Cellular service typically cuts off as soon as things start to get interesting. Once you’re a few miles from the nearest gas station and beginning to get your hiking rhythm, your cell phone will be nothing more than an expensive digital camera.

Loads of us tiptoe off into the wilderness to disconnect, so the lack of service in remote areas can be a relief – until something goes wrong… so it’s important we stay connected and that’s where a sat phone comes into it’s own!

Anyone heading off the beaten track has to be aware of how precarious any situation can be. The more you explore the most remote sections of the earth, the more you learn how unpredictable nature can be and at the same time the worst your satellite network becomes!

If you break an ankle two days into a five-day through-hike, you can’t simply walk out of there and unfortunately traditional cell phones are useless for getting help and making those important phone calls.

Whether it’s a mechanical, natural, or physical ailment, having a satellite phone tucked away is essential for mountaineering, proper hiking, or any extreme adventure tourism. Not only that but you want one that provides reliable voice calling, global coverage and well as affordable monthly service plans.

In this post, we’re going to tell you all about Satellite Phones and help you decide which one is best for you. Ready to discover the top sat phones, lets go!

So, if you’re looking for the best satellite phone for hiking or backpacking, then you’ve come to the right place! Let’s go!

A Word on The Best Satellite Phones

Hopefully, you’ll never have to use your satellite phone, but you still want to invest in the perfect sat phone for your needs so that if you do have to whip it out, you’ll have the right plan and coverage to make the call. It’s fair to say that Satellite Phones are not an inclusion on your typical backpacking packing list but depending on your trip you’ll want to include one.

We’ll walk you through the perks and drawbacks of the best satellite phones for backpacking on the market so you can find the sat phone that will be ready when you need it the most. 

Whether you plan on hiking through remote North American wilderness, roaming deserts and safaris, or getting as far away from civilization as possible without a rocket ship, this article will walk you through your digital first aid kit so you can decide which of the best satellite phones is the one for you to feel safe exploring remote locations and stay connected.

Quick Answer: These are the Best Satellite Phones for Backpacking of 2024

#1 – Iridium Extreme 9575

#2 – Inmarsat IsatPhone 2

#3 – Iridium 9555

#4 – Globalstar GSP-1700

#5 – Thuraya X5 Touch

Product
Description

Iridium Extreme 9575

  • > $1145
  • > Water-resistant
  • > Dust and shock-proof

Inmarsat IsatPhone 2

  • > $599
  • > Dedicated SOS button
  • > Lightweight design

Iridium 9555

  • > $945
  • > Simple-to-use interface
  • > Comes with Handsfree options

Globalstar GSP-1700

  • > $499
  • > Affordable
  • > Offers great texting, email, and coordinate sharing abilities

Thuraya X5 Touch

  • > $1229
  • > Android operating system
  • > Two separate SIM slots

Buyers Guide To Satellite Phones

Not all satellite phones are made equal, and minute differences will have a gigantic impact on what your sat phone can do.

The main difference between satellite phones is where they send their information. Some companies offer an arsenal of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites that provide unparalleled coverage and call quality.

Other sat phones rely on fewer geostationary satellites rotating 30,000 miles above the equator that reach over 90% of the globe but fall short of covering the poles and instead providing satellite hotspots. The best satellite phones won’t leave you in the dark!

In Outerspace and the palm of your hands, other vital aspects make different providers and sat phones unique. Here are a few key categories that separate satellite phones from global coverage to super reliable voice calling, there’s a lot more to think about that your average cell phone.

Features

These phones have one goal: to work no matter where you are. You won’t find loads of highfalutin perks and web-browsing abilities on your satellite phone, but these also aren’t your father’s satellite phones. 

Modern technologies have allowed these phones to offer up more than ever and many packages also come with heaps of satellite phone accessories too. You’re not going to get full cell phone features but things are improving!

High-end satellite phones can be transformed into Wi-Fi hotspots and feature GPS location tracking that makes it easier to call for an evac. Others have SMS and emailing options built-in so you can keep tabs on work from base camp through the summit. Of course, voice calls are a standard.

Satellite Phone Battery

No matter which satellite phone you travel with, don’t forget to fully charge your lifeline before leaving the house and keep it off until you need to use it. If you follow these simple procedures any of these satellite phones on our list will last for hours of call time.

