Next week I'm headed west for a weekend in Marfa, Texas. This is a big step for me, as it will mark the first time I'm actually going camping. Being the tech guy I am — and packing along a camera with a need to edit and offload photos — I need a way to dependably charge and use all my gear. Here's how I'm planning on going off-grid while staying connected.
I've heard tons about Marfa lately, largely from a group of artist friends who've exclaimed all the virtues of the small, art-filled town that supposedly is just oozing with inspiration.
I'll be documenting the trip with photos while I'm there — perhaps even writing up a blog post or two if the inspiration strikes — so i'm packing along a lot of my gear. This traps me into a bit of a quandary - how am I going to charge all these things for the four day trip? Well, I present to you my solution - a roundup of the tech gear I've acquired — we'll call them my off-grid camping essentials.
1. Instapark 10W Solar panel: I read a lot of reviews for solar panels, and this one seemed like the best performing and most reliable.
2. Mophie Juice pack: I take this case along when I'm on vacation or at a convention. It gives my phone a little more than double its charge capacity. An added bonus is that I can charge up the shell during the day and then snap on and recharge at night.
3. New Trent 12000mAh Battery pack: I don't want to leave my tech tethered to the solar panel all day, I want to be mobile. So I'll be letting the solar panel charge up this battery pack during the day, then I'll use the battery pack to charge my phone, and iPad as necessary at night. Like He-Man, it's got the power.
4. Backup Rechargeable batteries: I switched to a rechargeable ecosystem of batteries earlier this year and I only wish I'd done it sooner. I'll be packing these along, fully charged to minimize the need for a recharge.
5. ONA Union Street bag: This is my equipment bag for photoshoots and I love it. Enough space and compartments to hold two cameras, extra lenses, external flash, batteries, memory cards, and a 15" laptop. I can load this thing up and be good to go. Bonus: I think it looks pretty slick in this smoke color.
6. DC to USB adapter (not shown): I'll need to pair this with the New Trent battery pack since it only comes with a DC adapter for charging out of the box.
I'll be giving all this gear a test run in Marfa next week, and if all goes well I'll be packing along these same essentials for future camping trips and hiking tours.
What gadgets do you depend on to keep charged up when power supplies are limited?
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I camp to get away from tech! I bring my fully charged cell phone, and keep it off but once every two days or so.
As for a camera, I have a nikon 7000, and just bring spare memory cards and batteries.
More people should try unplugging when it comes to nature, not everything needs to be liveblogged.
No comments about the camping or camera gear, but if you're going to be in Marfa you MUST stop by the Food Shark and get Marfalafel. :) Tell Christa that Amy's old friend Kara sent you.
Camping for the first time? That's commendable. I hope you enjoy it.
On the other hand, going 'off the grid' - at least in my opinion - requires actually disconnecting from the outside world. I recommend that you try camping without the tech at some point. It's a little scary and forces you to be unreachable to others and to depend solely on yourself, but it also allows you to *be* where you *are*. I think you'll find it amazingly peaceful and refreshing.
Just my $0.02
Can't uploading and editing photos wait until you get home. You will not be able to decompress or enjoy where you are if you're busy with your tech stuff.
If you want to charge your gadgets while cooking delicious food, I HIGHLY recommend the awesome Biolite stove. It's a biomass-powered stove (it uses pinecones, twigs, whatever's around) that converts excess heat into battery power for anything that can be charged via USB. I use mine every time I go camping. It gets the job done and never fails to elicit "oohs" and "ahhs" from friends.
No amount of money in the world would induce me to camp ever ever again! Hopefully, you'll like it better! (I love nature, but my body does not adapt well to "rustic", so I will admire and respect it on day trips and the like.)
One tech item missing that you should probably have; a water purification system. There are filters, but if you want to go high-tech get the Steripen. It kills bacteria etc from the water, so you won't have to pack in or boil everything you want to drink.
Oh, and if you're able to get water from a spigot on the "campground" you're not really camping.
Um, camping is to get into nature, and away from life at the office. Get away from your tech. I'd even turn your phone off. all the way off. Just keep it around for an emergency.
The only tech you need while camping is lighter fluid (if you plan to start your own fire and don't know how), and marshmallow roasting sticks.
A nice sleeping bag/pad are essential if you are doing camping for the first time and don't sleep easily outside your normal surroundings.
Best of luck!
This is hilarious! Nowhere near "off the grid."
GORGEOUS bag. Though if you're hiking it's definitely the wrong choice --- you'll need a backpack to distribute weight evenly.
I'd say pair down on the number of ways to recharge.
1. if you're going to be in town a lot, just carry a wall charger with you and plug into an outlet when you're at lunch or hanging out indoors at any point.
2. the battery pack to recharge a device should be more than enough to supplement that 3. turn off data/put on airplane with wi-fi off while you're not using it, you probably wont have reliable data service and you're devices waste a lot of battery searching for signal. 4. Wait til you get home to upload anything, again you may not even have good service and making a couple of compelling and thought out retrospective blog posts works very well.
