ACR Bivy Stick vs ZOLEO | Field Test Comparisons

Detailed Field Test comparison of the ACR Bivy Stick vs ZOLEO.
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🏬 Amazon PRODUCT LINKS:
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ZOLEO: scheels.sjv.io/9gzNzQ
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✅ CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
00:22 What they have in common
01:00 What are their differences
01:30 ZOLEO
07:45 ACR Bivy Stick
12:15 Final thoughts
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[@kensuzdoer]

The New 2022 ACR Bivy DOES switch back and forth from satellite to cell AND wifi if it’s available! The new 2022 Bivy Stick (yellow/green color) has all the features of ZOLEO and Somewear but is better because it has an amazing app with maps and also offer group and fellow hiker communications and the subscription plans are cheaper overall. And the unused credits roll over. And the customer service is immediate for questions and chat. Highly recommended for horse back riders needing user friendly interface and maps within app. Also, Bivy stick has solar power screen available for additional $99 and it works awesome will also charge cell phones fast.

[@outdooremergencytech]

Good points. The ACR Bivy is my favorite over the Zoleo and the Somewear Global hotspot, so I'm with you on your reasoning and information you shared. Rick

[@plmn93]

Thanks for the updated information.

[@ADVRider78]

Thanks for the comparison. Was waiting for this! After watching this I was just about to purchase the bivy stick however I thought I’d check first if the maps work for Canada as well. Turns out the maps do however there are no trails, campsites etc. Just a blank map. Too bad. Back to square one…

[@outdooremergencytech]

Glad it was helpful! Have you looked at the Garmin inReach Mini, Explorer+ or the Somewear Global Hotspot? Rick

[@TheBenny1683]

Thank you for this!

[@outdooremergencytech]

My pleasure! Feel free to ask additional questions, especially if there is something else I need to test or explain more fully. Rick

[@swm-sm6cu]

Thank you Rick! I was leaning towards the Bivy Stick & thanks to you I now know that is the best choice for me.

[@realbob6669]

Thanks, great comparison.

[@outdooremergencytech]

Glad it was helpful! Rick

[@realbob6669]

@@outdooremergencytech One downside of Bivy is if you want "rescue insurance" it is with GlobalRescue and price are crazy compared to Geos with Zoleo. Do people subscribe to those protections or with my regular 2million $ travel insurance i should be able to cover fees from those companies in case of rescue needed.? What you think of those protections?

[@outdooremergencytech]

Great question. For most of us, we'll never get to use this service, thankfully, but you never know. I did get the rescue insurance with Garmin as the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is my primary satellite messenger when going out on hikes. I have not looked into the rescue insurance on other devices so I'm not much help here, other then to let you know I have it on my primary satellite messenger. Rick

[@ibgeorgeb]

I purchased the Zoleo. I have no regrets. 👌🏾

[@outdooremergencytech]

Great to hear! Thanks for sharing. it is one of the best true communicators. Rick

[@leeguy6509]

Does the people you check in with also have to have the same sat. Messaging device?

[@outdooremergencytech]

In general, you can message between ACR, Zoleo, SPOT and Somewear Global Hotspot and they don't need to be the same device. The problem comes in when dealing with Garmin products. Garmin does not have dedicated phone numbers, and I was told this is due to keeping spam calls to a minimum. I have been able to message between my Garmin devices and these other devices, but I have to initiate the communication from the Garmin devices first, then I can communicate between the other satellite messengers. I have tested this between all of my satellite messengers and if you have different devices, then each day you're on your outdoor adventure, the Garmin user would have to message the users with the other devices so you can communicate for that day. It's a pain and I would like Garmin to change this but it's what we have to live with presently. I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. Rick

[@mattmcguire1577]

I still haven bought anything yet. Zoleo is currently on the top of my list. I emailed them and they got back to me within hours. I got no reply when I emailed bivy stick. Spot was good with live chat, but their messages are a bit hit and miss from past experience. Plus it is a big device. I have not looked at Garmin as yet. The initial cost is not attractive though at $600 Aus.

[@outdooremergencytech]

I agree that the initial cost is a little overwhelming but they let you break the payment up in to 4 equal payments, each payment 2 weeks apart. I bought my Mini 2 that way and yesterday I received my Garmin GPSMAP 66i with the 4 equal payments. Many of the satellite messengers you just mentioned are great devices and each one has some advantages, however, nothing beats the Garmin inReach satellite messengers in my opinion, from the device itself, to the customer service and the quality and number of services they offer. This is all based on my personal opinion and the way I hike and where I hike, but I would recommend you take a hard look at Garmin. Let me know if you have any questions. Rick

[@twatters55]

I believe both of these devices are primarily for 2 way messaging and SOS. Navigation is secondary. However, your review focuses on maps but very little about messaging. For example, do recipients need an app? Success rate? Etc.

