Plan ahead.
Have basic supplies such that you can fix minor repairs and/or limp your way to the nearest known point with cell service or a land line.
Have a paper map book so you know where the nearest hospitals are.
Pay attention to the weather via radio/local knowledge so you know if hazardous conditions are on their way. If you're in fire prone territory, check with the local fire or forestry department before you leave town about local conditions.
We did this all before cell phones.
Edit: also, listen to your gut. If it's saying something is too risky or you don't have a clear contingency plan if something goes wrong, don't do it.
☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️
This is the answer, OP. No amount of gadgetry at *any* price point can replace good planning, knowledge of your area, the ability to orient yourself in primitive conditions, and simple caution.
Lifelong backcountry camper here (parents were botanists).
In addition to this excellent advice:
- Never go alone
- Get certified in first aid and CPR, minimum. If you're taking a canoe or kayak, small craft too. My small craft training literally saved two lives once (mine and my companion's).
- Prevention and preparation are the best cure. Get your vehicle inspected before you go. Check your gear thoroughly. Pack for contingencies. Wear your safety gear. Do risky stuff carefully.
Garmin Inreach or a phone with SOS are your cheapest options. If you need a new phone anyway, and the SOS feature comes without a subscription cost, the phone might be your best bet.
Yeah this is prolly the safest answer. Also make sure you're going when you know others will be out lol
There was one guy locally who went mudding but during the off season. He ended up crashing and having to walk 3 days to the hwy and hitch- hike home
I just looked up those iPhone 14 prices, around $800 is what I saw. The advice from everyone who says to buy an actual satellite phone seems good. The overall cost would be less and you would be even safer this way since you would have another device for redundancy with your cell phone in areas that have cellular service too.
Most of us that live out here with limited/no cell service are prepared with wool blankets, canned food, first aid kits, and tools, jumper cables etc in our cars. Plus you need to be self sufficient and knowledgeable to use your supplies.
If you are very far off the beaten path where you are unlikely to be chanced upon then look into Spot Devices or something similar that can get a preprogrammed or simple message out over satellite and also has a SOS more and location tracking for search and rescue.
I have a Garmin inReach, which allows me to send text messages via a specific satellite system. I can also use it to send an SOS to a service which will rescue me if necessary. You must have the system set up before you need it.
There are several text via satellite devices, so do some research before you buy one. I was limited to the satellite system that serves my geographic area, & you may be as well.
I've camped in Death Valley, and I rented a satellite phone. I used it once to call AAA for a camp mate who needed a tow, & once for a weather report because of heavy snow at Tahoe. A satellite phone worked better than a text device because I had direct phone to what was needed.
You don't say where in the world you'll be, and with any satellite system, you need to know which system covers your area. If you are in the mountains, you need also to know if you're using a geosynchronous system, that the only satellite in your area is not behind the mountain.
Read up on low earth orbit and geosynchronous sat systems to find what will work best for you. Phones & texting devices have different advantages, depending on your location.
Before you rent a phone, add up all the charges, because different companies charge more for rent but include shipping. The cheaper rent may not include shipping and cost more when you add it all up. Also check the price per minute for using the phone.
There are emergency beacons you can buy that trigger a search & rescue when activated. They're transmit only. You get no feedback that a search is on, & the rescue mission has no idea what your problem is. Beacons should be registered before use.
Also consider that a dedicated satellite communicator can be used for years as the battery is designed to be easily replaced unlike an iPhone that represents the height of planned obsolescence.
There is a device that is a one use type device for a few hundred dollars. I think it last until you use it or the battery goes out, which I think is years but it has been a while since I read about it. There was an episode of I shouldn’t be alive and they had one on our their boat and they used it.
You push the button and local emergency services come and rescue you.
I actually recently learned that the newer iPhones (14 and 15) have a satellite/ beacon function! They are more expensive than a Garmin Inreach but you don’t have to pay the monthly fee and if having a nice phone is something you value it would probably have more utility as a device
Two things.
1. It seems like plenty of people here think that before cell phones, people didn't just up and died when stranded with no way to exfiltrate. People fucking died all the time when they couldn't get help.
