We used the SPOT Gen4 satellite tracker in the middle of the Pacific Ocean off Guatemala

While many of our adventures are close to major population centers, we’ve taken a few that were in the far suburbs of “off the grid.” Whether it’s the remote reaches of the Amazon, somewhere deep in Africa, or a fly-in to an untrampled Alaskan stream, we enjoy places that we’ll have all to ourselves. It’s even better if no one else has been there in recent months.

Of course, that remoteness comes with a certain risk if we’re outside the range of cellular phone service. What happens if we have a heart attack or break a leg after we get dropped off? Or if our safari vehicle breaks down and can’t be fixed? On a few occasions we’ve purchased medical evacuation insurance, but that only deals with half of the equation – they have to be able to find you in order to evacuate you. One option for communication that we’ve outlined previously is a satellite phone. Indeed, they work well, but they are expensive and bulky. If that’s not an option for any reason, you might want to test out the SPOT Gen4 Satellite GPS messenger, which we tested on our most recent trip to Guatemala.

The SPOT Gen4 is small, about the size of a deck of cards, and can be placed in your pack or attached to you via an included carabiner It weighs only about 5 ounces. Most importantly, it’s simple to use – even this tech-averse 50 something got it set up and figured out in a matter of minutes. There are five buttons:

SOS – This one is just for true emergencies. It sends your coordinates to first responders closest to your location.
Tracking – The unit records your track which can then be accessed via the web.
Check-In – When you hit this button, it sends a text or email with your GPS coordinates to up to 10 addresses. The coordinates are saved in your account.
Custom Message – You can pre-program a message to send to your contacts – Either “I’m ok” or “I need help” or some variation thereof.
Help – A variation of SOS, for non-life-threatening situations.

SPOT Gen 4 on a boat in the Pacific Ocean where there is no cellular service

As noted above, we carried the SPOT Gen4 to Guatemala with us and tested it from 30 miles offshore in the Pacific Ocean, where we couldn’t see the faintest hint of land. I pressed the check-in button and it rocketed a message to my brother’s phone, back in the United States,

If we’d been in trouble and he was in a mood to save me, he could have easily alerted additional authorities beyond those made aware by the SOS button.

The SPOT Gen4 does run on four included AAA batteries, so if you’re going to take it into a remote area, I’d recommend bringing at least one other set. They say that a single set of batteries can send 1,250 check-in and custom messages, but I’d rather err on the side of caution.

Of course, price may also be a factor for you. Satellite phones can be purchased or rented, but they are pricey – especially if you choose or need to use them. They may be pay-as-you-go or pay-per-minute or prepaid airtime, but expect to get a hefty bill. The SPOT Gen4 has an up-front purchase cost of about $150. After that, there may be an activation fee, and you can choose monthly or annual plans. Those may be best for travelers who are in remote places all the time, but we are comparatively infrequent travelers. There are many months when we don’t leave the country, let alone visit remote areas. For us, the basic monthly package, currently at $14.95, makes the most sense. That includes unlimited check-ins, unlimited help buttons, and a limited amount of tracking. Additional services can be added at a la carte pricing.

Is it worth it? We’ve had some of our greatest adventures in areas where there was no cellular service whatsoever and where even a semi-serious medical emergency could have progressed into a tragedy in a hurry. Using the reliable SPOT Gen4 seems like a small price to pay for some peace of mind. Yes, most reliable outfitters will have some means for finding you in case of an emergency, but I’m all about a “belt and suspenders” approach to safety. As Hanna and I get older, that’s particularly important. We want to remain alive, healthy and eager for the next adventure, and we look forward to going to more places where there are no footprints in the sand.