Satellite communication for hiking, hill walking, mountaineering and remote adventures — helping you message, share your location and call for help when conventional mobile coverage isn’t available.
Explore hiking devices ↓Mobile coverage can become unreliable as routes move away from towns, roads and populated areas. In remote countryside, mountain terrain and isolated locations, your phone may no longer provide the connection you normally rely on.
A satellite communicator, satellite phone or Personal Locator Beacon gives you another option. Depending on the device, you can exchange messages, share your location, send check-ins or raise an emergency alert when conventional networks are unavailable.
Send messages or check-ins when your route takes you beyond normal mobile coverage.
Give friends, family or a support team visibility of your position and progress.
Carry a dedicated way to request help if something serious happens while you’re off-grid.
Different adventures call for different ways to stay connected. These options cover everyday two-way satellite messaging, location sharing and dedicated emergency support beyond mobile coverage.
A compact option for two-way satellite messaging, LiveTrack location sharing and interactive SOS, with additional navigation and weather features through Garmin’s connected ecosystem.
Best for: regular hikers, mountaineers and adventurers who want a broader communication and safety device.
Straightforward two-way messaging, check-ins, location sharing and monitored SOS for hikers who mainly want a dependable way to communicate beyond mobile coverage.
Best for: walkers and adventurers who prioritise simple, dependable communication over navigation features.
An ultra-compact Personal Locator Beacon designed to transmit your GPS position and raise a dedicated distress alert when you need Search & Rescue assistance.
Best for: hikers wanting a compact emergency backup without routine messaging or a monthly subscription.
A weekend hill walk and a multi-day mountain expedition can have very different communication requirements. Tell us where you’re heading and what you need to do, and our team can help you choose the right equipment.
Choosing a hiking satellite communicator is easier once you know whether you need regular messaging, location sharing or simply a dedicated emergency backup.
Yes. Satellite-enabled communication functions are designed to connect through a satellite network rather than relying solely on conventional mobile coverage. Device requirements, service plans and operating conditions vary by product.
It depends on how you want to use it. A device such as the Garmin inReach Mini 3 is suited to hikers wanting two-way messaging, location sharing and interactive SOS. ZOLEO focuses on straightforward messaging and safety, while a PLB is designed specifically for emergency distress alerting.
Satellite messaging services on devices such as Garmin inReach and ZOLEO require an active service plan. A Personal Locator Beacon such as the rescueME PLB1 does not require a monthly satellite subscription.
A satellite communicator is more appropriate when you want routine two-way messaging, check-ins or location sharing. A PLB is a dedicated emergency device for raising a distress alert. Which approach suits you depends on the type of trip and the level of communication you want while you are away.
Smartphones are extremely useful for navigation, mapping and communication, but conventional calling and messaging depend on having suitable network coverage. If your route takes you somewhere with unreliable or unavailable mobile service, carrying a separate satellite communication or emergency device provides another option.