mp3 player for the trail?

[gina811]

I would like to have the option to listen to music when on the trail, but most devices are recharged through your computer.
Has anyone found any music/mp3 players that work well for the trail, or any pragmatic solutions to this?
I saw that Petzl has a device that can transfer battery power to your mp3 device, but it seems a bit silly to drain your headlamp power over and over.
Any ideas/advice are much appreciated!

Thanks,
Gina

[leaftye]

I prefer portable devices that use AA/AAA batteries. Some of the Sandisk Sansa mp3 players use these batteries. Unfortunately I don't think they have one that uses those batteries and has a memory card slot.

You should also be able to buy a wall charger for almost any mp3 player. I know there's a charger for the newer non-AA/AAA battery Sansa's....costs $0.01.

[Frog]

You dont need a fancy mp3 look for one at wal-mart that uses batteries. I got a really small one from creative labs and it has not let me down yet and only uses one aaa that last about 18 hours.

[Toolshed]

Sandisk makes several very tiny ones that use a AAA Battery - I picked up a Sansa 5 years ago - The forerunner to this Sansa.
This model still uses a AAA Battery. It also includes an FM tuner, ability to record notes/sounds and the ability to bring tiny pictures with you.
back then it was $109. They are now $30.

Definitely invest in the neoprene or silicon armband and get a better set of headphones.

If I keep my Tiny LED Screen brightness down, I can get over 50 hours of listening per battery.

[GrubbyJohn]

Ditto i picked up a RCA 2gig. Runs forever on 1 AAA and fm too

[doodah man]

I would like to have the option to listen to music when on the trail, but most devices are recharged through your computer.
Has anyone found any music/mp3 players that work well for the trail, or any pragmatic solutions to this?
I saw that Petzl has a device that can transfer battery power to your mp3 device, but it seems a bit silly to drain your headlamp power over and over.
Any ideas/advice are much appreciated!

Thanks,
Gina

Gina,
From my previous answer posts to this question in the past:

“On a month long AT section hike, I took a Panasonic SV-MP020 player. It is has 2GB of built in flash memory and I was able to fit 610 songs. The SV-MP020 weighs 2.3 ounces with ear bud and a AA alkaline battery. I made sure my mp3 player used the same batteries as my camera since it often ends up using camera batteries that can no longer deliver the high current demand for taking photos. Those ‘used’ batteries still have plenty of juice left for hours of music from a low current draw mp3 player. With a new alkaline battery, I have gotten between 75 to 80 hours of play time, depending on EQ & volume settings, etc. I custom ripped music from my CDs at a low effective bit rate and also used a low pass filter setting to remove content over 15.2 KHz. The low pass filter makes smaller file size due to 32KHz encoding versus the normal 44KHz encoding for standard 22KHz digital music. In addition to file size benefits, typical ear buds just don't do high frequency anyhow, so those data bits are wasted. I spent a couple of days playing around with the rip settings to find ones with decent sound quality with minimum file size.”

I still see those players on eBay once in a while. I like them so much, I bought a couple back-ups there. doodah-man

[BrianLe]

I wonder how long AAA battery units will still be available? I just picked up a backup MP3 player for this reason, a Sansa unit as Toolshed mentioned --- specifically I got the Sandisk Sansa m250 MP3 player, 2 GB flash memory (not expandable). First impressions for this are good. The UI is pretty intuitive, shouldn't be hard to figure out (remember) how to do various things with this.
Feels a little flimsy, no idea how well it will last on a long hike.
My Creative MuVo did well in that regard on the PCT, feels a little "looser" now but still works fine.

One factor for me is finding a device that's DRM compliant, as it can get hard to get audiobook content on devices that are not. Both my MuVo and this new Sandisk unit are, or more specifically, they're both on the list of devices supported by the audiobook company I've been using, audible.com.

Indeed, the compression settings make a difference, as doodah man says; if I were a bit less lazy I'd convert more of my music to wma format.

[gina811]

Wow, THANK YOU everyone for your advice!!! I really appreciate it!!!!

[SurferNerd]

I would like to have the option to listen to music when on the trail, but most devices are recharged through your computer.
Has anyone found any music/mp3 players that work well for the trail, or any pragmatic solutions to this?
I saw that Petzl has a device that can transfer battery power to your mp3 device, but it seems a bit silly to drain your headlamp power over and over.
Any ideas/advice are much appreciated!

Thanks,
Gina

I have the Sansa Clip. It's a great lil 2GB device, gives about 30hrs playback with its OLED display on shuffle mode. It charges via MiniUSB in about 1/2hr.

