When you are looking to take a week and be totally unreachable you may feel happy to be free of the burdens of civilization. If you have a family back at home though you may want to be able to send them updates so that they know you are safe and continuing to complete your hike, this is where the Bivystick is amazing!
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Here’s a rundown of what we aim to provide in our Bivystick review:
- First, we will share the features and benefits that you’ll find useful
- Next, we will take a look at any drawbacks you might need to know about
- Then, we’ll tell you a bit about the Bivystick company
- And will finish up by providing a sampling of actual customer and Independent reviews to give you better insight into the product
Sound good? Let’s get started!
Features and Benefits of the Bivystick
- Send and receive text messages from anywhere in the world
- Tracking and location sharing at a 10 minute interval
- Weather forecast 3 day or 7 day detailed based off your location
- SOS service to call in professional help when needed
- 5200 mAh backup battery for your phone
- Affordable monthly plan with no commitment or contract
- Operating Temp – -5 to 125 degrees F.
- Network – They use the Iridium satellite network that gives 100% global coverage
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Special Features (Pros) of the Bivystick
Roll Over Credit System – Instead of unused credits being tossed into the garbage any credits granted which aren’t used will roll over until you cancel your service. Start today to rack up credits for your next thru!
Bivy App – The app has 40,000+ different trails and helps to keep you moving and on track even when out in the wild areas making sure you have a better chance for a safe return.
No Activation Fee – Unlike almost all the competition there is no fee to activate your service. Just the monthly bill for using the service and the device.
Rugged Device – Rated IPX6 which means protected from rain, dust, dirt, weather, and water being splashed on it.
Drawbacks (Cons) for the Bivystick
Shorter Battery Life When Using to Recharge Phone/Device – It needs to be noted the battery which can be used to charge you phone or other device will shorten the life of the Bivystick itself meaning needing to recharge it more often.
GPS Data Only Shows in Bivy App – Unlike other devices the data isn’t available in general to the phone app but only within the Bivy App meaning you are tethered to their app for map functionality.
Video: Bivystick
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Bivystick Pricing Plan
Thankfully it is a very clear and concise plan without hiding much under the rug, no hidden fees or contract that requires constant payment. All their plans are active for 30 days and any overage past your credits will cost you .50 cents each.
| Plan Name | Cost | Provided Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Plan | $17.99 | 20 Credits |
| Plus Plan | $39.99 | 100 Credits |
| Unlimited Plan | $49.99 | Unlimited Credits |
About the Bivystick Company
The Bivystick company started on Kickstarter as a way to get people to invest in making a communicator device. They are a more fresh face in the area of positioning versus larger brands like Garmin.
Bivystick Reviews
Looking at the features and benefits is great, but taking a look at what real-and-actual customers have to say about a product offers a deeper dive of insight.
Here we’ve curated reviews that reflect the Bivystick, providing feedback from product users and reviewers on independent review sites as well as online.
Independent Reviews and Recommendations for the Bivystick
What makes the BivyStick unique is its pay-as-you-go credit plan. Using a credit system, you can purchase as many credits as you need for your next adventure and not get hassled by re-activation fees or subscription plans that creep up as time goes on.
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The Bivystick will best suit people that need a tracking and mapping device with communication when you may not have cell phone signal when you are out on trail or in the wilderness. Unlike the competition from Garmin or SPOT this great little device does not have a monthly subscription plan so you aren’t stuck paying monthly when you may not use the unit regularly.
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The Bivystick launched amidst a full-on maelstrom of new satellite communication device innovations. All the shake-ups are good for wilderness travelers, but not great for the Bivy. Most of the other products and services exceed it in one way or another.
Read More
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What Customers Have to Say About the Bivystick
We hiked far back into backwoods of Alaska and Canada and should never have had a signal at all, but with the Bivy we did, and I was able to track my hikes and let my loved ones know I was ok.
I did notice it seems to work best when at half or more fully charged. Once it dips below to its 2 bars or lower. it would begin to act “glitchy” and not send or receive messages often.
The Phone App is great to find Trails that are already discovered. I love the feature that integrates into my Iphone and uses Google maps to help you locate the trail head . This has been an issue in my first Garmin E-Trex Device basic model.
I will still need a GPS in my opinion for track back feature I am use to having on my eTrex . However the battery life is excellent and having the ability to charge your phone is awesome
It was great that I had the ability to track and share my location. I changed plans last minute after I was out of phone service. I was able to share my location and track myself so my dad knew where I was and did not think I was lost or disappeared. This really makes a difference for me with worried parents.
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Final Thoughts on the Bivystick
When you are looking to hike and backpack consistently you will more than likely want to have some method to reach out and communicate to loved ones that you are safe.
The other need is that if you didn’t tell anyone and you got caught and stuck and no one knows to look for you the SOS feature helps to call out for help to make sure you get home safe.
Each person may have slightly different needs but in our technology based world having the ability to reach out when you need it can’t be overlooked, please consider the cost of a tracker as a MUST have, especially on a long thru hike.
Compare to Other Locators on Amazon
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