I ran across this item. There out of stock which may or may not be a problem?

For the trippers who bring a lot of electronic gear this might be something they like?

Doesn't rely on wind/solar, just human power.
A few or maybe one for every paddler in your group might just be what your looking for?

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The challenge with these type devices appears to be generating voltage that is appropriate for the device you are charging.  Cell phones, which many of us use in conjunction with InReach Minis, etc., for navigation purposes, are apparently notoriously "picky" receptors when it comes to receiving voltage.  It's usually best practice to charge your battery storage system, THEN charge your cell phone &/or other devices from that power bank.  It seems most energy storage systems/power banks for USB systems are far more tolerant when it comes to actually making use of the energy generated when cranking or pulling.  Another concern I read about for some of these devices is long-term dependability.  The last thing I need is to haul yet another item into the wilderness that soon becomes dead weight.

Don't get me wrong; I'm no electro-dude (ie. expert)... and I'll certainly defer to anything that MagicPaddler might have to say on the subject.  However, ST's & BC's posts got me interested in the possibilities.  This past paddling season I had considerable power generation & energy storage issues during my adventure in Manitoba's Atikaki Park.  First of all, my battery storage system died early on.  Nanabozho was on our butts a lot of our time there, wreaking havoc with our devices, our portage boots, our fishing poles, etc. & so on.  He even generated some serious cloudy weather for many of my 17 days in the park.  Therefore solar charging was "intermittent" at best.  Fortunately, he didn't mess up our fishing. Anyway, a dependable, portable, light-weight "hand-crank" (or pull) back-up system sounds appealing (& a possible nice last minute "stocking-stuffer" recommendation).  So, I dug into the subject a little bit and found the caveats/drawbacks I've mentioned.  It also apparently takes a fair amount of cranking to add up to just a few minutes of power.  There are more issues but I won't get into them here (mostly because I don't understand much of the techno-craperoo involved).

I'm not saying "don't buy" these products.  I'm simply saying "beware of their likely limitations" before depending upon them.  I'd love to hear from someone who has had actual experience with similar devices out in the wilderness.  What has their experience been?  What devices, if any, do they recommend?

As for me, I recently acquired a new Goal Zero power bank to use in conjunction with my solar panels.  I might be willing to invest in a hand-cranking system to help charge that bank IF I heard positive reviews from actual users.

Why not?  It seems I can always dream up an excuse for stuffing yet one more thing into my overflowing packs.

Later,

Jimbo   

I don't take much electronic gear, and nothing I rely or use much.

Quote:


  Does Pandora have a Portage Monkey in that Box   You're going to need one! 

Jimbo wrote on Dec 16^th, 2022 at 1:19pm:



The e-ink Kindles' (black and white, text only) batteries last for weeks of use without a charge (unless it is below 40) and carry hundreds of books at 1/6 of the weight of a single paperback. On some trips I read a great deal, on others not at all.

Will not work as emergency fire starter.

As an aside a secret pleasure of solo tripping was reading paperbacks, burning the  pages as I finished them. Subversive.

I think having your ashes spread in the Q would be a great spot to spend eternity. As you know some of my Dad's ashes are in Walter Lk.

  I want my ashes mixed with Native Wildflower mix.
  I like to paddle in the Spring, so something bright/colorful would fit that time of year.

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Quote:


  When my Dad's older brother was fighting cancer and knew his time was limited, he threw a WAKE at the local VFW where he was a long time member.

He paid for all the booze/food. He and his two sons played their banjo's/guitars and a fiddle. At one point they had a Bagpiper come in. My Uncle had a grand old time. He summoned the energy to dance with all the ladies and drink toasts with the men. Wouldn't let anyone shed a tear. Said he had a good life and there was nothing to be sad about.

2 weeks later he passed peacefully in his sleep.

  Attending your own going away party sounds good to me.

Will he be bringing the Merman suit?
I'd pay good money to see that in person 

solotripper wrote on Dec 17^th, 2022 at 5:06pm:


Jimbo wrote on Dec 17^th, 2022 at 6:28pm:


Piping in the merman suit costs an extra $100 and an old-school Nalgene bottle full of Yukon Jack.  Also need help keeping my kilt up.  Any takers?

Jimbo wrote on Dec 17^th, 2022 at 12:56pm:



The volume that I brought with me for years (until it too began delaminating and it was an old sewn in hardcover) was Faulkner's Go Down, Moses. My contention being The Old People, The Bear and Delta Autumn being three of the greatest wilderness stories ever written, and that despite the wilderness that is the subject being the Atchafalaya swamp the opening of  The Old People was always deeply reminiscent of waking on a cold fall morning in the Q. "At first there was nothing. There was the cold and constant rain, the gray and constant light of the late November dawn.." Despite his reputation for difficulty the stories made for great reading out loud at a campfire in the evening. Brilliant.

May have permanently damaged my son after reading The Bear out loud when we were stranded for two days  and nights on Elk in October when he was 3 and the wind screamed out of the NW at about 35 degrees with spitting rain and snow depending on the temp.

Still make sure it's on the Kindle whenever I go.

The data is in his stomach

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