Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => All Other Gear => Topic started by: Naches Sportsman on February 26, 2015, 08:29:40 PM

Title: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: Naches Sportsman on February 26, 2015, 08:29:40 PM: I am planning a major wilderness hike for middle of june that will cover approximately 50 miles in 4 days and will need some sort of communication device to call for a ride when I am out of the wilderness. What do you guys use for phone chargers when in the back country? I have three routes planned which all have service, but need a way to get out what my plans are, thought about buying a spot, but I think a cell phone charger would be better for me.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: tjthebest on February 26, 2015, 08:33:55 PM: Amazon has the portable power packs on sale all the time. Find one with over 4 stars and you should be good. Keep your phone in airplane mode or off most the time and you should be fine.

http://www.amazon.com/Astro-Lipstick-Sized-Portable-PowerIQTM-Technology/dp/B005X1Y7I2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425011563&sr=8-1&keywords=portable+charger (http://www.amazon.com/Astro-Lipstick-Sized-Portable-PowerIQTM-Technology/dp/B005X1Y7I2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425011563&sr=8-1&keywords=portable+charger)
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: Brad Harshman on February 26, 2015, 08:40:21 PM: You can also buy extra phone batteries. I bought a two pack with a wall charger. If you keep your phone off or on airplane mode your battery will last a long time. Turn it on only when you need too. :twocents:
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: Fl0und3rz on February 26, 2015, 08:42:28 PM: For the specified plans, I'd just go with an extra charged battery and leave the phone off unless actively using it. Unless you're just looking for gear, you'd probably have more use for a spare battery after the hike.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: KFhunter on February 26, 2015, 08:51:13 PM: this one is huge with 12000 mah

http://www.amazon.com/Jackery%C2%AE-Portable-Aluminum-12000mAh-External/dp/B00AANQLRI/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1425012591&sr=8-9&keywords=cell+phone+battery+pack (http://www.amazon.com/Jackery%C2%AE-Portable-Aluminum-12000mAh-External/dp/B00AANQLRI/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1425012591&sr=8-9&keywords=cell+phone+battery+pack)
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: jackelope on February 26, 2015, 08:53:28 PM: I did 4 days last year and my phone battery was at like 60% when I got back to my truck. Airplane mode and only use it when you need it. Even took a bunch of pictures. Still lasted just fine. Lots of new phones don't have the ability to just buy extra batteries. Iphone for example.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: 7mag. on February 26, 2015, 08:54:05 PM: How about a Goal Zero solar charger.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: Limhangerslayer on February 26, 2015, 08:59:52 PM: Quote from: 7mag. on February 26, 2015, 08:54:05 PM
How about a Goal Zero solar charger.
:yeah: there are some good lightweight solar chargers.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: j_h_nimrod on February 26, 2015, 09:03:37 PM: I always have mine (iPhone 5) for maps, GPS, pictures, Texas Holdum, etc. On longer trips I leave it off unless using it and am good for about 4 days. On short trips it is on airplane mode. I also bought the $32 Brunton Ember at Walmart and have been happy with it and I was able to keep my phone charged over 4 days with almost normal use. It has an internal battery good for about 3 charges and a solar charger that charges the internal charger battery. It all seemed to work well and was reasonably priced.

If I were to upgrade I would look at the Goal Zero units.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: Brad Harshman on February 26, 2015, 09:05:06 PM: Sorry I am a Samsung user. Swapping batteries is just another example of a superior device. So glad I dumped my iPhone years ago. :IBCOOL:

Sorry I couldn't resist a little bashing. No harm intended.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: barracuda163 on February 26, 2015, 09:22:55 PM: Not sure about other cordless tools but my Milwaukee m18 set offers a USB charger/adapter that clips on my batteries. Great auxillary power and also works to power heated jacket.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: Becky on February 26, 2015, 09:52:19 PM: IF you can get another battery, that's a great way to do it. I have two batteries, plus we used this cheap duracell portable charger and it works great for a charge.

http://ww2.duracell.com/en-US/product/instant-usb-charger.jspx (http://ww2.duracell.com/en-US/product/instant-usb-charger.jspx)

