Bivy or Personal Locator Beacon, which one is right for you?

Well the simple answer is: “That depends on what kind of adventurer you are.”

Bivy and our award-winning ResQLink line of PLB’s are designed for similar purposes, i.e., saving lives outdoors and providing enhanced confidence. However, they’re utilized much differently outdoors.

A Personal Locator Beacon (utilizing the Cospas-Sarsat Satellites) is designed to be a tool of last resort; a proven, life-saving emergency rescue and positioning device summoning search and rescue worldwide. It’s one job is to continuously share your position with those who are coming to your aid.

Bivy (utilizing the Iridium Satellites) also has similar one-button SOS functionality. However, this is a communication and outdoor connectivity device as much as it is an emergency tool. In tandem with the Bivy app, Bivy allows you to send messages, track and share your position, check real-time weather forecasts, and even offers one-touch “check-in” functionality.

Given these differences, ResQLink PLB’s require no subscription, whereas the Bivy allows adventurers to choose a subscription plan to best fit their unique outdoor communication needs.

Once an emergency activation is initiated, a PLB leverages it’s battery capacity for the sole purpose of transmitting your position for a minimum of 24 hours while also firing the visible and infrared strobes. The Bivy in contrast allows those in need of rescue to also exchange messages with rescue personnel for an additional layer of coordination.

So, are you the adventurer who plans ahead in case rescue becomes necessary, but would otherwise prefer not add outdoor communication to their itinerary? Then a PLB is all you need to stay safe out there. But if leveraging the power of a proven 2 way communication device adds to your remote outdoor experience, then Bivy has the features you prefer.”