In this episode, Jonathan and Mark share their experience as guests on another excellent podcast, Inside the Outside. Hosted by Gary and Christy Kirk, the weekly podcast is a couple’s perspective on being in the outdoors, learning about hiking and backpacking with some informational episodes scattered into a number of interview episodes. If you’re into learning more, this is an excellent podcast.
After the interview, Mark and Jonathan discuss the possibility of emergencies and how a two-way device might help with problems wile hiking, or even back at home. Finally, Jonathan gives an informal review of his experience with the Nubé hammock shelter, a product discussed in the Episode 28 interview with Sierra Madre Research.
In the new segment, “Hangin Out with Gresh and Spiguyver”, the guys talk about hiking fast vs. slow.
Show Notes:
Here’s a link to Shug’s Video review of the Nubé. And you can click here to watch Derek Hansen review the Nubé.
You can find a link to the Garmin InReach Explorer+ at Amazon here.
The SpotX 2-way device is also available at Amazon here.
References for the Hangin Out segment:
Spiguyver mentions the Fastest Known Time website, here.
As always, we are always inviting comments and suggestions on our Facebook page – like us there at https://www.facebook.com/hyohpodcast and join the conversation – we love the questions we have been getting for Mark and Gresh. You can listen to or subscribe to the podcast from a link on our home page online at https://www.hyohpodcast.com or give us a review on our page in iTunes. If you’d like to buy Mark and Jonathan a cup of coffee, go to https://www.hyohpodcast.com/donate to make a one-time donation, or you can donate monthly to our Patreon Campaign at https://www.patreon.com/hyohpodcast. As always, thanks so much for hanging around!
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I just got through listening to Episode 41. I have been hiking for a few years and have been in a hammock most of that time. I have been listening to your podcast since early on and almost always learn something, so thanks,
I had a few things to add about the personal locators. I only go out once or twice a year. For my wife’s peace of mind, I rent a spot. I think I am close to pulling the trigger and buying my own (I am leaning towards one of the Garmin products due to the two way communication you mentioned) , but this was a great way to try the product out and see what I like and don’t like and have the protection. The thing that keeps me from buying is that since I don’t use it much, I fear the model will get outdated before I get enough use out of it to rationalize the purchase.
One thing I found when I spent a week soloing on the AT and carrying a rental Spot was that the Spot lost signal quite often when I was not on a crest. That was for tracking purposes. I assume I could not use the beacon as well. When I was with my daughter at the Boundary Waters, it worked great, but lots of open area.
I don’t believe you touched on my biggest fear with these. That is accidently hitting the SOS button. In my mind, I see myself bebopping along the trail and all of a sudden, having search and rescue appear all around me and then getting hit with their bill. You touched on the insurance policy, but this is still a concern of mine.
Just so you know, these are not complaints, just things I would like to add.
Anyway, thanks for what you do.
Norman Cox
In this podcast you guys mentioned that Spot was 1-way messaging only. That would be the Spot Gen 3. They have a newer version that has been out a maybe a year or so now that is 2-way: the Spot X. A lot of the early big complaints that people had about it early on seem to have been remedied along the way by updates, and they do have both yearly plans and plans that you can turn on or off according to your usage. One of the big early complaints people had was that there was a software SOS activation button that was pretty easy to select by accident, but they added the option to remove that from the menu (and it may not even be able to be turned on now due to software updates). The hardware SOS button on it is pretty hard to activate by accident (I’m sure it’s happened, but it would take some work. Some people say it doesn’t have quite as good coverage as the Garmin, but I haven’t had any big problems (yet). The main thing to remember that these devices aren’t designed to be instant text devices like a phone, and more a way to send a few quick messages back and forth (good night, we’re running late-but everything’s fine, we’re camping here for the night, etc.) or sound the alarm that something’s wrong.
Thanks Joey. I just looked it up and see about the 2 way with the Spot X. Don’t know how I missed it when I was looking at the Spot and InReach.
Mark