We are hearing from industry that many of us are deciding to have our adventures closer to home, opting to eschew exotic foreign resorts in favour of creating memories up a mountain or in a forest, on our lakes and seas, on the road, or off it. And with this in mind, we’ve been testing some of the best pieces of equipment for hikers in the UK. One of which being the recently launched SPOT Gen4 Satellite Messenger.
We were asked to review the new piece of safety kit and talk about the great features recommended for every hiker and adventurer, from novice to accomplished can benefit from a new SPOT Gen4™ Satellite Messenger.
SPOT Gen4 Overview:
Rugged, reliable satellite-enabled tracker SPOT Gen4, from satellite technology leader Globalstar, is the new generation of the award-winning SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger™ family, with many new features including an enhanced, more detailed mapping interface with more display options, improved water resistance, and geofencing capability, among others. And with its new shared view enhancements, and new easy-to-use interface, it’s easier than ever to share your epic journey with friends.
SPOT Gen4 provides users with ubiquitous reliable satellite tracking, a vital line of communication with friends, family and colleagues, and emergency support enabled by Globalstar’s second generation satellite fleet in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
In an emergency, with a simple press of SPOT Gen4’s SOS button, an alert along with the user’s GPS co-ordinates are instantly transmitted to the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC) which in turn engages with local first responders to swiftly dispatch help to precisely where it’s needed.
Around the globe over 7,400 rescues have been attributed to SPOT satellite devices to date, many of which were life-saving.
SPOT Gen4 features include:
Enhanced design – The new Gen4 has a sleek new look with improved grip and design features that snap in place to securely cover the Help and SOS buttons. It’s rugged, portable and includes a new multi-use carabiner and strap
Upgraded IP68 rating – Offers increased water resistance, up to 30 minutes at two metres in water
Motion activated tracking – SPOT Gen4 sends tracks at a chosen rate for as long as the device is turned on and moving, conserving battery life. Alerts can be set to auto-send notifications to others when movement is detected or upon entry and exit of specific geographic areas programmed into the SPOT Mapping interface
Long battery life – The new Gen4 offers the longest battery life in the product category, far surpassing performance of alternative battery-powered GPS messengers
SPOT Mapping – Live and historical maps for the user to view or share SPOT locations over time. Optional professional-grade upgrades available to meet user-defined mapping needs
Map layers – The user can select from several map display options with light or dark modes, by satellite, open street map or terrain
Alerts – User-set and system-generated emergency or custom messages, such as new movement, no movement, check in and help
Shared view enhancements – Unlimited shared views with easy interface to share a location. So now it’s easier than ever to show your journey to friends.
Customised position icons – Ability to distinguish location points by SPOT product or user, thereby helping to optimise field and remote resource management
Geofencing – Allows users to create virtual geographic boundaries and set custom alerts, offering numerous benefits for organisational deployments
SPOT Gen4 Review:
First impressions of the SPOT Gen4 is that it’s lightweight which any hiker / camper will tell you is essential for safety gear, with the amount kit needed for long day hikes or wild camps it’s absolutely vital that your overall carry weight is kept low and every kg matters.
The device is really easy simple to set up, you simply log into your account (which requires a monthly service plan costing £10.80 per month and flexi-plans starting at £13.65 monthly), then input your devices serial number to active. Once activated you can track location. SPOT provides ubiquitous satellite coverage, including North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia and North-Eastern Asia as well as delivering reach across hundreds of thousands of miles offshore. See coverage map for additional global coverage details.
This device is great for anyone starting out with outdoor adventures, as it offers piece of mind, enabling family and friends to know your location and in an emergency with the SOS feature.
