Have you got a spot for your SPOT? Where is a good spot for a tracking/emergency device? They have to be open to the cosmos to contact a GPS satellite, yet protected from impact. On the bike, then. Or not, since you and your bike could be widely separated in an accident. In your pocket, maybe. Not so good for reception and subject to smacking the ground if you do.
The clever folks at Giant Loop, in conjunction with the Kurt Caselli Foundation, have come up with the Tracker Packer to secure a SPOT or DeLorme inReach in many locations, including your motorcycle. I prefer to attach it to the shoulder strap of my hydration pack, where it has an unobstructed view of the sky and is reasonably protected from vibration and impact.
Like all Giant Loop gear, the Tracker Packer is made to take beating. Straps of robust hook-and-loop secure the unit via its mounting slots, with the bright red top strap shouting “EMERGENCY” in large letters. The SPOT’s base sits on tenacious non-slip material to help hold it in place, with foam padding to coddle the electronics. A two-inch wide reflectorized band loops around…well, whatever you want to loop it around, to mount the tracker. Additional webbing loops provide other mounting options. Sewn from Mil-Spec materials, it’s one tough, made-in-USA piece of safety equipment.
The motivation for developing the tracker packer was to provide a safety net for off-road riders and racers. To that end, Giant Loop donates a portion of all sales to the Kurt Caselli Foundation, and each Tracker Packer sports the “Caselli 66” logo. Street riders should take note as well, especially those who go solo. No matter how good your cell phone carrier is, there are still (thankfully) places where service disappears and a satellite may be your only link to help.
For more information, visit giantloopmoto.com.
