In this article, I’m going to cover the 3 best cheap personal locator beacons currently on the market.
Whether you like to head out into the wild for an adventurous hiking trip or you spend a lot if time out on your fishing boat, a personal locator beacon is a must-have if you want to be completely safe. Heading out with one of these on your person gives a much better sense of ease when it comes to veering off the beaten track. Unfortunately, these potentially life saving instruments can come at a cost. In this article I am going to show you 3 of the best cheap personal locator beacons out there!
McMurdo FAST FIND 220
The McMurdo does what it supposed to do, for an affordable price. There is also no need to pay a monthly subscription fee.
Keep in mind that the battery lasts 5-6 years if you don’t use it. Note that you will only use it when you actually press the SOS button. After this period, your device should be sent back for a revision/maintenance – this usually means battery replacement. After a total of 10 years, the device is supposed to be retired.
This process can be a struggle, so many people prefer to simply replace their device after 5 years.
There is no feature to send out an “I’m ok ping”, so you only use it to actually send out an emergency signal. Luckily, the button is protected by a cover, so you won’t have to worry about accidentally pressing the button.
It’s a pretty small, lightweight, affordable and -most importantly- reliable device.
The lowest price can usually be found amazon: McMurdo FAST FIND 220
ACR PLB-375 ResQLink+
This has got to be one of the smallest personal locator beacons out there. It contains everything you would expect from one of these devices; a strobe light for finding you in the darkness, the ability to bring rescuers to within 100 meters of your position, and access to worldwide search and rescue satellites. What makes the 375 stand out is its size. Coming in at 4.5″ in height makes it smaller than most of today’s mobile phones, keeping it easier than ever to keep it by your side.
Another feature that makes the 375 more cost-effective is that there are no pesky monthly or annual registration fees. Simply register the product for free with your countries national authority and you are good to go! If you are going to test this regularly, then expect a battery life of about 5 years. However, these batteries are common and can be replaced with ease to save you sending it back to the manufacturer!
The lowest price can usually be found amazon: ACR PLB-375 ResQLink+
ACR ResQLink 400
The ResQLink 375’s big brother, the 400. The main features are very similar to the 375 in regard to battery life, strobe light and without the need for regular subscription. It is slightly wider than its predecessor but to me that is no problem at all because it floats! The ResQLink 400 is completely buoyant which makes it the perfect companion when you are out on the sea. Weighing in at a mere 5.3 ounces, you won’t even notice it’s there!
This cheap personal locator beacon is also great for other types of outdoor activities like cycling or hiking. It’s durable, rugged, reliable, lightweight and small (but not as small as the 375). A great PLB, especially when you consider the (relative) cheap price.
In case you ever need to actually use this thing, rest easy, as it will transmit at full power for up to 24 hours. If you are in the United States, you can expect rescuers to receive your signal in around 5 minutes, giving them plenty of time to find you and bring you home safe!
If you are interested in this product, more information (like the latest price) can be found on amazon: ACR ResQlink 400
Garmin InReach Mini
Slightly more expensive than its ResQLink counterparts, the Garmin InReach Mini is definitely worth the small price bump. Using Garmin’s free service, you can download maps, charts, and satellite imagery straight to your device to help you out of those sticky situations. What’s more, it is the lightest of the 3 at 3.52 ounces allowing for maximum portability!
With this one there is unfortunately a subscription service. For me, however, this is completely worth it as it allows for so much more. Get detailed weather updates wherever you are so you never get caught stranded in a storm. Even better, the subscription service allows for two-way text messaging to other compatible devices, This feature will allow you to give regular updates on your condition or location if you ever need to, making your return to safety even faster.
Long story short, the Garmin InReach is a better all round solution, especially for hikers. However, the obligated subscription model isn’t super budget-friendly. That being said, the initial price is still pretty cheap.
For more information, you can consult amazon: Garmin InReach Mini
Do you absolutely need a PLB
Since you are looking for a cheap personal locator beacon, I can assume that you care about your budget. And if you care about your budget, you might ask yourself the question whether or not you absolutely need a personal locator beacon.
The shortest answer I can give you is, you don’t really need one, until you do. Especially if you travel to places where you know you won’t have signal on your phone and you can’t reach anybody, I would highly recommend bringing a PLB. Buying a cheap personal locator beacon is okay as long as you know you are buying a reliable product. The most important feature is simply sending an emergency signal, you don’t really need the additional features that are often included.
The options on this list are basic, but reliable – and I would say that that is the type of product you should look for when shopping in the budget section: basic, but reliable.
The Garmin InReach Mini does already come with additional features and is slightly more expensive. I would recommend this over the others if you can afford it, but the additional features are not the most important things in the PLB. If you can’t afford the Garmin, any of the 2 ACR ResQLink products will be a solid alternative.
Conclusion
There you have it. The three best cheap personal locator beacons on the market right now. While not all personal locator beacons are created equal, they will do exactly what they intend to do: save your life! Just because you should never leave home without one doesn’t mean that it should break the bank while you are doing it!
As always, I appreciate feedback – any type of feedback. If you have any experience with any of the mentioned personal locator beacons mentioned in this article feel free to share it in the comments below. Also, if you have any other recommendation, I would love to hear about them!