Outdoor Electronics: Take It or Leave It?
For many, going outdoors is about leaving it all behind. Well, almost all of it. I do take my phone and a flashlight or headlamp, and my watch, and depending on the location and duration, I will take the Garmin InReach Mini. The great thing is that you can feel disconnected even if you still have some electronic item with you. Because the last thing a lot of us want is to be mentally dragged back into the high-speed, always-connected, world of modern society. I don’t want to get notifications, beeps, dings, and chimes. I care what is happening, however, this time is for me to let my mind settle and just focus on the path ahead.
BUT
I don’t want to get lost while checking out a new trail…
I love taking landscape and nature photographs…
I don’t want to be late for dinner….
I can’t see in the dark if I get a little too far from the trailhead before turning back…
I don’t want Search and Rescue sent out just because I decided to have a quiet moment (or couple hours) of contemplation and meditation beside that wonderfully babbling brook alongside the awesome wild flowers with the perfect breeze and “a loved one” decides to panic because I didn’t respond to the text they sent… immediately….
So yeah, I stay minimally connected when I am disconnecting. The trick is to let it make you feel more comfortable and free to roam, and less chained down. Here are the electronics I carry to stay responsibly disconnected when I head out:
Phone. I keep my phone on me because it is one of the best multi-tools to have. It can take pictures, track my hike on a map (even in airplane mode), help me get back to the car, and it even has a built-in flash light if that is necessary. If I want to see what a particular type of tree, bird, or flower is then it is right at my finger tips. I use it to help my curiosity grow and learn about the world around me… not just scroll through whatever app is open in the moment, and that is the key.
Apps. Trail apps like AllTrails and Trailforks are perfect examples because you can download maps at home and use them off-grid in airplane mode to make sure you are headed in the right direction or to mark where you saw that amazing bird nest to check out later.
Lights. I have a love of flashlights. Headlamps, hand-held, you name it… I love flashlights. I have both with me in my vehicle: they are easy to carry and can be recharged in my vehicle via USB, so they are always ready to go. Here is the tiny flash light that I love to grab, even when the sun is out that can easily run all night. LINK 9 Anker Rechargeable Bolder LC40 Flashlight, LED Torch, Super Bright 400 Lumens CREE LED, IPX5 Water Resistant, 5 Modes High/Medium/Low/Strobe/SOS, Indoor/Outdoor (Camping, Hiking and Emergency Use) - - AmazonSmile).
Also, here is a great example of a headlamp that I love carry in our vehicles. BioLite HeadLamp 200 | REI Co-op. Both can easily fit in a pocket and will be PRICELESS if you need them. Lightweight, big light output, very packable - two thumbs up!
Watch. I wear a smart watch. It tracks workouts, steps, heart rate, and tells the time… why leave it at home? Keeping track of the time will help you be back to the trailhead on time (which keeps you out of trouble with your spouse or partner), so all the other useful information it can give you is just a bonus.
Communicator. The outlier here is the Garmin InReach (Garmin inReach Mini | REI Co-op). It’s a satellite communicator that can also track your location. The trick is that it is small, simple to use, and can be the best tool you have if you or someone else gets hurt. It also has the awesome functionality of letting your “loved one” know that you are just fine so they don’t call Search and Rescue just to find out if you are ok. It allows them track your location even when you are way, Way, WAY, off-grid. Like middle-of-the-ocean or top-of-a-mountain off-grid. You could also get weather updates or call for emergency services if you needed it. Or, what is more likely the case, if someone else needs it. You will honestly forget that you have it with you it is so small and unobtrusive, but when you need it - bam! - it is the best thing ever.
Ok, get out there and enjoy the wilderness. Walk, run, hike, bike, or just sit and look out over that beautiful view while enjoying a perfect breeze. With these tips, you can have all that and make it home for dinner too.
