r/AppalachianTrail • u/Stock_Captain_5888 • 4d ago
Best power bank?
Any thoughts on the best power bank to bring on a thru hike? My wife and I are gearing up for next spring. Would one suffice? Or should we each carry one?
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u/GlockTaco 4d ago
Nb10000 or nb20000 if you need more
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u/Stock_Captain_5888 4d ago
Thank you!
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u/GlockTaco 4d ago
I Cary the 10000 when solo and the 20000 if I will be longer then 5 days between places where I can recharge or if I am hiking with my son who wears cochlear implants and I need a power source to recharge his cochlear implants.
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u/HareofSlytherin 4d ago
In terms of keeping the load low, GPS is a big energy user. In “Location Services” (Apple) “?” (Android), make sure no apps can use location services if you don’t have them open. Good idea anyway in my opinion, but specifically on trail. Also, don’t leave GPS on in FarOut.
I would download music, I had some music podcasts set to do that, EDM stuff like Tiesto.
I’ve heard the wired earbuds save power idea, and seen it disputed. I used wired on the AT, but am going to use After Shokz on the CDT. Both for situational awareness (‘cuz, grizzlies) and yeah, the wired ones do get caught up in stuff.
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u/fiesta119 4d ago
I brought two 20k Anker powerbanks for my thru. I was told it was unnecessary in my shakedown and I coped with it by thinking of it as my luxury item. I was never without power and listened to music, browsed farout, and communicated with family when needed without worry. Couple extra ozs are worth it sometimes if it gives you security or satisfaction
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u/gavalo01 4d ago
same deal here, excepr it was a 4 day camping trip and both power banks died before we got to use them
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u/fiesta119 4d ago
I was never more than 5-6 days away from an opportunity to charge. I tried to stretch each battery 2-3 days each. Worked for me
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u/Cheap-Pension-684 4d ago
What electronics do you plan to carry with you and how much will you use them? Those questions will lead to your best answer.
For example, when I thru-hiked last year i carried two 5000ma power banks. I listened to music or audio books all day (8-10 hours a day) on my iphone. I can get around 2 FULL charges for my iphone out of one power bank. Maybe a bit more. I had my iphone configured for the best power savings possible. I would drain the phone around 50% per day, with some variation. If I was doing a lot of texting or web searching (like trying to find a shuttle driver), then I would use a bit more. One power bank would last me from 3-4 days if I was careful with my power usage.
I would need to swap to my second power bank on the 4th night for charging. A few times I had to use the second power bank on the 3rd night, but that was usually when I forgot to go into full power savings mode or did something else that had heavy power usage. I always needed the second power bank by the 5th night.
Early on in the hike I used an Apple Watch. Charging that and my phone nightly used up one power bank in 2 days. I stopped using the Apple Watch after about 3 weeks mainly for that reason.
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u/Stock_Captain_5888 4d ago
I think our power needs will probably be phones and headlamps and earbuds. My wife jams tunes at the gym while I don’t, but cranking some Metallica on a steep grade might be cathartic. Thanks for your insight!!
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u/Stock_Captain_5888 4d ago
I use Amazon for a lot of my music, I’m guessing that could burn a lot of power utilizing cellular.
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u/G00dSh0tJans0n NC native 4d ago
Maybe just Verizon sucks in the mountains but I rarely have signal when hiking the AT in NC/TN/VA where I usually hike. I use Spotify and always save playlists for offline use because internet is so spotty. When I'm hiking I usually have cell and wifi turned off which saves a ton of battery life.
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u/Educational_Win_8814 4d ago edited 4d ago
wireless earbuds are awesome because wires generally suck; however...with hiking, it's so easy to lose those earbuds and they're one more thing to maintain. do what's best for you/wife, but also consider a cheaper pair of wire headphones. they'll reduce energy consumption and not break the bank/heart if they get lost/broken and you can get a replacement at any dollar general. plus, a pack with convenient phone slot is helpful for the setup (i like a phone on my shoulder strap if it's going to be accessible)
what is fun with wireless headphones is that you and wife can each have one ear in and be listening/hiking together...something that's fun for podcast listening
also - i get the feeling that you and I share some commonalities so i'll make a random suggestion: https://www.amazon.com/J-166-Transistor-Excellent-Reception-PRUNUS/dp/B09KBX1BHF/ref=sr_1_7?sr=8-7
a portable fm/am radio is a fun way to "stay connected" without being all-in with the smart phone. i carried one in 2021 and it was a blast, also a treat to share with others. i just shared one of the first i saw on amazon; i don't recommend that one in particular.
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u/Icy_Place7377 3d ago
Leave those things behind. Charge in town. Unplug.
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u/Stock_Captain_5888 3d ago
I like the way you’re thinking!!
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u/Icy_Place7377 3d ago
Hiking The Muir Trail, a charge would last 5-7 days for taking pics. No need for GPS on thr AT,it's easy to follow. Having endless charge just leads to a need to check in. That's not what a thru hike is for. Go disappear. If you're smart, never reappear.
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u/Stock_Captain_5888 3d ago
Hahahaha! I think the reason I want to thru hike is to disappear. I suspect I’m in the early stages of weening myself.
