I am extremely grateful to the friend who gifted me the Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB1 Personal Locator Beacon. Fortunately, the PLB1 has not saved my life — yet — but it has certainly improved my peace of mind when adventuring in remote areas and travelling outside of reliable cell service. Equally important, carrying my PLB1 […]
The Garmin inReach Explorer+ gives you enough functionality that it can be your go-to satellite communicator whether you’re an occasional through-hiker or a frequent backcountry adventurer. That’s what the Garmin promises. But it also offers a lot more. inReach Explorer Subscriptions Depending on the satellite subscription plan you choose, you’ll get 10 minutes with the Safety […]
When you’re deep in the backcountry, you can’t rely on your cell phone. If you find yourself in trouble, you need a satellite communicator like the SPOT X 2-Way Messenger. SPOT is one of the biggest names in the SOS beacon arena (we previously reviewed the SPOT Gen3) — but is the SPOT X, their […]
ToughTested V8 Jump Starter Review
ToughTested’s Jump Starter V8 is something that I really coulda used 7 years ago. I’d just driven from L.A. to Mt. High for the day, leaving just before dawn but with the big dump dropping, I had my headlights on even after sunrise. And at the end of the day, a might-I-add abnormally cold day […]
BONX is a Japanese company that claims to have designed a headset, and an app that simplifies the whole problem. So we’re going to put them to the test, taking two of their BONX Grip headsets into the woods. BONX Grip Controls The first thing you notice opening the box is how much attention has […]
The main reason for owning a SPOT, in my opinion, is for when the feces hits the oscillator and you need help ASAP. The SPOT Gen 3 also has a whole plethora of other features that make it an even more useful tool in the backcountry. Weighing in at under 125 grams and about half the […]
Weego 66 Jump Starter Review
A couple weeks back I received a portable Weego Jump Starter for review. To be honest I wasn’t sure how I would be able to test this without a dead battery? Then I found myself stuck without power on a Forest Service road in the middle of nowhere (way outside of cellular coverage) I thought […]
The BCA Link Radio is a two-way radio system that is a huge step-up from other such radio systems on the market. I have tested the BCA Link Group Radio numerous times over the past year while touring the backcountry surrounding Mt. Baker and the expansive Tetons range in Wyoming. NOAA Weather Radio The BCA […]