However, if you need to keep your satellite phone on at all times and anticipate making several calls throughout a long weekend, don’t settle for mediocre. Best-in-class call options like Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 give you eight hours of voice calls, while others can die in less than 3. 

We’ll lay out each option’s specific lifetime below. If you plan on pushing your batteries to their limits, the Iridium Extreme 9575 offers 30 hours of standby time in a water-resistant, wide operating temperature range.

If that’s still not enough, stranded explorers can switch out the batteries in these units quickly, and a spare battery won’t take up much luggage space. Be sure to also check the standby battery life stats too if you’re headed on multiday trips and get yourself some good quality docking stations for on the go charging. Remember, these phones aren’t for scrolling through insta, they’re emergency satellite phones for just that!

Satellite Phone Coverage

There’s no point in a satellite phone if you can’t use it when it matters most. You’ll be taking your phone deep into the backcountry, and you’ll have to do extra research to make sure you have services and cellular coverage wherever the path may take you. From voice calls to satellite messenger services, you need to know what you’re covered for.

Start your search by coming up with a slight notion of where you will take your satellite phone and choose a provider guaranteed to cover your area. These guys aren’t your regular cell phone networks, instead, they offer a dedicated satellite network often with global coverage.

Here’s a quick idea of different satellite networks coverage options and data services. This is key when picking out the right hiking satellite phone for your trip.

Iridium provides coverage using 66 low orbit satellites to cover 100% of the globe. This extensive network gives you crystal clear communication in the swamps, on the ridgelines, and anywhere you get stuck with a flat tire. 

Dropped calls have been reported in valleys blocked by high canyons, but there’s still no better network of satellites and coverage than Iridium satellite phones if you’re looking for super reliable satellite phones.

Inmarsat is the other leading satellite phone provider, and its coverage comes from four satellites orbiting the equator along with the Earth’s spin. These satellites are six miles from Earth’s atmosphere but still provide stellar coverage to over 90% of the earth. 

However, once you get close to the north and south poles, your signal will slowly fade through Inmarsat as you’ll get too far from the satellites hovering over the equator. 

Globalstar is the newest competitor in the scene, and its network is still a work in progress. They have a small collection of LEO satellites that is ever-growing, and they are slowly beginning to cover a large majority of the Earth. 

Unfortunately, their ultimate coverage goals are still years away, and today there are still large areas uncovered by their satellite networks. Globalstar phone owners must double-check the current coverage maps before heading out on their next trek to ensure they won’t be up the creek without a signal. 

Satellite Phone Plans and Minutes

Don’t forget to add minutes for those satellite calls! You’ll want to consider what packages are available on the different cellular networks to see which is the best fit. Also consider if you want data services as well as calls.

Without a plan, your satellite phone is about as valuable for your pack as a brick. Plans vary by provider and are constantly in flux. Be sure to shop around from different retailers to find the plan that works best for you, as there are often deals to be found if you look hard enough.

Depending on what you are using your satellite phone, you can buy or rent your phone and purchase a prepaid, monthly, or annual plan, or add on minutes like a burner. 

You can expect to pay about a dollar a minute for your talk plan on a satellite phone. Adding text messages, email, or GPS features will tack on more charges. Still, buying a Satellite phone can still prove cheaper than buying a GPS device so look at it that way.

We recommend timing your purchase with a deal that works for you and making sure you buy your phone and plan simultaneously. Inmarsat will often throw in a free phone if you sign up for a year-long plan.

Rules and Regulations

Do your research before throwing your satellite phone into your luggage. A surprising number of countries heavily regulate satellite phone use and some outright ban the technology.

India, Russia, Nicaragua, China, and Chad top the list of several countries that will confiscate your cell phones at the border, and some have arrested travelers for using the technology. 

If you are planning on entering restricted satellite space, you should look towards alternate forms of communication. We’ll explore satellite-powered messenger devices below which serve as great alternatives if you’re heading to a no-fly zone. 

The Best Satellite Phone For Backpacking?

A satellite phone is a piece of gear you hope you never have to use, but it only takes one emergency scenario to justify keeping one handy. 

When it’s time to make the call, you probably won’t have the luxury of time to wait around for faulty satellites to connect, and one dropped call can spell doom for your trip. 

