Are you trying to find locator beacons among various brands on the market but aren’t sure where to begin? To assist you in finding the right one, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best to help you pick the perfect one!
We investigated and evaluated a number of the top-selling locator beacons on the market in order to create our list of the best. Making a decision among the many options available is never simple. There are an infinite number of models available, each with a distinct price. And as you’ll find out, the best options aren’t usually the ones you imagine! This comparison is rich and relevant because of the numerous factors that were employed. You will find products featured in this ranking not only based on their pricing but also on their features and other customers reviews. To write this review, we completed 30 hours of research and did 23 locator beacons tests. You won’t need to pick products at random any more. If you’re unsure of what to look for, browse our list and consult the buying guide!
An overview of our top picks
Table of contents
The best locator beacons you can buy today
- No Subscription Required Enjoy peace of mind with no ongoing fees, knowing you're always ready for rescue with reliable, subscription-free coverage.
- 406 MHz Distress and Homing Dignals Providing powerful alerts to rescuers, ensuring your location is quickly identified for a fast and accurate response.
- LED Strobe and Infrared Strobe Ensures maximum visibility in low-light and nighttime conditions, making it easier for rescuers to find you in any environment.
- Global Coverage / Cospas-Sarsat / MEOSAR Offers global coverage, ensuring rescue capabilities via Cospas-Sarsat and MEOSAR satellite systems.
- GPS and Galileo GNSS Featuring GPS and Galileo GNSS, this device ensures precise location tracking, providing accurate position data to support efficient and timely rescue operations.
- This Personal Locator Beacon is pre programmed for registration with the US country code. Whilst it will function anywhere around the world, the initial point of contact during an emergency situation would be the US Search and Rescue authorities with whom the PLB would be registered.
- If you require registration outside of the US, please purchase our alternative listing for 'McMurdo Fast Find 220 PLB - Programmed for Rest of World '. We include at no charge a reprogramming service on this alternative listing to ensure the device can be registered in the country of your choice.
- Registering your Personal Locator Beacon is required by law in most countries. Registering is very important because should your beacon ever be activated, it is how Search and Rescue Teams will know who you are, and contacts provided may be able to supply information about your specific travel plans. In the absence of this information, it may take longer for a search-and-rescue operation to begin.
- PLBs have been proven, tried and tested in some of the world's most remote locations and treacherous conditions. Even in extreme conditions and situations, the FastFind 220 activates easily. Just deploy the antenna, pull the anti-tamper seal and press the ON button.
- This PLB should only be used in situations of grave and imminent danger to life. False alerts endanger lives and cause expensive disruption to Search and Rescue services. Deliberate misuse of the device could result in a penalty.
- 7 Year Battery Life | 7 year warranty
- 24+ hour operational life
- Free to use, no subscription charges
- High brightness strobe light >1 candela
- 66 channel GPS receiver / Unique mounting clip
- Once activated, an SOS distress signal with GPS position is sent direct to Search and Rescue forces worldwide using the 406 MHz Emergency Distress Signal with 121.5 MHz Homing Signal (No Subscription Required)
- Small, rugged, lightweight personal locator beacon that is buoyant and includes attachment clips including a belt clip, oral inflation tube clip, straps and lanyards for increased wearability for hikers, boaters, campers, climbers, RVing and all your outdoor adventures
- Send pre-canned non-emergency self test and GPS test messages to multiple contacts via text message (SMS) and email with a customized message using the optional 406Link testing subscription
- Global Coverage using the 3 satellite constellations of COSPAS-SARSAT, which sends your distress message directly to Search and Rescue agencies worldwide without the need for a rescue monitoring center
- A bright LED Strobe light as well as an Infrared Strobe light ensures multiple visual signals to rescuers
- RLS (Return Link Service) confirms that Search and Rescue has received the emergency distress signal, alerting the beacon owner.
- No subscription required, 5-year battery life, and 24+ hours of operational life for reliable performance in emergencies.
- GPS, Galileo GNSS, and MEOSAR compatibility provide global coverage for reliable and accurate positioning in any emergency situation.
- Built-in buoyancy, small and lightweight design, with both strobe and infrared strobe lights for enhanced visibility in emergencies.
- Includes a multifunction clip system for versatile attachment options, ensuring easy carry and quick access during emergencies.
- Highly visible, long range dog collar light can be set to ON or BLINKING to make your dog visible at night or in low light senarios for silent tracking;
- Included carabiner allows for easy attachment to a dog collar D-Ring, a backpack strap, a belt loop, and many other places, or easily slip it on a 3/4" or 1" collar strap
- All-weather safety light features waterproof and submersible design ensuring reliable use during rain or when your dog goes swimming
- Available in blue, green, red, white, and yellow; Pick your favorite color, select a different color for each dog, or select multiple colors for 1 dog, using 1 color for the dog's right side and another for the left side, allowing you to easily determine what direction your dog is headed
- Replaceable CR2032 batteries provide up to 250 hours of on time; Setting the light to flashing provides longest battery life
- Voltage: 3.6, Amperage: 1.65mAh, Chemistry: Li-SOCl2
- Diameter: 14.55mm
- 2/3AA
- AIS (Automatic Identification System) sends a distress alert on VHF frequencies, received by vessels with AIS receivers or plotters within a 5-mile radius (conditions apply).
