www.zdnet.com Open in urlscan Pro
2a04:4e42:4c::666  Public Scan

Submitted URL: http://url9974.online.zdnet.com/ls/click?upn=u001.20vwa98lI6jFwR-2BiBRrcvt6XTUQw0V-2BHWd8Y1RFqqMpPN20Xqv1oXunX4DmxgD66fRWg5Yciz-...
Effective URL: https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/the-5-tech-gadgets-i-never-hike-without/?ftag=TRE6a12a91&utm_email=1d14435936833...
Submission: On April 22 via api from BE — Scanned from DE

Form analysis 1 forms found in the DOM

<form class="c-smartSearch_form"><input aria-label="Search" placeholder="What are you looking for?" type="search" autocomplete="off" aria-autocomplete="list" aria-activedescendant="" aria-controls="c-searchSmartSearchResults" name="query" value="">
  <button type="submit"><span class="search-go">Go</span> <svg>
      <use xlink:href="#arrow-thin" aria-hidden="false"></use>
    </svg></button></form>

Text Content

X

Trending
 * Apple Vision Pro review: Fascinating, flawed, and needs to fix 5 things
 * I've tried the top XR headsets. Here's the one most people should buy
 * ChatGPT vs. ChatGPT Plus: Is the subscription fee worth it?
 * Have 10 hours? IBM will train you in AI fundamentals - for free
 * How to upgrade Windows Home edition to Pro
 * 7 useful things to do with your Flipper Zero
 * 

 * The Apple Watch to buy this year
 * Meta's $299 Ray-Ban smart glasses may be the most useful gadget I've tested
   all year
 * iPhone 15 Pro review: Who this upgrade will wow
 * Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review: One of the best smartphones of the year
 * Sonos Era 300 review: Close to a perfect smart speaker
 * Do you need antivirus on Linux?
 * 

 * Best laptops
 * Best VPNs
 * Best TVs
 * Best Headphones
 * Best robot vacuums
 * ZDNET Recommends
   

Tech
 * Gaming
 * Headphones
 * Laptops
 * Mobile Accessories
 * Networking
 * PCs
 * 

 * Printers
 * Smartphones
 * Smart Watches
 * Speakers
 * Streaming Devices
 * Streaming Services
 * 

 * Tablets
 * TVs
 * Wearables
 * 

 * Kitchen & Household
 * Office Furniture
 * Office Hardware & Appliances
 * Smart Home
 * Smart Lighting
 * Yard & Outdoors
   

Innovation
 * Artificial Intelligence
 * AR + VR
 * Cloud
 * Digital Transformation
 * Energy
 * 

 * Robotics
 * Sustainability
 * Transportation
 * Work Life
 * 

 * Accelerate your tech game Paid Content
 * How the New Space Race Will Drive Innovation
 * How the metaverse will change the future of work and society
 * 

 * Managing the Multicloud
 * The Future of the Internet
 * The New Rules of Work
 * The Tech Trends to Watch in 2023
   

Business
 * See all Business
 * Amazon
 * Apple
 * Developer
 * E-Commerce
 * 

 * Edge Computing
 * Enterprise Software
 * Executive
 * Google
 * Microsoft
 * 

 * Professional Development
 * Social Media
 * SMB
 * Windows
 * 

 * Digital transformation: Trends and insights for success
 * Software development: Emerging trends and changing roles
   

Security
 * See all Security
 * Cyber Threats
 * Password Manager
 * Ransomware
 * VPN
 * 

 * Cybersecurity: Let's get tactical
 * Securing the Cloud
   

Advice
 * Deals
 * How-to
 * Product Comparisons
 * Product Spotlights
 * Reviews
   

Buying Guides
 * See all Buying Guides
 * Best all-in-one computers
 * Best budget TVs
 * Best gaming CPUs
 * Best gaming laptops
 * Best gaming PCs
 * 

 * Best headphones
 * Best iPads
 * Best iPhones
 * Best laptops
 * Best large tablets
 * Best OLED TVs
 * 

 * Best robot vacuum mops
 * Best rugged tablets
 * Best Samsung phones
 * Best smart rings
 * Best smartphones
 * Best smartwatches
 * 

 * Best speakers
 * Best tablets
 * Best travel VPNs
 * Best TVs
 * Best VPNs
 * Best Coupons
   

tomorrow belongs to those who embrace it today
 * Asia
 * Australia
 * Europe
 * India
 * United Kingdom
 * United States
   

