Power Banks

trafficlight

Hi, Just wonderinf can anyone recommend a good power bank. I am due to climb Kilimanjaro in September and will be without power for 7 days. I will need to charge my Samsung s7 as it has a good camera and possibly my other camera also??
Thanks

sioda

Buy a solar charger with built in battery easily got on Amazon had one with me for a week in Cuba last year absolutely brilliant

One like this https://goo.gl/K7ZsQ7

AllForIt

A phone won't be any use to you on a mountain.

All you need to do is bring spare batteries for your camera.

trafficlight

Thanks will try amazon, its not that I will be using my phone for calls/texts etc... the camera on my phone is very good, better than my camera even so am hoping to be able to use that. taking the camera for back up.

sioda

Have an anker power bank as well but the solar was excellent and torch on it came in handy to find the phone one night
😀😀

_Brian

trafficlight wrote: »

Thanks will try amazon, its not that I will be using my phone for calls/texts etc... the camera on my phone is very good, better than my camera even so am hoping to be able to use that. taking the camera for back up.

I'm involved in printing large format images, the apparure on mobile phone cameras is too small to take good images, they take OK images for viewing on screens, but if you capture an image you would like to enlarge to beyond screen size then you will be disappointed.

Cameras in general have bigger appatures and better quality lenses.

The only way your phone is better than your camera is if your camera is total rubbish.

trafficlight

Thanks sioda, will check that one out.
Thanks also Brian, I will definitely look at my camera again, I got it about 2 yrs ago but barely used it as id suppose we are all so used to having our phones with us it was easier to use the camera. for this trip I would def want to have good photos as it is only once il be doing it.

biko

Get an Anker with 3000mah and also a solar charger. Both will come in handy many other times.

mrcheez

Don't go for the solar charger as you will be trekking all day and only stop in the evening after the strong sun has set. Bear in mind it gets frickin cold up there at night so this might affect battery life. Go for a 20,000 mAh and be sure to keep it wrapped at night to prevent it freezing up.

Oh and number one tip. Bring pain killers. Lots and lots of Nurofen you will need it believe me!

Pole pole is the only way to go. Good luck!

DeeTee100

I have an Anker Powercore 20100, and I can easily get 6 full charges out of it. Should last you a week if you're not using the phone too much.

Just be aware though, Amazon won't usually post lithium batteries outside the UK so your best bet will be to find a seller on eBay who will.

Teyla Emmagan

mrcheez wrote:

Oh and number one tip. Bring pain killers. Lots and lots of Nurofen you will need it believe me!

Why the painkillers? For sore legs from walking all day?

mrcheez

Teyla Emmagan wrote: »

Why the painkillers? For sore legs from walking all day?

Nope. The soul-crushing pounding headaches as the air thins. Have em all day and night. Not nice.

I met a woman on the mountain that said the pain she experienced giving birth was slightly less than that she experienced on the mountain ! Still its an awesome feeling of achievement when u reach the peak.


OP here's an article that pretty much repeats what I said re solar chargers. U are never stationary during the trek so won't have time to use the solar charger. You have to rush to camp before sun goes down as otherwise you'll be in trouble against oncoming freeze!

https://www.climbkilimanjaroguide.com/charging-camera-batteries-on-kilimanjaro/

biko

A solar charger can be attached easily to your backpack.
Like so

mikeybrennan

DeeTee100 wrote: »

I have an Anker Powercore 20100, and I can easily get 6 full charges out of it. Should last you a week if you're not using the phone too much.

Just be aware though, Amazon won't usually post lithium batteries outside the UK so your best bet will be to find a seller on eBay who will.

addresspal will get it here from Amazon

I wouldn't bother with less than 20,000

mrcheez

biko wrote: »

A solar charger can be attached easily to your backpack.
Like so

The one rule on Kili is carry as little as possible

You're also in the shade for a lot of it (trees/mountain sides etc) as the guides purposely avoid the sun where possible

kirving

To be honest, phone cameras these days are absolutely excellent, in particular the latest Samsungs. Definitely bring it for candid photos along the way.

For proper landscape shots, or anywhere you need flash, or on an overcast day, a dedicated digital camera will be a better tool for the job.

Phone cameras are excellent in good light, but their small lenses cant get as much light to the sensor. This is compensated by brightening up dark images to make them look good, but you'll lose a lot of detail in most cases.

mrcheez

Kevin Irving wrote: »

To be honest, phone cameras these days are absolutely excellent, in particular the latest Samsungs. Definitely bring it for candid photos along the way.

For proper landscape shots, or anywhere you need flash, or on an overcast day, a dedicated digital camera will be a better tool for the job.

Phone cameras are excellent in good light, but their small lenses cant get as much light to the sensor. This is compensated by brightening up dark images to make them look good, but you'll lose a lot of detail in most cases.

One last thing I'd mention is, if bringing a camera just bring a small Canon IXUS or something like that.

I saw a guy with an SLR and by the middle of the trek he just gave up lugging it around and handed it to a porter for the rest of the trip.

You literally can barely carry your own body and a bottle of water. It's tough going.

gizmo81

I got this one from Amazon when it was on special for £25, I believe the ANker come up on special regularly.

Got it sent to Addrespal no problem

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01D0WDWL8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Fantastic life on it.

Keith186

gizmo81 wrote: »

I got this one from Amazon when it was on special for £25, I believe the ANker come up on special regularly.

Got it sent to Addrespal no problem

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01D0WDWL8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Fantastic life on it.

Quick charge would work great with the S7 too. I've never been to Kilimanjaro but I'd say solar charging would be a pain on the move.

gizmo81

AddressPal delivered mine with a big battery sticker on it.

I believe batteries can come in but they can't go out of the country. Think someone said that here.

Mr.S wrote: »

Also against AddressPal rules, but they aren't as strict.

Bluefoam

I've got an Anker... It's very small with 10,000mah and does 3+ charges of my HTC 10. If your phone has quick charge, I suggest you get a power bank with a QC port. I also recommend getting a very short cable.

I was given a solar charger recently, but hadn't considered it very useful... but it would be ideal together with the power bank.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-PowerCore-Qualcomm-Portable-Charger/dp/B01JIYWUBA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

phill106

https://www.theadventurejunkies.com/best-hiking-solar-chargers/
and since i think anker is great and it is on special
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone-Galaxy/dp/B012YZXMZS?tag=hiking043-20

also one of the lightest

I would say get that and a powerbank, good combo