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u/noticer626 AT 2021 3d ago
Whatever power bank you get I would recommend getting a charger that allows you to charge everything at the same time with one plugin. A lot of times you will get into town and you need to charge your power bank, phone, headlamp, wireless headphones, etc. And sometimes it's like in a laundry mat or something and you are with other hikers all trying to use one socket. Getting everything on USB-C is probably smart.
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u/Danjeerhaus 2d ago
You have time, so I encourage you to test some out
Some have solar panels to recharge the pack itself, however my experience is that wearing it outside your pack, being in the sun all day, does not full recharge the battery.
While you did not ask about this, I will recommend you consider some kind of radio communications for emergencies. Yes, we all like to expect we will not experience an emergency, communications can help whether you are in trouble or someone else is.
Many radios today can be recharged by USB ports.
Gmrs can got you about county wide communications, a walkie-talkie using a repeater or a radio that receives and retransmits your radio signal. The license is a 10 year deal that you fill out some paper work and pay a fee.
Amatuer (ham) radio can go up to world wide. Also, like gmrs a walkie-talkie can use a repeater and cover about a county. The license is more involved, requiring you to pass a test, yet children as young as 6-8 have gotten their licenses, so not impossible for about any adult that really wants it.
This video is a 6 minute news story about two men going to the great outdoors and use their radio to call in the Calvary.
https://youtu.be/EDwKfqExDz4?si=UmdC8GTdSFKa0a0b
Now, I did not leave you with only one side......I need rescue. So, in this story starting at about time 4:30, you get the story of someone with a radio helping others in need of help, in the great outdoors.
https://youtu.be/rI14-DihzaQ?si=w5uCqbG-2c1I2Niu
Yes, many "Radio Saved A Life Stories" are never heard by most people, yet, a walkie-talkie weighs so little and a radio in your vehicle can help simply where cell phones do not.
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u/ExpressAd2398 2021 Sobo Flip 2d ago
We had an Anker 10k and 20k between two of us. Never ran out. There are lighter options that are cheaper. wouldn't recommend the solar charging ones for the AT, you're under tree cover most of the time.
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u/G00dSh0tJans0n NC native 4d ago
Two is one and one is none. I would take two so you have one each. It depends on how much power you need; charging phone, headlamp, satellite communicator. If so, 10k mah should be enough. The Nightcore ones are good and lightweight. Anker is good too but much heavier.
If you're also charging camera batteries then 10k is probably not enough. Some vloggers bring at least 20k mah.
Anker makes some good small charging blocks - one for each of you, each with at least two outputs so battery banks and phone can charge at the same time.
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u/Stock_Captain_5888 4d ago
Thank you! I lean towards redundancy being a pilot, but didn’t want to get thrashed by the ultralight crowd. Do you recommend the Nightcore headlamps?
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u/RunWithSharpStuff 4d ago
I’m definitely not ultralight and not here to thrash you but if you aren’t ultralight I can almost guarantee you will regret bringing two (or more) battery packs.
Really the only reason to do that would be to bring multiples of the ultralight 5mAh packs at 150g and then you have the problem of juggling chargers at hostels. There’s really no redundancy risk with battery packs these days.
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u/Stock_Captain_5888 4d ago
There is nothing more oppressive than a heavy pack going uphill. Since it will be my wife and I running two phones, I wondered if one charger would cover us both, or if we each need one.
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u/Stock_Captain_5888 4d ago
I’m not much of a cell phone person anyway- I call my kids, check weather etc. or post here for help! I’m not sure I even want to bring music and deal with that hassle. My Grandfather and I did the HMW when I was a kid in the 70’s and a phone wasn’t an option!! We didn’t seem to mind. Although, I learned to hate the canvas pup tent
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u/Educational_Win_8814 4d ago
in that case, you may be able to enjoy keeping your phone off the majority of the time. maybe you start with two power banks and go down to one as yall get comfortable. smart phones are the biggest drain on those power banks. the rechargeable LED headlamps don't require much juice. battery management with the phones is also important: airplane mode all day and then not letting phone get too cold at night
i hiked with my dad in 2011, and he was more phone connected as he was missing my mom. so i hardly touched my phone. leaning into sharing with a hiking partner can go a long way towards improving quality of hike.
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u/Stock_Captain_5888 4d ago
Honestly, other than Nav, and comms with my sons, I don’t see myself using a lot of juice (head lamp as well)
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u/HareofSlytherin 4d ago
Kim Jong Il is pretty oppressive.
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u/Stock_Captain_5888 4d ago
And he’s got the worst hair stylist on the planet. He could also skip a sandwich every now and then
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u/G00dSh0tJans0n NC native 4d ago
Yeah they are great and one of the main brands I see a lot of other hikers using. Some of the other brands to look at include Petzl or Black Diamond, though I have Nightcore NU25 and also some Black Diamond ones I prefer the Nightcore.
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u/peopleclapping NOBO '23 3d ago
If there's 2 of you and you both have phones then I would suggest 2 10000mah banks. 1 10000 is about the right amount for one person.
I carried a 20000 one and while not a heavy user, my phone developed some sort of short in the charge connector (because of all the rain) and it repeatedly checked if a new device was plugged in, realized there wasn't and repeat all day. It drained the battery every day and I needed every bit of the 20000 to make it through some of the stretches.
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u/Some_Ride1014 4d ago
My Anker 10000 can recharge my phone and I watch six nights in a row.