 * ZDNET France
 * ZDNET Germany
 * ZDNET Korea
 * ZDNET Japan
   

Go

Most Popular



 * See all Topics
 * Finance
 * Education
 * Health
   

 * Special Features
 * ZDNET In Depth
 * ZDNET Recommends
   

 * Newsletters
 * Videos
 * Editorial Guidelines
   

 * Trending
   Apple Vision Pro review: Fascinating, flawed, and needs to fix 5 things I've
   tried the top XR headsets. Here's the one most people should buy ChatGPT vs.
   ChatGPT Plus: Is the subscription fee worth it? Have 10 hours? IBM will train
   you in AI fundamentals - for free How to upgrade Windows Home edition to Pro
   7 useful things to do with your Flipper Zero
   The Apple Watch to buy this year Meta's $299 Ray-Ban smart glasses may be the
   most useful gadget I've tested all year iPhone 15 Pro review: Who this
   upgrade will wow Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review: One of the best smartphones
   of the year Sonos Era 300 review: Close to a perfect smart speaker Do you
   need antivirus on Linux?
   Best laptops Best VPNs Best TVs Best Headphones Best robot vacuums ZDNET
   Recommends

 * Tech
   Gaming Headphones Laptops Mobile Accessories Networking PCs
   Printers Smartphones Smart Watches Speakers Streaming Devices Streaming
   Services
   Tablets TVs Wearables
   Kitchen & Household Office Furniture Office Hardware & Appliances Smart Home
   Smart Lighting Yard & Outdoors

 * Innovation
   Artificial Intelligence AR + VR Cloud Digital Transformation Energy
   Robotics Sustainability Transportation Work Life
   Accelerate your tech game Paid Content How the New Space Race Will Drive
   Innovation How the metaverse will change the future of work and society
   Managing the Multicloud The Future of the Internet The New Rules of Work The
   Tech Trends to Watch in 2023

 * Business
   See all Business Amazon Apple Developer E-Commerce
   Edge Computing Enterprise Software Executive Google Microsoft
   Professional Development Social Media SMB Windows
   Digital transformation: Trends and insights for success Software development:
   Emerging trends and changing roles

 * Security
   
   
   See all Security Cyber Threats Password Manager Ransomware VPN
   Cybersecurity: Let's get tactical Securing the Cloud

 * Advice
   
   
   Deals How-to Product Comparisons Product Spotlights Reviews

 * Buying Guides
   See all Buying Guides Best all-in-one computers Best budget TVs Best gaming
   CPUs Best gaming laptops Best gaming PCs
   Best headphones Best iPads Best iPhones Best laptops Best large tablets Best
   OLED TVs
   Best robot vacuum mops Best rugged tablets Best Samsung phones Best smart
   rings Best smartphones Best smartwatches
   Best speakers Best tablets Best travel VPNs Best TVs Best VPNs Best Coupons

 * More
   
   See all Topics Finance Education Health
   Special Features ZDNET In Depth ZDNET Recommends
   Newsletters Videos Editorial Guidelines

Home & Office
Why you can trust ZDNET : ZDNET independently tests and researches products to
bring you our best recommendations and advice. When you buy through our links,
we may earn a commission. Our process

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and
comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including
vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews
sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people
who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service,
we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not
affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither
ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we
follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced
by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to
deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible
in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array
of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every
article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made
an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the
article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via
this form.

Close
Home Home & Office


THE 5 TECH GADGETS I NEVER HIKE WITHOUT

Exploring the great outdoors this Earth Day weekend? You will absolutely need
these five gadgets on your next hike.
Written by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Senior Contributing Editor April 19, 2024 at
8:53 a.m. PT
Reviewed by Nina Raemont

 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 


MUST READ

6 reasons to buy an Apple Watch, according to a wearables expert

Read now
Klarus K5 power bank
Klarus K5 power bank
View now View at Amazon
Spot X satellite phone
Spot X satellite phone
View now View at Amazon
Shokz OpenRun Pro bone conduction headphones
Shokz OpenRun Pro bone conduction headphones
View now View at Amazon
Boruit V3 Mini LED flashlight
Boruit V3 Mini LED flashlight
View now View at Amazon
Grayl GeoPress filtered water bottle
Grayl GeoPress filtered water bottle
View now View at Amazon

Hiking is my go-to escape from the hustle and bustle, a chance to shift down to
a slower pace. The world looks different when you're exploring it powered by
your own two legs. But wanting to get away doesn't mean I ditch all my tech.
Actually, bringing along a few carefully chosen gadgets can really enhance the
hiking experience.



