The gear that gets you there.
Only the best. Nothing else makes the list.
Two-way SOS, or a compass that does not need a charge.
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
Two-way SOS · 3.5 oz
Listed price
8.6 / 10 Thru Picks
Two-way satellite communicator with SOS. The dedicated SOS option on this list.
Sources: REI Co-op · Garage Grown Gear · Halfway Anywhere · Thru Picks method
GEAR UP →Also at Garage Grown Gear →Affiliate link. We may earn a commission. Not a paid ranking.
Satellite messenger · smartphone app
Listed price
8.5 / 10 Thru Picks
Satellite messenger that pairs with your phone. Lower hardware cost than inReach.
Sources: REI Co-op · Garage Grown Gear · Halfway Anywhere · Thru Picks method
GEAR UP →Also at Garage Grown Gear →Affiliate link. We may earn a commission. Not a paid ranking.
Baseplate compass · 1.1 oz
Listed price
8.3 / 10 Thru Picks
An ounce of compass. No subscription. No charge. The thing that still works when the phone does not.
Sources: REI Co-op · CleverHiker · Thru Picks method
GEAR UP →Also at REI →Affiliate link. We may earn a commission. Not a paid ranking.
This ranking already sits in a finished kit. Every item is among the best. Weighed. Ranked. Ready.
Navigation on a long trail is a phone map plus a way to call for help that does not need a bar. A compass is the thing that still works when the phone does not.
Garmin inReach Mini 2 is first: two-way SOS, the dedicated messenger this list exists for. Zoleo is Highest Rated — pairs with your phone, a lower hardware cost. Suunto A-10 is Best Value: an ounce of compass, no subscription, no charge.
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