Everyone remembers the terrible stories on the news a few years ago, of climbers and hikers lost in the wilderness and the desperate search to find them before the unthinkable happened. If you love the outdoors, a situation like that could be your worst nightmare.
A number of products have appeared to help you survive the elements should you wind up in a bad position. The SPOT Satellite Messenger is one of those products, and while I didn't take it to the top of a mountain, it certainly proved itself useful on more than one occasion.
The SPOT looks like a big orange walky-talky; it's light, it fits in the palm of your hand, and it is very orange. The thick black plastic buttons and grips on the side add to its rugged feel. The AA batteries required for the device to work are included in the package, along with a user guide to help you get used to it.
Because the SPOT is a satellite messenger, it must acquire a signal before you can really start using it; you can't turn it on and expect it to work. You need to leave it out in the open (or at least somewhere with skyward view) for a good 10 to 20 minutes before it's able to send messages. Its size and shape do make it obvious that the SPOT is a device designed for safety--the bright-orange exterior is impossible to mistake, and the fact that there are only four buttons (on/off, check-in, help, and 911) make the device incredibly simple to use, even in an emergency.
