In case you want a less complicated tracker for one-time adventures, the Spot Gen4 presents dependable one-way communication and placement monitoring. Performance right here is proscribed in comparison with extra succesful two-sided opponents, however there are some nice further security measures and sturdiness is superb. This beast walks for a very long time.
It is a one-way messenger, so in contrast to most of the gadgets on this listing, you possibly can solely ship easy outgoing notes, you possibly can’t obtain replies from folks at residence.
In testing, I’ve used the Spot Gen4 on many alternative one-day ultras in European mountain ranges, and it is nice for providing that easy consolation of getting security crews at all times know the place you might be.
I really like which you could program it to activate monitoring once you attain or depart sure places, and switch off the ability when you’re sitting nonetheless earlier than turning on once you’re shifting, nice for saving battery life.
The SOS features are straightforward to make use of and the Spot Gen4 is fast to ship metaphorical flashes. There’s additionally a Spot Help button that notifies contacts that you just need assistance, however your predicament is not life-threatening — say, you have run out of fuel within the desert.
Outgoing messaging choices embrace SMS, e-mail and a few social media platforms, however this must be programmed when you’re nonetheless in civilization. You’ll be able to’t do it whereas strolling whereas sitting on a rock midway up Kilimanjaro.
In contrast to most of your outside gear—headlight, cellphone, GPS watch—that now use USB charging, the Spot Gen4 runs on AAA batteries. These are my execs and cons. Battery life is nice and it is simpler to swap out new batteries than discover a energy supply, however I discovered carrying round an additional package a bit annoying.
