If you're planning a trip into the backcountry, one of the most important pieces of gear you can carry isn't a tent or a stove — it's a reliable way to call for help. Two of the most common options we get asked about are the personal locator beacon and the Garmin inreach. They both do a similar job, but they work quite differently, and picking the right one depends on how and where you're heading outdoors.

Choosing between a personal locator beacon and a Garmin Inreach

What is a personal locator beacon?

A personal locator beacon, or PLB, is a simple, one-way emergency device. When activated, it sends a distress signal via satellite directly to search and rescue authorities, along with your GPS location. There's no subscription required and no messaging function — it's built purely for genuine emergencies.



Our Rescue Me personal locator beacon is a solid, no-fuss option if you want a dedicated safety device without any ongoing costs. For a deeper look at how these devices fit into a broader safety plan, our guide to communications planning when heading into the outdoors is a great place to start.

What is a Garmin Inreach?

A Garmin inreach device does everything a PLB does, plus a lot more. Alongside SOS functionality, it lets you send and receive two-way text messages via satellite, share your location with friends and family, and access weather updates, all outside of mobile phone range. This makes it a popular choice for hikers, campers and anyone who wants ongoing peace of mind, not just an emergency-only option.

If you're after something compact, the Garmin inreach mini 2 is one of our most popular picks for its size-to-feature ratio, while the newer Garmin inreach mini 3 plus adds even more functionality in a similarly compact form. For those wanting a slightly different form factor, the Garmin inreach messenger plus is worth a look too. Our full breakdown of Garmin inreach and personal locator beacon devices covers the differences in more detail.

Which device is right for your next trip?

If you only ever need an emergency-only safety net and don't want any ongoing subscription costs, a personal locator beacon Australia hikers rely on, like the Rescue Me PLB, is hard to beat. But if you want two-way communication, route tracking and the flexibility to check in with people back home, a Garmin inreach mini or mini 2 is the better investment.


We've put together a more detailed comparison in our guide to choosing the right comms for remote outdoor safety, and part two of our communications planning series, communications planning when heading into the outdoors, covers how to build a full safety plan around whichever device you choose. If you're also into shooting sports, it's worth checking out our piece on the Garmin chronograph for shooting in Australia too.

Our Founder Dave Parker on a recent multi-day hiking trip to Canterbury New Zealand.

Why shop with PAST Outdoors for your safety devices

We know how important it is to trust the gear that could one day save your life, which is why we only stock devices we'd carry ourselves. Our range of GPS and PLB safety devices has helped thousands of Australian hikers, campers and adventurers head further off-grid with confidence, and our customers regularly tell us how much peace of mind these devices give them on remote trips.

Whatever your next adventure looks like, we're here to help you find the right safety setup for it. Browse our full safety range today and get equipped before your next trip.