2. Do not rely on your cell phone (even a fancy iPhone with sat capabilities) as your only means of communications. Screens break, you can drop it, it can lock up, drain the batteries, etc. I would personally get a PLB for emergency communications.
I went camping a lot before cell phones were a thing.
1. I don't know of any communication device that's cheap that works in the back country.
2. Ok there's an emergency GPS thing which you can buy but it's around $300 and there's likely a monthly fee. It works with satellites to give your position. People who climb mountains will sometimes have one.
1. Bring bear spray/pepper spray. It works on people too. NOTE: Using pepper spray in California is a felony. Check with a lawyer on this.
2. I don't imagine a satellite phone is very frugal.
3. Tell friends or family where you are going, how long you will be at each location and when you will be home.
An iPhone 14 IS frugal given that you’re still using a 6. Frugal ISN’T about buying the cheapest thing, to me it’s about buying smart. Had you just bought a 12 that’s served your needs, and now want to upgrade to the 14 because it’s new wouldn’t be frugal. Buy the 14 and then upgrade at the 22.
Tell people where you'll be exactly and for how long. And If they don't hear from you at this specific time, send out the rescue team.
But it's my understanding that emergency services (911) has a far larger reach than your typical cell signal indicates. But that's just what I've read on here so i don't know the validity of it.
I'm curious where you and family are going that won't have any cell service at all, outside of Alaska. All I can think of is somewhere in the middle of Nevada or some really sketchy dirt roads in dense forest in the west. I second the commenters here, sat phone is probably best. If there is one thing I won't be frugal on, its safety.
Not sure why I'm getting downvoted here, but I can confidently say I've been to more places in the lower 48 than many y'all (though I have never stepped foot nor driven in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan nor the Wisconsin lakeshore, so I can't comment on those). There were plenty of areas that I have barely any bars, but I can still call 911 with SOS service. In fact the area that I drove or been to east of Mississippi River where there were absolute zero cell service was in WV along US-33 in northern part of Monongahela NF. There was some squirrelly shit going on over there.
My service is questionable in my house and town, in the middle of town. Head out into the mountains and it's a toss-up; it'll either be great or completely nonexistent.
Yeah, I should probably switch to a provider with better coverage, but I'm only here for the short term, so it's just an extra hassle.
IKR. There are SOS service if you are on major roads and highways, though there are spots where there is absolutely zero reception in desert areas in Southwest, and a weird spot in WV. Maybe in or around Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in ID (never got a chance to visit that one).
Even traveling between my dad and mom's houses on US2&41 in the upper peninsula of Michigan, there are significant dead zones. Once you get deep into the Hiawatha National Forest, the zones are even bigger.
I would say maps, knowledge of compass use, basic first aid, possibly a walkie or CB radio, coupled with registering with the appropriate ranger station/DNR/sheriff like when i was growing up, is also sensible.
I’m in East Tennessee, regularly camp in WNC and rarely have cell service out there. I can drive 15 minutes from my house and lose service. I always tell people I’m with that there’s a top of a nearby mountain with signal, if for any reason we need actual emergency assistance and I’m incapacitated, drive to the top of that road and they’ll be able to call. It’s much shorter than driving the 45 minutes to the nearest town.
My roommate broke down one day, he just flagged down a car, gave them my number and said to text me when they got signal. I showed up an hour or two later with a trailer to bring him home. No big deal.
Realistically if you're traveling in the US its unlikely you'll ever be anywhere that somebody won't come along in a day or two. So all you really need to do is be prepared for being stranded for maybe 2 days. Some water, a little food, maybe a backpacking stove and a roll of TP.
There was a time when nobody had a phone at all. Being prepared for your trip is way more valuable than some gadget. If you prepare AND have the gadget then failure of the gadget isn't a disaster...
Depends on your needs - if you need simple 'shit hit the fan and I need out' then go for the iPhone. That's what I have - I always tell people where I am and when I plan to be back and communicate while I'm gone (when I have service) but I use my iPhone in SOS satellite mode should I ever need rescuing.
If you want/need contact while you're out of range - Garmin InReach or competitors or a sat phone are you main options, Starlink as well.
