I finally broke down and bought the McMurdo Fastfind 210 Personal Locator Beacon, even though my ACR Microfix has about a year and a half of battery life left.

I was amazed to find that the McMurdo Fastfind, compared to the ACR Microfix, is half the size, half the weight and half the price! I feel much better about carrying a 5.3-oz. brick instead of an 11-oz. brick!

Of course, if the technology of these gizmos improves as much in the next 3 years as they have in the past 3 years, I probably won't be using the Fastfind for the whole five years, either. What I'd like to see is some way to communicate to SAR the nature of the emergency.
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey