Australian Hiker

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Zoleo Emergency Satellite Communicator Review

The Zoleo Emergency Satellite Communicator has now been on the Australian market for a couple of years and over the past few months I have had the opportunity to test out a demo model to see what all the fuss is about.

Before I discuss the Zoleo, it’s worthwhile discussing the broader satellite communicator and GPS market to place this unit within this ever-expanding technology segment. Go back 10 years and the satellite messenger market was dominated by the Garmin InReach range and Spot. Now this segment includes a number of models from various players including more recently Telstra. First and foremost this device is NOT meant for navigation. It’s an emergency beacon and a two way communicator. Garmin provides devices that do it all but with that additional functionally comes a price premium.

When deciding what to buy in this segment the key considerations are:

1. Cost
2. Battery life
3. Features / Ease of use in the field

First up let’s look at the pricing. This unit retails at AUD $299.99 RRP which places this Satellite Communicator towards the bottom end of the range and the old argument of “I can’t afford this” really goes out the window. Like all satellite communicators the unit purchase is just the first step and you will need a subscription service for the SOS function and the communication option to run just like you would with a mobile phone. With the increased number of players in the market there has been a bit of a price war and from when I first received this unit for testing the subscription price dropped dramatically.

At the time of this review you need to pay for a minimum of three months’ subscription (AUD $29.99/month for the PREPARE PLAN  which includes 5o messages/month (email/text) or $49.99/month for the PROTECT PLAN which comes with unlimited messaging). There are optional extras that are available with the key one being the location sharing option, coming in at $7.95/month. Once you have paid for three months you can pause your service at no charge and then reactivate it for another 3 months. What this does is allow you to pay for those times that you are hiking and then have no expense if you are taking a break. It’s worth noting that when you sit down to do a comparison that some of the Zoleo competitors quote their pricing in US dollars so keep this in mind to make sure that you are doing a direct comparison. For the average hiker I would recommend the base grade PREPARE PLAN unless you are hiking for more than 3 weeks and thats when the additional cost of the PROTECT PLAN becomes more cost effective. What it really comes down to is how much messaging you are going to be doing. In addition. there is also an activation fee that at the time of this review is $24.99 which is on the cheaper end of the segment range.

Now let’s look at battery life. With Telstra now offering satellite messaging you could be forgiven for thinking why bother purchasing a dedicated satellite communicator. The answer here comes down to battery life and features. A mobile phone battery life is much shorter than a dedicated communicator and has less features but given where the industry has come from I can see a time I the future where this wont be the case but as its stands its a big difference. The Zoleo Emergency Satellite Communicator has a quoted battery life of 200 hours with messaging every 12 minutes and given that you will turn of this unit at night that equates to potentially a couple of weeks. I found when I used my test unit for my 150km hike on the Hesyen Trail that I did need to charge it every 3-4 days which means that you should carry a power bank with you  to ensure that you emergency device is able to run the entire duration of your trip. This may not be the 200 hours quoted but its far longer than a phone has to offer and if you only turn this unit on to press the SOS button or to check in this will easily last most people the entire duration for an extended trip.

Now let’s look at features and ease of use on the trail. I’ve combined these two considerations because they are directly connected. The key features that the Zoleo Emergency Satellite Communicator has to offer are two way communication (text or mail), emergency management through the press of a button, weather updates, and if you pay the additional monthly fee basic location tracking. This device uses the Iridium network to manage its communications which is a reliable and well used network. Once you have activated the Zoleo Emergency Satellite Communicator and connected it to your phone really it’s as simple as sending a text message/email. If this device is connecting through the satellite system there is likely to be a lag in the response and you do need access to clear sky. I have found over the years that if you’re in heavy dense forest that you will need to find open sky, and or high ground to use any sort of communication device.

While you don’t have to have a mobile phone to use the Zoleo Emergency Satellite Communicator, as you can do almost everything on your computer at home, what you can do is send text messages. so really you need the app. The high end Garmin InReach range can run without a phone because it has a screen but its a real pain to use the on device texting which is similar to mobile phones from 30 years ago. The app is free to download and use but this means that your phone needs to have battery life to be able to run the Zoleo features. Without the app you can set of the SOS but that means you lose the two way communication feature which is one of the key reasons that you are purchasing this device. The app makes this Zoleo Emergency Satellite Communicator very easy to use and means that you send text messages and emails just like you would on a phone. I would suggest putting your phone into flight mode on extended hikes to minimise the battery drain on both your phone and your communicator but this is good practice on extended hikes anyway.

The location services option is handy for people following you but unlike the Garmin option where you can invite the whole world to follow you the Zoleo allows you to nominate 5 people. As. blogger I like sharing my location with my community but as a typical hiker 5 people is plenty. The weather feature is also handy particularly if there’s a storm heading your way.

One thing worth noting with Zoleo Emergency Satellite Communicator (or any device for that matter) is that it needs to be located in an easily accessible position and typically this means on the shoulder strap of your pack so in an emergency its easy to find as well as having access to clear sky for a signal. If you drop your pack and head into the bush to go to the toilet then take your emergency device with you because it’s no good back on your pack if something goes wrong.

I found the Zoleo Emergency Satellite Communicator easy to use and understand and very easy to use on trail. Setting up my online account and connecting the unit was the most difficult part of the whole process but that was purely to do with me having network issues on the day and not the Zoleo process itself.

So is Zoleo Emergency Satellite Communicator worth buying? It’s worth noting that the Garmin equivalent version of the Zoleo is much more feature packed but this is reflected in the purchasing and running costs. The  Zoleo Emergency Satellite Communicator offers one of  the cheapest overall purchase and subscription rates combined with key features that you will need. So if you want a unit that provides two-way text messaging for family and friends and looks after you in an emergency then the Zoleo Emergency Satellite Communicator is a great option and well worth considering.

We like

• Easy to use
• Low cost to purchase and run
• Ability to pause your subscription after 3 months
• Robust
• Reliable two way communication over satellite, mobile network and Wi-Fi
• Good battery life
• Your subscription fees can be paused, upgraded, or downgraded depending on your needs

We Don't Like

• The purchase price is not your only cost. You need a subscription fee.
• To get the full use from this device you need to connect your phone so take a power bank with you on longer hikes.

Zoleo Satellite Communicator

Zoleo Satellite Communicator with SOS hatch and charging hatch opened. The SOS cover prevents you from accidentally setting of your device without realising it.

Zoleo Satellite Communicator whats in the box:

• Zoleo Satellite Communicator unit
• Mini USB charging cable
• Carabiner
• Instruction manual

Weather Screen. Weather forecasts count as part of your message allowance

Zoleo location sharing

Zoleo email communication to my wife

Best Uses

A great two way communicator/emergency device for just about any activity, hiking, biking or boating where you want to provide peace of mind to family and friends

Buy One

You can purchase the Zoleo Emergency Satellite Communicator from Macpac  Wild Earth, or from Ultralight Gear

Disclosure:  We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through one of the above links and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

Investment

Unit Purchase

• AUD $299.99 RRP

Monthly Plan

• 3 months minimum
  • $29.99/month
  • $49.99/month

Location Share Services (optional)

• AUD $7.95 RRP/month

Zoleo Emergency Satellite Communicator subscription fees as at 28 September 2026

How Zoleo SOS works

Disclaimer

This review was done with product provided for testing by the Australian distributer of Zoleo

Last updated

28 September 2026

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