5. just use a pad of paper to jot down notes about things of interest it worked for hundreds of years.
i have that ONA bag in the tan color and i LOVE IT. however, there is one "gotcha": the one leather handle is off center and does not allow you to carry it without awkwardly hanging to the side. despite this major design flaw, it's a solid bag.
This is a good list of how to keep gadgets alive when not staying in a hotel and not driving a car while travelling, but definitely is not right for camping in the woods. For Marfa, I guess it's fine.
I'd say the only gadget worthwhile being kept alive while surrounded by nature is the camera, while you are better off saving weight of your backpack by keeping the phone off and leaving the rest at home.
Therefore, the list of supporting gadgets should be focused on the camera:
1. Packs of SD Cards. Bring a whole 10-pack of them if you have the money. This eliminates the need to have tools unloading the photos, as well as providing a fail-safe solution for your photos.
2. Extra Camera Batteries, as well as the Solar pack for charging them.
3. Peak Design Capture Camera Clip System. Works great for instant access to the camera when installed on a backpack.
4. SpareOne emergency phone: http://spareone.com/
If it's a road trip kind of camping, just use the car charger. None of the battery packs or solar panels will be needed.
Hope it helps! Safe trip! I guess I should help contribute to Apartment Therapy Tech too. :)
I guess going off the grid means different things to different people. If you're really getting into nature, a cell phone probably won't get a signal. Personally, I'd bring a small camera with an extra battery and enjoy the great outdoors.
This is a hilarious read for someone that spends a lot of time unwired in the backcountry! Kudos for giving camping a try! I look forward to the follow-up!
My 2c: as others mentioned, consider trying a day without tech, just as an experiment!
Also remember that all the fun gadgets in the world won't save you in a downpour. I'd invest in a couple good small drybags (SealLine makes some good clear ones) to keep all that gear safe and maybe an immersible pelican case for your phone/camera if you do any boating.
Also, if I need the contents of my pack to stay dry, I prefer hiking and backpacking with a lightweight umbrella as opposed to a pack cover and heavy raingear if it is just drizzling.
I know, I know, TX is having some drought issues, but other parts of the country are wet! Have fun!!
Congratulations on going camping for the first time! I know the concept can be a little scary to people, so it's great that you're willing to give it a shot.
Frankly, for me, going off the grid means being out on a rocky dirt two track in the desert, far removed from cell service! I love taking pictures, but I frequently find it more relaxing to just disconnect completely.
Brrrr's comments on keeping your tech dry are very helpful, as are Jdad's comments. I would recommend skipping the lighter fluid, however, unless you are someplace with established fire rings and can safely make a fire. If there isn't an established fire ring, it's time to buck up and just use the camp stove, to avoid wildfires.
You also want to check in advance about the kind of fuel they permit - some campgrounds only allow charcoal fires.
Other things you want for car camping:
- A cooler (with ice)
- Some gallons of water (maybe 3)
- Stove/pot
- Utensils (don't forget those!)
- A bowl and a cup. One of each. Wash and repeat.
- A good map of the area you're in - preferably at a larger scale than a state-wide map
- A way to make morning coffee. And some liquor for evening coffee.
- Warm clothes, especially for sleeping - depending on the elevation of Marfa, it could be quite cold!
- A hat & sunscreen
- Some hiking boots or tennis shoes (in case you decide to do any short hikes. Plus, rattlesnakes.)
- Definitely a good sleeping bag! The rating on the bag lists the temperature at which you won't freeze to death - not the temperature you'll be comfortable at.
- An emergency foil blanket (aka: space blanket.) Good for emergencies - and for putting under your sleeping bag if you are cold.
- A tent
- EXTRA food
- Definitely a water purifier! Unless you're getting water from a spigot.
- A little bit of small rope/parachute cord - endlessly useful
- A decent knife - for camp cookery and the like
- A lantern is nice while car camping - makes your site so much more homey!
- Good wool socks! They are cushy on your feet, are warm when it's cold, are cool when it's warm, and don't start to smell until you've worn them, like, 4 times.
- Long johns, preferably wool.
- A first aid kid.
- A decent sleeping mat.
- Some sort of water repellent garment. You can always jump in your tent - provided it's already put up. And what if you're in the middle of dinner?
- Also, might I recommend some nice box wine? Beer is fun, but there is something so classy about sipping wine. Also, it's more appetizing when it's cold out.
- A dish towel, a scrubber, and some biodegradable soap.
- Some sort of goofy camp cooking equipment. There's a wide variety of Things on Sticks to Cook Things Over Fires. Camping alone can be kind of lonely in the evenings, so it's fun to have something ridiculous to try.
- A good book. Upload your photos, sure, but then turn off your laptop and enjoy the nature sounds! You won't really get a taste for camping if you're blogging. Plus, you can still read a book by a lantern/headlamp - if you have your screen up, I guarantee you'll be pelted by moths.
- Don't forget a pillow!
That's all I can think of, there's more good advice here: http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/camping.html
Have fun!
I will see you there! And I will also have some gear of my own. May need to track you down since you will have the hook up on juice! ;-)