Hiking Navigation and Communication

Featuring So Cal Hiking & Backpacking

Zoleo Satellite Communicator mounted on day hiking backpack

Gaia GPS

I use Gaia GPS both on my home computer to plan routes, and on my phone to negotiate them while on the trail.

Even the free version lets you load a map and route (while still in cell service range), and it will reliably work using satellite GPS even after you go out of cell range.

On trails like the Backbone Trail, Santa Monica Mountains, CA, which has plenty of offshoots, forks, and sometime unclear markings as to where it continues, I rely on Gaia GPS to keep me going the right direction down this 67 mile trail.

Further, with Gaia GPS, you can create a route and share it with others via the Gaia GPX, KML, GeoJSON file formats, which you can export. Gaia will also import KMZ, and FIT files.

Click this link to go to my Backbone Trail page, and you can download my GPX files for different sections of the trail I've hiked.

Using Gaia GPS files with Google Earth

With Gaia GPS, you can plan a route, then export it to Google Earth to see what it looks like on that platform. Gaia does have its own 3D maps, but I find Google Earth a little easier to use.

You can also, hit record on Gaia GPS's phone app, when on your venture, record your route, then later export where you went to Google Earth, to check out in 3D.

Click this link to read my article on how to export a Gaia GPS files to Google Earth.

Zoleo Satellite Communication Device

Zoleo Communication Device strapped to Gregory Zulu 30 hiking pack

My Zoleo Communication Device keeps me in communication with family, even when I'm out of cell range.

This lets me hike bolder, and have less fear of being far removed from civilization and cell phone towers. That for me, is worth the $20 a month for my plan.

Further, over and over I watch these hiking, and backpacking tragedy stories online, where the hiker/backpacker gets stuck (too much snow, or whatever), or they end up lost, or something bad happens, where if they had only had a Zoleo with them, they would be okay to this day, but end up losing their life, through exposure to the elements or starvation. Just a few weeks ago a famous actor disappeared on Mount Baldy, never to be seen again. So again I'm happy to pay the plan fee.

Check out my long form review of the Zoleo Satellite Communication Device by clicking this link.

Texting with Zoleo

The texting feature on the app looks just like a normal cell phone texting platform, so there's nothing new to learn. And anyone I text doesn't have to have the app; they will just see my text on their phone's normal texting platform. Though your Zoleo texting number is different than your normal cell number, so give your friends and family a heads up before heading out in the field.

Email with Zoleo

Your contacts can also opt for email communication, if they prefer such. Zoleo gives me my own email address to be used with the satellite communicator, so again, give your contacts a head up, to make sure you don't wind up in their spam folder.

I'm Okay Check-In button on Zoleo

The 'I'm Okay' check-in button on my Zoleo is free to use, and once I press it, anyone on my Check-In & Location Share+ Contact list (can be up to 5 people) gets a message that I'm okay, my coordinates, and where I am on a local map. I don't have the additional feature, the Location Share+, but for an extra few dollars a month, the Zoleo with just automatically update my contacts every few minutes as to where I am, and print all my coordinates on a map so they can essentially see my route.

Click here to check out my article on how to add Zoleo contacts, change your two SOS contacts (who rescue teams will talk to, if you end up needing to hit the SOS button on your Zoleo), and add or delete your Check-In & Location Share+ contacts.

Sharing your Zoleo device

Ever wonder if you can share a Zoleo with a friend or family member? Under certain circumstances you can, and under others you can't. For instance, two people cannot be connected to the same Zoleo when hiking a trail together. But to learn the details, check out my article on the subject by clicking this link.

Zoleo versus Motorola's Defy Communicator

In April of 2023, Motorola is set to roll out a satellite and non-terrestrial network communication device, that is similar in concept to the Zoleo (and Garmin InReach series). I've taken all the specs that have been released so far and have compared and contrasted them against my Zoleo.

You can check out my thoughts in my article Zoleo vs Defy, to see which might be a better fit for you.

How To Find A Lost Zoleo

I've noticed the advice, over on Zoleo's website, in finding a lost Zoleo is a little thin. So I've written an article on how to find a misplaced Zoleo if your at camp or on the trail, and further how to locate a stolen Zoleo that's miles away from you. I also go over when and when you're not going to be able to find a lost Zoleo that's not powered up.

You can check out that article on finding a lost Zoleo by clicking here.

Zoleo Plans Explained

What's included when you get a Zoleo plan and the Zoleo app? I break it down in this article. I also go into add-ons you can purchase both through Zoleo, and through its partner Global Rescue.

Thanks for checking out my Hiking Navigation & Communication page! For more hiking, camping, and California living topics, please visit my main page. See ya out there...