Many hikers frown on the idea of bringing a phone along on a hike or a camping trip. The whole idea is of course to get away isn’t it? I like to think of a phone as an extra piece of safety equipment that is mainly there to be used in case of an emergency.

There are two types of phones that one might consider bringing along on a hike: a cell phone and a satellite phone. Pretty much everybody is familiar with cell phones. However, many new cell phones only feature digital coverage. That’s fine if you live in the city, but if you venture farther away from civilization then you probably won’t get a signal.

If you want to be able to have a chance of using your phone when hiking, look for one that also features analog roaming. It might cost more, and you won’t be able to access all the features of your carrier’s digital network, but you will be able to place calls from a much greater range of locations.

If you’re really getting far away from civilization or if you’re visiting another country, then you might want to consider purchasing or renting a satellite phone. A satellite phone (depending on the brand) will work anywhere in the world.

The Iridium Motorola 9505 satellite phone will in fact work anywhere in the world and its not much bigger than a standard cell phone. If you’re just traveling in Europe there are a few lighter (non Iridium) models available.
Buying a new Motorola 9505 will cost you upwards of $1200 and that doesn’t even include the monthly plan and per minute charges. Depending on the length of your trip, renting may be a better option. Outfitters Satellite Phones currently rents the 9505 for $95 per week, with calls costing $1.75/minute.

Obviously satellite phones are not cheap, but if you’re going to be far away from civilization or in an unknown place or if you’re hiking alone, then a satellite phone may just be the one piece of equipment that can save your life in an emergency