Far and away, the biggest investment for proper gear is a capable & reliable off-road 4-wheel drive.  A lot of good choices to start with (Jeeps, Tacomas, Colorados, etc.), but I love my Nissan Xterra PRO-4X.  Nissan no longer makes this vehicle, but the PRO-4X came off the assembly line ready to tackle some very rough terrain, winning several “4×4 of the Year” awards.  Even though it came pretty well equipped, I’ve made some modifications to add to its capabilities.  First & foremost are a set of upgraded tires that can handle the abuse of the desert & rocks (BFG KO2’s).  Next, I swapped out some of the suspension components and added a complete Old Man Emu upgrade with front & rear Nitrocharger shocks and heavy duty coils, add-a-leaf, 3″ lift and relocated the rear sway bar.  The approach / descent angle of the factory bumper was too low, so I removed it and replaced it with a custom Hefty Fabworks steel bumper, along with 3/16″ steel skid plates underneath.  For now, I’ve stayed away from a winch…in the desert, there are very few places you could winch from (trees, etc.) and didn’t want the extra weight.

I keep a toolbag full of extra tools in the cargo area of my truck.  And, a few other items to help get out of tough spots: shovel, MaxTrax, tow strap, extra gas (usually 10 – 15 gallons), Hi-Lift jack, headlamp, etc.

There are endless choices for good, comfortable day packs, so look for one that holds a large water reservoir (3L) and lots of room for gear.  I’ve tried several and settled on the Osprey Talon 22…lots of great features, custom fit and very comfortable.  For multi-night camping trips, Osprey (and others) has a lot of choices for bigger backpacks.

I never go anywhere without Gaia GPS maps preloaded on my iPhone.  With Gaia GPS you can put your phone in airplane mode and use its internal GPS capabilities.  I usually carry a backup paper map (if available) and compass, too.  An extra battery – waterproof and can be recharged via the sun – has been invaluable, too (don’t forget your cord!).

I’ve found loading Gaia GPS on my old iPad and mounting it using RAM Mount’s Tough Wedge has worked great.  The iPad doesn’t vibrate at all, even in the most extreme off-road situations.  And, the RAM Tough Wedge mounting system is something that you can adjust to about any length and angle, and is not permanent.  The iPad offers a lot bigger surface than a traditional GPS (or smart phone screen) and thus is much easier to see when you’re driving.  I love it and can’t imagine ever going back.  Here are a couple of pictures to give you an idea of what this setup looks like:

A lot of the time, I’ll be out of cell range.  So, I puchased an Inmarsat satellite phone, which gives me peace of mind in being able to connect to anyone from anywhere.  This phone also has SOS signal capabilities, pinpointing your location and sending out an emergency signal, if needed.

As you can tell, I’m far from a professional photographer, but a good camera is a necessity (and extra batteries).  I chose the Panasonic Lumix FZ80 4K camera based on a lot of research, great reviews and its massive 60x zoom capability.
Nothing will make your hike more enjoyable – or miserable! – than your footwear.  There are a TON of great options out there and I’ve used everything from The North Face, to a variety of Merrell hiking boots & shoes and Vasque Breeze III GTX boots.  They’ve all worked fine.  But, I’ve since been a big convert to trail running shoes, due to the weight savings.  I’m currently using (and loving!) the Salomon Speedcross 6 shoes. They’re very lightweight and super comfortable.  An ounce, or two, of weight savings might now sound like much, but when hiking long distances, every step adds up. Fit and feel is so specific to each person, take the time to go try on several different shoes until you find one that works best for you.  Depending on where you hike, you also might want a pair of gaiters to help keep the sand & rocks out…I never go without them.

When camping overnight, I just use an old tent that I’ve had forever.  Eventually, I’ll need to replace it, but for now it still gets the job done.  Throw in a JetBoil, extra water (and filtering system), etc. and you’ve got everything you need for food.  I’ll bring along a couple of leightweight chairs from REI (Co-Op Flexlite Air Chair) for sitting around the fire at night, sleeping bag and air mattress and there’s not too much else you’ll need.