Knog Scout Luggage Tag review | CNN Underscored

Apple AirTags have been an essential piece of travel gear for me since they launched in 2021 — but even these iconic luggage trackers have their flaws. Namely, you need a separate case to mount it to your luggage and it uses small disposable batteries which can be tedious to replace.

That’s where the Knog Scout Luggage Tag comes in. This luggage tracker is compatible with Apple’s Find My network — the same that the AirTag runs on — but fixes many of my gripes with Apple’s tracker. It has a rechargeable battery, mounts right to your suitcase’s grab handle and has a rugged exterior that can withstand airport conveyor belts.

Here’s why the Knog Scout Luggage Tag is my new favorite luggage tracker.

This luggage tracker is compatible with Apple's Find My network and has some tricks up its sleeve, like a USB-C rechargeable battery and a motion-detecting alarm to deter theft.

One of the main gripes many AirTag users have is using a small disposable watch battery, which can be hard to find in a pinch if your AirTag battery dies. The Knog Scout doesn’t have this issue — it charges over USB-C, just like a modern iPhone or iPad.

Knog states that the Scout Luggage Tag should get between three and four months of battery life, and I’ve found that to be largely true as I tested the device over the summer. It’s lower than the AirTag’s one-year battery life but it is far more convenient to charge the Knog Scout versus replacing a battery completely.

At $60, the Knog Scout is twice the price of a single Apple AirTag. But that sticker shock should fade when you realize that there’s no case or extra mount required to attach it to your suitcase. These AirTag accessories often cost $20 to $30 from a reputable brand, so it makes the price comparable to just buying a Knog Scout.

The Knog Scout is durable too. It has a strong polycarbonate exterior that didn’t take any noticeable damage when I’ve had it mounted to the outside of a checked bag. The metal cord that connects the tracker to your suitcase or backpack is strong too, and I’m not worried about it snapping.

The Knog Scout works just as well as an AirTag in Apple’s Find My app. For context, the Find My network leverages Apple’s global network of iOS devices to ping your device’s location back to you. This means AirTags, the Knog Scout and other Find My devices can ping their location without having their own cell or Wi-Fi connection.

In my experience, the Knog Scout works just as well as AirTags. I’ve never had an issue using it to track my luggage and it works seamlessly in the Find My app. However, note that the Knog Scout only works with iOS devices.

The Knog Scout has some other tricks up its sleeve too. There’s a QR code on the back of the device that, when scanned, will show your contact info. You can also tap the Knog Scout against an NFC-compatible iOS or Android phone to view this info. You can add your info to the QR code in the Knog app.

The device also has a built-in 85db motion-sensing alarm that you can turn on in the Knog app. When enabled, an alarm will sound from the Knog Scout and your iPhone will get a ping if it’s in Bluetooth range. This can come in handy when you leave your luggage in your hotel room or in a rental car as a theft deterrent.

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The only major downside to the Knog Scout is that you have to use an included tool to install the metal chord wire and mount it to your bag. This small metal key is easy enough to use and if you don’t switch luggage often, you won’t need to mess with it too often. Regardless, I’m worried about losing this tool and not being able to take the device off of my suitcase.

Not everyone will see this as a downside, though. Having to use a special tool to take Knog Scout off of your suitcase means it’s harder for a thief to remove it when stealing your bag, so it acts as a theft deterrent too.

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I took the Knog Scout Luggage Tag with me on multiple trips this summer. Sometimes it was on my carry-on bag, other times it was on a checked bag if I brought one. This let me test its durability, battery life and how well it worked with Apple’s Find My app.

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The Knog Scout Luggage Tag is my new favorite luggage tracker. It takes everything the Apple AirTag does well and improves on it by adding a USB-C rechargeable battery, built-in luggage mount and other special features. It’s twice the price of a standard AirTag, but I think that’s well worth it given all the extra features.

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