PN-60 with SPOT messengerOk, I promised myself I was going to stop writing so much about gear, but today as I was setting up my tracking links for my first gen SPOT Messenger (which is the bomb...), I ran across this.  I consider this to be somewhat ground breaking for the adventure traveller.  The combination of a standalone GPS with a SPOT Messenger that allows you to send customized text messages back to family and friends is just a fantastic advance for the traveller.  I have not seen the prices yet, but this is really exciting news from SPOT and Delorme.  As you may know, I was very critical of my Delorme PN-40 GPS device, having destroyed 2 of them in less than a month.  However, one thing I was not disappointed with was Delorme as a company.  They worked extremely hard to solve my problems and make me a happy customer.  Unfortunately, it was not to be.  I am optimistic that they have learned from the PN-40 and that this new device and pairing will be a great combination.  I will post back when I have more details to pass on.  I would love to get a hold of one of these for my upcoming trip.  The full press release can be found on Delorme's site here.

Here is an update, I found the following MSRP information on Delorme's blog. 

Pricing information: PN-60 (no wireless) $399, PN-60w $449, SPOT Communicator $169, PN-60w and SPOT Communicator bundle $549.