@Reply #1 - good point! Safety and staying legal is definitely the priority for a trip. Since you're on a budget and worried about the wind, honestly skip the prop guards. They just catch the breeze and make the motors work harder, which kills your flight time even faster. Heres what I would grab with that $150:

• Skyreat 6-Pack ND Filter Set for DJI Mini 4 Pro
• These are great for D-Log M and way cheaper than the high-end stuff.
• Sunnylife RC 2 Sun Hood and Protector
• Definitely not overkill. It protects the sticks in your bag and cuts glare.
• STARTRC DJI RC 2 Lanyard Neck Strap
• Cheap insurance so you dont drop the controller while hiking.
• PGYTECH 55cm Drone Landing Pad
• Essential for coastal flights to keep sand out of the gimbal. Everything fits your budget and keeps the gear safe without adding too much weight or bulk.

Regarding what #2 said about staying legal, I'd caution against the pricey hard case. I would suggest a Sunnylife Mini 4 Pro Gimbal Cover to save cash, just make sure you dont wreck that sensor!

Congrats on the upgrade, but man, the battery weight thing is such a trap. I remember my first trip with the Plus batteries... I was so paranoid about the FAA that I barely enjoyed the flight. Honestly, just pay the five bucks and register it on the FAA DroneZone site. Its way better than stressing while youre trying to get the shot in Oregon. For the coastal wind, you really gotta be careful because the Mini 4 Pro is still super light, even with the bigger cells. I was flying near some cliffs last year and almost lost mine because I didnt account for the gust speed versus my ground speed. It just stood still in the air while the battery hit 10 percent. Since you got 150 left, definitely grab the Freewell DJI Mini 4 Pro ND Filters All Day 6-Pack. Without them, your D-Log M footage is gonna look choppy because the shutter speed will be way too high in that bright coastal sun. For protection, forget the prop guards... they just act like sails in the wind and make your flight time even worse. Instead, I would suggest a solid case. I use the Lykus Titan MA210 Hard Case for DJI Mini 4 Pro and it has saved my gimbal more than once when my gear got tossed around in the trunk. Skip the sunhood for the RC2 for now, the screen is actually decent, just spend that money on a fast card like the SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB microSDXC UHS-I so you dont get write errors while recording 4k60.

It can be pretty stressful dealing with coastal wind. I had a bit of a scare when I first started out flying near a lake. A sudden gust almost pushed my unit into a rock face because I didnt account for the resistance properly. That experience taught me to prioritize data over extra hardware. Since the gimbal feels so exposed, I focused on a methodical approach to my launches instead of adding more bulk.

• Look into the FAA DroneZone for the registration process
• Monitor wind gusts at specific altitudes using a weather app
• Use a cleaning kit to keep the lens and sensors clear of salt spray Being strictly methodical about checking the environment was more helpful for me than any extra guard. If youre worried about the legal side for your Oregon trip, the registration is quite fast and provides a lot of peace of mind.