QUESTION for HIKERS: I-PAD or I-PHONE

Aug 30, 2015

[Yosemitest]

My cousin has one of those, and it’s WAY TOO HEAVY.

[ponygirl]

Where I go camping, there is no phone reception, so my iPhone is useless. The first time I went, I was a little freaked out, but then I realized how nice it was. So I just turn it off and leave it in the car. I do take my kindle, which is great for reading in the tent while listening to the river (and I can read whatever I'm in the mood for, as I usually have about 4 books in progress at the same time, and this way I don't have to cart them all with me). When I drive into town to get ice, I will stop at a little coffee shop and plug in to recharge if needed and just hang out for a couple hours. And I make any calls I need to make then, plus check email.

But you really do need to just unplug sometimes.

[Pikachu_Dad]

Add a small solar charger to that outfit.

Presumably in an Otterbox or life proof box. A broken screen is useless.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

It’ll work just fine way out in the outback as long as you remember to preload maps. Kind of like remembering to bring along the paper maps. GPS signal is everywhere...as long as nobody shots down the satellites or launches an EMP bomb.

[Pikachu_Dad]

Or perhaps a little hand cranked charger?

[skr]

There are satellite phones for rent by the day.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Yes to Otter Box and LifeProof. A must, indeed. For my day hikes, the Mophie and a Zagg screen protector protect enough.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The iPhone is useless if you want to use it as a phone. But everything else works just fine. But, like you said, getting away from the phone can be good.

[roamer_1]

Where I’m at, handheld FM or CB w/SSB works about half as good as smoke signals...

[Pikachu_Dad]

Ouch, the hand crankers are... Tiring

http://www.macworld.com/article/2086548/review-seven-off-the-grid-chargers-for-your-portable-devices.html

[Pikachu_Dad]

So do you leaver them turned off until you need them?

Turn of all the antennas to keep them from pinging death?

Airplane mode perhaps?

[Yosemitest]

I researched the Garmin devices, but I soon realized that I'd exceed what I considered my maximum pack weight with several small electronic devices and batteries.
That's WHY I started looking at the I-Pad versus the I-Phone.
The Apps functions will do all of that for a lot less weight, and the GPS functions will work without cell phone connections, or so the Apps "SAY".
But that's what I made this post, to ask people who really know and have actually used them.
I'm trying to stick to AA or AAA batteries, but the DigiPower TC-U450 Universal Camera Battery Charger will charge my camera battery.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Out for four or five hours and I can generally make it with the internal battery plus Mophie as aux power, so I don’t have to worry much about power management. Longer than that I’d have to conserve more. I do turn off Bluetooth and dim the screen a bit, too.

App management on IOS is not well done. When the phone or iPad start getting wonky, I kill all the apps, purge stored cache on Safari, and restart. I’ll often find fifteen apps are running.

[Yosemitest]

Being retired, and diabetic, and on a tight budget, anywhere my body and budget will allow me.
I may start on the Natchez Trace, but my goal is the Appalachian Trail, and that's where my focus is for buying equipment.

[Yosemitest]

iPhone 6 Plus and Mophie; I’ll check them out.

[Yosemitest]

I've been thinking about the Eton NSP101WXGR Scorpion ll, more for the flashlight, than anything else.
But I have to keep an eye on my overall BASE Pack Weight, and it might push me over what I want.

[Yosemitest]

"There are satellite phones for rent by the day."

6 Or 7 months rent?
I don't think that would work for me.

[kjam22]

[NorthMountain]

You asked for suggestions; doesn't mean you have to take them.

I certainly appreciate the desire to reduce weight and (apparent) redundancy. I have been burned in the past by reducing it too much.

the GPS functions will work without cell phone connections, or so the Apps "SAY".

The GPS itself works independently of the cell system. The same is true of the compass/magnetometer, the accelerometer and the tilt sensors. You might consider testing how well your chosen app does at holding on to downloaded maps when it's off the network, and what the battery drain is really like.

Please keep us posted on what you choose to do, and how it works out for you.

[mpreston]

Cell coverage outside urban corridors is spotty. Hiking makes coverage even more unlikely.

Get a good digital camera with glass, Delorme and a 2m license/handheld. Leave the Apple stuff at home. Maybe carry a Blackberry with a Paratek antenna technology?