10 Best Personal Locator Beacons 2025 in the United States

The ACR ResQLink View RLS is a personal locator beacon suited for outdoor activities like hiking, hunting, boating, and fishing. One of its standout features is the Return Link Service (RLS), which provides confirmation that your SOS signal has been received, adding a level of reassurance during emergencies.

It also boasts a digital display and dual strobe lights (including infrared), which can be very useful in low-visibility conditions. The device offers global coverage with GPS and Galileo GNSS, ensuring accurate location tracking no matter where you are. The built-in buoyancy is a crucial feature for water-based activities, ensuring the beacon floats if dropped in water.

Additionally, the product is compact and lightweight at just 5.3 ounces, making it easy to carry on any adventure. The battery life is impressive, with a 5-year shelf life and 28 hours of operational life once activated, which means it can be relied upon for extended periods. It also requires no subscription, adding convenience for users. However, the device does rely on infrared connectivity, which might not be as widely supported or understood by all users. Some might also find the interface, which relies on buttons, a bit less intuitive compared to touchscreen options available in other modern gadgets.

The Garmin GPSMAP 67i is a solid choice for anyone needing a reliable personal locator beacon, especially for outdoor adventures. It uses the global Iridium satellite network, ensuring you can send two-way messages and share your location almost anywhere in the world, which is a big plus for safety. The interactive SOS feature connects you to a 24/7 emergency response center, providing peace of mind in case of trouble.

Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 165 hours with regular tracking and even longer in low-power expedition mode, so you won’t have to worry about frequent recharging during long trips. The device is fairly compact and lightweight at just over 8 ounces, making it easy to carry. The 3-inch sunlight-readable color display is clear and easy to navigate, even outdoors.

GPS accuracy benefits from multi-band GNSS support, improving your location tracking in challenging environments like dense forests or deep canyons. It also comes with preloaded TopoActive maps for North America and the option to download more via Wi-Fi, which helps with detailed navigation. The device relies on button controls rather than a touchscreen, which can be less intuitive for some users but tends to work well in rugged conditions. This device is well suited for hikers, backpackers, and anyone venturing off-grid who needs dependable satellite communication, good battery life, and strong GPS performance in a rugged, portable package.

The McMurdo 23-001-001A Smartfind EPIRB is a specialized personal locator beacon designed primarily for boating safety. It combines traditional emergency signaling with advanced features like built-in AIS (Automatic Identification System) for localized alerts and recovery, plus multi-constellation GNSS (including Galileo) for enhanced GPS accuracy. This enables more reliable location pinpointing in emergencies, which is a significant advantage for anyone on the water.

The device offers accidental activation protection, reducing false alarms that can result in unnecessary rescues. Weighing 2.7 pounds and measuring approximately 13 x 7 x 7 inches, it is somewhat bulky compared to smaller handheld beacons, and its wrist-mount design may not suit users looking for a lighter or more compact option. Its plastic build and high-quality construction suggest reasonable durability. Users have rated it well (4.5/5), reflecting satisfaction with its performance and reliability.

This beacon is best suited for boaters who need a trusted, multi-functional emergency device capable of alerting nearby vessels as well as rescue services. If a smaller or simpler personal locator beacon focused on on-land use is preferred, other options might be more appropriate. The McMurdo Smartfind EPIRB stands out in GPS accuracy and safety features tailored for marine environments, though it compromises some portability.