Seconding the recommendation above! Keeping it lean is key, but honestly, safety is everything on a trail. Dont trust those flimsy plastic clips... i'd grab the Manfrotto Pixi Clamp because it's realy sturdy and wont drop your phone off a ridge. Also, the Lume Cube Panel GO is way better for portraits than the harsh built-in flash. Totally worth the extra cash for peace of mind tbh!! gl

I went through this last year. I literally spent a fortune on heavy gear that just sat in my bag during hikes cuz it was too bulky... tbh it was a total waste. I eventually switched to a much leaner, budget-friendly kit that actually gets used. Here is how I balanced the cost vs. performance:
* Ulanzi MT-44 Extendable Vlog Tripod: Way cheaper than the Peak Design option mentioned earlier. It is SUPER light for hiking and solid for those Night Sight shots.
* Ulanzi VL49 RGB Video Light: Tiny enough for a pocket but helps SO much with warming up those portrait shots.
* NEEWER 52mm Phone Filter Clip-on Kit: I found external lenses clunky on the P8P camera bar, so I use filters for landscapes instead. This setup kept me way under $150, leaving cash for a DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Smartphone Gimbal later. You really dont need to spend $300 for a massive upgrade! gl!

yo, congrats on the upgrade! I felt the same when I first took my Pixel 8 Pro out for some astro shots. Last fall, I hiked up a ridge with a cheap $15 tripod I found in a junk drawer. Total mistake. The wind picked up, and I spent the whole night terrified my phone was gonna face-plant into the rocks. Ngl, it totally ruined the vibe... basically, I learned the hard way that good glass needs a good base lol. For your budget, you gotta be smart about what’s actually gonna stay in your daypack. Here’s what I’d suggest comparing: **The Tripod Situation:**
I’d look at the Peak Design Mobile Tripod vs the Joby GorillaPod 3K Kit. The Peak Design one is seriously impressive—it’s like the size of a credit card and folds flat against your phone. Pros: you'll actually carry it everywhere. Cons: it's short, so you’re always looking for a rock or a ledge to put it on. The Joby is way more versatile cuz you can wrap the legs around a tree branch, but it’s bulkier and can get a bit "droopy" over time if you aren't careful with the positioning. **External Lenses:**
Be careful here!! The Pixel 8 Pro camera bar is massive. If you want lenses, you highkey HAVE to get the Moment Case for Google Pixel 8 Pro and the Moment T-Series Lens Mount. Don't try the old M-series lenses; they'll vignette like crazy because the 8 Pro sensors are so big. The Moment 58mm Tele Lens T-Series is killer for portraits, but it’ll eat up a chunk of your budget. **Lighting:**
I’d compare the Lume Cube Panel GO vs something like the SmallRig Pix M160 RGB LED Light. The Lume Cube is super durable for hiking and the battery lasts forever, whereas the SmallRig gives you way more color options for creative shots but feels a bit more "techy" and fragile. My advice? Grab the Peak Design tripod and the Lume Cube first. That combo is basically the ultimate low-light starter kit. Anyway, hope that helps! Good luck with the night shots!!

I've spent years jumping between different accessory brands, and honestly, the biggest lesson I learned was to stop buying universal gear. I used to carry a heavy gimbal from one of the top tech brands, thinking it was essential, but I found the Pixel's own software was actually smoother on its own. The gimbal just added weight I didn't need on trails. When it comes to lenses, I compared a budget-friendly starter kit against a premium mount-based system. The budget brand was a nightmare because the clips never sat right on the camera bar, causing weird shadows. The more specialized brand I use now uses a dedicated plate that lines up perfectly every time. It costs more, but the consistency is worth it. My current setup is way more streamlined than it used to be... basically, I've learned that for a phone with such a unique design, going with brands that actually engineer for the specific hardware makes a massive difference.

Same setup here, love it