SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger
This product is not available.
With the SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger, you can reach emergency responders, check in with family or friends, share GPS coordinates and track your adventures—all with the push of a button.
Shop similar productsKey Details
- Send SOS messages to emergency responders via GEOS
- Check in with home and send custom messages
- Customize tracking rates to 2 1/2, 5, 10, 30 or 60 minutes
- Twice the battery life of SPOT 2
- Motion-activated and continuous tracking options
- 100% satellite technology
Imported.
| Best Use | Multisport |
|---|---|
| GPS/Satellite Detectable | Yes |
| Average Battery Life | 17 days (10 min. interval tracking) |
| Battery Type | Lithium |
| Batteries | 4 AAA lithium (included) or 4 rechargeable AAA NiMH |
| Messaging Capability | 1-Way Messaging |
| SOS Function | Yes |
| Device Integration | None |
| Location Accuracy | 5 meters |
| Altimeter | No |
| Certification | FCC; CE |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Water-Resistance Rating | IPX7 |
| Dimensions | 3.4 x 2.5 x 1 inches |
| Weight | 4 ounces |
Review this Product
Adding a review will require a valid email for verification
Most Helpful Favorable Review
Most Helpful Critical Review
Customer Images
Very satisfied
I owned the first generation SPOT and found it disappointing for a number of reasons. So with that, I hemmed and hawed whether I'd buy another one. I'm glad I did. The Gen 3 SPOT is a huge improvement from the first generation model. It's smaller, lighter, has better GPS reception, and goes longer between batteries. I do long distance bikepacking trips in remote areas. It's piece of mind knowing my wife and friends can track my progress. Heavy tree cover will inhibit track markers, but that's to be expected. However, even in heavy tree cover, I was surprised to see the device is still getting signal out. It's important to let the device get a GPS fix before sending a message. After pressing the message button, give it some time to get the signal out. I've had no problems and I'm very satisfied with its performance.
Love my SPOT
I have carried a Spot device for the past 8 years, whether hiking or biking. Since am most often by myself on these excursions I feel safer knowing I can call for help if needed. I purchased a new SPOT GEN3 this summer for the upgrades: lighter weight and on trail rechargeable unit capabilities. I just completed a 17 day solo trip along the PCT with my new SPOT and was able to check in with family and friends, via Facebook and text message every night. This allows my family to know I'm safe, which is almost as important as the SOS button. The only problem I had was that both ends broke where I attached it with a strip of webbing to my pack. A surprising and senseless weak spot on this otherwise great device.
awful service
Bought the spot for my panamerican trip, got maybe 2 months out of it before the signal stopped sending to my 10 "friends and family" and it stopped tracking my location, even though the green light was on and the device itself went through the motions as if it were in good working order. Months later (after wasting a lot of time pushing nonsense buttons) I reached areas with cell service and wifi to find out my messages had not been sending. additionally, when i called to cancel they instead offered me more, newer products that I declined. A few months later i see a charge for 165$ on my account. I called to complain and got lots of apologies but no refund.
Good Device, Poor Customer Service
The device works well and I am able to track my workers using the tracking feature in some pretty remote parts of northern California. It will sometimes lose signal in steep canyons or heavily forested areas, but that is to be expected. Battery life is great (~6 months) being used several hours a day 4 days a week. We have already saved money by rescuing two stuck vehicles that called in for assistance with the "helping hand" message. Make sure everyone using the spot knows what the different buttons mean and what will happen when you use them. I have spoken with customer service on a few occasions and they are largely useless so hopefully you wont have a problem... :)
Useless if you are hiking in the woods
I purchased the Spot Gen3 for an emergency locator. I tried it several times while walking on local streets in a residential neighborhood. It failed to send most messages and dropped very few markers. Then I took it on an 8 mile hike at Portola State Park in CA and over 3+ hours is dropped 3 markers when set to drop one every 5 minutes. I also sent 3 messages and only one go through. I suppose that it may be useful is hiking in the desert but it was totally unreliable in the woods. If I get injured I don't want to have to somehow get to a clearing so it might work. I have returned this item. I had no trouble canceling my membership within the first month.
No water resistence??
I have carried one of these for a couple of years. Both for emergency use and for tracking. Especially tracking. I used to think the device was about a 4.5 but would now give it a 3. Here is why. For the first time recently I was using the device in a light rain storm (I live in AZ and almost never end up in rain). It quit working. Calls to the service number for SPOT revealed that it is not water proof enough to be out in the rain. We are not talking submersed or even rained on really hard. Just a light rain storm. Not acceptable in my opinion. If one really uses tracking then the device must be able to handle even hard rain. If you need the SOS function then it is even more important it be substantially waterproof.
Not moisture resistant, hard to cancel service
Worked ok for about 2 years of very occasional use. Then broke due to being inside a damp backpack. The mini USB port has a very poor cover, so moisture can get inside causing it to short out, and melt around the battery connections. An emergency device should at least be moisture resistant. Also, there is no way to cancel the expensive annual service online. It will auto-renew unless you call during business hours to cancel. They claim to have "high call volumes" (of people cancelling?). Clearly just a ploy to make it difficult to cancel so that the plan auto-renews, and you end up paying for service for your broken device! Would not recommend. Going to try out InReach.
S.O.S. Button Work
Bought it before a solo bushwhacking trip I knew was going to be challenging. Got into a situation where I needed SAR. All I have to say is it works.
Improved
I've used the original SPOT device for several years and my biggest frustrations were the time it took to acquire a location fix and poor performance in heavy foliage or slot canyons. The Gen3 acquires a fix much faster than the original model, and works better, though not great, in heavily forested areas. I like to run and hike alone so this is a useful device to carry. I also am involved in a mountain search and rescue team and I'd highly recommend that anyone doing solo activities carry some sort of emergency messaging and location device, SPOT or otherwise.
Service too expensive
I ended up returning this and buying a DeLorme InReach instead. The DeLorme was more expensive but by the time I use the device for a year, the difference in the cost of the service will make up the difference in price. The DeLorme also has more features and a more powerful radio. The difference in service pricing is because DeLorme allows you to pay by month and Spot only offers the full year. If you plan on using the device every month, this might be a better deal. But I would use it less regularlly, so the more capable and cheaper (for me) device made more sense.