Do you bring a charger with you when traveling?

[HarryT]

One tip: if you are travelling abroad, and you have lots of gadgets to charge, take a multi-socket "power strip" with you. Hotel rooms often don't have many power sockets, and if you're going somewhere which has different wall sockets, it's easier to put a single plug adapter on the plug of the power strip, than need one for each device. I generally travel with at least four devices which need charging: phone, laptop, camera, and Kindle.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Angst

I have so many battery charged gadgets, I don't even leave the house with out a charger.
E-reader, tablet, ipod, phone, e-cigarettes, camera, etc. If the trip is off the grid I will even bring a solar charger with me to keep everything charged.

I need to get a decent solar charger. I saw one six months ago and need to go google it. I've lost track of it.

[shanghaichica]

It would depend on how long I was going for. Up to a week I'd just charge it before I left and then rely on the the charge. However as Harry points out I'd likely have my phone charger with me so I could always use that.

[Katsunami]

My phone has a powerful 2A charger that I'd bring to charge the phone, and it also works on the Kindle. The Kindle can take all the power it needs to charge as fast as it can. The charger is only slightly larger than a fat USB stick and plugs directly into the wall socket. No need to leave it home.

[Shopaholic]

It depends on where I'm going and for how long. I have to bring my cables & AC adapter for my iPhone so I'll probably bring the cable for the reader just in case. If I'm going away I would fully charge my reader before leaving. If I'm driving to my destination, um...I have cables in my car so...lol I'd just pop in the car & grab it if I needed to.

[Tarana]

If you are also bringing your laptop, I don't see any reason why you should also bring the adapter. Just plug into your laptop.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by Tarana

If you are also bringing your laptop, I don't see any reason why you should also bring the adapter. Just plug into your laptop.

Yeah ... that's what I was thinking. But I am also bringing my iPhone, and probably one of the iPads ... and maybe (not sure) PsVita , lol ...

Yesterday actually, I plugged my iPhone to my MacAir and it charged it from 30% to almost 90% in about 40 min. And when I unplugged my cellphone, the MacAir was at 85% or something. I also noticed that when I closed the lid, the cellphone keep charging itself.

Few years ago I decided to travel just with cellphone and it was terrible! I ran out of battery and was bored as hell!

Lot of electronics, I know, but those waits in terminal when changing planes are horrible!

[ProfCrash]

heheh What did we do before electronics?

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Tarana

If you are also bringing your laptop, I don't see any reason why you should also bring the adapter. Just plug into your laptop.

The Kindle can be charged on a notebook USB-port, but it will be slow as the port will only provide 500 mA. My Nexus 4 will also charge... but it'll take a full day or so.

A 2A power adapter is highly recommended. Most devices cap out at 1A or 1.2A, so they don't charge faster with a more powerful charger, but the ones that can draw so much power to charge (such as the Nexus 4) will benefit from it.

[Ian.M]

I travel with both 12V and mains 1A USB chargers, Kindle USB cord, clip on reading light, spare CR3032 batteries and a tiny tiny screwdriver for the light, all kept in a tiny camera bag that lives in my ruck 24/7, but then I'm often travelling off-grid with only 12V vehicle power available.

I charge both Kindle and laptop whenever I get the chance unless I know they are at 90% or better. The Kindle can only charge from the laptop if I have external power available as the power management stops it otherwise but I do keep a short micro-B USB lead in the laptop bag to save unpacking the Kindle charging kit. Add a local socket adapter if travelling abroad.

I'm also not shy of sneaking a charge from any available mains socket.

[ucfgrad93]

Depends on how long I'm going for. If it's for less than 2 weeks, I just charge my Kindle before I leave and leave my charger and cable at home.

[VictoriaP]

What I carry depends on the length of the trip. 24/7, I have a backup battery on me that will at least partly charge any phone or tablet I have on me, along with two 6" cables--one for the Kindle, one for my iPhone/iPad.

But for overnight and beyond, I carry chargers, cables, AND a small travel power strip. As Harry mentions, it's hugely convenient to have in hotels nowadays, especially when traveling with multiple devices (and with other people, who inevitably have their own devices and chargers). In fact, I often carry one of Belkin's travel surge suppressors. It has two USB outlets along with three power outlets, and the USBs can typically charge both my iPhone & Kindle simultaneously, meaning I only need an individual higher powered charger for the iPad.

I tend to read a lot on trips, and my PW2 light is typically on the brighter settings. Battery life at that kind of usage is pretty crappy, and I'd never make it a week without charging, so a charger & cable is mandatory. Together, they're still lighter than carrying most paperbacks!

[Yapyap]

I haven't even once used the USB cord that came with my Paperwhite - I use my phone charger to charge the Kindle. The Kindle cable is stored away somewhere.

And even with no 3G or Wi-Fi use (or much phone use as such), a smartphone when roaming will need to be charged relatively often, so, yes, I'd bring the charger when travelling anywhere for more than a day. I doubt I'd need to actually charge the Kindle for a week's trip, but I do feel more comfortable knowing I can charge it if needed.

[Tattncat]

I always take my chargers with, for both readers. I would rather be safe than sorry.

[bookaho!ic]

my phone, oh phone, and my kobo touch all have same usb socket so never go away without a charger