Outdoors Safety -- GPS tracking apps?

tbonethemighty

Trail running, MTB, and now kayaking -- I'm starting to think I should make it possible for my family to track my whereabouts when I'm in the hills/out on the bay. You know, just in case I break a leg or get mauled by a mountain lion or flip my boat or something.

Anybody use a tracking/personal safety app that they would recommend? I found a few reviews online, but searching the forums here didn't really yield any results for one that is more popular/user-friendly, etc. I'd love to hear some real-world opinions before I pay for an app or a subscription...

NorthCascades

The best option is a PLB or SEND for several reasons. With these, you press the SOS button and wait for the cavalry to arrive.

Going down a step in terms of safety, if you have a modern Garmin, you already have this in Live Tracking. If you use Strava on your phone, it just released a feature called Beacon that does the same thing.

I had a Live Tracking session going when I got hit by a car on my road bike. Beth had it loaded at home. But she wasn't sitting in front of the computer watching the map, so, she found out when I called her on the phone. Which tells me it's not really as great a safety feature as we'd all hope. More of a find my body feature.

sunnybeaches105

NorthCascades wrote: »

The best option is a PLB or SEND for several reasons. With these, you press the SOS button and wait for the cavalry to arrive.

Going down a step in terms of safety, if you have a modern Garmin, you already have this in Live Tracking. If you use Strava on your phone, it just released a feature called Beacon that does the same thing.

I had a Live Tracking session going when I got hit by a car on my road bike. Beth had it loaded at home. But she wasn't sitting in front of the computer watching the map, so, she found out when I called her on the phone. Which tells me it's not really as great a safety feature as we'd all hope. More of a find my body feature .

That's helpful for next of kin to confirm death and receive the proceeds of your estate at least. I guess it has the added benefit of leaving a body as opposed to leaving it for carrion, although the latter would be preferable for environmental reasons.

CincyNeid

RoadID has an app for Android and iOS. Both of them are live tracking and if you go steady for 5 mins it'll start to send out an alarm to those you chose, before you work out, and will alert them if you cannot. That's personally what I use when I go out for a night run, or night ride.

peleroja

I have the Road ID app, which works for my purposes. I can set it so that it will notify someone if I stop moving for too long without pausing it, and it also allows my husband to track me (which sounds kinda funny when I write it like that but you know what I mean.)

I'm kinda lazy about using it unless I'm going somewhere that's less populated or it's very early or late but it seems to work fine so far when we've tested it. I only run though so I don't know how functional it would be for your activities.

MeanderingMammal

tbonethemighty wrote: »

Anybody use a tracking/personal safety app that they would recommend? I found a few reviews online, but searching the forums here didn't really yield any results for one that is more popular/user-friendly, etc. I'd love to hear some real-world opinions before I pay for an app or a subscription...

The material question becomes whether you're operating in an area that has reliable mobile coverage, or whether you'll need to go fo a Satellite based solution. Clearly the latter is significantly more expensive, but there is little point in a mobile based option if you don't have at least GPRS coverage.

pneschich

I use life360. Works 5 miles off of Galveston island and every boy scout camp out except BTSR I've been on. Got it for the kids. Wife uses it for me

JenHuedy

I've used the Live Tracking on my Garmin when my husband was being a worry-wart about me running in a new area while we were traveling. Works great if you're in an area with good cell coverage.

Steff46

I use Garmin Live Track. It works really well in areas with good cell service.......but once that service is sketchy it drops the signal. I've used it so much now that I know the areas where it will work. It is very useful when I finish my ride before my boyfriend and I can look at it and tell how far away he is. We use it for biking and running.

meritage4

I just carry my cell phone. stick it in a hardcase for canoe trips.

lorrpb

What is the recommended communication device for kayakers? A marine radio is recommended for power & sail boaters. There are many advantages over a cell phone for emergency communication. Consider looking into this.

sgt1372

I have a PLB rescue beacon made by ARC Electronics that I use to take w/me on 4x4 treks into the widerness.

It's only intended for use in life threatening situations. When you activate the beacon, a satellite notification goes directly to NOAA (you have to register the device w/them every 2 years) and they will notify local search & rescue to go find you based on your GPS coordinates. This Is much better than SPOT and similar devices.

I also bought an Iridium satellite phone to carry with me as well in case I needed help in a less than life threatening situation or needed to communicate directly w/local authorities.

Both are good to have but if I had to choose between the 2, I'd pick the phone because it's more versatile. Both are a little heavy to carry - - more of an issue trail running than kayaking - - but what's a few pounds if your life is at stake?

ACR makes a marine waterproof model, but you'd have to carry the sat phone in a waterproof container. Both are well worth the $. Consider the cost as life insurance that only requires a one time payment.

cricket490

Well now I wish my Garmin Forerunner had bluetooth.

tbonethemighty

Hey all, thanks for the responses! As morbid as it sounds, this is more of a "find my body" kind of thing than a "what time will you be home for dinner?" thing. (Assuming, as some of you thoughtfully pointed out, that the mountain lions/crows/coyotes have left enough for identification purposes.) My neighborhood is little to no crime and personal safety in that sense, thankfully, isn't an issue.

For kayaking, I already have a water-tight case for my phone that clips on to my life vest and the phone itself is (hypothetically) also water-resistant. For that reason, I'd prefer not to buy another device such as a marine radio, although I do see the sense in that. Cell coverage works in the middle of the bay and everywhere else I've been so far except for maybe somewhere out in West Marin, where I don't run/ride alone.

Sadly, my Garmin is old and a cheaper model, so it doesn't offer live tracking. (Not knocking it though -- I love that thing.) I have Strava, but I've only ever used the website, so I guess I'll download the app and see if that will work. Lot of good suggestions and input here -- thanks again!

ItsyBitsy246

If you carry your phone, check out Glympse. It sends a web link via text or email to whomever you want to track your route. They can watch in real-time in a browser for up to four hours. Works great if you are in an area with a signal. Its free. My SO sends me a link when he's on the road.