Integrating Technology Into a Long Trip?

xsalmon asks: "I am about to undergo a long trip around the continental United States, via hiking/cycling/walking and other self-propelled means of transportation, to raise money toward AIDS/HIV research. What kind of utilities/devices would you bring to increase safety/security? I'll be hauling enough in my backpack as-is, so any suggestions would have to be lightweight and portable enough. Any ideas?"

A few links

[Marxist Hacker 42]

I'd take a PocketPC or PalmOS PDA Phone [palm.com] and a Bluetooth GPS [socketcom.com] and a 4GB Microdrive [hitachigst.com], combined with some nice Hiking maps [gpsinformation.org]. And maybe some nice bright flashing toys from ThinkGeek. [thinkgeek.com] For Self-protection, I'd want a Taser [taser.com]. Oh yeah, and a Sidewinder [thetravelinsider.info] so that I don't have to find a power supply for any of this stuff.

Re:A few links

[Anonymous Coward]

As popular as they might be for cheap car navigation, PDAs are not a good choice for hiking/biking. Dedicated handheld GPS devices are waterproof, more robust, run longer on a single battery charge and are easier to use, maintain and recharge because they're just one device, not two. And they usually have better outdoor-suitable displays, which is probably a killer argument all by itself. The latest models use the same Sirf III chipset which makes the reception of the bluetooth GPS mice so great.

A pocket .22

[dada21]

and your "HIV/AIDS" T-shirt should both help to scare off muggers.

Seriously, though, the handheld GPS > the PDA with GPS. My PDA with GPS could never handle the elements.

When I've done long hikes, I actually carried an old car inflatable tube tire and a mini CO2 canister. You can inflate the tube in an instant (about 12 inflations per 6 pack of CO2 cartridges) and float down the river. I'm lazy.

The CO2 cartridges also come in handy if you want to cool down, just remove the inflation adapter and am at your chest -- instant cool down.

I always bring along an extra few pairs of socks, too, they can get pretty grotty if you forget extra sets. And lots of protein and fat packed bacon is my friend on long hikes.

Re:A pocket .22

[loraksus]

Instead of a .22, something like a Kel-Tec P3AT [gunblast.com] can be carried. 6+1 rounds of .380 in a 7.2 oz package that is less than an inch thick and is very, very easily concealable.
Here's a picture of mine beside my cell phone, pda, etc. [vehiclehitech.com]
It also happens to be pretty cheap at ~$200.
It isn't a revolver (which is nice because it can shoot out of a pocket without jamming up - something like a SW 342PD would be a good choice for a small revolver) but it is tiny.

If you are going to carry, check out packing.org for information on ccw reciprocity.

Tasers are... well... the cheap ones are crap. Sure they look scary, but some really don't do all that much. Really, hitting someone with one of the cheap ones will just piss them off.

Taser does sell a civilian version, but it costs $300 more than the .380, is bigger, weighs more and shoots only once. It is legal in most places though - although it is becoming illegal in some as local governments start banning it. NJ has a ban on it as well.

Also, a surefire or similar flashlight is a good thing to have. Very bright and you can get their G2 model for cheap ($35ish).

Rubbing alcohol is great for cooling down. Burns if splashed in someone's eyes too ;)

Tech + Long Trip == Loads of Batteries

[Anonymous Coward]

Last summer I hiked the Appalachian Trail and dealt with the same question in my planning. Know what I ended up taking? An LED headlamp (3xAAA).

Everything else I could've wanted would have been a pain to maintain. Camera? Cellphone? MP3 player? PDA? GPS? The problem comes down to one word: batteries.

Consider this: anything I take will get used enough that the batteries will lose charge. How will I replace or recharge them? Your cellphone -- and possibly your camera and mp3 player -- will require its own wall-wart charger, which means you need to find a place to plug it in and let it charge for a few hours, once or more each week (depending on how often you use it). Are you going to carry all these devices PLUS their wall-warts? That weight adds up fast.

The best workaround here is to find small, lightweight digital cameras and flash-based mp3 players that run on AA-sized batteries. And the Lithium AA's will get you that much more battery life. So if you go with one of those, you can carry spare batteries and pick up replacements at any convenience store -- no wall-warts necessary. This is a Good Thing(tm).

In fact, there are flash-based mp3 players (256/512meg or so) that run on a single AA battery AND provide an FM receiver -- very handy for getting storm warnings and such. THIS MAKES IT A VERY LIGHT, USEFUL SAFETY TOOL. It won't hold a lot of music (and you'll probably get bored with it before long), but it doesn't kill you with battery weight and frustrate you with needing a charge every 4 hours.

PDA? BlackBerry? GPS? Get versions that run on AA's or leave them at home. You don't need them. Every few days you can spend an hour or two in a public library to access the internet for email and such. Some towns you pass through will have internet cafes as well. Carry good maps and a compass (analog) instead of relying on GPS.

Here's a tip: with your digital camera, take pics of maps that you won't carry with you. Then you can view them on the LCD and zoom in at need. Just remember to look quickly and turn off the LCD when you don't need it to save battery power. Also, avoid using your flash -- take photos using natural light as often as you can to stretch your batteries that much further.

Next time, I will take a single-AA mp3-player+FM device. I'll probably take a AA-powered digital camera. But if I'm out for longer than a couple of nights, my cell stays at home.

Enjoy your trip!

(Oh, and I looked at your site. 8-9 weeks to travel 5000+ miles?? You're insane. Plan on 3-4 months at minimum, and recognize that if you're serious, this journey could take 8-9 MONTHS, not weeks.)

Re: 9 weeks is not enough - yes it is

[xsalmon]

The original estimate was a very, very rough approximation. I have since updated it to upwards of 16 weeks. In the end, though? It'll take as long as it takes. If it takes 20 weeks, so be it. But I'm taking it all the way, from start to finish. This is an important cause to me, and it is to many others. Please show your support, if you are able to! Sincerely, Jeremy Noonan

technology to make you safer!?

[mzs]

Ditch the tech, bring two more people. Seriously I looked at your route map, it is very wrong. You should shoot for going west through Colorado or Wyoming for the least resistance. Do you honestly plan to cross desert and two mountain ranges alone and ON YOUR FIRST trip of this sort?

Every gram matters when hiking, you will be able to spread the load better with three hikers. Plus should anything go wrong you will not be alone, not to mention how useful the company will be. The best measure of your hiking pace is to be able to walk and hold a conversation simultaneously, you'll look schitzo talking to yourself.

Also I hate to be blunt about it but your site is pretty poor if you plan to use it for fund raising. Look at this example [youguysarestupid.com] for ideas (about the site and about the trip itself).

Low-tech

[jevring]

What's wrong with some bike tools, a map and a compass?
You WILL be travelling ON the roads I hope?
Regarding safety, my best recommendation would be to bring a friend. Not only are you less likely to get mugged if there are two of you, but any medical situations that might arise are probably more easily taken care of if there are two of you.
It's not like you're going to be able to stave off a band of highway bandits with a 9mm anyway...

You do NOT need a laptop on a cross-country bike ride. The goal of which is to ride a bike, not to check your email. I'm sure you'll pass atleast oen internet café on the way somewhere.

The most high-tech thing I'd bring on such a journey is a cellphone and/or some kind of emergency radio.

I'm going to assume that you know something about cycling already, since you're attempting this, but if you don't, you need to know to keep everything LIGHT.
You do not want to pack any more weight on your bike, or yourself, than is absolutely necessary.

So stick to the low-tech stuff, and don't be affraid to stop and ask for assistance.

Ohh, and socks, don't forget extra socks.