who makes the best usb external battery pack?

[polechar]

I have an ANKER and works ok but it takes forever to charge. What are some of your experiences with other brands?

[JaxHiker]

Just got the iTorch for Christmas. It's a 5200mAh device. I'll try to report back later. It already had a charge so I need to do a full discharge.

Sent from my SkyRaider Thunderbolt.

[10-K]

This is the bomb: http://www.newtrent.com/.

I have one and it is everything it claims to be.

[JaxHiker]

This is the bomb: http://www.newtrent.com/.

I have one and it is everything it claims to be.

That's who makes the iTorch.

Sent from my SkyRaider Thunderbolt.

[polechar]

10-K what one do you have? how long does it take to charge it back up?

[ChinMusic]

New Trent works great for me. I bought the one that charges the iPhone like 6 times but I like to use my phone a lot. Getting one that works 3X is probably fine for most. I charge the phone over night in my tent. I charge the New Trent overnight when in town.

[Hops53]

Love the New Trent

[polechar]

yes that Itortch looks pretty awesome, it says recharge time is 4-5 hrs, thats a lot better than the one I have now, thanks for the input guys.

[10-K]

I've got the one that'll recharge an iPhone 2.5 times...

[Starchild]

I'd look to the input charge current first, then capacity. The input charge current will determine how fast that thing can charge. Some are as little as 500mA's, some 800mA's some 1 A (1000 mA's) and now it looks like they have 2A charging. In towns you may not have enough time to fully recharge the battery but you want to get as much as you can in the time you have.

Also a general tip I have found with Li-ion batteries. Charging speed is generally greatest from about 20% to 80% capacity, slower from 80% to 100% and can be slower from 0% to 20%. Charging efficiency also drops off near the high and low ends. So I try to keep my iPhone in the range of 20%-80% while backpacking and recharging off of a battery pack.

Peace

[polechar]

Great advise Starchild, You are exactly right!

[Scotto]

I bought an iTorch, but ultimately have decided not to use it for my through hike. The main problem is the slow charging. To determine how fast it would charge, I fully depleted it and hooked it up to a bench power supply. I discovered that it is very sensitive to the voltage supplied. I varied the input voltage from 4.9 to 5.1 volts. I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but the current draw increased by about 30 percent as I recall. That is just poor design, and I lost confidence in it.

So to answer the question how long does it take to charge? The only way to know for sure is to test it with your own USB power supply and cable, but on the order of 6-8 hours is typical. If you have a device with a fixed battery you probably need something like this, but I'm not sure who makes a good one. It is a very price sensitive market and I imagine the goal is to design for the low price point, so inefficient DC converters and slow recharging is probably the norm. Ultimately I decided to buy extra camera batteries and to bring along an iPod Nano so I could get by without the iTorch.

[Wise Old Owl]

I have an ANKER and works ok but it takes forever to charge. What are some of your experiences with other brands?

I use anker and its not what you think its various China made chargers - I found an old Blackberry charger with the right jack at 700ma 5v and have no problems charging fast - if you find something over 700ma get it!

I saw Scotto's and Starchilds posts and folks you have to look at the MA!

[tjkenney67]

+1 for the New Trent charger... Thanks to ChinMusic!!!! Best external charger I ever used.

[drifter]

+2 for the New Trent - recharges my iphone 4S 5 times! Sweet

[ChinMusic]

Just got an email for a special from New Trent. Passing it along: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=xmrfcudab&v=0011-u4wRWTE7QK3xYDFGoAs-73Mnbv_B_dixdXBDdumvOk4Z5uvGc0uFPQUBihAdtXGRQINp16 SLjeVJKGCEWzjqafC90CFwt3sD5kgeJ4E75aNGHQ0WiGZg%3D% 3D

Hope that link works

[kayak karl]

Just got an email for a special from New Trent. Passing it along: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=xmrfcudab&v=0011-u4wRWTE7QK3xYDFGoAs-73Mnbv_B_dixdXBDdumvOk4Z5uvGc0uFPQUBihAdtXGRQINp16 SLjeVJKGCEWzjqafC90CFwt3sD5kgeJ4E75aNGHQ0WiGZg%3D% 3D

Hope that link works
the buttons on the link are dead and the new trent site will not take the code. :(

[hikingirl]

How do you charge it in your tent?

[kayak karl]

How do you charge it in your tent?
you need to run an extension cord from the shelter

[kayak karl]

sorry :( couldn't help myself.

[ChinMusic]

How do you charge it in your tent?


The NewTrent device is charged at a town stop, typically over night. The NewTrent device then can charge the phone with the same cord one would use to plug it into as USB, typically over night to top off the phone.

[Scotto]

the buttons on the link are dead and the new trent site will not take the code. :(

The code works at Amazon. Although the buttons do not work, if you manually add the items from Amazon it works. That is quite a deal. It looks like to good today only.

[kayak karl]

thanks scotto :) placed my order

[Another Kevin]

If you're just interested in an occasional emergency charge, MintyBoost (http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/) takes two AA batteries, weighs next to nothing, and gives your phone at least a partial charge. I've charged a phone on the trail with one. It'll work with alkaline batteries, but lithium will give more of a charge and they're lighter.

[ChinMusic]

If you're just interested in an occasional emergency charge, MintyBoost (http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/) takes two AA batteries, weighs next to nothing, and gives your phone at least a partial charge. I've charged a phone on the trail with one. It'll work with alkaline batteries, but lithium will give more of a charge and they're lighter.

I used to use one of those. It worked just fine if you don't use your phone a whole ton. I tend to use mine quite a bit.

