Best safety device
Two-way messaging where there is no phone signal at all
Garmin inReach Mini 2
Iridium satellite, SOS, ~100 g, subscription required
On Manaslu, Kanchenjunga or Dolpo this is the difference between a problem and an emergency — on Annapurna and Everest, where phone coverage is good and lodges are close, it is largely redundant and the money is better spent on evacuation insurance.
Works where nothing else does
Two-way messages, not just an SOS beacon
Lets family follow without you carrying a phone signal
Monthly subscription on top of the hardware
Slow to acquire under a steep valley wall
Redundant on the main teahouse trails
Not for you if: Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Sanctuary. Buy proper helicopter-evacuation cover instead.
Check price on Amazon