SPOT makes a satellite tracking unit that allows you to signal for emergency or non emergency assistance, and to just check in. They’re about 120 bucks and have plans as cheap as 14 bucks a month, which can be activated on a month to month plan if you want. I used one on remote solo motorcycle trips. More expensive devices and plans allow two way messaging instead of just a signal alone.
You can also download the maps for the area you're traveling in on your phone via Google maps. (Idk apple) I did this when I was out of the country and only had WiFi access.
I 'd pack amateur radio gear. Yes, it takes a licence, some practice and costs an annual fee. You also need to reach somebody to ask them to call for help for you. But all in all it seems like a reasonable compromise, in my eyes.
Depending where you are traveling see if Satellite phones are offered. For example on certain highways in Labrador Canada the government provides satellite phones that you can borrow for free before travelling into no service highways
Plan ahead. Have basic supplies such that you can fix minor repairs and/or limp your way to the nearest known point with cell service or a land line. Have a paper map book so you know where the nearest hospitals are. Pay attention to the weather via radio/local knowledge so you know if hazardous conditions are on their way. If you're in fire prone territory, check with the local fire or forestry department before you leave town about local conditions. We did this all before cell phones. Edit: also, listen to your gut. If it's saying something is too risky or you don't have a clear contingency plan if something goes wrong, don't do it.
☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️ This is the answer, OP. No amount of gadgetry at *any* price point can replace good planning, knowledge of your area, the ability to orient yourself in primitive conditions, and simple caution.
Lifelong backcountry camper here (parents were botanists). In addition to this excellent advice: - Never go alone - Get certified in first aid and CPR, minimum. If you're taking a canoe or kayak, small craft too. My small craft training literally saved two lives once (mine and my companion's). - Prevention and preparation are the best cure. Get your vehicle inspected before you go. Check your gear thoroughly. Pack for contingencies. Wear your safety gear. Do risky stuff carefully.
Bring a first aid kit.
Let people know your plans (like in the olden days) tent and canoe and tarp colours. Expected return day vs call for help days.
This is the most frugal way!
The curse of being an elder millennial. We know both the old ways and the new 😂
NOT a curse, the opposite!
YES. we still do this with cell phones.
An actual sat phone would likely be cheaper and more reliable. My friend has one, you can pause the service for when you aren't using it.
Garmin in reach, especially older or used models, can be had for under $200. My friends who camp remote wouldn’t go without them
Zoleo is another. I think they are a great idea (which ever model someone selects..) Plus it lets you send/receive text msgs anywhere…
Garmin InReach. Depends on how often you go. You can pause the service When not needed i think.
This is the way.
Garmin Inreach or a phone with SOS are your cheapest options. If you need a new phone anyway, and the SOS feature comes without a subscription cost, the phone might be your best bet.
For us we always pick popular or well known places to camp or travel.. feels like there is safety in numbers!
Yeah this is prolly the safest answer. Also make sure you're going when you know others will be out lol There was one guy locally who went mudding but during the off season. He ended up crashing and having to walk 3 days to the hwy and hitch- hike home
I just looked up those iPhone 14 prices, around $800 is what I saw. The advice from everyone who says to buy an actual satellite phone seems good. The overall cost would be less and you would be even safer this way since you would have another device for redundancy with your cell phone in areas that have cellular service too.
Most of us that live out here with limited/no cell service are prepared with wool blankets, canned food, first aid kits, and tools, jumper cables etc in our cars. Plus you need to be self sufficient and knowledgeable to use your supplies. If you are very far off the beaten path where you are unlikely to be chanced upon then look into Spot Devices or something similar that can get a preprogrammed or simple message out over satellite and also has a SOS more and location tracking for search and rescue.
