Mountaineers charging electronic devices when climbing?

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could answer or share there opinions

• What are the most common electronic devices you take with you mountain climbing?
• How you charge electronic devices when out climbing and how you prevent the battery from dying? 

I'm a university final year Product Design student currently looking at the growing challenges mountaineers face with a lack of power to charge electronic devices when outdoors at various altitudes & temperatures.  

Many Thanks!

it's actually super easy. get a nice goal zero solar array and a battery pack. charge the pack when the sun is out and use the pack to charge your devices (just do your research to ensure the solar panels will output an appropriate amperage for your pack).

common devices to charge include phones and satellite messengers.

On top of what Curt said, in the past I have brought a power brick with me for a 6 day trip on Mt. Shuksan. If you keep the batteries warm and phone on airplane mode then there's not really any way you can go through 2-3 power cycles on the phone. 

By the time you take a small solar power battery charger, you could have just taken a battery loaded with 4 or five full charges. Typical iphone, with Gia GPS mapping, which is also a camera and flashlight. Keep on airplane mode, and keep warm on your person.

James Lee wrote: By the time you take a small solar power battery charger, you could have just taken a battery loaded with 4 or five full charges. Typical iphone, with Gia GPS mapping, which is also a camera and flashlight. Keep on airplane mode, and keep warm on your person.

Depends on how long you are out. 14 days on Aconcagua definitely warranted the ability to re-charge electronics...

For a multi-day mountaineering trip it could be quite the list.

a. GPS watch. Battery lasts 12-15 hours if recording a track, a week or two otherwise.
b. Smartphone for use as GPS mapping app, e-reader, music player, InReach keyboard, backup camera, etc. Lasts a week or so in airplane mode.
c. InReach. Lasts at least a week, even if sending trackpoints every hour.
d. Headlamp. Lasts 2-8 hours depending on brightness.
e. Compact camera. These days most people just use a smartphone, but I like to have a wide-angle lens and a viewfinder. A single battery lasts for 250-350 photos.
f. Avalanche transceiver. Never come close to depleting the batteries.
g. Never used one myself, but some people might carry a GoPro.

For recharging (a), (b) and possibly (c) I'll carry one or two battery packs. A single 4,000 mAh battery pack will recharge a smartphone once or twice and a GPS watch many times over. For (d) and (e) I'll carry spare device-specific batteries.

Unless you're on a month-long trip I don't think portable solar panels are worth the weight and bulk. For shorter trips all you need is one or two battery packs, which are lighter and a lot more compact.

This solar panel weighs a whopping 12 ounces and costs only $40.  In some cases it might make more sense to carry a panel like this one instead of a battery pack or two.

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/solar-charger/eceen-13w

I bring extra batteries for my camera and headlamp. My PLB has long life battery. I leave the rest at home.

1-3 days: iPhone SE on airplane mode (3.9oz)
3-5 days: add Goal Zero Flip10 (single charge) (+2.5oz)
5-7 days: add Goal Zero Flip 20 (double charge) (+4.6oz)
7+ days: add Renology 5W eFlex Solar Panel (+6.7oz; $13)

Ask partner to turn off their cell phone until yours dies--this can get you 2-6 days of airplane use mode without any charging.

Confirm smartphone battery health is good. Keep electronics close and warm. 

(Also: fresh batteries in headlamp, Garmin InReach, emergency micro-headlamp in first-aid kit, simple altimeter/compass watch that self-solar charges)

Mountaineers always carry a spare potato

Makes you wonder how Hillary ever made it up Everest!!!

John Adventurer wrote: Makes you wonder how Hillary ever made it up Everest!!!

That's a revealing comparison. The 1953 Everest expedition pre-dated satellite communications, but there were a dozen climbers, two dozen sherpas, 13 tons of equipment and hundreds of porters. They also used VHF radios below the summit.

I usually bring a phone, usb chargeable headlamp, often altimeter watch, occasionally GPS if very heavy brush and Kindle (passes the time when I can't sleep). For longer trips I bring a charging brick. I've tried solar chargers, but haven't had much luck in getting them to actually work.