I am a firm believer and user of ham radio, and still feel they have an important place in my kit, but in a personal emergency where infrastructure isn't compromised, I really don't think there is a better / more reliable tool than the Garmin InReach.

What I find attractive about ham radio is that there is no monthly cost to own or use it. It can operate 100% independent of any external infrastructure, and its extremely powerful. It's about as good as it gets for a civilian.

My biggest concern with ham radio in a personal emergency is two things... familiarity with your equipment and ability to act under pressure or in time constraints, and you also need to have someone on the other end listening.

Using a ham radio takes training and some preparation to really do it right, especially in an emergency.

While it cost money to have the InReach, you basically get a 24/7 monitored satellite 911 call center watching over you. You also have the option to buy insurance for medical transport and search and rescue if that is something you feel is necessary.