In the past, humanity had to make do with basic equipment when any individual went out into the wilderness. But these days we have plenty of high-tech gadgets to help us. These are ideal when you want to reliably communicate or navigate away from civilisation. Here are some of the best gadgets to use if you’re planning some sort of wild travel expedition in 2026.
Satellite communication devices
The number one gadget these days is satellite communication and GPS devices. These allow you to get in touch with emergency services no matter where you are on the surface of the planet, in the sky, or even somewhere under the surface, perhaps in a cave somewhere.
- The Garmin inReach Messenger is a budget-friendly but reliable option for people who need to send SOS messages.
- Garmin inReach Mini 2 or the Mini 3 Plus are more expensive and lighter weight but allow two-way messaging, voice notes, and have a longer battery life, making them an even safer option.
- Then there is the Zoleo satellite communicator. This works in conjunction with smartphones to allow safety-conscious adventurers to get in touch with rescue services wherever they happen to be.
Personal locator beacon
A similar gadget is the Personal Locator Beacon. These were previously only used in the military but have since found civilian uses. They work for one-way SOS and use international rescue satellites like the COSPAS SARSAT network. The main product in this space is the ACR ResQ-Link 400.
Advanced tactical accessories
There are also various tactical helmet accessories that help on adventures and expeditions. These can provide heads-up information about threats in the environment or assist with planning and direction finding. When accessories are held on the helmet, it creates more of an augmented reality experience. Users can benefit from the improved technology and potentially reduce exhaustion while improving performance in the field.
Portable solar chargers
On top of this, there are also portable solar chargers that you might want to use if you need extra protection in the wilderness. These keep your critical devices alive so that you always have a backup source of power if you need it. This is particularly crucial if you’re going for a long expedition and you can’t keep your SOS beacon or satellite communicator charged for the entire journey. It is also useful if you’re bringing cell phones, headlamps, or water heaters with you. Batteries will eventually run dry, so having some sort of solar panel that you can transport with you or put over the rear of your backpack is useful.
Wearable health monitors
Finally, if you’re going to be doing a lot of exercise, it’s a good idea to use wearable health monitors. These can watch your vital signs in real time and warn you if anything goes wrong. For example, they can tell you if your vitals are looking irregular, perhaps because you’re dehydrated or you’re running out of electrolytes. You can also get temperature monitors that tell you if you’re at risk of hypothermia, especially if you’re visiting cold climates.
