Curious what folks are using and their experience with them. Looking to purchase one, ideally with 2 way capability for periodic check in and/or emergencies. Any insight appreciated.

Most I know are using In-Reach. Pretty sure that's what they are called.
I still use smoke signals.

Garmin Inreach is what I and everyone else I know uses. The guides usually have satellite phones too.

Being in the United States Air Force auxiliary Civil Air Patrol I recommend getting one. We can locate you through satellite if it sends out a distress signal

Been using the inreach and have been very happy with it.

I bought a used Spot sattelite texting device. Ill have to have a Grandkid set it up for me. Hopefully Ill get service with it.

I also went with the Inreach. Sold my sat phone, tired of dropped calls. My plan is $50/ month for unlimited texting. Bluetooth connects with my I-phone for easy texting. Friends and family can track my where abouts. Has maps, gps, compass. Liking it so far.

In reach is the one I know of people using. Personally I go into the woods to get away from people, if I can't get myself out, well that is where I want to die anyways.

Your family would appreciate being able to find your corpse though.

No corpse ; no closure of an estate for 7 years for the family.
Been there ; done that.

Yea, back when I owed my lawyer money, I thought hey, at least somebody will come find me if I get lost.
Now that Ive got him paid off, I had to either get divorced again or get a texting device. Thought Id try a texting device for a while.

I'm new to this married thing, I spent almost forty years single. Drives both me and the wife nuts. She thinks I should check in/plan more. I'm used to leaving the house to go hunting without deciding where I'm headed until I hit the end of the driveway, and coming back whenever I feel like it.

And yeah I'm not used to having anybody for an estate to go to.

Dont worry about it bearcat2. She'll get your estate evenually, either my way, or your way.

Like mentioned I am a huge fan of the Garmin Inreach.

another vote for the inreach. flexible plans and great service. been using mine for 5 years now, no complaints. Really came in handy once when i was out by myself and broke down about 100kms from cell service.

If you might be in a situation that requires a spit second to send out a distress signal (like on a boat) I think you should consider an ACR PLB. No bells and whistles like texting, but the service is free, and when you deploy it there is someone on the other end who actually takes it seriously.

I use the Garmin inReach when working, hunting, or trapping in any area without cellular signal.
I consider it a courtesy as a carcass finding and retrieval device.
Not a good idea to conk out in a remote area and clutter the natural scenic beauty with a dead guy.
Plus I might have something on me that some greedy person might want.

I'm a firm believer in 1 is none and 2 is 1 so for trapping between my brother and I we carry an ACR Plb, Garmin inreach and an iridium sat phone. Mostly use the inreach but sat phone is great when you need instant feedback.

I got an Inreach for my birthday. It was too scary to set up, so it just sat there for a few months. Finally got a grandchild to help me set it up. Synced it with my iphone so I can text directly from phone, through the Inreach.

I used it on a caribou hunt this fall. It was a lifesaver (and money saver....) for getting ahold of my pilot and reporting the weather at our camp.

I'm a big fan now, of satellite texting!

Pete

LOL