Mounting a Spot X on my jacket instead of the bike

[Shawn K]

I'm getting dissatisfied with the amount of accessories on my handlebars, and I'm looking for ways to tidy things up a bit.

It occurred to me that it's probably a better idea to mount my Spot X on my body, rather than my bike (after all, if something were to happen, it wouldn't be my bike that my wife wanted to find).

Anyone have any suggestions or experience with carrying a Spot X on an Aerostich Darien jacket?

 

[Brian Thorn]

I've carried an older SPOT in a jacket pocket in the past and didn't have any issues with getting a GPS signal.

These days I use an inReach on the bar and a PLB inside my jacket pocket in case the bike and I part ways and I'm not able to get back to the inReach.

 

[OX-34]

Do make sure you can reach it with either hand....

No point having it blinking proudly on your upper left arm when your broken right arm means you can't push "SOS".

 

[Jay Bolinger]

I use a left sleeve window pocket on my road crafter with success for several thousand miles.

https://www.aerostich.com/suits/for-your-suit/suit-accessories

 

[Shawn K]

I use a left sleeve window pocket on my road crafter with success for several thousand miles.

https://www.aerostich.com/suits/for-your-suit/suit-accessories

I had wondered about using one of those. Have you ever had incidences of the pouch interfering with satellite lock, batteries overheating, or issues caused by the Spot being in a horizontal orientation vs. a vertical one?

 

[Shawn K]

Do make sure you can reach it with either hand....

No point having it blinking proudly on your upper left arm when your broken right arm means you can't push "SOS".

Thanks for the mention (I'd thought of that point as well). What I was looking for, though, was more along the lines of "I've used this item to attach mine here".

 

[Shawn K]

I was thinking along the lines of how Ryan from FortNine wears his Spot on his left shoulder with a carabiner. There's no attachment point like that on a Darien, though, so I'm looking for inspiration.

 

[Jay Bolinger]

I've had no issues with the pouch interfering with signal or overheating. It is a set it and forget it type approach. I think I occasionally lose a single ping when my arm is lowered down to the side of the bike to rest / get blood flow, but its never interfered with my overall tracking ability on a ride. I do think my pouch is the HD model with the extra straps. Sometimes they are in the way of getting my sleeve gusset zipped, but not to the point of removing them. I am not sure they are needed other than peace of mind as I have never had the velcro come unattached.

IIRC @Paul Tong mounts his spot on a carabiner hanging from his front pocket, or at least he used to.

 

[Marc11]

I was thinking along the lines of how Ryan from FortNine wears his Spot on his left shoulder with a carabiner. There's no attachment point like that on a Darien, though, so I'm looking for inspiration.
View attachment 7695

My Darrien had a carabeener inside the left breast pocket on a long loop that would stick out the pocket when closed and allowed me to hang my Spot from it.

 

[LeMaitre]

My Darrien had a carabeener inside the left breast pocket on a long loop that would stick out the pocket when closed and allowed me to hang my Spot from it.

I attach mine under the flap on the left side.

-Mark

 

[Shawn K]

I attach mine under the flap on the left side.

-Mark

View attachment 7696

My Darien is actually on order, so I don't know what's under the flap yet. Is there a loop to clip the carabiner to?

 

[Marc11]

My Darien is actually on order, so I don't know what's under the flap yet. Is there a loop to clip the carabiner to?

Should be. Mine had it.

 

[LeMaitre]

My Darien is actually on order, so I don't know what's under the flap yet. Is there a loop to clip the carabiner to?

Yes. Actually the jacket came with the silver caribiner that you can see under the one supplied by Spot.

 

[Shawn K]

Fantastic! I didn't know that was standard fare. Thanks!

 

[OX-34]

I like the left forearm for my SPOT 2. It points up like it advises in the Spot book and I like to check on it occasionally to make sure the little lights are blinking correctly.

 

[Paul Tong]

I've had no issues with the pouch interfering with signal or overheating. It is a set it and forget it type approach. I think I occasionally lose a single ping when my arm is lowered down to the side of the bike to rest / get blood flow, but its never interfered with my overall tracking ability on a ride. I do think my pouch is the HD model with the extra straps. Sometimes they are in the way of getting my sleeve gusset zipped, but not to the point of removing them. I am not sure they are needed other than peace of mind as I have never had the velcro come unattached.

IIRC @Paul Tong mounts his spot on a carabiner hanging from his front pocket, or at least he used to.

Jay is correct. On my Darien, upper left pocket area is a loop. I hang my SPOT from there with a carabineer and a short 550 cord strap. Easy to see, manipulate, and goes with me wherever I go (even if my bike goes a different direction). Only downside is when throwing the jacket on real quick, you might whack yourself in the head, but you learn quick how to avoid that.

 

[Shawn K]

I hang my SPOT from there with a carabineer and a short 550 cord strap.

As I've misplaced the original carabiner and strap that came with my SPOT X, I'll have to come up with another strap. I may be having a brain fart, but what is a "short 550 cord strap"?

 

[Paul Tong]

As I've misplaced the original carabiner and strap that came with my SPOT X, I'll have to come up with another strap. I may be having a brain fart, but what is a "short 550 cord strap"?

https://www.amazon.com/REHTAEL-Prof...cb9c2&pd_rd_wg=vRIOc&pd_rd_i=B07SD1DSTC&psc=1

 

[WY88]

When I have an Aerostitch made, it will have epauletts, for this very reason. I hate that my jackets don't.

 

[Marc11]

When I have an Aerostitch made, it will have epauletts, for this very reason. I hate that my jackets don't.

When I have an Aerostich made I'm going to ask them what epauletts means....(I know I'm not the only one that had to look that word up if you deny it you're a liar!!!)