Electronics

Gear talk: Pad-Pal, the world’s smallest and lightest electric pad inflator is getting smaller and lighter!

This is an update on the progress that Tyler Reeves is making in further reducing the size and weight of his home-grown pad inflator. It isn't available yet, and may differ substantially from the prototype shown here, but watch this space...

Electronics

Gear talk: my 2023 electronics

It is three years since I did a dedicated post on the electronic gear I carry on backpacking trips, so here is the 2023 update. Do note that this selection is peculiar to me. I am a UK lightweight backpacker who still enjoys a bit of luxury. As always, there is also a little experimentation underway at present so one item at least will be dropped later in the year.

Electronics

Gear talk: the Oria SensorBlue Thermometer Hygrometer

Three Points of the Compass likes to have an idea of the temperature on trail. Just how hot was that sweltering climb up? How much did it dip below zero in the small hours? Most little thermometers are pretty useless. Difficult to read, wildly inaccurate, easily broken, stupidly expensive or cheap and nasty. I may have found the answer...

Electronics

Gear talk: the Sofirn BLF LT1 2.0 Lantern

Suitable for base camps, car camping, emergencies and home use, the Sofirn BLF LT1 2.0 Lantern is compact, efficient and well-priced. In short, it is possibly the best battery powered lantern currently available.

Electronics

Gear talk: Olight Obulb

The Olight Obulb is a small rechargeable LED globe lantern that provides 360° of soft light. It has a wide range of possible applications. The light weight and size, weather proofness, warm low light and runtime also makes it suitable for some backpacking and camping application.

Electronics

Gear talk: Nitecore NB10000 Gen2 powerbank

The NB10000 Gen 2 Quick-Charge USB-A/USB-C 10000mAh Powerbank was released by Nitecore in summer 2022 as a generational improvement of the original NB10000 that astonished the lightweight backing community in 2009. Nitecore have now released a second generation of the NB10000 with just a handful of welcome upgrades, while continuing to ignore a few other areas that could do with improvement.

Electronics

Gear talk: Pad-Pal, the world’s lightest electric sleeping pad inflator

A pair of lungs is lighter than the little inflator looked at here, but the Pad-Pal is, by far, the lightest electric sleeping pad inflator in the world. It is doubtful that anything lighter could be made.

Electronics

Gear talk: RovyVon Aurora A5 USB-C ‘glow-in-the-dark’ Keychain Flashlight

Following a couple of upgrades, the third generation of RovyVon Aurora A5 glow-in-the-dark (GITD) keychain flashlight is now (probably) the best ‘keychain’ hand-held light available to backpackers. It has now replaced my Nitecore NU25 headlamp on trail

Electronics

Three Points of the Compass

Lightweight backpacking, gear chat, knife chat, map measures and anything outdoorsy

Electronics

Gear talk: Pad-Pal, the world’s smallest and lightest electric pad inflator is getting smaller and lighter!

Gear talk: my 2023 electronics

Gear talk: the Oria SensorBlue Thermometer Hygrometer

Gear talk: the Sofirn BLF LT1 2.0 Lantern

Gear talk: Olight Obulb

Gear talk: Nitecore NB10000 Gen2 powerbank

Gear talk: Pad-Pal, the world’s lightest electric sleeping pad inflator

Gear talk: RovyVon Aurora A5 USB-C ‘glow-in-the-dark’ Keychain Flashlight

Gear talk: looking at Power Adapters

Gear chat: lightweight solar panels

Gear talk: Nitecore powerbanks for lightweight backpacking

Gear talk: Quad Lock case and tripod adapter for the Samsung Galaxy S20+

Gear talk: the Nitecore 21700 Intelligent Battery System

Gear talk: FLEXTAILGEAR Tiny Pump

Gear talk: Victorinox Mini Tools

Gear talk: RovyVon Aurora A5x Red

Knife chat: A ‘memorable’ Victorinox- but what’s the point?

Gear talk: 2020 tweaks to trail electronics

Gear talk: bags and pouches of ‘small stuff’