Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Why your outdoorsy friend suddenly has a gummy bear power bank

theverge.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

141–150 of 327 posts

Re: Why your outdoorsy friend suddenly has a gummy bear power bank

#141

Post by jeffbee »

addaon wrote: post #84
JohnFen wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That insane over-optimization is how folks are getting down to (and below) 10 pounds. I'm not even remotely an ultralight backpacker, but I do count ounces (no matter what your weight limit is, you can't escape making tradeoffs to stay within it). Your hiking load is a great example of how quickly apparently insignificant quantities can add up. Saving fractions of an ounce multiple times gets you large savings far mo…

I'm down to around 10 lb base load. And then I hike in the desert where I carry 5 - 7 liters of water (11 - 15 lbs). And food. Saving a pound here and there is totally worth it, but there's a large part of the country where prudent hiking means the majority of your weight is water.

If saving here and there is worth it, why would a hiker carry a 300g battery? Imagine the savings from leaving that boat anchor at home along with whatever obviously non-essential gadget wants to be recharged.

Re: Why your outdoorsy friend suddenly has a gummy bear power bank

#142

Post by saagarjha »

codedokode wrote: post #15

Sorry for being off-topic, but why with all the advanced technology today I have to manually copy ounces and pounds into Google to learn how much it is? Instead of adding dark themes and material design, it would be better to add a unit converter. Also do you really need a power bank for a 2-day trip? In airplane mode a phone can live like 2 weeks.

iPhone has one that's built in fwiw

Re: Why your outdoorsy friend suddenly has a gummy bear power bank

#143

Post by ics »

trenchpilgrim wrote: post #136
ashdksnndck wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That the purpose of the sleeping pad is characterized as thermal performance and not comfort is proof that I am not capable of the ultralight mindset.

I spent time in India as a kid sleeping on the hard floor of my grandmother's home. Maybe my sense of comfort is different IDK, but I don't consider a pad essential on a warm night

I’m from the US but a “floor sleeper” and have never camped with a pad like these even in near-freezing temperatures. I’m sure it helps but these days I get the impression from people around that they just like gear, don’t like being uncomfortable, and any other benefit is just a bonus to rationalize spending money. Maybe I’ll try it some day and be a convert, until then…

Re: Why your outdoorsy friend suddenly has a gummy bear power bank

#144

Post by jeffbee »

pier25 wrote: post #39
tedggh wrote: post #18

I traveled ultralight until I got into landscape photography. Those tele zooms are heavy AF. I got bigger quads and biceps.

Are you shooting full frame?

Landscape photographers do not consider the 35mm format to be "full".

Re: Why your outdoorsy friend suddenly has a gummy bear power bank

#145

Post by bschwindHN »

codedokode wrote: post #15

Sorry for being off-topic, but why with all the advanced technology today I have to manually copy ounces and pounds into Google to learn how much it is? Instead of adding dark themes and material design, it would be better to add a unit converter. Also do you really need a power bank for a 2-day trip? In airplane mode a phone can live like 2 weeks.

On iOS:

Highlight text, select convert, see conversion:

https://imgur.com/a/tD9H1t9

But the real solution is for Americans to stop using dumb units.

Re: Why your outdoorsy friend suddenly has a gummy bear power bank

#146

Post by Fricken »

ashdksnndck wrote: post #127
trenchpilgrim wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You put them under your sleeping bag and they make your sleep way warmer than if your sleeping bag is directly on the tent floor. https://www.nemoequipment.com/collections/sleeping-pads

That the purpose of the sleeping pad is characterized as thermal performance and not comfort is proof that I am not capable of the ultralight mindset.

With ultralight activities you're supposed to be so exhausted by bedtime that it isn't necessary to be comfortable to fall asleep.

Re: Why your outdoorsy friend suddenly has a gummy bear power bank

#147

Post by kiwijamo »

codedokode wrote: post #15

Sorry for being off-topic, but why with all the advanced technology today I have to manually copy ounces and pounds into Google to learn how much it is? Instead of adding dark themes and material design, it would be better to add a unit converter. Also do you really need a power bank for a 2-day trip? In airplane mode a phone can live like 2 weeks.

Taking photos and videos does kill the battery quite quickly if you take a lot through. So does depend on what you use your phone for during your trip.

Re: Why your outdoorsy friend suddenly has a gummy bear power bank

#148

Post by addaon »

jeffbee wrote: post #141
addaon wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm down to around 10 lb base load. And then I hike in the desert where I carry 5 - 7 liters of water (11 - 15 lbs). And food. Saving a pound here and there is totally worth it, but there's a large part of the country where prudent hiking means the majority of your weight is water.

If saving here and there is worth it, why would a hiker carry a 300g battery? Imagine the savings from leaving that boat anchor at home along with whatever obviously non-essential gadget wants to be recharged.

I don't carry a battery, but I do carry a solar panel that weighs around 300 g. I use my phone when backpacking as a GPS receiver, map, flashlight, and eBook reader. Phone + solar panel weighs less than paperback + paper map + flashlight, gives me more flexibility for adjusting plans, and doesn't leave me out of novel after a few days.

Re: Why your outdoorsy friend suddenly has a gummy bear power bank

#149

Post by trenchpilgrim »

ics wrote: post #143
trenchpilgrim wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I spent time in India as a kid sleeping on the hard floor of my grandmother's home. Maybe my sense of comfort is different IDK, but I don't consider a pad essential on a warm night

I’m from the US but a “floor sleeper” and have never camped with a pad like these even in near-freezing temperatures. I’m sure it helps but these days I get the impression from people around that they just like gear, don’t like being uncomfortable, and any other benefit is just a bonus to rationalize spending money. Maybe I’ll try it some day and be a convert, until then…

For my setup my nemo pad + bag is smaller packed volume than an equivalently warm bag without pad. I mostly motocamp so packed volume is at premium. My nemo pad packs down to about the size of a soda can in my saddlebag.

Re: Why your outdoorsy friend suddenly has a gummy bear power bank

#150

Post by throwaway2037 »

strken wrote: post #102
SoftTalker wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not a backpacker, but I presume there is stuff you normally don't use, but don't want to be without. Some amount of first-aid supplies, etc.

For me, a not-particularly-lightweight hiker with a 10kg base weight, that list includes: - a knife - a first-aid kit with some niche stuff like big gauze pads, electrolytes, strapping tape, etc. - quarter of a roll of toilet paper - a compass and whistle - a paper map - spare laces - 3L of water, unless water is guaranteed to be available (2L is more standard) - spare calories in case I'm delayed - emergency beacon…

Are you (overnight) camping or only day hiking with all of this kit?
Post reply on HN