The SOS feature is easy to use, and the Spot Gen4 is quick to fire off the metaphorical signal flare, plus there’s a Spot Assist button that will notify your contacts that you need help but your situation isn’t life-threatening — say, you’re out of gas in the desert.
Outbound messaging capabilities include SMS, email, and certain social media platforms, but this must be programmed while in civilization – it can’t be programmed on the fly while sitting on a rock halfway up Kilimanjaro.
Unlike most of the outdoor kit we have today that uses USB charging – headlamps, phones, GPS watches – the Spot Gen4 runs on AAA batteries. This has its pros and cons: battery life is excellent and it’s easier to swap out for new batteries than it is to hunt for a power source, but we found it a bit of a hassle to carry around extra kit.
