The satellite-messaging market听has two major players: Spot听and Garmin, with the latter claiming most of the market share. For a product that鈥檚 now ubiquitous and high dollar (largely due to subscription revenue), I鈥檇 like to see more brands competing and innovating in this space.
There is a new one that鈥檚 worth consideration: the听听($200, 5.3 ounces), which debuted in January. It鈥檚 priced, constructed, and engineered well,听and it provides a significantly improved messaging experience for both the user and their contacts. (Another option is听the new Global Hotspot from , though I have not had the opportunity to review this model.)
When the听Garmin InReach Mini听($350, 3.5 ounces) was released two years ago, it seemed like the holy grail, providing听reliable two-way messaging, location-based weather forecasting, and functional GPS navigation in a palm-size听package. The Zoleo听satellite communicator is 40 percent heavier and lacks any navigation features (which is fine鈥攋ust use听Gaia GPS), but it outperforms the InReach in its core function: messaging.
The Zoleo听platform, which is comprised of the device and the app, offers seamless communication across all connection methods. From the听app, texts and email听can be sent over cellular service or Wi-Fi and, if combined with the communicator, over听satellite. In comparison, an InReach owner must use at least two messaging apps听(one for the front country, like Google Voice, and Garmin Earthmate听for backcountry), often resulting in disjointed conversations and missed messages, especially for thru-hikers, avid weekend warriors, international travelers, and residents of rural areas who bounce regularly between the front听and backcountry.
Like the InReach devices, Zoleo听relies on the Iridium satellite听network, which offers听true global coverage. While testing the Zoleo, messages cleared the device within minutes.
Key Product Specs
- Two-way satellite messaging
- Global coverage with the Iridium satellite network
- 5.3听ounces听(150 grams),听plus 0.3 ounce听for optional carabiner
- $200听for the device, plus required monthly service plan听($20 to $50 per month, or $4 per month to hold)
Device Activation
Before taking Zoleo听into the field, register the device and select a听.听Then download the听,听and sync the device with your smartphone.
The听website is well designed in terms of both its aesthetics and intuitiveness, and I successfully sent my first message about 30听minutes after unboxing the device.
Sending and Receiving Messages
Messages can be sent directly with the communicator听or using the app (which connects to the unit via Bluetooth).
From the device, two form听messages can be sent: SOS and check-in/OK.
Custom texts and email听can also be sent and received from the app. SMS is capped at 160 characters,听email at 200; however, when both the sender and the recipient听use听the听app (which is free, even without purchase), the caps increase听to 950 characters, or the equivalent of about six text messages.
For receiving messages, each Zoleo听owner is given a dedicated phone number and a Zoleo.com email address. I gave this information to my contacts, who could then send me messages via听any device or platform鈥攑hone,听computer, InReach, or another Zoleo device. Custom messages can only be viewed in the app.听
This configuration is much simpler than the听听required to send听messages to an InReach unit.
Seamless Messaging
The Zoleo听app can send texts and email听with cellular, Wi-Fi, or satellite connections听and is therefore equally functional in the front country and backcountry. This prevents having to migrate听conversations to a different app when you enter or leave the backcountry听and eliminates any missing messages that were sent using听the wrong platform.
As an example, here is a seamless conversation I had with my friend听Dave, sent over听Wi-Fi and satellite:
The Hardware
The 5.3-ounce听device听is about the size of a small digital camera (3.58听by听2.6 by听1.06 inches) and lacks the InReach鈥檚听awkwardly protruding antenna. It鈥檚 powered by听a lithium-ion battery听and will last more than 200听hours while checking for messages every 12 minutes. The operating temperature range is minus 4 degrees to 131 degrees Fahrenheit.
The exterior is made of rubberized plastic, which听offers a good balance of weight, durability, and grip. It鈥檚 shock-,听dust-, and water-resistant.
