SPOT

PLB? This is the one you need. The SPOT tracker.

Alert 911, call for help or let people know you’re okay or delayed. On the road where cell service is unreliable. In the backcountry or on the water. Even fits in your teenage daughter’s handbag.

SPOT is the 7-oz. safety net for responsible adventurers. It’s a subscription-based PLB (personal locator beacon) service with a solid international land-based network.

I never ride or trek without mine turned on. It’s the ONLY reason my family lets me off the leash. Seriously.

Backcountry travelers: avoid the SPOT Connect, which saps the charge on your mobile phone, rendering the system useless in short order.

Now let's talk ethics.

Critics are right when they bemoan widespread abuse of this device. As a certified Wilderness First Responder, I've heard all the stories. Idiots regularly misuse the 911 alert feature, putting rescuers at risk. I’m all for SPOT, and so I’m all for adventurers paying for their own needless “rescues.”

Get SPOT, get out there, have fun and always bring fresh lithium batteries. Be responsible for your own health and safety. SPOT is there to back you up. It’s peace of mind, not a concierge service.