[doodah man]

..... I got the Sandisk Sansa m250 MP3 player, 2 GB flash memory (not expandable). First impressions for this are good. The UI is pretty intuitive, shouldn't be hard to figure out (remember) how to do various things with this. Feels a little flimsy, no idea how well it will last on a long hike.

I also have the Sansa M250 mp3 player. The reason I switched to the Panasonic SV-MP020 was specifically for the AA battery versus the AAA battery format. The "dead" AA batteries from my camera will still power up the SV-MP020 for around 10 hours. I get two from each camera refresh, so I get roughly 20 hours for free since I carry the spare camera batteries anyhow. For my Sansa m250, I usually got 25+ hours of play time from a new AAA. Another variable often neglected... pay attention to the earbud sensitivity rating in dB/mW. I look for at least a sensitivity of 104dB/mW (Each 3dB increase in ear bud sensitivity requires about half the input power allowing for lower volume setting to get the same "loudness" giving longer battery life) doodah-man

[BrianLe]

I like the idea of "same battery in every device" in theory. In practice it didn't make sense for me. Most of the time my headlamp is a petzl e+lite; a set of spare coin-type batteries for that weigh 7 grams (0.2 oz). A single spare alkaline AAA battery for my MP3 player weighs 11 grams (0.4 oz). My smartphone is my camera and has its own proprietary battery.

[Blissful]

Same here I use the sansa 2 gb and like it. Fine for music.

[paradoxb3]

i've been thinking about getting one of these 1-AAA MP3/FM 2g players. If nothing more than its something to use that 4th battery in when you refill your headlamp.

[doodah man]

I like the idea of "same battery in every device" in theory. In practice it didn't make sense for me. Most of the time my headlamp is a petzl e+lite; a set of spare coin-type batteries for that weigh 7 grams (0.2 oz). A single spare alkaline AAA battery for my MP3 player weighs 11 grams (0.4 oz). My smartphone is my camera and has its own proprietary battery.

Brian,
I agree, the "same battery for everything" can require compromise... My choices were specific to long distance hiking and resupplying infrequently.
For that, I opted for a configuration w/o any charger. The total weight of all my "electronics" was 9.2 ounces and is as follows:

Pak-Lite flashlight with 9V lithium. (runs 80 hrs on high setting, 1000+ hrs on low)
6mp Camera + 2Gb mp3 player + 5 lithium AA batteries (good for 1,200 photos & 120 hours of music. 2-AA in camera, 1-AA in mp3 player, 2 spare AA)
doodah-man

[leaftye]

My gps, headlamp and camera will all be using AA batteries. The mp3 player may be the exception with an AAA battery, but I can get a little adapter to charge it in a normal AA nimh charger slot.

[Hokie]

I recently ordered, but have not tried the Sony Network Walkman NW-E107 1 GB Digital player - 70 hrs on a AAA. 23grms weight. mp3 wma (PC only). $15 refurbished from Kmart. Of course, no FM. Most rechargable players it seems last 15-20 hours or so and then you need the cord to recharge them.

[BrianLe]

70 hours on a single AAA ?!? Is this a manufacturer's claim, or is there any independent verification? Typical claims for 1 AAA battery MP3 players are for up to 20 hours or so ...
Maybe you'll get more than 20, but I wouldn't count on 70 hours per battery.

[leaftye]

I don't think 70 hours (with a nimh or lithium battery) is outside of the realm of possibility if the manufacturer claimed 20 hours using an alkaline battery.

[Hokie]

70 hours on a single AAA ?!? Is this a manufacturer's claim, or is there any independent verification? Typical claims for 1 AAA battery MP3 players are for up to 20 hours or so ...
Maybe you'll get more than 20, but I wouldn't count on 70 hours per battery.

It was on the basis of a CNet review and the manufacturer (Sony) claim per the retail listings in places from Amazon to Kmart. I ordered it for the long 70 hrs which if it turns out to be true will make it by far the best battery range I have used. Due to arrive in a couple weeks, so will remember to post back after I test it unless someone with experience with this MP3 gives us feedback first.

[DBT fan]

You dont need a fancy mp3 look for one at wal-mart that uses batteries. I got a really small one from creative labs and it has not let me down yet and only uses one aaa that last about 18 hours.

I concur, Frog. I accidently washed my Creative Lab flash drive type player in the washer. After quickly removing the battery, I layed it in the sun on my dashboard for a week or more with the battery slot open. After it dried out, I replaced the battery and it fired right up, display and all and has played faithfully since. Creative Lab is the Chuck Norris of MP3 players.