Best outdoor accessories for fishing in Alaska are essential for staying prepared and comfortable, whether you’re navigating remote rivers or braving the elements on the open water. Here are some of the products tested by the team at Fish Alaska that we can’t recommend enough.
Best Outdoor Accessories
Garmin inReach Messenger Plus SOS Satellite Communicator
This satellite communicator uses the Iridium satellite network (which is the best network for coverage in Alaska) and lets you exchange text, photo, and voice messages when your adventure takes you beyond cellular range. Plus, the durable design withstands extreme temperatures, and the battery lasts for weeks. We’ve used this on a few different remote adventures and it has always performed flawlessly. You’ll need a subscription to use it, and several levels of service are possible. Additionally, you can suspend the subscription at any time, and reactivate it when you need it again.
We were able to text while in complete wilderness on Baranof Island while surrounded by mountains and with the device stowed inside a pack! Other awesome, notable features: IPX7 waterproof; weather reports and forecasts; Tracback routing to help you navigate back the way you came; safety charging—can charge your phone from the Messenger’s battery; battery lasts up to 25 days in 10-minute tracking mode. The device is about 3” x 2.5” x 1” and weighs about 4 ounces. Every wilderness traveler needs some kind of satellite communicator. Garmin’s inReach Messenger Plus is great.
Hedgehog Dryer Buddy Black Ionic i3
One thing is for certain; we believe that clothing- and shoe dryers are a key tool in an outdoorsman’s arsenal. If you want to prolong the life of your gear, make sure you get it dry when you come in from the weather. Gear that remains wet will gradually deteriorate, and let’s not even talk about the smell of a musty pair of boots that aren’t being properly dried. This innovative unit allows you to dry 3 pairs of shoes or gloves simultaneously, incorporates technology to remove odor, can dry a sopping-wet pair of shoes in 30 minutes which is much faster than the other dryers we own, has adjustable heat (4 settings: room temp, 98ºF, 113ºF, and 140ºF), a timer from 15 minutes up to 10 hours, and both silent- and tornado modes. Tornado mode is impressive, getting your gear dry in a hurry. If you don’t have a gear dryer, strongly consider a Hedgehog.
NESTOUT Outdoor Charging Cable
These are heavy-duty charging cables that are available in USB-C to USB-C (tested) or USB-A to USB-C. They come in either 3.3- or 6.6-foot lengths. They are 20V/5A cables and can withstand a maximum of 100W and are IP54 rated for water and dust resistance. Each end has an ingenious cap featuring a swivel hook to allow hanging, and a clip for tangle-free storage. These cords are built to last.
Hornady Backcountry Defense .357 Mag and .44 Rem Mag
While life-threatening bear encounters are extremely rare, it pays to be ready just in case. Some people prefer bear spray, while others like us prefer a handgun. There’s a super-low chance you’ll ever need to use it, but you’ll want to be prepared anyway. We’ve come to rely on Hornady ammunition for hunting, bear defense, and long-range shooting applications because their ammo is consistent and performs very well. In 2025, we tested the Hornady Backcountry Defense round in .357 Mag and .44 Mag. The .44 Mag version features a 240-grain Dangerous Game Handgun (DGH) bullet. This is a jacketed bullet but built in such a way as to be accurate, stay together (non-expanding), and penetrate deeply in a straight line without deflecting. Available in 9mm Luger, .357 Mag, 10mm Auto, .44 Rem Mag, .454 Casull, .460 Smith & Wesson Mag, and .500 Smith & Wesson Mag. This is a great factory ammo choice for bear protection.
Turtlebox Original: Gen 3
Turtlebox speakers are made for the outdoors—tough, waterproof, dustproof, drop proof, and they float! Solid battery performance will give you over 25 hours of entertainment between charges. The superior sound goes up to 120 decibels, and Bluetooth connectivity lets you use your favorite streaming app. Turtlebox also offers highly customizable color- and monogram options.
NESTOUT 15000mAh Power Bank
NESTOUT makes power banks of several sizes. This one is capable of recharging a smartphone up to 3 times. It is waterproof (IP67), dustproof, and shock-resistant. It weighs 12.8 ounces and provides fast charging through 2 USB-A ports and 1 USB-C port. Battery lifespan is roughly 1,000 full charges. It is airline and TSA approved for carry-on. This is a great backup power supply for float trips, backcountry hunting or fishing, and other outdoor adventures.
Uncharted Supply Company The Zeus Pro Jump Starter
We used this unit to recharge batteries on phones, cameras, drones, and other electronics while in the field through the USB-A and USB-C outputs. It performed well. We were impressed with how quickly it recharged our devices. In the past, recharging drone batteries from portable units took some time; this unit refilled power quickly on drone batteries. The 20,000 mAh battery is capable of jump-starting a vehicle with the included battery cables.
NOCS Provisions Field Tube Waterproof Monocular 8×32
This handy little monocular has multiple uses. We used it in 2025 while fishing from saltwater boats. Using this tool, we could scan the horizon for bird- or fish activity on the surface, or to see if other boats that were trolling were hooking up. When you aren’t catching fish, sometimes it’s the location, and if you can see other boats with bent rods, that’s information that can help you make an informed decision. It’s easy to focus, the non-slip grip is a nice touch (especially in crappy weather), and the image quality produced by the fully multi-coated lenses is good.
Knog Bilby 400 Headlamp
This is a versatile, low-profile, simple-to-use headlamp. One of the best features is that you can pull it out of its silicone strap and plug it into a USB port or cord to charge it. The rechargeable battery is contained within the housing. It’s IP67 waterproof and produces 400 lumens of light. It’ll run 105 hours on a charge and has 7 light modes. It’s lightweight, runs for a long time, and is easily rechargeable. The silicone strap allows you to wear it on your head, over a ball cap, or over a beanie.
Rocky Talkie Expedition Radio
Built for the serious outdoorsman, the Expedition radio requires an FCC-issued GMRS license to operate. The battery holds enough power to last 4- to 6 days on a single charge, and the 5W output powers a maximum range of over 35 miles. Waterproof, shatterproof screen, and ready to use right out of the box—this radio is a powerful tool for the backcountry angler.
Hydro Flask 32 oz Wide Mouth with Flex Chug Cap
This 32-ounce insulated stainless-steel bottle features a cap with 2 options. Unscrew the whole cap for wide-mouth access—perfect for adding ice, drink mixes, or cleaning, or unscrew the smaller cap for a drinking spout that won’t leave you covered in spilled beverage. BPA-free, leakproof, and dishwasher safe make this a favorite hydration choice for our tester.
LEKI Skytera FX Carbon SL Trekking Poles
These carbon-fiber trekking poles weigh in at 6 ounces, fold into 3 sections for easy stowing, and adjust between 110- and 130 cm. The strap and slightly angled foam handle allow a more comfortable grip. The Skytera poles come with a carbide tip, and LEKI has rubber tip and basket options available as well.
Yeti Rambler 16 oz Travel Bottle
This bottle is Yeti-tough, has a leakproof commuter cap, and is dishwasher safe. The 100% leakproof cap means you can put it in a cupholder on a rocky 4-wheeler trail, or in a backpack, and it won’t leak. The cap also allows you to drink from any side of the bottle. This bottle will probably last your lifetime.