• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Loadout Room

The Loadout Room

Professional Gear Reviews

Hardcore Gear and Adventure

Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • t5Tommy Gun Madness: The Thompson Submachine Gun
        • Firing the Full-Auto Steyr AUG
        • m60M60 Pig: America’s Jungle-Eating, Belt Fed Freedom Machine
        • image-60a08f67My First Single-Action Revolver Purchase: Heritage Rough Rider .22 LR/.22 WMR Range Report
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • ac65a540-2ef3-4598-8d11-afdf53f46e94.__CR0,0,970,600_PT0_SX970_V1___Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X: A Thoroughly Bright Review
        • Bluetti 2 handsfree power backpackBluetti Handsfree 2 Review: The Ultimate Power Backpack for Off-Grid Adventurers
        • The Gallagator 10 day pack on the shoreline next to a hiking trail.Day Pack – Mystery Ranch Gallagator 10 – The Best Yet?
        • PXL_20240209_171721326Pic of the Day, It’s Graduation Time
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • civivi2Civivi Brazen Review: The Best Budget EDC Knife under $75?
        • G43_Gen3-107G43 Review: The Compact Powerhouse for EDC
        • Photoroom_20250403_201449ARES Watch Company Diver-1 & Field Watch: Unstoppable Tactical Watches for Land & Sea
        • CZ2CZ P10S – The Budget EDC That Gets the Job Done (Mostly)
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Buying Guides
  • Shop
  • Advertise
Electronics & Technology

Staying Charged on the Road

November 12, 2018 by Loadout Room Guest Authors Leave a Comment

Staying Charged on the Road

Many of us for better or worse, live or die by our skill level to effectively operate the features of our smartphones. Having grown up in the 60’s and 70’s when the concept of something like a smartphone was truly science fiction, I still marvel at the things that can be done with the small handheld device we all utilize. As the saying goes if you’re in a jam call a lawyer and he/she shows up with a flip phone pray for a file in a cake.

The one issue with smartphones is maintaining the charge, if we’re running a lot of apps and are consistently utilizing it the power level can quickly go down. We’ve all seen that desperate person wandering around at the airport with their phone, cable, and plug looking for an outlet. It always makes me think at that at this point in the cell phone age how is someone who relies heavily on their phone does not have an alternate power source. 

The first alternate power source I had utilized a small charger that utilized 4 AA batteries. You could get about 2 full charges out of it. Nowadays alternate chargers are available all over the place now from small ones that take 1 AA battery that are sold by the register in dollar stores to chargers that can jump your car. The key part of the charger is it having a USB port as long as it has the USB port it becomes a matter of size, weight, and cost. 

The largest charger that I’ll carry is my Powerall charger. You can charge just about any handheld device or tablet multiple times with the Powerall plus in a pinch you can jump-start your car (I’ve personally used it for this several times, successfully) it also has a built-in flashlight. The Powerall (shown above) is available in several different sizes and is available on Amazon (the source of all monetary loss thanks to Joe LaSorsa). 

Another personal favorite of mine is from Anker. Again size and charge capacity vary and are available to meet your needs. I like the smaller ones for keeping in my pocket when I’m on the move and want to keep the weight and size profile down.

Staying Charged on the Road

The other option that I used last year while in Puerto Rico when working there after Hurricane Maria is a solar powered charger. Because of the limited availability of the power grids there, the ability to put this charger on the dashboard of a vehicle in the sun and charge it up was a huge benefit to be able to keep my phone charged while there.

Staying Charged on the Road

Other items needed for keeping for phones and devices charged are cables and car/wall chargers. For traveling, I prefer combination car and wall chargers. By using one of these it reduces the number of items needed to carry. Another tool is a phone mount that clips to the vent in a vehicle allowing you to view the screen when using GPS apps. Earbuds are another nice item to have when traveling whether for taking calls hands-free, listening to music or podcasts, or tuning out that crying kid on an airplane. 

Staying Charged on the Road

Lastly cables unless I’m really looking to travel minimalist you’ll usually find me having three different sizes with me. A small 6” cable to use the charger to power up the phone while keeping them close together in a pocket, a 3’ Universal cable that can be used for Apple devices and has a second tip for other phones and devices (I like this for in the car) is very useful for clients who may have other than Apple devices, and a 6’ cable for when I’m at home or in a hotel and using my phone while charging it. Just a note do not plug directly into the USB ports of rental cars and public places as they may compromise your devices and information. 

Staying Charged on the Road

All of these items are available from the individual manufacturers or on Amazon my go-to for most things. In an age where things are consistently moving and changing where timely communications are essential don’t be the person wandering around trying to find a public power source as your phone is dying and you’re trying to close a deal or stay in touch with a client. 


Originally published on Lasorsa.com and written by Art Dorst

Share This

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

Primary Sidebar

Most Read

  • Removing Rust From Firearms? No Problem
    Removing Rust From Firearms? No Problem
  • Hard Head Veterans Bump Helmet vs. the Wizardry of the ATE Gen III Ballistic
    Hard Head Veterans Bump Helmet vs. the Wizardry of the ATE Gen III Ballistic
  • My First Single-Action Revolver Purchase: Heritage Rough Rider .22 LR/.22 WMR Range Report
    My First Single-Action Revolver Purchase: Heritage Rough Rider .22 LR/.22 WMR Range Report
  • M4A1 Block I: The Special Operations Origins of an American Icon
    M4A1 Block I: The Special Operations Origins of an American Icon
  • CLASSIC COLD WAR PISTOL SHOWDOWN: Beretta vs. Makarov
    CLASSIC COLD WAR PISTOL SHOWDOWN: Beretta vs. Makarov

Find Us on Facebook

The Loadout Room

Recent Comments

  • Ajita Sherer on The ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle)!
  • Raphael Hanna on The ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle)!
  • Daisy L. on CZ P10S – The Budget EDC That Gets the Job Done (Mostly)

Latest From SOFREP

News

Tenafly New Jersey Native Edan Alexander Freed by Hamas After 19 Months of Captivity

Editorial

Dr. Bob: A Former SEAL and Delta Force Command Surgeon Tells You How To Be A Winner

Military History

Medal of Honor Monday: Major General Patrick Henry Brady – A Lifetime of Courage in the Skies Over Vietnam

Op-Ed

The Bolduc Brief: A Betrayal of Veterans – The Implications of Renaming Veterans Day

Military Content Group

© Copyright 2025 Military Content Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers
 

Loading Comments...