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==Conclusion==
The previous analysis showed that there is no “one-size-fits-all-solution” but that hikers must make individual choices that match personal preferences and hiking habits. Also the chosen sections should be considered. Sunshine is frequent in the north (GPT01 to GPT15) and on the Argentine side (GPT23 to GPT26) making a solar panel more beneficial on these sections. In other areas someone might have bad luck and be pursuit by clouds and rain for a week or even more.
In the following I outline and compare fife power supply options for different hiking styles and budgets. Choose what fits best to you and fine-tune it to your necessities.
===Luxury Ultra-Light Option===
Non-rechargeable Lithium batteries have a high specific energy compared to most other battery types including rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries. Only 7.5 g of battery power are required to run a basic handheld GPS one full hiking day. This makes this option the lightest but also the most expensive option as Lithium batteries as costlier.
Be aware that Lithium batteries are normally not available in smaller towns in Chile and Argentina. In this case Alkaline batteries should be purchased. So, maintaining this luxury ultra-light strategy over the length of the GPT is difficult without a “bounce-box”.
Hikers that put so much effort and money in minimizing weight will probably also minimize smartphone use to not carry a USB power bank or only a small one. Therefore it would not be a completely stupid idea to carry for emergencies a Goal Zero Guide 10 plus charger (64 g) as this device can be used with the Lithium batteries as a emergency USB power bank. Considering the expected transformation losses four Lithium batteries correspond roughly an effective stored energy of 12 Wh for the smartphone or the InReach. If i.e. the GPS fails the smartphone can be recharged at least once while being used for navigation. Or in case of an accident the InReach Mini can be recharged twice. This may eliminate the need to carry a USB power bank saving a few grams (A 5’000 mAh USB power bank weights at least 120 g and has an effective stored energy of 13 - 15 Wh).
===Ultra-Light Option===
Alkaline batteries are less costly and more easily available than Lithium batteries. Around 15 g of battery power are sufficient to run a Garmin eTrex20x or 30x one hiking day. Even on the longest sections this is still lighter than rechargeable NiMH batteries and a solar recharge kid.
===Economy Light Option===
Someone who dislikes non-rechargeable batteries for environmental reasons and prefers rechargeable batteries can use NiMH batteries and recharge these batteries during resupply town stops. To keep the GPS running 25 g of battery are required per hiking day. This is heavier than using Alkaline and Lithium batteries but less costly since no money is spend regularly on single-use batteries.
For a weight comparison two additional aspects need to be considered. First: a AA NiMH battery charger and a cable is require. And second: the amount of batteries is determined by the power demand of the longest section. If i.e. 12 batteries are required for the longest section (or combination of sections) than these 12 batteries need to be carried on all other sections as well even if not really needed. So the weight of this equipment options is set by the required maximum range and not by the actual length of each section.
Alternatively, a smaller set of rechargeable NiMH batteries (i.e. 4, 6 or 8 pieces) can be carried during the entire hike that is complemented only on for longer sections by a few Alkaline batteries to extend the range as needed.
A set of four Lithium batteries (4 x 15 g) might also be a wise backup. These Lithium batteries can either be used in the handheld GPS or in the Goal Zero Guide 10 to recharge USB devices in emergencies (smartphone, InReach). This can be an alternative to carrying a large power bank.
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As analysed before a solar panel becomes only beneficial on very long hikes (two weeks or more between proper resupplies) and when a lot of electric power is required on the trail (intense smartphone use, tablet computer use). On sections shorter than two weeks it is normally lighter to carry just the right amount of batteries than adding a solar panel, an AA battery charger and sufficient rechargeable NiMH batteries to the gear.
On the GPT several sections or combinations of sections are close to this break-even point but not clearly beyond. Therefore, it is worth considering this option, but it will not be the optimal choice for all hikers on the GPT.
A valid motive for carrying a solar panel on the GPT is the increased autarky that permits to slow down and a worriless use of electronic devices on the trail. But for hikers that want to be fast and light a solar panel rarely pays off.
