Best back country charger

[MOUNTAIN-MAN]

This is what I will be using this year. Good for 10 cell charges which is what I use for some of my maps.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M3073L4/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_8?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A294P4X9EWVXLJ

 

[bbrown]

Still really happy with the New Trent I picked up this spring - I think I'm getting 6-8 charges for my Iphone depending on how dead the phone is.

 

[WestDan]

Like others, I really liked my new Trent this year

 

[Ironman8]

I got an Anker Astro charger for my 9 day hunt this year. I can get 3 full charges out of it and it only weights something like 4 ozs. Part of why I chose it was that it had a much better warranty than some of the others I looked at on the market. Also, for a 9 day trip, with my phone in airplane mode, 3 charges is more than enough.

Here's the one I got:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EF1OGOG/ref=pd_aw_sbs_2?pi=AC_SX230_QL60

 

[Tim M]

Still really happy with the New Trent I picked up this spring - I think I'm getting 6-8 charges for my Iphone depending on how dead the phone is.

so what are you getting out of it for charges? do you think the extra 4 oz weight penalty of the 14000 would be worth it for the amount of battery life or is the 12000 more than enough to last you on most of your hunts?
I have been using a goal zero for the last 6 years and have had great luck with it, only complaints are the size/weight and that the batteries don't have a good shelf life unless you keep them charged all the time.
I am wondering if the 12000 would be enough on one of my 10-14 day hunts or pack trips.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

I went with the Goal Zero Guide 10 Solar Kit...I have only charged the power pack once with the solar panels so far and I can get at least 2 full charges on my phone from the pack.

http://www.goalzero.com/p/79/guide-10-plus-solar-kit/24:1/

Same here...get a 2nd batt pack and charge it too for back-up juice is the sun don't shine for a week. http://www.amazon.com/Goal-Zero-410...=1418785537&sr=8-1&keywords=goal+zero+10+plus

 

[HardcoreHunter]

Same here...get a 2nd batt pack and charge it too for back-up juice is the sun don't shine for a week. http://www.amazon.com/Goal-Zero-410...=1418785537&sr=8-1&keywords=goal+zero+10+plus

84.88, two left...http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Goal-Ze...9581&clkid=2694559486287008285&_qi=RTM1963930

 

[bbrown]

Tim - all I use it to charge is my iPhone and INReach so it's plenty for me up 10 days - prolly more. I get 2-3 days between charges on my phone and 4-5 days on the inreach so I'm sure I would last even longer. My only complaint is its heavy but it's a battery so what else can I expect.
It takes a while to fully charge too.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

84.88, two left...http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Goal-Ze...9581&clkid=2694559486287008285&_qi=RTM1963930

That's a smokin' deal!

 

[dotman]

I got an Anker Astro charger for my 9 day hunt this year. I can get 3 full charges out of it and it only weights something like 4 ozs. Part of why I chose it was that it had a much better warranty than some of the others I looked at on the market. Also, for a 9 day trip, with my phone in airplane mode, 3 charges is more than enough.

Here's the one I got:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EF1OGOG/ref=pd_aw_sbs_2?pi=AC_SX230_QL60

I have an Anker 20,000mah 18oz charger that is simply amazing. Yeah it weighs a little more but for the power output vs weight I'm very pleased.

 

[avodude]

Here is a MintyBoost charger that I soldered together the other day. It weighs 2 and 1/8 oz with 2 alkaline batteries included in the weight (should weigh less with lithium batteries). Called a MintyBoost because it and the AA's fit within an Altoids can. Charges a cell phone (~1200mAh battery) once from dead to an 80% charge with two alkaline AA batteries. All sorts of battery configurations are available to this charger as long as the voltage is not over 5 Volts (3 AA's, C's, D's, Lipoly, etc...). Bottom photo taken from adafruit.com (mintyboost)

 

[bigeasygator]