One key thing I always keep in mind is that I'll be the one carrying all this
gear. To avoid turning myself into a beast of burden, I focus on keeping
everything small, lightweight, and simple. That means bringing along lighter
power bank or a mini flashlight that will power me through an all-day
adventure. 

Note: I'm not including my iPhone 15 Pro Max and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in this
list – I don't go anywhere without those things, so adding those would be
cheating. 

Also: The best drones you can buy: Expert tested


KLARUS K5 POWER BANK


Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

On a long hike, you'll need a power bank that is sleek, ultra-light, ultra-thin,
and waterproof. Yes, waterproof -- I gave this power bank a proper shower and it
lived up to its IP68 rating. The 10,000 mAh capacity is enough to fully recharge
my iPhone 15 Pro Max a couple of times, it has both USB-C and USB-A ports, and
it can even trickle charge small devices such as earbuds that only draw tiny
amounts of current.

Every pound matters on a long hike, so a lightweight build is essential for
those longer trails. As I write in my review of the Klarus K5, "it is
approximately 30 percent lighter than other power banks with comparable
capacity, a claim by the manufacturers that I find to be accurate." Reviews for
this power bank are strong, with owners praising the lightweight design, the
sleek and stylish carbon fiber outer, and the weatherproofing that the
IP68-rated power bank offers. One note I'll make, however, is that I like to
keep this power bank in a bag as I hike because I'm weary of dirt and sand
getting into the ports. 

Link: My favorite power bank for traveling is waterproof and surprisingly
lightweight

View now at Amazon


Also: The best power banks you can buy: Expert tested


SPOT X SATELLITE PHONE


Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Some equipment we bring on a hike goes unused -- for the better -- and this
satellite phone falls into that camp. A satellite phone can offer peace of mind
for loved ones and a way to get in touch just in case I get lost while I'm out
exploring. Some reassurance goes a long way, and the Spot X two-way messaging
communicator offers this when I'm far outside the reach of a cellular or Wi-Fi
network. Personally, I love the simplicity of this design. It looks like a
Blackberry of olden days, yet connects to a constellation of satellites orbiting
the Earth.

Also: The best satellite phones you can buy

Reviews for the Spot X can be a bit hit or miss, but the negativity is mostly
down to either buyers not realizing that it needs to be tied to a subscription
package -- potentially an expensive subscription package depending on your needs
-- to work, or those misunderstanding its capabilities. Beyond that, the reviews
are positive, with one Amazon reviewer complimenting how well the SOS function
worked during a storm, and another said it was affordable for day-to-day users. 

View now at Amazon



SHOKZ OPENRUN PRO BONE CONDUCTION HEADPHONES


Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

I'm a big fan of Shokz bone conduction headphones, and the OpenRun Pro are
without a doubt my favorite version. They fit well around my head, the 10-hour
battery life is excellent, the sound quality is great, they're completely
sweat-proof, there's nothing to block my earholes, and I'm not going to lose
them in the undergrowth like I would an AirPods Pro bud (speaking from
experience). 

Reviews that I've seen for the Shokz OpenRun Pro on Amazon, Reddit, and across
social media have consistently been strong. Yes, there are some people who find
the headband either too big or too small, and some find the switch to bone
conduction rather disconcerting in the beginning, but these are headphones are
the best way to listen to music, audiobooks, and podcasts, or make and receive
calls, without plugging up your ears.

Review: Shokz OpenRun Pro -- Say goodbye to in-ear buds

View now at Amazon



BORUIT V3 MINI LED FLASHLIGHT


Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

What do I like about this keychain flashlight? First, it's highly durable. A
keychain is a hostile environment for anything that isn't a key, but this one is
built like a brick. A lot of these keychain flashlights claim to be
water-resistant but end up dying on you when exposed to a droplet or two of
rain. Not this one. The Boruit V3 Mini LED flashlight has been rained on and
submerged a number of times and it's still going strong. 