Carrying a set of four Lithium batteries (4 x 15 g) is a wise complement to a solar power set. These Lithium batteries can be used in the handheld GPS i.e. if the solar panel fails or the sun disappears for more than a week behind clouds. In addition, these 4 Lithium batteries can be used in the Goal Zero Guide 10 to recharge USB devices in emergencies (smartphone, InReach). This can be an alternative to carrying a power bank.
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===Smartphones Only Option===
Some hikers in recent years relied on smartphones only and did not carry a handheld GPS. Some managed to navigate the longer sections but deactivate GPS navigation and GPS recording whenever possible to make the smartphone battery and the power banks last long enough. Some smartphone users also struggled with the track file conversion and often lost a part of the track information in the conversion process. Based on these feedbacks I’m relucted to recommend this option.
Also, the higher power consumption of a smartphone eliminates the assumed weight benefit. A smartphone with GPS navigation and GPS recording activated consumes roughly 5 Wh per day. To have a range of 12 hiking days two 10’000 mAh power banks are required to recharge the smartphone every second day (at least 360 g in USB power banks). In comparison a handheld GPS consumes approximately 2 Wh per day so for the same 12-day period 8 Alkaline batteries are sufficient to keep the navigation device powered up (184 g in Alkaline batteries).
We start our smartphone occasionally to review satellite images when investigating new routes and to link it for a few minutes with the InReach to type messages and check the weather forecast. This preserves the battery to have the smartphone available as backup navigation device should the GPS fail.
=== Weight Comparison of Power Supply Options===
{| class="wikitable"|+Navigation Equipment Options (Weight per day)! Power Supply Option Device! Device Consumption ! Cost per Day of Navigation ! Weight per Day of Navigation ! Additional Base Weight per Day of Range Additional! Additional Base Weight|-| Luxury Ultra-Light Option GPS & AA Lithium Batteries | 2 AA: 4 – 5 days | 1 – 3 EUR | 7.5 g | - | -|-| Ultra-Light Option GPS & AA Alkaline Batteries | 2 AA: 3 – 4 days | 0.25 – 1 EUR | 15 g | - | -|-| Economy Light Option GPS & AA NiMH Batteries | 2 AA: 2 – 3 days | - | - | 25 g | 75 g|-| Autarky & High-Power Option GPS & AA NiMH Bat. & Solar Panel | 2 AA: 2 – 3 days | - | - | - | At least 475 g|-| Smartphones Only Option Smartphones & USB Power Bank | 1 smartphone charge: ≈ 2 days - - At least 30 g Backup SmartphoneTable 115: Navigation Equipment Options (Weight per day)Power Supply OptionsWith Non| -Rechargeable Batteries 4 Days of Navigation 8 Days of Navigation 12 Days of Navigation 16 Days of Navigation 20 Days of NavigationLuxury Ultra| -Light OptionGPS & AA Lithium Batteries 30 g 2 x AA Lithium 60 g 4 x AA Lithium 90 g 6 x AA Lithium 120 g 8 x AA Lithium 150 g 10 x AA Lithium In addition, USB power bank for smartphone depending on habits and backup needs. Ultra-Light OptionGPS & AA Alkaline Batteries 92 g 4 x AA Alkaline 138 g 6 x AA Alkaline 184 g 8 x AA Alkaline 276 g 12 x AA Alkaline 322 g 14 x AA Alkaline In addition, USB power bank for smartphone depending on habits and backup needs. Navigation Equipment OptionWith Rechargeable Batteries 4 Days of Range 8 Days of Range 12 Days of Range 16 Days of Range 20 Days of RangeEconomy Light OptionGPS & AA NiMH Batteries 175 g 4 x AA NiMH 275 g 8 x AA NiMH 375 g 12 x AA NiMH 475 g 16 x AA NiMH 575 g 20 x AA NiMH In addition, USB power bank for smartphone depending on habits and backup needs. Autarky & High-Power OptionGPS & AA NiMH Bat. & Solar Panel | At least 475 g At least 475 g At least 475 g At least 475 g At least 475 30 gSmartphones Only Option| Backup SmartphoneSmartphones & USB Power Bank At least 120 g1 x 5’000 mAh At least 180 g1 x 10’000 mAh At least 360 g2 x 10’000 mAh At least 540 g3 x 10’000 mAh At least 540 g3 x 10’000 mAh In addition, a second backup smartphone required.|}
