[jaredoconnor]

I used to have one, when I lived in Australia, and I'm considering buying another one. SPOT and Garmin devices seem to be the most popular. I will probably get a Garmin inReach Mini. I don't think anyone can really tell you what is best for you though, because everyone will want different features. If you're comparing SPOT and Garmin devices, I think the variables below are probably the most notable.

• Budget
• 2 way messaging vs. 1 way messaging
• Navigation tools (maps, compass, weather, etc.)
• Larger screen on the device (larger device) vs. pairing with phone (compact device)

I think once you figure those things out, the right product will become easy to choose.

 

[jaredoconnor]

There seems to be some confusion in this thread. The title probably doesn't help. The poster was asking about emergency satellite beacons/messagers, not GPS navigation devices. Some devices do both, but navigation wasn't his main concern.