This keychain flashlight has two LEDs on the front that not only allow it to
pack a bigger punch when you need the light, but the two LEDs mean there's a
better spread to the light. And the glow in the dark shell makes it much easier
to find in a backpack or a tent at night. Reviewers on Amazon love pretty much
about everything about this flashlight, from the build quality, to the
brightness and battery life. 

Link: This $20 keychain flashlight is the most versatile accessory I've tested

View now at Amazon



GRAYL GEOPRESS FILTERED WATER BOTTLE


Katherine Betteridge/ZDNET

Water is heavy, so anything I can do to make use of the water around me means I
have to carry less on my back. And while there's no shortage of rivers and lakes
and puddles I can make use of while hiking in the UK, the problem is there's
always a dead sheep upstream somewhere or a farmer draining effluent into an
otherwise delicious looking lake. The Grayl GeoPress solves this potentially
life-threatening issue and removes 99.9% of viruses, 99.9999% of bacteria, and
filters out microplastics, sediment, heavy metals, chemicals, pesticides, and
herbicides to turn sketchy water into clean drinking water.

It can take a fair bit of courage to put dirty water into a bottle, press it
through a filter and then drink the water, but the reviews were so positive that
it gave me confidence to take that first big sip. 

Link: My favorite filtered water bottle transforms nasty water into clean
drinking water instantly

View now at Amazon



WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST ME?

Tech isn't just something I test and review for work; it's a crucial part of my
life, whether I'm working, traveling, or trekking through off-grid locations.

Mix in my passion for photography, videography, and drones, and you'll find me
venturing into some pretty remote spots. In these places, relying on my tech is
a given, and a single piece of equipment failing could mean calling off the
trip, or even facing bigger troubles. 


WHAT FACTORS SHOULD I CONSIDER FOR HIKING EQUIPMENT?

While I'm hiking up mountains and through trails I find that a product needs to
be one of three things. 

 * Lightweight: Because on the trail every ounce quickly starts to feel like a
   pound. 
 * Durable: Because if it breaks, I could be in trouble!
 * Easy to use: Because when it's cold or dark (or both) you'll appreciate not
   having to dig out an instruction manual,




HOW DO I PRESERVE BATTERY LIFE WHEN HIKING?

First, I turn stuff off. I don't need my smartphone on all the time -- I'm
hiking, not working! This way I can turn things on as and when I need them, and
it makes a huge difference.

I also top off devices rather than try to fully charge them. I'd much prefer to
keep a power reserve in my power bank for when I need it, than push it all into
my smartphone or some other device. This way I can ration it out as needed. 


OTHER HIKING-FRIENDLY TECH WE THINK YOU'D LOVE 


BEST ALTERNATIVE


GOPRO HERO12 BLACK

Need to record your adventures? There's no better way to do this than to use an
action camera, and as action cameras go, none are better than the GoPro. The
Hero12 Black can handle the abuse that comes from life in the outdoors. I use
mine for video, photos, timelapse, and even nightlapses. 

View at Best Buy

NEWSLETTERS

ZDNET Recommends
ZDNET saves you time and money by delivering the best products and tech deals to
your inbox every week.
Subscribe
See all
Editorial standards
Show Comments
Log In to Comment Community Guidelines





RELATED




4 TECH GADGETS YOU NEED FOR A LONG COMMUTE




SCARED OF THE DARK? YOU WON'T BE IF YOU GET ONE OF OUR FAVORITE FLASHLIGHTS




EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR COMMUTING TO WORK



















ZDNET
we equip you to harness the power of disruptive innovation, at work and at home.
 * Topics
 * Galleries
 * Videos
 * Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

 * about ZDNET
 * Meet The Team
 * Sitemap
 * Reprint Policy

 * Join
   |
   Log In
 * Newsletters
 * Site Assistance
 * Licensing

 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 

© 2024 ZDNET, A Red Ventures company. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | |
Manage Preferences
| Advertise | Terms of Use


WE CARE ABOUT YOUR PRIVACY

We and our 823 partners will store and access information on your device with
your consent. Browsing data is collected through the use of cookies to process
personal data. You can give or withdraw your consent by clicking on the `Show
Purposes` button. You can manage your choices and exercise your right to object
on the basis of legitimate interest at any time by clicking on the cog icon at
the bottom left corner of every page.Learn more.


WE AND OUR PARTNERS PROCESS DATA TO PROVIDE:

Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for
identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Personalised
advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research
and services development. List of Partners (vendors)

I Accept Reject All Show Purposes