If we’re honest, you’ve no good excuse for losing your keys, pets, luggage, and rambunctious children. These days, there are plenty of trackers to choose from, but one in particular has become quite formidable of late. Bravo’s tracking devices have been around for years, and were predominantly recommended for keeping tabs on a pet at launch. Now, thanks to sophisticated competition from the likes of Tile, the outfit’s latest TrackR addresses many of the gripes early users had.
Gotta track ’em all
Recently, we used a handful of TrackR discs to track anything and everything going with us on an international jaunt. It’s arguable that the TrackR’s most compelling use case is that of the frequent traveler. If you’re just looking to keep tabs on one or two sets of keys, pretty much any Bluetooth-enabled tracking product will do. If you have three suitcases, two backpacks, a couple of laptop cases, keys, a pet back home, and a super sexy fanny pack for those on-the-town essentials, you can come mighty close to going broke trying to track them all.
Bravo is currently hawking its newer, longer-lasting, thinner TrackR disc for around $12 USD (or £15 in the UK) each when you buy 10. We don’t typically recommend one buy gadgets in bulk – after all, who needs a dozen iPads? – but this is one instance where quantity counts.
You see, it’s much easier to keep tabs on everything you may lose with a single app. If you mix and match trackers, you’ll have to keep a few separate apps open to track them. If you buy a load of TrackR discs, however, a single Bravo app can find them all (up to 10, anyway).
Testing, testing
In our testing, each TrackR disc took no longer than 30 seconds to pair with our smartphone, and labeling each was a cinch. Unlike competitors, TrackR also works in reverse so long as a disc is within 30 feet or so (Bluetooth range) of your phone. Just press any disc and it’ll ring your phone (iPhone or Android), even if it’s set to silent. We’ve all asked a friend to dial our iPhone after we’ve misplaced it; this is a far better (and less embarrassing) way of locating the most important digital asset we have.
Early TrackR devices had a tendency to lose touch with the app and drain batteries with haste, but the newer ones are rated for a year, and we didn’t experience any drop-outs. Too, you can replace the included CR1620 battery once it exhausts itself — some rivals require you to buy an entirely new homing device.
A little help from your friends…
Another nifty feature is the TrackR community. If you’ve lost a device on the other side of the world, you can be notified when another TrackR user comes within 100 feet of your item, greatly aiding in recovery. (See the video above for a demo.) In our case, we get a bit antsy when our suitcases head into the bowels of an airport distribution system. Lost luggage is a reality that most travelers will face at some point, and having a disc tucked in each bag enables you to fret a lot less.
It’s most likely not a matter of if you’ll lose something, but when. At $12 / £15 each, we’ve been hard-pressed to find a more economical way to keep an eye on valuables. Plus, the TrackR discs are surprisingly tiny and light, not to mention customizable.
Nothing like a print of your pup’s face on each disc to make reuniting with lost luggage that much sweeter.
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