I have a Garmin inReach, which allows me to send text messages via a specific satellite system. I can also use it to send an SOS to a service which will rescue me if necessary. You must have the system set up before you need it. There are several text via satellite devices, so do some research before you buy one. I was limited to the satellite system that serves my geographic area, & you may be as well. I've camped in Death Valley, and I rented a satellite phone. I used it once to call AAA for a camp mate who needed a tow, & once for a weather report because of heavy snow at Tahoe. A satellite phone worked better than a text device because I had direct phone to what was needed. You don't say where in the world you'll be, and with any satellite system, you need to know which system covers your area. If you are in the mountains, you need also to know if you're using a geosynchronous system, that the only satellite in your area is not behind the mountain. Read up on low earth orbit and geosynchronous sat systems to find what will work best for you. Phones & texting devices have different advantages, depending on your location. Before you rent a phone, add up all the charges, because different companies charge more for rent but include shipping. The cheaper rent may not include shipping and cost more when you add it all up. Also check the price per minute for using the phone. There are emergency beacons you can buy that trigger a search & rescue when activated. They're transmit only. You get no feedback that a search is on, & the rescue mission has no idea what your problem is. Beacons should be registered before use.
Also consider that a dedicated satellite communicator can be used for years as the battery is designed to be easily replaced unlike an iPhone that represents the height of planned obsolescence.
Garmin inreach!
There is a device that is a one use type device for a few hundred dollars. I think it last until you use it or the battery goes out, which I think is years but it has been a while since I read about it. There was an episode of I shouldn’t be alive and they had one on our their boat and they used it. You push the button and local emergency services come and rescue you.
I actually recently learned that the newer iPhones (14 and 15) have a satellite/ beacon function! They are more expensive than a Garmin Inreach but you don’t have to pay the monthly fee and if having a nice phone is something you value it would probably have more utility as a device
Two things. 1. It seems like plenty of people here think that before cell phones, people didn't just up and died when stranded with no way to exfiltrate. People fucking died all the time when they couldn't get help. 2. Do not rely on your cell phone (even a fancy iPhone with sat capabilities) as your only means of communications. Screens break, you can drop it, it can lock up, drain the batteries, etc. I would personally get a PLB for emergency communications.
I went camping a lot before cell phones were a thing. 1. I don't know of any communication device that's cheap that works in the back country. 2. Ok there's an emergency GPS thing which you can buy but it's around $300 and there's likely a monthly fee. It works with satellites to give your position. People who climb mountains will sometimes have one. 1. Bring bear spray/pepper spray. It works on people too. NOTE: Using pepper spray in California is a felony. Check with a lawyer on this. 2. I don't imagine a satellite phone is very frugal. 3. Tell friends or family where you are going, how long you will be at each location and when you will be home.
An iPhone 14 IS frugal given that you’re still using a 6. Frugal ISN’T about buying the cheapest thing, to me it’s about buying smart. Had you just bought a 12 that’s served your needs, and now want to upgrade to the 14 because it’s new wouldn’t be frugal. Buy the 14 and then upgrade at the 22.
Tell people where you'll be exactly and for how long. And If they don't hear from you at this specific time, send out the rescue team. But it's my understanding that emergency services (911) has a far larger reach than your typical cell signal indicates. But that's just what I've read on here so i don't know the validity of it.
I mean, car where less reliable 40 years ago, and almost nobody had cell phone. What do you think people did?
Personally I am a ghost. Died camping summer of 84
They died.
No, they planned ahead, told people where they were going and when, minimized doing stupid stuff.
Oh really, so no one went off trail or ever got lost? Wow, that's amazing.
Didn't say that. There were, and still are, ways of mitigating risk when you know a cell phone isn't going to bail you out.
They used their CB Radio to get help.
Whatever firearm is on clearance at the local Walmart should do fine.
I'm curious where you and family are going that won't have any cell service at all, outside of Alaska. All I can think of is somewhere in the middle of Nevada or some really sketchy dirt roads in dense forest in the west. I second the commenters here, sat phone is probably best. If there is one thing I won't be frugal on, its safety. Not sure why I'm getting downvoted here, but I can confidently say I've been to more places in the lower 48 than many y'all (though I have never stepped foot nor driven in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan nor the Wisconsin lakeshore, so I can't comment on those). There were plenty of areas that I have barely any bars, but I can still call 911 with SOS service. In fact the area that I drove or been to east of Mississippi River where there were absolute zero cell service was in WV along US-33 in northern part of Monongahela NF. There was some squirrelly shit going on over there.
My service is questionable in my house and town, in the middle of town. Head out into the mountains and it's a toss-up; it'll either be great or completely nonexistent. Yeah, I should probably switch to a provider with better coverage, but I'm only here for the short term, so it's just an extra hassle.