Same here...get a 2nd batt pack and charge it too for back-up juice is the sun don't shine for a week. http://www.amazon.com/Goal-Zero-410...=1418785537&sr=8-1&keywords=goal+zero+10+plus

I recommend a separate USB powered battery pack. I used a Goal Zero 10 on a drop camp elk hunt this year. The camp was set along a creek drainage that was pretty shady, and sun would only be available around camp for part of the day. The Guide 10 never seemed to get much of a charge while it was attached to the Nomad 7 panel. It was nice to have a separate USB battery pack that could be utilized. With a USB battery pack you can plug both it and the Guide 10 into the USB and have them charging together as well.

 

[Rizzy]

I used something similar. I found the boost converter for 3 bucks on Ebay and soldered a battery craddle to it. I call it "the last ditch effort". It basically allows you to use the spare batteries you already carry, to get enough charge to do whatever it is with your Iphone you can't live without. I get about a 60% charge out of it with lithium AA. I tested it at home and carried it on a few trips, but never needed it. I can stretch my Iphone charge to 4 days or more if needed so I don't currently use any of the charging devices.

Here is a MintyBoost charger that I soldered together the other day. It weighs 2 and 1/8 oz with 2 alkaline batteries included in the weight (should weigh less with lithium batteries). Called a MintyBoost because it and the AA's fit within an Altoids can. Charges a cell phone (~1200mAh battery) once from dead to an 80% charge with two alkaline AA batteries. All sorts of battery configurations are available to this charger as long as the voltage is not over 5 Volts (3 AA's, C's, D's, Lipoly, etc...). Bottom photo taken from adafruit.com (mintyboost)

 

[Nick Muche]

I'm on Amazon now and the one you would want is available.

You want the PowerPak Extreme 12000mah

Been using this one all year, very happy with it.

 

[avodude]

Hey guys, need something for charging iphone 5. Everything else is AA batteries or 18650 for my zebra light. Doubt one charger will do all of it. iPhone is only for pairing with delorme Inreach. Appreciate your input as always. Keep it together, rob.

Timberghost (OP), were you trying to find a charger that would recharge all of your batteries? Or run off of AA or 18650?

 

[Camofreak]

I just got a Jackery Bar, weighs like 5.4 oz or something. Works GREAT. Gets lots of charges on it! I use it for my iPhone,gopro, and gps.

 

[avodude]

That Jackery Bar looks to be a pretty sweet package. Looks to be a boost converter with rechargeable lipoly batteries all enclosed in a pretty sweet case.

 

[Camofreak]

That Jackery Bar looks to be a pretty sweet package. Looks to be a boost converter with rechargeable lipoly batteries all enclosed in a pretty sweet case.

Yeah it's pretty nice deal, puts out like 6000 maH. Amazon has them for 30$.it charges stuff real quick, even has a little led on the front for a flashlight.

 

[jwb300]

Here is a MintyBoost charger that I soldered together the other day. It weighs 2 and 1/8 oz with 2 alkaline batteries included in the weight (should weigh less with lithium batteries). Called a MintyBoost because it and the AA's fit within an Altoids can. Charges a cell phone (~1200mAh battery) once from dead to an 80% charge with two alkaline AA batteries. All sorts of battery configurations are available to this charger as long as the voltage is not over 5 Volts (3 AA's, C's, D's, Lipoly, etc...). Bottom photo taken from adafruit.com (mintyboost)

That is brilliant avodude - is it possible to purchase one of those?

Cheers,
JWB300

 

[avodude]

jwb300,

Here is the link to the kit:

http://www.adafruit.com/products/14

If you can solder, you can put this together easily. Costs $19.50 and comes with the twin AA harness. Like I said above, as long as the voltage of the batteries are less than 5 V and above 2.5V then any combination of battery config (parallel, series) and battery types (AA, C, D, 18650, rechargeable, Lipoly, etc) will work. If you go parallel with lipoly you will need protection for them and a certain type of charger (for the lipoly).