We spent some serious time away from cell towers compiling our list of the best satellite phones on the market. These bad boys will always be ready when you need them the most, as long as you remember to pack the charger! Right then, let’s check out our best sat phone!

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Iridium Extreme 9575

Iridium Extreme 9575
Specs
  • Battery hours (talk/standby): 4/30
  • Coverage: Everywhere
  • Waterproof? Yes
  • Price: $1145

Thanks to Iridium’s LEO satellite network and excellent battery life, this satellite phone is the best of the best. If money isn’t you’re deciding factor, there is no other option that compares to the Iridium Extreme when you’re heading to remote areas. 

These phones use military-grade technology to provide the durability needed for extreme adventure from the motherboard on out. They’re water-resistant, dust and shock-proof, and more than capable of taking a few blows and working fine. 

All of this is supported by 100% coverage across the earth, so you’ll never be too far gone, it’s one of the reasons it’s up there with the best satellite phones.

There is no other phone on the market that offers the same combination of reliability, powerful battery life, hardcore design, and the possibility to add on a Wi-Fi hotspot. 

Our team love this emergency satellite phone and in particular, they felt liked how bulletproof it felt. The durability of the phone really gave them extra confidence when heading out into the backcountry. They have also found the coverage claims to be true, again, adding to their confidence in the phone.

+Pros
  • Most durable phone on the market
  • Worldwide communication
  • Can be upgraded with a Wifi Hotspot
-Cons
  • Expensive

Inmarsat IsatPhone 2

Inmarsat IsatPhone 2
Specs
  • Battery Life (hours): 8/160
  • Coverage: 6 continents, no poles
  • Waterproof? Yes
  • Price: $599

Inmarsat is the other worldwide satellite phone leader, and their flagship phone presents a hefty challenge to the dominance of the Iridium Extreme. The first thing that jumps out is the affordable price point. 

While this phone may not have the eye-popping features of the industry leader, it also has an enticingly low price, and there is a meagre chance you’ll ever need anything more than this LsatPhone.

The phone features a dedicated SOS button that pings your GPS coordinates help thanks to the included tracker. The emergency center is located in Texas which won’t do you much good if you’re in Asia, but North, Central, and South American adventures will have a reliable support system in their time zone.

Take your time while shopping for the LsatPhone, and you could be rewarded with deals, as the phone is often offered for free if you purchase a year-long plan. A lightweight design and incredible battery life highlight this barebones, advanced satellite phone. It’s a great and affordable phone for trips into remote locations.

Our team love this satellite GPS phone for use whilst travelling in the Americas as well as the Aussie outback. They were particularly fond of the dedicated SOS button that meant they could easily call for help with the minimum of effort. Another plus was the lightweight design which added hardly anything to their packs meaning it was easy to carry wherever they went.

+Pros
  • Affordable and Lightweight
  • Best Battery on the Market
  • Can often be found for cheap
-Cons
  • Outdated Interface
  • Chunky Antennae
  • Won’t work in Antarctica

Iridium 9555

Iridium 9555 Satellite Phone
Specs
  • Battery Life (hours): 3/30
  • Coverage: Everywhere
  • Waterproof? No
  • Price: $945

Our second Iridium option gives you access to the 100% satellite coverage of Iridium satellites at a lower price than the extreme 9575. This phone won’t come with the same military-grade protection as its extreme older brother, but that certainly doesn’t make it frail. 

This satellite phone retains tons of great features from the mobile phone industry providing a simple-to-use interface and a headset for hands-free calling. 

You’ll really feel like a wilderness explorer from Hollywood when you whip out the clunky antennae before each call, but finding reception will be quick and easy whether you’re halfway up the Cotopaxi or halfway down the Amazon river.

It’s built tough, small enough to fit into any day bag, and provides hours of call time per battery. The one-button emergency ping is the cherry on top, making this an excellent satellite phone for millions of adventures.

When it came to picking a GPS satellite phone, our team felt this was the perfect option for those wanting something compact and efficient. They loved how small it was and also how easy it was to use, which when it comes to emergency situations is even more important than you might first imagine!

+Pros
  • Older Model, which means discounts
  • Backlit display
  • Comes with Handsfree options
-Cons
  • No GPS coordinates positioning
  • Manually activated antennae
  • Has been known to drop phone calls

Globalstar GSP-1700

Globalstar GSP 1700
Specs
  • Battery Life (hours): 4/36
  • Coverage: 3.5 Continents
  • Waterproof? No
  • Price: $499

The cheapest satellite phone on the market, Globalstar is still working out the kinks of its satellite phone service. 

