1. Gadgets for Hiking

The first thing to remember about trekking, or hiking, is that all additional gear and gadgets will literally have to be carried in your backpack. That's why a utilitarian approach is welcomed here, emphasizing only truly useful and practical items with a focus on compactness and lightness, and avoiding all unnecessary (non-essential) items.

For hiking, the set of additional gadgets is not very large, especially if you exclude basic equipment such as a canteen, minimally necessary camping kitchenware, and a first aid kit. However, all other must-have gadgets can generally be divided into several categories.

1.1 Navigation

Hiking in the mountains or other hard-to-reach locations requires orientation skills. Modern technologies have somewhat simplified navigation, so the ability to use a compass is no longer a crucial skill for a tourist. Any smartphone can plot a route and guide you along the track. However, in a multi-day hike with daily long distances, relying solely on a mobile phone is not advisable as it will quickly run out of battery. Virtually the best alternative to a smartphone is a smartwatch, not just with a GPS module, but with a track guiding feature.

Ideally, consider wearable devices with good battery life and understand that if they normally require charging once a month, active GPS usage significantly reduces their working time. Other useful features include waterproof and shockproof designs, which are pertinent requirements for almost any gadget in challenging hiking conditions.

Some manufacturers even have dedicated outdoor series of smartwatches, such as Garmin's Instinct. Top models in the series are equipped with a solar charging battery and offer other useful hiking features, such as a full flashlight, enhanced navigation, and the ability to send user coordinates in emergencies (injuries or other force majeures).

It's worth noting that modern smartwatches are also useful in hikes not only for navigation. Almost all models track various health indicators and analyze sleep, and some provide morning reports with sensible recommendations regarding the day's activities. This way, you'll know whether you should cover more distance today than yesterday, or if it's better to take it a bit easier. Additionally, smartwatches don't take up space in your backpack and are lightweight.

Smartwatches are a handy navigation aid in a hike, quite literally at hand.

As an alternative to these gadgets, you can consider regular wristwatches with a compass and GPS. Though often their navigation potential is realized in combination with a smartphone to which they transmit route data. This is a good choice for light outings and reducing the load on the phone battery.

For hiking, dedicated GPS navigators are also meant. These are usually pocket-sized devices (relatively small and light) with water and shock-resistant casings, featuring pre-installed maps of popular tourist routes and trails.

1.2 Autonomous Power

The main way to charge a smartphone and other mobile devices away from outlets is a powerbank. For hikes, it's practical to consider not ordinary models but solar panel versions — either built into the body or as a kit. Don't expect these devices to quickly recharge their battery capacity from the sun. But overall, in clear weather, they are indeed useful and can provide minimal reliance on outlets.

When choosing a powerbank for a hike, you'll need to find a balance between its capacity, dimensions, and weight. Models with 10,000 mAh usually fit in a clothing pocket, while versions with 30,000 mAh are not suitable for this option: they are large and weigh no less than 600 grams.

Solar-charging powerbanks are practical to keep outside the backpack rather than hide inside.

1.3 Cooking

Burners are key accessories for cooking in a hike. Technically, you can get by without one by regularly making a fire and cooking on it, but such a scenario suits large tourist groups and favorable, mostly dry weather. During or right after rain, and for individual cooking, it's simpler to use burners, bringing along the necessary number of gas canisters. Moreover, instead of a separate set of these items and special kitchenware — pots, mugs, etc., you can apply integrated gas cooking systems. They are well-protected from wind and other adverse weather conditions, more compact and lighter compared to everything separately.

An integrated system is a very convenient device for cooking food in a hike.

Swiss knife or multitool are other essential accessories for camping meals. They help with slicing foods, opening bottles and cans, kindling, or even igniting a fire using a magnifying glass, etc. These tools' functionality is certainly not limited to kitchen-cooking direction. Plus, a folding knife or multitool doesn't take up much space: they can be attached to a belt, outside the backpack, etc.

Additional gadgets beneficial in remote areas and related to food (and drink) include water purifiers and portable coffee makers. The former are often unnecessary for mountain outings, where natural springs have good, clean water. However, water from reservoirs near agricultural lands or large cities, as well as in extremely hot weather (including blooming water, etc.) is best "filtered" through special camping filters or purification systems.

Portable coffee maker isn't exactly an essential gadget on a hike. Yet, true espresso enthusiasts and other coffee types prepared under high pressure are often willing to bring such devices. They are realistically compact, with a longitudinal shape like a water bottle, allowing them to fit in the side pocket of a backpack.

It seems that real espresso on a hike is an unnecessary luxury, but portable coffee makers are truly small.

1.4 Other Gadgets for Hiking

For trekking trips, it is also advisable to take the following items:

  • handheld portable flashlight. Useful for lighting in darkness. When choosing, pay attention not only to light parameters and additional modes but also to the battery capacity, USB charging capability, etc.;
  • walkie-talkies. They provide communication in difficult expeditions where routes are far from mobile operator towers, including high in the mountains. For light hikes, smartphones are usually sufficient. For tourism, relatively light and compact walkie-talkies are suitable, with good battery life preferred, including support for energy-saving modes;
  • rechargeable electric heaters. They can be helpful during severe cold, relevant for winter and mountain hikes. Some models can be worn without heating (e.g., neck heaters, which are like a buff), and some rechargeable heaters support a powerbank mode, relevant for hiking conditions;
  • action camera. Useful for capturing beautiful landscapes and attractions, filming various tourist activities, and a definite must-have gadget for travel bloggers. Typically, action cameras are initially ready for harsh operating conditions and are quite compact, with removable batteries, allowing extended use of multiple batteries. As an alternative to these devices, you can consider ultra-compact "soap cameras" or more functional but still small cameras;
  • guitar. The only item not small in our selection. But guitars are often taken on hikes, and a fire-lit evening with favorite songs is a classic tourist pastime. If the size and weight of the musical instrument are concerning, there's a miniature alternative — ukulele.
  • insect repellents on battery, solar panel, or with USB power. These accessories ensure that bonfire gatherings are pleasant and not a bout with insects trying to eat you.

