Instrument brand

[jiott]

Here's my 2 cents on backup instruments:
For VFR flight, the Kitfox is easily flown without any instruments at all (except for engine monitoring). You just look out the window for altitude and use the attitude techniques you were taught for airspeed; therefore you don't need any backup flight instruments. Navigation is the only consideration for backup. In my home state and some nearby others, I don't need any navigation aids 95% of the time, I just use pilotage, so the odds of needing backup navigation is nearly nil. A longer x-country flight may require backup navigation, but on those flights I am nearly always flying with a buddy or two, so the other airplane is my backup. OK, it probably would be comforting to have your own navigation backup, so I have a GPS app on my smartphone, Avare, that would serve very well as an emergency backup. I also carry a Sporty's handheld radio that serves as my backup radio, but it also includes old fashioned VOR navigation as a third navigation backup for me. I do know how to use VORs and always carry aeronautical charts with me (I admit they are out of date, but would serve well in an emergency to look up VOR frequencies).

So there you have it, just a simple panel with an all-in-one screen, a radio and intercom and a wet compass for good measure and no other instruments, leaving plenty of panel room for a generous glove box.

You asked about brands, and I chose Dynon Skyview, but there are several other good brands out there for somewhat less money. Don't forget the ADS-B mandate; choose a screen with WAAS GPS that is already set up to easily incorporate ADS-B out and in.