While the coverage is excellent in North America, there are miles and miles of magical scenery that the Globalstar still can’t cover. Because of this, we don’t recommend taking this satellite phone with you on trips to Asia or Africa as the coverage simply isn’t there yet. 

If you plan on doing most of your traversing within the United States or Europe, you may not need anything more, and this phone works well as an affordable option for those who only need a satellite phone for a special occasion. 

This is the company’s first foray into the phone universe having previously offered up only satellite messengers. You can bank on the technologies packed into this device to improve steadily over the next few years, and the present-day iteration offers great texting, email, and coordinate sharing abilities. 

If you’re on the lookout for a cheap satellite phone, then our team highly recommends checking this model out. Though it might be missing features like proper waterproofing, it still offers great coverage across many popular areas to travel as well as super-fast data speeds.

+Pros
  • Cheapest Sat Phone on our list
  • Full Keyboard
  • Deals as low as 65$ for 150 minutes
-Cons
  • Poor coverage network
  • Poor battery life
  • Not Waterproof

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    Thuraya X5 Touch

    Thuraya X5 Touch
    Specs
    • Battery Life (hours): 9/160
    • Coverage: 2.5 continents
    • GPS: Yes
    • Price: $1229

    This satellite phone has incorporated many popular elements of smartphones such as a touchscreen and 4G LTE capabilities. It’s still no iPhone, but Thuraya has provided the most feature-rich satellite phone on the planet. 

    What it hasn’t provided is worldwide access. Thuraya does not currently provide service for this phone in North or South America.  

    If you’re staying in the old world, it’s a worthy companion. The phone features a 5.2” HD touchscreen, runs on an Android operating system, and even includes a camera. Two separate SIM slots allow you to use this phone on GSM cell networks and easily switch to satellite service.

    At first glance, having a touchscreen phone on your harrowing outdoor adventures sounds like a recipe for a quick cracked screen. The X5 touch also looked ahead enough to come with gorilla glass protective coating and IP67-certified water and dust resistance. It may look like a fragile cell phone, but it holds up to harsh conditions.

    Thuraya’s biggest flaw is that it runs on the same satellite technology as Globalstar phones which do not provide an incredibly extensive coverage map. Again, it won’t work in North America.

    Make sure you look up the current coverage capabilities of this phone before you head off into the woods. 

    While it does have a bit of both worlds, the Thuraya doesn’t quite excel in either. If you highly value your smartphone’s user interface or want one cell phone that can place calls and send texts in various scenarios, you won’t have to pack anything else.

    Our team were keen to give this phone a go and liked the idea that it offered more than your standard satellite phone when it came to additional features like the touchscreen, camera and dual sim slots. A camera might seem extra, but this one isn’t for selfies and our team felt it added an extra level of security in case of emergencies where they might not be able to describe their situation accurately.

    +Pros
    • Android operating system
    • Surprising battery life
    • Dual sim capability
    -Cons
    • No coverage in the new world
    • Most expensive phone on the market
    • Does two things without doing one well

    Satellite Messengers For Backpacking

    There are loads of situations where nothing can beat a call. Most emergency scenarios bring with them a certain amount of chaos. Placing one call will allow you to describe the severity of your emergency, your location, and exactly what you need to get out of there better than sending foreign aid workers a series of text messages.

    However, they come with loads of extra expenses and inconvenient plans for a device you may not end up ever using. Satellite Messengers are more affordable than satellite phones and come with the same connectivity levels. 

    Suppose you’re not planning on free soloing any significant faces any time soon or wind up a week away from the nearest gas station. In that case, a simple Satellite Messenger will allow you to easily communicate via text or email with the outside world at a fraction of the cost. 

    Satellite messengers are also easier to bring into some countries. If your destination of choice has outlawed satellite phones, the messengers we cover below are often great legal ways to get your message across. 

    Garmin InReach – Mini 2

    Garmin inReach Mini

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    Hundreds of dollars cheaper than some of the most affordable satellite phones and just as effective at non-emergency communication, you can slide this sucker into any pocket and coordinate pick-up times on your way down the mountain.