Lightweight hikers can substitute the classic guitar for a ukulele.
Popular Smartwatches with GPS Tracking Support

2. Gadgets for Camping

When taking a trip to a camping site by car, you can bring many more useful gadgets and accessories, as the trunk is more spacious than a backpack. First of all, note that almost everything in the must-have list for hiking remains relevant for camping. Additionally, various car gadgets, all the way to a conditional car stereo or dashcam, may be useful for this scenario. However, we'll detail those primarily geared towards tourist application here.

2.1 Navigation

To avoid getting lost on the road during a camping trip, it's practical to use regular navigators or specialized models for campers. These are designed for motorhomes, plotting routes suitable for this type of transport's dimensions. Additionally, specialized navigators for campers provide more useful information — for example, locations of parking lots, gas stations, sewage disposal sites, and other vital points.

In camping tourism, navigation can also be managed using regular smartphones, for instance, in tandem with car chargers or functional holders with wireless charging.

2.2 Autonomy

The minimum plan for autonomous energy supply for campers is a high-capacity powerbank (from 30,000 mAh or better — from 50,000 mAh) plus the aforementioned car chargers. With a portable battery, it will be possible to ensure several full charging cycles for smartphones or tablets during stays, and with car chargers, mobile devices can be powered during drives.

A more thorough approach to providing electricity in camping involves using a charging station. With it, you can bring relatively powerful appliances on a trip, including various kitchen and computer equipment, fans, etc., and more actively use mobile gadgets, including action cameras, cameras, and smartphones.

With a charging station in camping, you can even set up an office workspace and enjoy a comfortable breeze on hot days.

Alongside charging stations, and not only, you can consider portable solar panels. Most of these solutions have a folding design, simplifying transportation. Basic (and quite compact) panels are handy for charging a flashlight or smartphone battery, while substantial panels with solid power (especially sets with the ability to connect them together) can provide camping comfort approaching usual home conditions.

Portable solar panels — the path to full autonomous power supply in the wild.

Instead of charging stations, you can consider car inverters. They transform the car's 12V DC power into AC, allowing not only gadget charging but also connecting more "demanding" appliances — all the way to a conditional multicooker.

Theoretically, generators may also be helpful in camping. However, their noisy and far from "green" principles of operation seem to be a last resort, where backup power is prioritized over unity and enjoying nature. Also, note that if you plan to visit a specific camping site, it's better to find out the offered conditions in advance. Many are now electrified.

2.3 Cooking

For cooking in a camping site, not only fires and burners are suitable but also camping stoves. Grilling enthusiasts and fans of other meat dishes can also bring portable grills, tabletop grills, etc.

To store perishable foods and maintain a low temperature for refreshing drinks, campers can use car refrigerators. They offer both portable models in the form of containers or bags and built-in appliances for motorhomes. As a more affordable alternative to car refrigerators, you can consider various thermal bags. However, they can only keep low temperatures temporarily and work best in tandem with cold accumulators or ice cubes.

Car refrigerators — substantial devices requiring space in the car's trunk.

For quick and convenient fire starting in camping, you can use small gadgets like special burners or fire-starting hairdryers.

2.4 Other Gadgets for Camping

Handheld flashlight, action camera or camera, guitar — all these additional accessories are relevant not only for hiking but also for more comfortable camping rest. Additionally, for lighting, communication, entertainment, and more, campers should consider these gadgets:

  • tourist and camping lanterns. The former usually provide diffused light covering 360 degrees, while the latter offer direction, though support for various work modes is not excluded;
  • rechargeable compressor. A useful gadget not only for motorists but tourists, if they have inflatable tents or mats, mattresses, balls, etc.;
  • portable projector. A relatively small device with a battery for watching movies outdoors. Note that in addition to it, a special screen may be needed if there isn't another suitable surface for projection;
  • waterproof speaker and preferably with good battery life. Enables organizing a disco at a camping site;
  • portable router. Not a mandatory but useful gadget if you want to distribute mobile internet via Wi-Fi at a camping site. It may come in handy for organizing outdoor team-building, offsite business meetings, etc.;
  • aroma diffuser — a small device that fills the surrounding space with pleasant scents via ultrasound. In camping, it can be used for various relaxing practices or combating mosquitoes or other insects.

A portable projector allows organizing an outdoor movie session.

Several gadgets not specifically for tourism but well-suited for trips, such as rechargeable razor or shaver, electric toothbrush, pocket radio receiver, binoculars with compass are also worth mentioning.

Popular GPS Navigators for RVs and Campers

3. Conclusion

In conclusion, it's always easier to prepare for the first camping trip than for a hike. Beginners can take many things, gadgets, and accessories "just in case" without fearing they'll go unused, lying in the car trunk. Hiking, however, is a bit more challenging: you either miss packing something truly important in your backpack or get more tired carrying unnecessary items on your shoulders. However, the optimal balance comes with experience, including through trial and error.

Also, keep in mind that travelers have different needs. Some head to nature to unwind from the internet, phone calls, and other gadgets, while others seek maximum comfort even away from civilization's amenities. Plus, a pragmatist values minimalism and a lightweight backpack, while a romantic will definitely take a guitar, a thick book, or both. That's why we've tried to compile a universal set of tourist products, where almost everyone can find something useful for themselves.