Category Archives: Gear

Gear, Product Review

Product Review: SunJack 14W+8000mAh Battery

It never fails. Every time we go camping, within a day or two our cell phones are dead, and we find ourselves running the car engine or driving around aimlessly so we can charge our phones. As much as we enjoy a break from technology, we still want to be able to check in with the dog sitter or look up directions to a trailhead, and you can’t do that with a dead phone. And it’s not just cell phones you might want to charge on your adventures – many of us carry GPS units and personal locator beacons on the trail these days, and they won’t do you any good if they run out of juice. Enter the SunJack 14W+8000mAh Battery solar charger.

The Sunjack is a comprehensive system that comes with a solar panel, battery pack, and two fast-charge USB cables. Everything is contained in one durable unit for ease of portability. The solar panels fold up into a self-contained, book-sized case, and the attached mesh pocket holds the battery pack and cables. I love how simple but effective the case is, keeping everything together but easily accessible.

To use the Sunjack, you unfold the solar panels and place in direct sunlight. Inside the mesh pocket, you connect the battery pack or your USB device to the solar panels via the built in USB ports and wait while the magic of the sun charges your gear. In full sunlight, the battery pack will fully charge in 5 hours.

You can charge your devices directly from the panel, or if the sun isn’t out, use the battery to charge your device, then recharge the battery when conditions improve. You can also charge the battery pack via a wall charger before you head out, so you’ll have plenty of options for power once you’re on the trail. 14 watts means your gear will charge quickly, even in less than ideal sunlight.

The Sunjack 14W+8000mAh Battery holds enough of a charge to power 4 cell phones or 1 tablet on a single charge. It weighs in at just over 2 lbs, which might be a bit much for a long backpacking trip, but is perfect for car camping or shorter excursions. Sunjack has other models available with more or less power capacity and weights, depending on your needs.

If you don’t want to sit around camp all day waiting for your equipment to charge, you can use the two provided carabiners to attach the panel to your pack and charge as you hike. The case has numerous loops so you can play around with the configuration and find what’s most comfortable for you. I found the addition of a third carabiner at the top helped to keep the panels from hanging too low on my day pack, and once it was on I pretty much forgot it was there.

And like all good camping gear, the Sunjack 14W+8000mAh Battery doubles as a great emergency preparedness tool. Being able to easily charge your cell phone, rechargeable flashlights, or any other electronic device is a huge boon when the power goes out for prolonged periods.

If you’re looking for a convenient and reliable solar charging option, the Sunjack 14W+8000mAh Battery is a powerful, well-designed solution for keeping your electronics charged no matter where you are.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Sunjack 14W+8000mAh Battery for free from GigaWatt Inc. in consideration for a gear review

Gear

Hiking San Diego County’s Holiday Gift Guide

If you’re looking for gift ideas for the San Diego Hiker on your list this year, look no further. We’ve put together a list of some our favorite gear, books, and other useful items to help you find something to delight the hiker in your life this holiday season.

Forest Adventure Pass – $5.00 – $30.00

adventure-pass
If you want to get your hiker something you know she can use, consider buying her a Forest Adventure Pass. Many popular trailheads in the Southern California National Forests require an Adventure Pass to be displayed in your car while parked at the trailhead. You can buy a daily pass good for one day for $5, or a pass good for the entire year for $30. The fees from these passes help conserve and protect our natural resources and enhance recreation opportunities by providing funds for trailhead services. Passes can be purchased at most major outdoor and sporting goods stores like Adventure 16, Big 5, or REI, or can be purchased online.

Coast to Cactus: The Canyoneer Trail Guide to San Diego Outdoors – $29.95coast-to-cactus-book-cover

Coast to Cactus is a wonderful combination hiking guide and field guide. Written by the San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers, this tome features over 240 hikes throughout San Diego County. In addition to details of the trail, each write-up includes a mini lesson on some of the plants, animals, or other natural features that can be found on each hike. The book is full of beautiful color photos and easy to read maps, and has a wide variety of hikes included. Coast to Cactus deserves a spot on every San Diego Hiker’s bookshelf!

Colter Co. Bandanas with Benefits – $14.00colter-co-bandanas-with-benefits

The trusty bandana has long been a staple in the prepared hiker’s kit. From first aid to hygiene to sun protection, there are dozens of uses for this small square cloth. Colter Co. has now added yet another reason to carry a bandana with you on the trail with their “Bandanas with Benefits.” They have cleverly improved upon the traditional bandana by printing fun and useful information on them. The glow-in-the dark Stargazer Bandana shows a constellation star chart with helpful directional information. The Know Your Knots bandana visually demonstrates 16 essential knots. Check out these and their other unique bandanas over at www.colterusa.com. Hiking San Diego County readers can get 20% off with the special promo code HIKINGSD.

Darn Tough Hiking Socks – Starting at $17.00darn-tough

While socks may be considered a lame gift in some circles, hikers are a different breed. A good pair of hiking socks can mean the difference between a fantastic day on the trail or a grueling, blister-riddled death march. Darn Tough Hiking Socks are made in the USA with real Merino Wool to combat odor and provide superior comfort and durability. Their socks are available in a wide variety of thicknesses for different seasons, and come in fun colors and patterns. The best part is their Unconditional Lifetime Guarantee – if you manage to put a hole in these socks just mail them back and they will replace them, for free… forever.

