Skip to main content

GoTennas keep you connected where normal cell phones fear to tread

The GoTenna is a rugged digital radio that ensures you can always stay in touch with your hiking partner, whether or not you have cell service. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth, and it allows you to chat one-on-one and share your location up to 50 miles away within line-of-sight. That number falls with obstructions, but we had no problems staying in touch within a mile apart from each other with hills  between us. This makes the GoTenna ideal for camping, hiking, and road trips where cell service isn’t available, or for crowded areas where cell service is bogged down by traffic.

Initial setup requires you have a cell signal or Wi-Fi before you take it out, so you’ll need to plan ahead and get it working while you’re still in civilization. Download the GoTenna app, follow some short registration steps for each antenna, and once registration is complete for each user, it’s ready to use as needed where there’s no cell service.

Recommended Videos

Related Offer: Be prepared for your next adventure; see here for the best hiking gear

The GoTenna feels sturdy thanks to premium, lightweight materials, and we’re confident it could withstand occasional drops or scuffs. It’s also water resistant enough to be used in the rain.

When you and your partner are ready to use GoTenna, just attach the antennas to your body as high as you can. A backpack strap would be ideal, but you can also strap it to your belt, hat, or just carry it by hand if needed. Then you both pull the antennas out and launch the GoTenna apps on your phones, and it will automatically connect. Now you and your partner can text and share locations. If your phone is in sleep mode, you’ll get notifications on your lock screen and a chime when your partner texts you. As long as you keep your antennas deployed and your phones powered on, you’ll be connected.

Maps of each state and country are available for free download, so you can see exactly where your partner is at without having a cell signal. You can send your location or request your partner’s location. Just tap on the icon shaped like a pin in the GoTenna app and the downloaded map will display you or your partner’s location. The map shows regular features such as roads, terrain, and cities, plus camping spots and hiking trails.

We experienced about the same latency as regular texting with a cell signal, so it’s quick. In our tests, we parted around a mile away and maintained strong signal between GoTennas the entire time. The app works no differently than any other messaging app, and was very intuitive to use. We were pleased with just how reliably everything worked. GoTenna’s app also has other features, like the ability to chat openly to anyone else with a GoTenna within range.

GoTenna can be had for $199 for a pair of antennas, and $389 for a set of four. They’re a lot of fun to use, and a smart way to stay in touch with your group, but more importantly, the GoTenna could quickly become essential should anything go wrong. Lots can happen outdoors, and becoming lost or separated can be dangerous when alone. Being able to stay in touch with your partner outdoors ensures that help is only a text message away.

Alexander Thickstun
Alexander graduated with a degree in Aerospace Engineering in 2005 and an MBA in 2011. He's an outdoor enthusiast and avid…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more