- RLS (Return Link Service) confirms that Search and Rescue has received the emergency distress signal, alerting the beacon owner.
- NFC technology allows easy access to beacon data via mobile, showing battery life, tests, activation time, and detailed GNSS test info, including map and accuracy.
- 406 MHz COSPAS-SARSAT distress signal (MEOSAR compatible) and 121.5 MHz local homing signal for enhanced emergency location and rescue.
- Small, lightweight design with global coverage, no subscription required, strobe & infrared strobe lights, and a multifunction clip system for easy attachment.
- Designed to integrate with common inflatable PFDs, featuring simple attachment, 5-year battery life, and 24+ hours of operational life for reliable emergency performance.
- ResQLink View Personal Locator Beacon
- ResQFlare Electronic Distress Flare
- C-Strobe H2O Rescue Light
- Signal Mirror with USCG Res-Q Whistle
- RapidDitch Dry Bag
- Daytime Distress Flag
How to choose a good locator beacons
Does the idea of finding a fantastic locator beacons make you anxious? When it comes to purchasing this product, specifically when deciding which model to select, has your head been spinning between options? You are not alone if that is the case. We are aware of the pressure involved in the purchasing process!
Your presence here indicates that you are interested in locator beacons. Before choosing which product would be the best for your needs after being inundated with information, locate a reliable source with genuine selections. You can get that information from a variety of sources, including buying guides and rating websites, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, online discussion forums where users can share their own experiences, product reviews that can be found all over the internet, and YouTube channels. You can only get the right product through exhaustive analysis. But you realize that’s not always simple. In order to ease your concerns, we have taken the time to develop a list of the top locator beacons products available right now. You might be wondering how we came up with the list. How was this buying guide developed?
First, we used our algorithms to gather as much reliable data as we could about these products. To verify all the data gathered, we used both artificial intelligence and a lot of algorithms.
Then, our experts used criteria that are recognized in the business to evaluate them according to their quality to price ratio, allowing us to choose the top locator beacons on the market right now!
The selection of the goods is not arbitrary. Before creating a list, we take into account a number of factors. Below are some of the criteria discussed:
Brand Value: What happens if you choose a dubious brand just because it appears to be a good deal? So the likelihood of receiving a product with a short shelf life increases. That is due to the fact that well-known brands have a reputation to uphold, while others do not. Top locator beacons brands strive to provide some distinctive traits that set them apart from the competition. So, hopefully one or more of the items on our list will be perfect for you.
Features: Useful features are all you need, not tons of them. We consider the important aspects and select the top locator beacons based on those.
Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products with higher specifications, but with the right balance.
Quality: A product’s quality may always be quantified with the aid of numbers. We look for goods with better standards that strike the proper balance. The best quality product that gets highly appreciated and recommended by experienced users.
Customer ratings: Would it be accurate to suggest that the locator beacons were used by hundreds of customers before you? Superior ratings indicate that many customers had better service.
Customer Reviews: Like ratings, provide you with accurate and reliable information about the product from genuine customers. Customer ratings are very important to all of us because they contain accurate and reliable information about the customer service we received from several hundred customers.
Seller Rank: This is very intriguing! Not only do you need a good locator beacons, you also need a product with rising sales that is trendy. It accomplishes two goals. First, the expanding user base proves the quality of the product. Second, given that number, producers must be able to offer greater quality and after-sales support.
Value: You get what you pay for, they say, so consider the value. Cheap isn’t always good and expensive isn’t always bad. However, that does not imply that spending a lot of money on a product that is flashy but underwhelming is a good idea. Before adding them to the list, we make an effort to evaluate how much value you can get for your money from your locator beacons.
Durability: Durability and reliability are closely related concepts. You will benefit from a strong and long-lasting locator beacons for months and years to come.
Product availability: Products come and go, and new ones replace the old ones. Most likely, a few new features and required changes were made. What use is it to use a supposedly good product if the maker no longer supports it? We make an effort to highlight products that are current and offered by one or more trustworthy sellers, if not more.
Negative Reviews: Yes, we do take that into account as well! The goods with the majority of bad reviews are filtered out and disregarded when we choose the best-rated one on the market.
These are the standards by which we selected our locator beacons. Do we end our process there? Hell no. The most crucial fact about us that you should be aware of is that we regularly update our website with current and pertinent information. We have one more layer of filtration since we place the greatest importance on reader satisfaction. Please let us know if any product included here is incorrect, irrelevant, subpar, or simply out of date. We always value your opinions, and we’ll work hard to make any necessary corrections to our list in response to them.
Why should you believe us?
There are now thousands of possibilities for these products on Amazon, but choosing the best one can be difficult and time-consuming. And what locator beacons should you purchase in 2022?
This guide is the result of more than 10 years of experience in researching, testing and writing about many topics. Each member of our team is an authority in their area. We read every article we could find online and every consumer review on every retail website for seven hours. Additionally, we discovered a ton of websites that offered helpful resources, including buying tips and thorough information on locator beacons.
