Personal Locator Beacon vs In Reach type communicators

Please consider doing a search for this info, which has been discussed in detail many times.

yeah, many threads

I got inreach a while ago based on recommendations here.  You can send text back and forth.  You can let family know things are okay.  You can tell SAR the nature of your problem.

I bought an inReach SE in 2013, and inReach mini in 2019. I don’t worry much about having enough battery charge to push the SOS button.

I keep an eye on the charge, and the devices warn you as battery gets low. When you get below 10%, if you turn off the entire unit, you’ll still be able to turn it back on and push the SOS button. I only had to shutdown like that that once, near the end of an 8-day trip where I didn’t bring a USB battery for recharging.

Which is another option. If you bring a USB brick to recharge phones, headlamps, or cameras anyway, all you need is a common cable to recharge a dead inReach enough to push SOS.

And the inReach can do things a PLB can’t.

My wife really values knowing that I’m alive and well in the wilderness via text messages and tracking. I value leaving tracks in case I’m badly injured and can’t push an SOS button.

— Rex

Ive brought plb  couple times when going where not many people and no cell service.

Normally i dont.  I have it anyway for  fishing offshore….it stays in pfd pocket.

To me….being out of touch….brings heightened sense of self reliance…part of what wilderness  hiking is about.

I found the SPOT transmitters to be SPOTty in their coverage and often an “I’m okay” message wouldn’t get out.  So I switched to a PLB for better coverage here in Alaska.  Mostly, I don’t bring either, but something like the Brooks Range or the Aleutians and I do sometimes.

I’ve gotten BPLers air-freighted a replacement tent in remote Alaska because they had an InReach.  It didn’t improve MY quality of life that week – I was busy enough as it was, but was a major help for them.

OTOH, I’m NEVER in an open boat or bush plane without my PFD on and my PFD has a VHF, PLB, blade, cordage, and fire starting gear in it at all times.  Because after the plane crashes (not yet) or the boat sinks (that has happened), you’re washed up on some beach, cold and wet.

I didn’t actually hit the PLB button because we weren’t in a bad way and I didn’t want the USGC to launch during a storm but used the VHF to broadcast a mayday to passing ships, one of which picked us up.

PLBs are better if you value your life. Inreach is better if you are addicted to social media. You decide. (said tongue in cheek…joking)

I’d agree with @jshann, though I’m not sure I’d need to cheek my tongue. :-)