[@outdooremergencytech]

Good points. I'll add this to my list to remake the video comparison. Thanks, Rick

[@mattmcguire1577]

Any product recommendations for this scenario? I just want to be able to contact in Australia. 1. A mechanic if I breakdown. 2.SAR to tell them what is exactly wrong eg lost, heart attack etc. I don't care about mapping, tracking, check in or weather. These are fun toys but not essential. I have a SPOT Gen 2. But I really want the two way to know a mechanic is on the way.

[@outdooremergencytech]

Hey Matt. In your case, where messaging is the most important need, I would recommend the Zoleo. The primary reason for this is that I believe, it is hands down, the best communicator of all the messengers I have tested. It will try to use Wi-Fi first, followed by cellular service and after that it will go to the satellite service and it automatically switches, no matter if you're in a building or outside. Great question. Let me know if you have any additional questions. Rick

[@mattmcguire1577]

@@outdooremergencytech Thanks Rick. Typical! It has the most expensive of the basic plans. I suppose a dollar a day is a small price to pay for peace of mind. Cheers. PS. If it goes through the mobile phone network why not just use the phone?

[@outdooremergencytech]

I agree, it's a small price to pay for peace of mind for you and your family and friends. Rick

[@eric69parent]

Can you use the satellite map when you are off service ?

[@outdooremergencytech]

Yes. You have access to the default maps that come with the device and can navigate without a subscription, but you do need an active subscription if you're using Outdoor Maps+. Let me know if you have any other questions. Rick

[@CBlack-zm5ze]

Thanks for the review. I am leaning towards the Zoleo. Do you know, with either of these, if I set up a group text in my phone and text that group via satellite do I get charged with 1 message or a message for each person in that group? I do a weekend trip with a number of guys and I would like to send a message out every night to let the wives know we all still alive. Be good if we could do that and be charged only one message. Thanks again.

[@outdooremergencytech]

I had to call Zoleo to get this answer. Technical support told me that they get this request a lot and are working on providing a group text in the near future. When I say near future, the customer service representative said sometime after the first of the year, in 2023. So the bad news is that they don't offer it at the present time but keep an eye out for it in the future. I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any additional questions. Rick

[@petraneven9735]

Hi Rick. Can you help me with advise? I live in the Netherlands and my both doughters are going for a backpack trip in central en south america. Offcourse i am a bit worried and i want to have the possibility to follow them here at home. I want to know were they are. I want that they can send a message when they are in trouble. I want it works without a cellphone. It would be nice it has a long life battery. I found serveral devices on the internet but just not a lot independent information. You seem to be an expert :). What would you advise in my situation? Thx!! Pieter van der Velden, The Netherlands.

[@outdooremergencytech]

Hey Petra, thank you for thinking of me of an expert, but I may have to disagree with you about that. My favorite satellite messengers are the Garmin inReach Mini 2, Garmin inReach Explorer+ and one I don't own yet, the Garmin GPSMAP 66i Series. The Mini 2 is not the best stand alone device out of these three, so I wouldn't consider it for a long trip. The Explorer+ is better for long trips, with a longer battery life without needing to sync it to your phone. I have recently talked to Garmin and found that the Garmin GPSMAP 66i looks to be better then the Explorer+ with a larger screen and more detailed maps. I can't speak specifically on it as I have not field tested it yet but that will be coming in the next month or two. Bottom line, I would first consider the GPSMAP 66i followed by the Explorer+. I hope that helps. Let me know what you decide. Rick

[@petraneven9735]

@@outdooremergencytech Hi Rick, thx for the answer. Maybe i was not clear with my question. I don't need a digital map for them but a possibility for me at home to see where my daughters are in the world. A device that sends out a signal on a regular base and with a SOS function. That would be enough. Will you please consider my question again? THX!!

[@outdooremergencytech]

Thanks for clarifying your question. I think the Garmin inReach Mini 2 would be great for you and your daughters. This is a small device, that has global, pole to pole coverage and has always worked great for me. There are several other satellite messengers, but they basically require you to be synced with your smartphone in order to use most of the functions. The Mini 2 is also extremely small so it's not a hassle carrying it on your pack. I would buy a Garmin Backpack Tether for each device as that makes it more convenient to carry. I hope that helps. Rick

[@AnthonyRosen]

To save battery on your phone, put it in airplane mode and then connect to bluetooth. Don't look at the screen every minute.

[@outdooremergencytech]

Good advice Anthony. Thank you for that. Rick