The gear that gets you there.
Only the best. Nothing else makes the list.
A GPS watch, a town charger, a small solar panel. Messengers and power banks have their own lists.
Three picks. Updated weekly. That is the whole list. If it is not here, it did not earn a place.
· Top three updated weekly. Listed prices and shop ratings stay live.
Surveys 40% · independent tests 30% · merchant ratings 15% · relative street price 15%. Sources & method
Listed prices and shop ratings stay live once a shop page loads. GEAR UP has the current figure.
Built from published thru-hiker surveys and independent testing — not commissions. Sources & method · Disclosure
Swipe — three picks side by side
Solar GPS watch · 1.9 oz
Listed price
8.4 / 10 Thru Picks
A GPS watch that still charges on a desert day. Navigation without pulling the phone every mile.
Sources: REI Co-op · CleverHiker · Thru Picks method
GEAR UP →Also at REI →Affiliate link. We may earn a commission. Not a paid ranking.
30W USB-C brick · 1.3 oz
Listed price
8.2 / 10 Thru Picks
A 30-watt USB-C brick for town. The charger that fills a bank while you eat.
Sources: REI Co-op · CleverHiker · Thru Picks method
GEAR UP →Affiliate link. We may earn a commission. Not a paid ranking.
5W solar · 10.4 oz
Listed price
7.9 / 10 Thru Picks
A small solar panel for a long dry stretch. Optional. Not a replacement for a bank.
Sources: REI Co-op · CleverHiker · Thru Picks method
GEAR UP →Affiliate link. We may earn a commission. Not a paid ranking.
This slot is not required in a Pack Shakedown kit. The ten loadouts still start from the same independent lists.
Messengers and power banks have their own lists. This one is the extras: a GPS watch, a town charger, a small solar panel.
Garmin Instinct 2 Solar is first: a watch that still charges on a desert day. Anker 511 Nano 3 is Best Value — a 30-watt brick for town. Goal Zero Nomad 5 is the Premium Pick for a long dry stretch. Optional. Not a replacement for a bank.
Rankings and kits are based on published surveys and independent analysis. They are opinions for informational purposes only. Users are responsible for choosing and using gear appropriate to their conditions and experience. Thru Picks is not liable for outcomes related to product use. Terms