Honestly, congrats on the X-T5. It is such a beast. Over the years, I have learned the hard way that the official gear tax is rarely worth it for simple metal parts. If you are heading to Zion, you want utility over aesthetics, and that budget is better spent elsewhere.

• Definitely grab the SmallRig L-Shape Grip for Fujifilm X-T5 4136. In my experience, it feels plenty solid and the Arca-Swiss plate is built right in, which is huge for trail tripod setups.
• For power, bite the bullet on one official Fujifilm NP-W235 Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery. I have seen too many third-party ones swell in the desert heat and it is just not worth the risk when you are miles from a store.
• If your hands still feel cramped, the Lensmate Fujifilm X-T5 Folding Thumb Grip makes one-handed shooting way more stable. Basically, dont blow the whole 200 on a metal Fuji handle. The SmallRig does the same job. Use the savings for some good trail snacks or a beer after hiking... you are gonna need it.

TL;DR: SmallRig grip is more functional, but never skimp on battery safety. @Reply #1 - good point! In my experience, the SmallRig L-Shape Grip for FUJIFILM X-T5 4136 is better than the Fujifilm MHG-XT5 Metal Hand Grip and has a built-in tool tho. But honestly dont mess with cheap batteries. If you want to save cash but stay safe, check out the Nitecore UFZ100 USB-C Rechargeable Battery. I have used them for years without swelling and they charge via USB-C while hiking.

I'm so satisfied with my Peak Design Slide Lite Camera Strap SLL-BK-3 for Zion. It worked well keeping my X-T5 secure while hiking, which was more important than having a bulky grip.

Re: "I'm so satisfied with my Peak Design Slide..."

• Glad that worked out for you but man, the accessory market for these cameras is such a headache. I've been shooting Fuji for a decade and the frustration of finding reliable bits that don't cost a fortune never gets easier. You spend all this money on a flagship body then you're stuck gambling on whether a grip is actually gonna stay tight or if a battery is gonna swell and brick the whole thing. Over the years I've had some pretty bad runs with my gear:
• My last cheap grip actually warped the tripod mount threads because the machining was off by a hair
• Had a backup battery fail during a heatwave in Utah and I literally had to pry it out of the chamber
• The constant anxiety that a firmware update will suddenly make all my third-party stuff incompatible I'm currently stuck with a grip that has a tiny bit of play in it, so every time I rack focus, I feel a little click in my palm. It's maddening. It feels like we're just being taxed for the privilege of our gear not falling apart in the middle of a hike. Honestly, it kind of sours the honeymoon phase when you're just worrying about tolerances and voltage drops instead of just shooting the landscape.

Late to the party but this whole thread is 💯. Glad I found it.