[lukabrazi]

I had been conisidering the icarrier but now think I would be better off getting this combination. This is a rough comparison. There isn't a large benefit over getting the larger icarrier compared to getting both the itorch and idual. The capacity is slightly less but the price difference is huge. Is there anything that I am not taking into account?

idual - 5.3 ounces - 5,200 capacity - 300% charge for iphone 5
itorch - 4.4 ounces - 5,200 capacity - 300% charge for iphone 5
Both combined - 9.7 ounces - 10,400 capacity - 600% charge for iphone 5
Combined you get the flexibility of carrying one or both and the cost is $40

icarrier - 10 ounces - 12,000 capacity - 600% charge for iphone 5
Cost is $77

[10-K]

On the AT where you're in a town at least once a week the iDual is enough unless you're really using your phone a lot or charging other people's stuff.

In airplane mode (using iPhone as camera) and using it as a phone only in the evening I can get 4 days out a charge without even using my iDual.

In fact, I've carried my Newtrent charger about 1000 miles and have actually only needed it 1 time.

[Another Kevin]

In fact, I've carried my Newtrent charger about 1000 miles and have actually only needed it 1 time.

So you don't expect to recharge but just might have to? That's the perfect situation for using a MintyBoost and a couple of AA lithiums. Smaller and lighter than the NewTrent, albeit less juice. (The AA lithiums also fit my camera, so I'd be carrying some spares anyway.)

[10-K]

Right, but I also need to have access to a few charges in case I get involved with a work situation and need to be on the phone for an extended period of time.

[ChinMusic]

Right, but I also need to have access to a few charges in case I get involved with a work situation and need to be on the phone for an extended period of time.

That is my situation too. I will be having to make contact with the office back home as the signal permits. I found I tend to use the iPhone more than the AA battery thing could handle. But that's just me. I think many others could get by with the item Kevin uses.

[BradMT]

So guys, will any of the New Trent charge a camera too?

Seems somewhat limited if it won't charge a camera battery and phone as well.

?

Thanks.

[10-K]

You can charge anything that'll charge via USB cable. You provide the cable.

[polechar]

I had been conisidering the icarrier but now think I would be better off getting this combination. This is a rough comparison. There isn't a large benefit over getting the larger icarrier compared to getting both the itorch and idual. The capacity is slightly less but the price difference is huge. Is there anything that I am not taking into account?

idual - 5.3 ounces - 5,200 capacity - 300% charge for iphone 5
itorch - 4.4 ounces - 5,200 capacity - 300% charge for iphone 5
Both combined - 9.7 ounces - 10,400 capacity - 600% charge for iphone 5
Combined you get the flexibility of carrying one or both and the cost is $40

icarrier - 10 ounces - 12,000 capacity - 600% charge for iphone 5
Cost is $77

If you use your phone a lot then the combination using the idual and itorch would allow you to charge them up faster in town over the larger icarrier. so doing this you would save money and time.

[lukabrazi]

If you use your phone a lot then the combination using the idual and itorch would allow you to charge them up faster in town over the larger icarrier. so doing this you would save money and time.

Quicker charge time is a really good point. Especially considering that the first 80% is the quickest. Plus overall I like the flexibility of taking one or two small ones instead of only having one big one. I just ordered from Amazon and the promotion code still worked. $39.95 total. This is a really good deal. Now I'm thinking about switching to the Petzl Core and eliminating the need for any AA batteries. Are there any other headlamps out there that charge via USB?

[NLaeger]

I bought the newtrent easypak charger and love it so far. It's a little bigger than my iPhone but so far has charged it 3 times, taking about 2hrs each time, and still has a charge.

[kayak karl]

So guys, will any of the New Trent charge a camera too?

Seems somewhat limited if it won't charge a camera battery and phone as well.

?

Thanks.
Other GoPro, GPS, cameras** and all other devices not mentioned but can charge from USB or require 5V input.

[hikingirl]

You are soo funny Karl!! NOT lol

[pinkiwong]

Which deal was this? i bought their NT70T back in November, and it has worked out great. priced well too ($40 after code) I just got one from them today...

‎70% Off NT120T (http://www.newtrent.com/new-trent-nt120t-portable-external-battery-pack.htmll (http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newtrent.com%2Fnt120t-1.html&h=9AQGlRRznAQFSAp8ntXRS2bAxKij2KIiyfwR-0cTAmbZizg&s=1)) with purchase of IMP120D (http://www.newtrent.com/newtrent-icarrier-imp120d-portable-battery-pack.html)! use 70OFF120 at checkout!

[rockymountainhigh]

I enjoy Eton

[10-K]

Quicker charge time is a really good point. Especially considering that the first 80% is the quickest. Plus overall I like the flexibility of taking one or two small ones instead of only having one big one. I just ordered from Amazon and the promotion code still worked. $39.95 total. This is a really good deal. Now I'm thinking about switching to the Petzl Core and eliminating the need for any AA batteries. Are there any other headlamps out there that charge via USB?

It's also more stuff to keep up with if you take 2 of them because all of the AC adapters are different for the different models - at least the 3 I have will not share the AC adapter......

Unless you're just a power-using phone person any one of the Newtrent chargers is probably overkill for most folks.

[Steve Jennette]

Mophie. Power Flask. Hyper Juice. All very strong external batteries. I listed them from last to most powerful. Mophie, fully charged, re-charged my IPod touch once, and my IPad to 55 per cent before going dead. The Hyper Juice claims 11 re-charges of your I Phone, but I did not test it yet. All are expensive and heavy compared to what has been discussed above in this forum.

[Chaco Taco]

thanks you guys, just ordered an itorch.