Hello, I'm preparing for another thru-hike and my 505 (which is very spiffy) would make a perfect trail device as last time I was hauling around over 10lbs of books which get pretty heavy after you schlep them up and down mountains over months. One nice thing is I can easily stick the device into a plastic bag and its more easily water proof than even a normal book. However, I wanted to create/buy a container to protect the e-reader from being crunched in my pack. The problem with some of the suggestions in a thread I found on here is the extra weight. I don't want my protective container to drag down my pack too much.

Anyone have any suggestions for a ultra-strong yet minimally heavy e-reader container? Some sort of incredibly strong plastic box lined with foam would seem ideal and maybe someone has already experimented with this.

I also wondered if I should cover the ports in something to keep dirt from working its way into the audio jacks/etc and that affecting the operation of the device (I'm only using it to read books). Perhaps also some sort of plastic covering of the screen too? Any other ideas?

http://www.amazon.com/eCaddy-Hardshell-Case-eReader-PRS-505/dp/B0010W3JQO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1211233297&sr=8-1

Anyone have any suggestions for a ultra-strong yet minimally heavy e-reader container? Some sort of incredibly strong plastic box lined with foam would seem ideal and maybe someone has already experimented with this.


Through it in a DVD case with the cover on. It is not "ultra" strong but will protect it. Then, put the whole DVD case in a water proof ziplock bag.

BOb

How are you planning on charging it? I used one of the Solio solar charges on a partial hike of the Appalachian Trail last year and it worked great.

Patchfoot, you might consider the MEdge Leisure Cover. I've got one an it has a padded fram that is zipper enclosed. Although it's not waterproof, it is water resistant and you can insert the reader into the frame screen first for carrying in your backpack. I use it on the treadmill at work and at the beach and like it.

You can look at them at www.buymedge.com

http://www.amazon.com/eCaddy-Hardshell-Case-eReader-PRS-505/dp/B0010W3JQO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1211233297&sr=8-1

My husband uses this for his reader (in the original brown cover), and he loves it. He throws it in the laptop bag with his two work laptops and all the other junk he has to carry. He's never had a problem nor a complaint with the Hardshell case. The case has neoprene on the inside to keep the reader from sliding around and to keep it cushioned. The metal case probably won't withstand being run over by a truck, but it's great in his over-crowded laptop bag.

It's a little plain, so we printed up a fabulous black and white picture of Stevie Ray Vaughn on a clear sticker and put it on the front. It looks marvelous!

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'm looking into them. The Medge thing looks interesting but it doesn't look very crush resistant. Maybe I could slip some hard plastic into the outside cover.

That solar device worked out for you? I got some buddies doing a thru hike on the AT right now and they tried one of those solar things (dunno which brand) and literally all it did was drain their cell phone battery. They sent it home and have been charging it in town while they do laundry and such. I've been using my 505 for only reading over the last few weeks and I'm still way over 50% charge so I figured it wouldn't be too bad charging it when needed (I got a USB to DC charger).

I use the pouch. It's got a degree of padding and I've carried my eReader backpacking with me for for a couple of years without any problems. I guess how much protection you need depends on how much you sling your pack around and what sort of equipment you have in your pack. I generally stick mine in at the top of the pack in the pouch which is in a ziplock, maybe with a couple of food bags on either side. Maybe wrapped in a shirt or rain jacket, depending on the temperature.

I haven't gone on a trip longer than a couple of days over the past couple of years, so I haven't had a need to recharge it on the trail. I've got a small solar charger (solio) that I think will do well enough to charge it, but I haven't tried it yet.

As long as you hit town once a week or so and only read an hour or two each night, I don't think that you will have a problem just charging it in town, especially if you shutdown rather than just put it in stand by mode. It does take a bit longer to power up then, but you can turn it on and go finish some camp chore while it powers up all the way.

The polycarbonate anti-theft cases used for DVD's in libraries work pretty well. Not particularly heavy and very strong. Check out this thread:
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11420

Cheers,
Bob

eCaddy looks superb if only it could accomodate the reader with its cover.
Anyone tried to put 505 into it?

Amazon shows 1 available (from a reseller) and the description says that it holds the 500 or 505 with the soft cover on. DISCLAIMER -- I don't own one and so I am not speaking from experience, but that's what the information at Amazon says.

Don't the solio chargers have an output voltage of 12 Volts, and therefore won't they hurt the reader?

I thought they had adapters to handle voltage adjustments ... not so?

eCaddy looks superb if only it could accomodate the reader with its cover.
Anyone tried to put 505 into it?

Yes, my husband carries his 505 in the original brown cover in his eCaddy.

I picked up a Powermonkey with solar charger, which has attach points for a backpack. Comes with a PSP tip too, much better/safer than usb charging, which has been known to drain Readers sometimes.

They have adapters...but the adapters only match plugs.

Yes, my husband carries his 505 in the original brown cover in his eCaddy.

Oh, thanks. silly me, you have said it before.

I found two sellers on ebay. Sent them emails but so far zero replies. and shipping price is atrocious :( $30 :(

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'm looking into them. The Medge thing looks interesting but it doesn't look very crush resistant. Maybe I could slip some hard plastic into the outside cover.

That solar device worked out for you? I got some buddies doing a thru hike on the AT right now and they tried one of those solar things (dunno which brand) and literally all it did was drain their cell phone battery. They sent it home and have been charging it in town while they do laundry and such. I've been using my 505 for only reading over the last few weeks and I'm still way over 50% charge so I figured it wouldn't be too bad charging it when needed (I got a USB to DC charger).

I've heard mixed results as well with the various manufacturers. I have this model: http://store.solio.com/s.nl/it.A/id.257/.f and it worked very well for me. A friend of mine has used it on multiple hikes as well with good success. One of the nice things about this one is that it has an internal battery that the solar cells charge. That battery is then used to charge your device. I'm not affiliated with them in any way, just a satisfied customer.

Don't the solio chargers have an output voltage of 12 Volts, and therefore won't they hurt the reader?

They have different cables/tips for the various devices.

I've heard mixed results as well with the various manufacturers. I have this model: http://store.solio.com/s.nl/it.A/id.257/.f and it worked very well for me. A friend of mine has used it on multiple hikes as well with good success. One of the nice things about this one is that it has an internal battery that the solar cells charge. That battery is then used to charge your device. I'm not affiliated with them in any way, just a satisfied customer.

I'd go with the Powermonkey over the Solio, which is quite pricey and has weaker specs. For maybe $20 more (although mine cost $30 after rebate), the PM has a nice, thin, foldable solar charger with higher output (200mA at 5V vs. 155 mA at 6V for the Solio). The PM battery unit (which is nicely designed in a water-resistant housing with lcd display) is separate and optional for use, and has 2200 mAh capacity (vs. 1600 mAh for the Solio). Plus, the PM comes with a few more tips (including a PSP tip!), *and* a universal wall charger with 4-5 wall plugs for US/Europe/GB/etc. You can use the solar, battery, or charger to recharge devices directly, and the charger or solar (or usb cable) to recharge the battery as well.

That powermonkey looks pretty cool. I doubt I'd need it for my 505, but it'd be great for cell phones or mp3 players. Does it also work as an ac adapter? (ie, with proper tips could I use it to charge different devices like the 505 or my cell phone from a wall socket without draining the monkey?)