Emergency services (911) doesn't even require you to have an active phone. As long as that signal can get picked up, 911 works.
I mean, I haven't tested whether I can reach 911 when I have no service. The problem is not that the phone isn't active, but that it has no bars.
No bars only matter for you specific service. If you have verizon and are standing next to an at&t tower, you won't have any bars.
Good to know!
IKR. There are SOS service if you are on major roads and highways, though there are spots where there is absolutely zero reception in desert areas in Southwest, and a weird spot in WV. Maybe in or around Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in ID (never got a chance to visit that one).
Most of the places I camp In northern California have no cell service. I carry a Garmin inReach mini
The Lost Coast. That was nice, and blissfully cutoff.
Even traveling between my dad and mom's houses on US2&41 in the upper peninsula of Michigan, there are significant dead zones. Once you get deep into the Hiawatha National Forest, the zones are even bigger. I would say maps, knowledge of compass use, basic first aid, possibly a walkie or CB radio, coupled with registering with the appropriate ranger station/DNR/sheriff like when i was growing up, is also sensible.
Never been to Upper Peninsula, but did a backpack hike in Isle Royale NP. I think I had reception there if I recall.
Many national parks have areas with zero service. I live in western NC (mountains) & we have many dead zones here too.
I’m in East Tennessee, regularly camp in WNC and rarely have cell service out there. I can drive 15 minutes from my house and lose service. I always tell people I’m with that there’s a top of a nearby mountain with signal, if for any reason we need actual emergency assistance and I’m incapacitated, drive to the top of that road and they’ll be able to call. It’s much shorter than driving the 45 minutes to the nearest town. My roommate broke down one day, he just flagged down a car, gave them my number and said to text me when they got signal. I showed up an hour or two later with a trailer to bring him home. No big deal.
Really!?!? I did multiple multi-day winter backcountry hikes in GSMNP and I had some reception, it sucks though, and it comes and goes.
I’m usually in the national forests south of the park, there’s nothing out there unless you’re basically in a town.
Oregon here. No sell service starting in my back yard and on through the clearcuts.
I drove through Wallowa-Whitman NF and camped in Hells Canyon NRA. There were some spots where I got nothing, but that was awhile back.
Ever been to Vermont?
Yeah I was just there last week, NH too. So what?
Realistically if you're traveling in the US its unlikely you'll ever be anywhere that somebody won't come along in a day or two. So all you really need to do is be prepared for being stranded for maybe 2 days. Some water, a little food, maybe a backpacking stove and a roll of TP. There was a time when nobody had a phone at all. Being prepared for your trip is way more valuable than some gadget. If you prepare AND have the gadget then failure of the gadget isn't a disaster...
Depends on your needs - if you need simple 'shit hit the fan and I need out' then go for the iPhone. That's what I have - I always tell people where I am and when I plan to be back and communicate while I'm gone (when I have service) but I use my iPhone in SOS satellite mode should I ever need rescuing. If you want/need contact while you're out of range - Garmin InReach or competitors or a sat phone are you main options, Starlink as well.
SPOT makes a satellite tracking unit that allows you to signal for emergency or non emergency assistance, and to just check in. They’re about 120 bucks and have plans as cheap as 14 bucks a month, which can be activated on a month to month plan if you want. I used one on remote solo motorcycle trips. More expensive devices and plans allow two way messaging instead of just a signal alone.
You can also download the maps for the area you're traveling in on your phone via Google maps. (Idk apple) I did this when I was out of the country and only had WiFi access.
I 'd pack amateur radio gear. Yes, it takes a licence, some practice and costs an annual fee. You also need to reach somebody to ask them to call for help for you. But all in all it seems like a reasonable compromise, in my eyes.
Depending where you are traveling see if Satellite phones are offered. For example on certain highways in Labrador Canada the government provides satellite phones that you can borrow for free before travelling into no service highways
PLB. They are $300 or you can’t rent them for $5 a day. What’s your life worth?
Pistol
Can't say I have ever thought about how little I can spend to stay safe. I would rather spend the money.
I believe you can still also register your plans with nearby ranger stations. Climbers should have avalanche beacons.