Use of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in conjunction with mobile devices is growing on a daily basis. Mobile phones are not only personal devices that provide communication services, but also versatile and resourceful elements in the Internet of Things (IoT). Nevertheless, despite the referred growth, one key aspect for real-world IoT deployments is still largely overlooked: reliability. In this respect, there is a clear gap between theoretical models and real implementations, as no practical reliability mechanisms are in place for IoT. Proposing, studying, and providing IoT reliability solutions is, thus, fundamental for the massive deployment of IoT technology across all sectors of society. In this context, the main purpose of this paper is to propose, explore, and assess reliability mechanisms for IoT scenarios, based on the use of redundant routes and devices that take advantage of mobile devices, as key elements of IoT. These mechanisms were evaluated in a variety of failure scenarios, both theoretically and through implementations constructed with real, off-the-shelf equipment, showing their good capability to maintain effective communication even in the presence of link failures.