Camelbak Hydration Pack – Price Variescamelbak

Hydration packs are a must for all but the shortest of hikes. Say goodbye to cumbersome water bottles and enjoy the convenience and comfort of the hydration bladder. Camelbak has a huge variety of different packs, with reservoirs of anywhere from 1 to 3 liter capacities. We’ve been through several different brands of hydration packs, and found that we prefer Camelbaks for their comfort, reliability, and features. If you’re looking to buy a Camelbak for hiking, I recommend going all the way and getting one with a 3 liter reservoir. This offers you the maximum flexibility – you have the 3 liter capacity for longer hikes, and if you’re going on a shorter hike and don’t need 3 liters, just don’t fill it up all the way. I carry the Camelbak Fourteener 20 (pictured above), but there are dozens of different sizes and styles to choose from. Staying hydrated on the trail is essential, especially in dry San Diego, so make sure your hiker is prepared with a durable hydration pack!

Garmin eTrex Handheld GPS – $109.99 – $299.99

garmin-40
While many people rely on their cell phones to track their position and distance while hiking, the reliability and durability of a handheld GPS is a much better choice when you want accurate data. We’ve been using a Garmin eTrex 30 for years, and have been thoroughly impressed by how well it has held up to the miles of abuse we have subjected it to. The newer Garmin eTrex 30X has an upgraded display for improved readability in sunlight, a 3-axis electronic compass and altimeter to show your heading and pinpoint your altitude while on the trail, and runs off of 2 AA batteries. Help your hiker track their miles and find their way with one of Garmin’s handheld GPS devices.

Gear

Hiking San Diego County’s Holiday Gift Guide

Great Gift Ideas for the Hiker on Your List

Looking for a great gift idea for the San Diego Hiker in your life? Or maybe you’ve just been extra good this year and deserve to buy yourself a little something special (you were pretty awesome this year). We’ve got your gift list covered with our Holiday Gift Guide. These are all items we have used and tested in our many hiking adventures and are confident that your hiker will be ecstatic to find any of these under the tree.

Afoot and Afield: San Diego County: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide  Jerry Schad’s Afoot and Afield San Diego has long been considered the Bible of San Diego hiking. This book contains descriptions of 250 different hikes of varying difficulty levels throughout the entire county, and showcases the best of San Diego’s trails. This guide provides clear, concise descriptions of each trail, and often includes historical background information on the area. Sadly, Schad passed away in 2011 so this, the 4th edition of the book, is likely the last. No San Diego Hiker’s library is complete without this gem.

 

50 Best Short Hikes San Diego If your hiker already has a copy of Afoot and Afield, they might enjoy Schad’s final work 50 Best Short Hikes San Diego. This book covers the same wide variety of landscapes as Afoot and Afield, but focuses on shorter trails between 1 and 8 miles long. This book is perfect for someone who is either just starting out with hiking, or who loves getting outdoors but doesn’t always have the time for hikes that take all day.

 

darn tough sockDarn Tough Hiking Socks Usually socks are considered a lame gift, something that Grandma or Aunt Gladys gives and kids have to pretend to be thankful for. But Hikers are different – a quality pair of socks in our stocking will bring us true and heartfelt joy. A good pair of hiking socks can mean the difference between a fantastic day on the trail or a painful, grueling, blister-infested death march. Darn Tough socks come in several varieties, including CoolMax – designed to wick moisture away from the skin – perfect for hot San Diego summers, and Boot Socks, made with Merino Wool – great for stopping odor on long or multi-day adventures. The best thing about Darn Tough? These babies come with a LIFETIME guarantee. If you manage to wear these guys out, send them back, and Darn Tough will replace them for free. FOREVER.

 

CamelBak Fourteener 20Camelbak Hydration Backpacks Hydration packs are a must for all but the shortest of hikes. Say goodbye to cumbersome water bottles and enjoy the convenience and comfort of the hydration bladder. Camelbak has a huge variety of different packs, with reservoirs of anywhere from 1 to 3 liter capacities. We’ve been through several different brands of hydration packs, and found that Camelbak offers the best in terms of comfort, reliability, and features. If you’re looking to buy a Camelbak for hiking, I recommend going all the way and getting one with a 3 liter reservoir. This offers you the maximum flexibility – you have the 3 liter capacity for longer hikes, and if you’re going on a shorter hike and don’t need 3 liters, just don’t fill it up all the way. I carry the CamelBak Fourteener 20 (pictured to the left) which provides a large amount of space for just about anything I might need even on the longest day hike: jacket, lunch, maps, headlamp, water filter, first aid kit – I can load this bad boy up and still have tons of room for carrying piles of trash down from Mt. Woodson. My intrepid husband and photographer carries the slightly more compact CamelBak M.U.L.E 100oz. Whichever option you go with, a Camelbak will be a welcome addition to your next hike.

Under Armour Women's Under Armour® Alter Ego Batgirl Fitted T-ShirtUnder Armour Men's Under Armour® Alter Ego Transformers Autobots Compression ShirtUnder Armour® Alter Ego Graphic T’s Cotton may be a big no-no on the trail, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be stylish. Under Armour’s fun Alter Ego collection offers several shirts made with UA’s signature Moisture Transport System to keep your Hiker cool and dry. They also contain anti-microbial technology so we’ll smell as good we look. Available in Men’s, Women’s, Girl’s, and Boy’s.


Happy Holidays and Happy Trails!