Are you positive you'll have reception where you're going? If you're doing a 4-day hike, I would get the SPOT just to be able to communicate when you're out there/not just when you're done and needing a ride. Stay safe!
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: wapiti hunter2 on February 26, 2015, 10:20:43 PM: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/dealZone.jsp (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/dealZone.jsp)
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: buglebrush on February 26, 2015, 10:26:39 PM: I have a battery like the one linked on Amazon, and a Goal Zero. For anything less than a week I never take the goal Zero. Just the battery bank. I can get 3 full charges off of it. Only way to go in my opinion.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: jasnt on February 26, 2015, 10:32:38 PM: Tagging
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: biggfish on February 26, 2015, 10:42:24 PM: I use a Rayovac charger that uses 4 AA batteries. I have extra batteries anyway for my flashlight and GPS so if I need to charge a phone I can. If I drain it and need to charge again pop in more batteries.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: lamrith on February 27, 2015, 05:43:22 AM: Quote from: biggfish on February 26, 2015, 10:42:24 PM
I use a Rayovac charger that uses 4 AA batteries. I have extra batteries anyway for my flashlight and GPS so if I need to charge a phone I can. If I drain it and need to charge again pop in more batteries.
:yeah:
That combined with solar charger and some rechargeable AA could give quite a bit of flexibility and backup for long trips and not add much weight.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: poopooheaddad on February 27, 2015, 06:07:26 AM: I have been looking at these, ????
http://biolitestove.com/ (http://biolitestove.com/)
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on February 27, 2015, 06:27:10 AM: Just got the goal zero. Probably only carry the batteries but for a longer trip I could charge the go pro lots of times. Or any camera battery as well.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: Naches Sportsman on February 27, 2015, 08:32:14 AM: Thanks for the suggestions.

Smossy girl, I have service pretty much everywhere in the wilderness except in the major creek drainage. The creek crossing may or may not be difficult (we will see how much snow we get in march and april) so I am kind of holding off on the spot. I plan on walking west to the pct and then down the pct to the nearest highway if the creek is too high/fast.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: jackelope on February 27, 2015, 09:36:49 AM: What kind of phone?

There's about a metric ton of the battery pack USB chargers here you can choose from that are compact, inexpensive and seem like they'd do the job at least for a charge or 2.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpage.jsp?id=pcat17071&st=external+battery+charger (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpage.jsp?id=pcat17071&st=external+battery+charger)

I can't see you needing much unless you're going to be calling and texting people all the time. Put your phone in airplane mode and use it to take some pictures. Take it out of airplane mode if you need to, or when it's time to make your phone call.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: stryker on February 27, 2015, 11:21:12 AM: When away, we carry along one of these and a pack of fresh AA. I keep one in the truck and one in the camping gear.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rayovac-7-Hour-Power-Pack-PS73-4BT6/204765391 (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rayovac-7-Hour-Power-Pack-PS73-4BT6/204765391)
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: jstone on February 27, 2015, 11:44:11 AM: I was thinking of the solar one? Anyone use one?
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: Karl Blanchard on February 27, 2015, 12:17:00 PM: Its four days man, just turn your phone off until you need to make a call. If you plan on hitting the pct you should be able to cover more than 13 miles a day, unless that's all your wanting to do in a day.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: Becky on February 27, 2015, 12:31:28 PM: Quote from: Naches Sportsman on February 27, 2015, 08:32:14 AM
Thanks for the suggestions.

Smossy girl, I have service pretty much everywhere in the wilderness except in the major creek drainage. The creek crossing may or may not be difficult (we will see how much snow we get in march and april) so I am kind of holding off on the spot. I plan on walking west to the pct and then down the pct to the nearest highway if the creek is too high/fast.

Oh that's good then, I'm just more of a "better safe than sorry" type. :)
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: jackelope on February 27, 2015, 12:39:59 PM: Quote from: BLRman on February 27, 2015, 12:17:00 PM
Its four days man, just turn your phone off until you need to make a call. If you plan on hitting the pct you should be able to cover more than 13 miles a day, unless that's all your wanting to do in a day.

:yeah:
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: Miles on February 27, 2015, 12:45:36 PM: My favorite part of being in the backcountry is shutting the phone off.
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: 2labs on February 27, 2015, 04:43:58 PM: Four days in the"wilderness" my cheap Wal-Mart phone lasts 5-6 days no prob. How did we, pops, and grandpops ever manage without cell service?
Title: Re: phone chargers for the back country.
Post by: lokidog on February 27, 2015, 06:02:10 PM: Look at Hackery from Amazon.