    The Mini moniker is not messing around. It would easily fit in the palm of your child’s hand. This is one of the smallest satellite communicators on the market, and Garmin didn’t have to sacrifice durability or performance to get to such a small size.

    You must purchase a subscription plan to use your phone, but the plan comes with additional perks. You can easily transmit your GPS location to a Garmin call centre at the touch of a button.

    Texting works slowly, as there are only two buttons to press to sort through the entire alphabet. This makes sending and receiving tons of texts confusing fast, so entrust only simple communication to your handheld device. 

    It’s worlds away from the abilities of a satellite phone, but so is the price point.

    Our team were really impressed by this little beast, they felt it offered the perfect companion when keeping things light and efficient is a priority. They loved how tough and durable this messenger was as well as the ease of use.

    Want to know more? Check out our dedicated review of the Garmin InReach Mini.

    Garmin GPSMAP 65s

    The GPSMAP 65s isn’t quite as barebones as the Mini. It provides up-to-date weather information, a compass, route planning, and, most importantly, a few more buttons. This satellite messenger is more than capable of checking in with the folks at home or texting in for help if necessary.

    It provides the same one-button emergency beacon services as other Satellite messengers, and the larger interface makes it a bit easier to send complicated messages. The emergency beacon on this device sends a signal to rescuers every 10 minutes to constantly provide an up-to-date path out of your bad situation.

    Both of these Garmin Satellite Messengers work on the Iridium satellite network which allows the devices to work wherever the journey takes you. What makes them really stand out is the accompanying app.

    You can easily sync up your traditional smartphone to either one of these satellite messengers to have access to your full keyboard while sending satellite messages. 

    Our team felt this messenger hit the sweet spot between the compact and durable nature of a dedicated messenger and the features of a phone. The mapping feature was a real bonus when it came to messengers which could get you out of a sticky situation before the need to call for help arises.

    The best present of all… is CONVENIENCE!

    Now, you could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.

    So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card! REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉

    Buy on REI!
    Best Satellite Phones
    NameBattery Life (Hours)CoverageWaterproof (Y/N)Price (USD)
    Iridium Extreme 95754/30EverywhereY1450
    Inmarsat IsatPhone 28/1606 continents, no polesY899
    Iridium 95553/30EverywhereN1150
    Globalstar GSP-17004/363.5 ContinentsN499
    Thuraya X5 Touch9/1602.5 continentsY1390

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      How We Tested This Gear

      There is no perfect or exact science when it comes to testing out travel and outdoor gear. Having said that, as a team we’ve got a helluva lot of experience when it comes to doing just that! So we reckon we’re pretty good at it!

      Whenever we test a piece of gear, one of our team takes it out for a spin and puts it through its paces. When that came to picking out the best satellite phone we looked at various metrics to decide what made our list.

      Firstly weight and packability are always deciding factors, especially when it comes to hiking and backpacking where keeping your pack as light as possible is important. We also looked at how well it fulfilled its primary purpose, so with satellite phones, we looked at things like range, battery, technology type as well as ease of use.

      Another final deciding factor was the price. Expensive items are scrutinised that much more and cheaper options are given a few extra passes.

      Final Thoughts – So Which Satellite Phone is the Best?

      That’s about all there is to the best GPS satellite phones!

      Satellite phones don’t have the same high-tech features as modern cell phones, but the technology in these handheld GPS devices comes in handy when it matters most. They’re a great piece of backpacking gear if you’re heading into remote areas.

      That goes double for the Iridium Extreme 9575, which we feel is the best phone no matter the itinerary. The phone is 8 ounces of 100% global satellite coverage encased in some of the most durable phone materials on the planet. 

      Whether you plan on getting lost or getting dirty, you can slip this satellite phone into your pocket and expect it to turn on. 

      If you’re shopping on a budget, the Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 will allow you to save a few hundred bucks without sacrificing coverage or battery life. 

      Whatever phone you choose, hike with confidence knowing that you have a quality SOS option to prevent a bad situation from becoming life-threatening. Always hike safely, pack for all weather, and bring back up. 

      Need more advice for your trip? Check out our guide to what to take hiking for more ideas. Looking for more tech for your hike? Have a look at the best outdoor watches.


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      the broke backpacker team at the water temple in bali
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