The unit does not have a screen. To convey activity, it instead relies on cheery beeps and four LED lights, which听blink or stay solid in four colors. The meanings of the beeps and lights are mostly intuitive, but until you have them memorized, pack the Quick Start Guide or use the app.
The SOS button is well guarded by a hinged door. An accidental depressing of the SOS button is unlikely, though I鈥檇 be comforted if its snap closure required more force to open.
Zoleo听Versus the Competition
Zoleo听enters a market dominated by听two other brands: Spot听and Garmin. I don鈥檛 recommend the 听($250, 7 ounces).听Garmin鈥檚 InReach service is available in four devices,听my favorite of which is the , because it鈥檚 the lightest and least expensive option while retaining the functionality of听the other units (assuming it鈥檚 paired to a smartphone).
How does the Zoleo听stack up against the Garmin InReach Mini?
Messaging: Zoleo听Wins
The messaging reliability seems about the same between my InReach and the Zoleo. Since both use the Iridium network, this is what you鈥檇 expect.
Otherwise, the Zoleo听messaging experience is better in every way. Messaging is centralized in the app听rather than, as in Garmin鈥檚 case,听split between conventional messaging apps when using cell service or Wi-Fi听and the Garmin Earthmate app when using the听device. This makes听conversations continuous, and no incoming messages get missed.
As an added perk, if your contacts send and receive messages from you through the free听app, they can contain up to 950 characters, whereas the InReach鈥檚 max is 160.
Extra Functionality: InReach听Wins (Maybe)
The InReach device听offers GPS navigation through the device itself (though the Mini and SE+ are limited due to screen size and a lack of built-in mapping) and听in the Earthmate app. The Zoleo听completely omits this functionality. I think that鈥檚 fine听since I use听听补苍测飞补测.
Zoleo also omits location tracking, whereas with Garmin, it can be set to a specific frequency,听like every ten听minutes. As a hiker, I don鈥檛 particularly see the value in this service (as opposed to, say, a pilot or sea kayaker), but I know that some backpackers do use it.
Both devices have location-specific weather forecasting. Here is the screenshot from the Zoleo听app:
The Hardware: InReach Mini Wins
The InReach Mini has two advantages over Zoleo. First, it鈥檚 just 3.5 ounces鈥33 percent lighter. Second, and more importantly, the Mini has a small screen that more clearly displays its status and any received messages听and can be used to send messages (albeit using its painfully slow virtual keyboard). This latter use is probably rare, since the Mini will most often be tethered to a smartphone, but it鈥檚 a nice option to have just in case.
The single advantage of the Zoleo on this front听is its $200听price, which is $150听less than the Mini. I tend not to put too much stock in the retail price of these units, however, since its lifetime cost is largely determined by the monthly service fees.
Service Plans: Toss-Up
Garmin currently has听, all of which include a $25 annual fee and allow you to pause your subscription during the off-season.
- Safety: $144 per year, or $15 per month
- Recreation: $300 pear year, or $35 per month
- Expedition: $600 per year, or $65 per month听
The Safety plan includes unlimited preset messages but only ten听custom messages (and 50 cents per overage).听Tracking, location requests, and weather forecasts are available but are charged 脿听la carte. With the Expedition plan, everything is essentially unlimited. The Recreation plan falls听in between, with 40 custom messages per month and unlimited tracking and location requests, but听premium weather is still 脿听la carte.
Zoleo also听has听.
- Basic: $240 per year, or $20 per month
- In Touch: $420 per year, or $35 per month
- Unlimited: $600 per year, or $50 per month
- Month-to-month plans are charged a $4 per month hold fee, which is similar to Garmin鈥檚 $25 annual fee for its Freedom Plans.听
The Basic plan includes 25 messages total,听both standard听and custom. For anything beyond just-in-case听use, the In Touch plan is more realistic鈥攊t includes 250 messages, which is听eight times more than Garmin鈥檚 mid-tier Recreation plan. Unlimited is the final option听and fairly named.