ZOLEO ZL1500 Satellite Communicator

The ZOLEO ZL1500 is the satellite communicator riding the TCAT

Most of the Trans Canada Adventure Trail has no cell signal. Not one bar. Craig has run a ZOLEO on his vest for 3 years, left Garmin inReach to do it and has never gone back. The ZL1500 is the refreshed 2026 device, and it is what ZOLEO sent out to cover the rest of the remap.

It is not a second phone. It pairs to the phone you already carry over Bluetooth and moves your normal texts and emails onto the Iridium satellite network the moment cell drops out, then hands back to cell or wifi when it returns. Same app, same thread, no gaps. It also gets its own dedicated number, so people can text you without installing anything.

The Important Bits

• Two-way SOS with 24/7 monitoring. The people coming for you know where you are and what happened.
• Check-in. One button tells home you made camp, no message charge.
• Weather forecasts for the exact spot you are standing in.
• Location sharing, with Location Share+ tracking available as an add-on.
• 150 g and IP68 rated, plus MIL-STD 810G shock. It lives on a strap in the rain.
• Over 200 hours of battery, so it stays on and reachable for a week of riding between charges.
• USB-C charging, same cable as the rest of your kit.

What's in the Box?

1 x ZOLEO ZL1500 Satellite Communicator
1 x Lanyard
1 x Carabiner
1 x USB-C cable, 50 cm
1 x Quick Start Guide
Limited lifetime device warranty

The Specs

• PART NUMBER ZL1500
• SIZE 9.1 x 6.6 x 2.7 cm (3.58 x 2.6 x 1.06 in)
• WEIGHT 150 g (5.3 oz)
• DURABILITY IP68 + MIL-STD 810G
• BATTERY Over 200 hours
• CHARGING USB-C
• NETWORK Iridium satellite, plus cellular and wifi handoff
• CASE Limestone light grey

You need a service plan

The device alone does not talk to the satellites. ZOLEO plans start at $24.99 CAD a month for 50 messages on Prepare, or $44.99 a month for unlimited on Protect. There is a $24.99 activation and a 3-month minimum, and you can pause for $5.50 a month in the off season. Plans are bought direct from ZOLEO and are not included here. Prices are ZOLEO's as of September 2026.

ZOLEO backs TCAT 2026 with two ZL1500 units and service. We sell the device because Craig already trusted the last one with his life, not because they sent it.

Read the full ZOLEO rundown, plans and accessories