Portable phone charger/power packs

Portable phone charger/power packs

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T40ORA

Original Poster:

5,177 posts

220 months

Monday 20th July 2015
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For some unknown reason, this weekend will find me (and my wife) as part of a team of 4, undertaking a silly, charity challenge.

We will be walking 62 miles, non-stop, over a period of 24 - 30 hours.

I want to track the walk on my phone, but with MapMyWalk I know the batter will last for maybe a third of the time required, so I want a powerpack.

I already have one, which will give me another third or thereabouts, so I don't need a huge, Gorilla thing.

Just tried a few searches, looked at Which, but nothing has leapt at me. Before I just buy the first one my eye lands on, has anyone any particular recommendations?

Cheers!

T40ORA

Original Poster:

5,177 posts

220 months

Monday 20th July 2015
quotequote all
randlemarcus said:
Cheers.

Just clicked on; before I buy, do you know anything about the 'newer model' it suggests?

This one; http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-Ultra-High-Capacity-...

T40ORA

Original Poster:

5,177 posts

220 months

Monday 20th July 2015
quotequote all
OK, cheers guys. I'll go for the newer one; only 8 quid more!

T40ORA

Original Poster:

5,177 posts

220 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2015
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Arrived yesterday. Unboxed and charged now. Lovely, solid piece of kit. I'll try it out later on my phone and iPod.

A bit bigger than I had envisaged so I'll have to work out how to use it to charge whilst I'm walking and using MapMyWalk, but that will probably be solved with a longer cable and a bum-bag.

Second request for advice just about to be posted - free/cheap Android SatNav app. smile

T40ORA

Original Poster:

5,177 posts

220 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2015
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V8_GWA said:
Trailwalker by any chance?

What's your start time slot?
Do I have a fellow nutter?

We start at 09:00. Swapped an earlier slot as we felt sleep was more important, so we will drive up for about 08:30.

Yours?

T40ORA

Original Poster:

5,177 posts

220 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2015
quotequote all
V8_GWA said:
Yep; I'll be there!

We start at 0800. I've done the event before a few years ago, but this year I aiming to get the team round relatively gently in 15 to 17 hours. The 0800 start time will mean a few hours of running in darkness, but its a pretty straightforward route.

The weather forecast for Fri is a little interesting, but it looks like Sat will be mostly dry.

Good luck and remember the most important thing is getting the whole team round in relatively good humour!
Faaaaaark! 15 - 17 hours?

Faaaaaark!

We'll be lucky to see 24 hours. Show-off! wink

T40ORA

Original Poster:

5,177 posts

220 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2015
quotequote all
V8_GWA said:
To be honest, I think it takes more balls to walk than run! 30 hours is a long time to be on your feet. The fastest Gurkha teams do it in sub 10 hours!

I've done quite a few ultras, mountain and coastal path marathons; Trailwalker is a brilliant event, very well organised by the Queen's Gurkha Signals and there is a fantastic atmosphere. If its the same as the last few years, there will be a group of soldiers from the Brigade of Gurkhas clapping you on for the last few 100m before each checkpoint, which is a brilliant lift!

Best of luck and let me with how you get on when you've finished.
And to you Sir. Yeah, plenty of the G-men about, and what a great year to participate - 200th Anniversary.

TBH I'm both excited - and cacking myself! The latter only due to feet problems. They're knackered, I'm getting ankle boot-bite, and they blister easily (all precautions taken/being taken, and sock changes planned), so maybe walking 24 plus hours is not the best plan, Batman! But we will finish and cherish the experience. When I'm able to walk again smile

Enjoy your run Sir.

T40ORA

Original Poster:

5,177 posts

220 months

Wednesday 22nd July 2015
quotequote all
laugh
prand said:
V8_GWA said:


If its the same as the last few years, there will be a group of soldiers from the Brigade of Gurkhas clapping you on for the last few 100m before each checkpoint, which is a brilliant lift! .
Wouldn't surprise me if it was the same group at each checkpoint, waiting for the entire field to pass then running past everyone to the next one to do all again!

T40ORA

Original Poster:

5,177 posts

220 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
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V8_GWA said:
How did you get on?
Three of us finished, one pulling out after 38 miles with a knackered knee.

26 hours 5 minutes. Not what we wanted but pleasing all the same. What an experience! Amazing.

And you?

T40ORA

Original Poster:

5,177 posts

220 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
randlemarcus said:
Is it a massed start, and a really extended curry session, or a staggered start where you all try to get back within a defined curry window?

Anyway, back on topic, how did the powerpack do?
Staggered start, staggered curry and beer session.

Rather a lot of staggering throughout actually; some real walking wounded at the end!

The powerpack is excellent. Really fast charging, and seems to have a good capacity. We're off to France shortly for some glamping, so it's all charged up again and ready to go.

T40ORA

Original Poster:

5,177 posts

220 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
V8_GWA said:
Excellent news!

One of our team had a bit of a hip flexor issue from the 50 km point; thankfully he could still walk at a very strong pace, but couldn't run. We managed to get everyone round in just over 17 hours. Once he's healed, we can go back for a sub-15 next year!

It's all worth it for the curry and beer at the finish!
Shame about the problem, but 17 hours is pretty stunning so well done. What was your team name?

T40ORA

Original Poster:

5,177 posts

220 months

Friday 7th August 2015
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V8_GWA said:
PJHQ J6

Military teams aren't allowed to call ourselves anything exciting!

What about you?
Blimey; that's a mouthful!

We were R'Oakers - pint to pint. Pub team biggrin

If I could afford the time to train, I'd do it again next year and definitely improve the time - bit not down to your standard. I've swoen off running since a hip replacement as I am trying to maximise the gap for having (a) bits of the artificial hip replaced, and (b) the other hip replaced.