The LilyGo T-Beam has been a staple in the LoRa mesh community for years, and for good reason. It packs a GPS module, an 18650 battery holder, and a capable SX1262 radio into a compact board that is genuinely useful for outdoor adventures. If you want to share your location with friends on a hike or track your position across a mesh network, the T-Beam is the most practical budget option with built-in GPS.
As a companion device, the T-Beam connects to your phone via Bluetooth and relays messages through the MeshCore network. The integrated GPS means your position updates automatically — no phone GPS drain, no extra modules to wire up. The 18650 battery slot lets you carry spare cells for multi-day trips, and the board sips power efficiently enough to last a full day of active use on a single cell.
The T-Beam does not have a usable built-in display beyond a tiny status OLED, so you will rely on your phone for reading and composing messages. It is also a bare circuit board, which means you will want a 3D-printed case or a protective enclosure if you plan to take it into rough conditions. For the price, though, it is hard to beat as a GPS-capable companion node, and it doubles as an excellent outdoor repeater when you are not carrying it in your pack.